| In Bronx
Drug Case With Facebook Videos & a
Defendant's Rap Lyrics Plea Not Moved to
MDC
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
July 7 – A defendant charged
in a drug conspiracy in the
Bronx is having Facebook
videos used against
him.
On March 29, U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge Loretta A. Preska held a
proceeding. Inner City Press
covered it.
The
Assistant US Attorney said it
didn't matter who had uploaded
the video, it showed the
defendant.
They have
produced a message, "Sometimes
I Be Wanting to Rob Mfers, But
Iono What Ima Say When I Up
the Glock."
DOJ also cites
his rap lyrics against him,
quoting "13 I was selling
packs, 15 I was in the trap,
17 I clapped my first, touchy
I been doing that." Do they
really need to use
songs? The question is
raised in proposed law
pending in the NYS Senate.
On April 12,
Judge Preska held another
proceeding in the case, on
CourtCall. Another defendant
in the case has, as CJA
counsel, the Kramer Levin
firm.
On May 23 Robert
Lewis was up for sentencing.
The US Attorney's Office asked
for the 121 to 151 month
guideline. The sentence, after
argument, was 60 months, to be
followed by five years of
Supervised Release.
On July 7, 2022,
co-defendant Devonte Francis
was to plead guilty. But the
US Attorney's Office wrote in
to say "when Mr. Francis was
recently relocated to the MDC,
the physical copy of his plea
agreement was not moved with
him." So they ask for an
adjournment. Why wasn't it
moved? Or, why was the
defendant moved?
Back on January
26, 2022 another co-defendant,
Christopher Butler, was
sentenced to 108 months:
"Minute Entry for proceedings
held before Judge Loretta A.
Preska: Sentencing held on
1/26/2022 for Christopher
Butler (6) Count 10. . The
defendant is sentenced to: 108
months followed by 5 years of
supervised release. All
standard terms and conditions
of supervised release with the
special conditions of:
searches, substance abuse
treatment, mental health
treatment,
vocational/educational
training, no contact with any
gang members. Special
assessment in the amount of
$100 to be paid promptly. Open
counts dismissed."
The case is US v.
Lewis, et al., 20-cr-234
(Preska)
***
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