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Drugs Mailed to The Bronx From PR Led to COVID Mistrial Now Co-Defendant Detained

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 16 – Abel Montilla and ten others were indicted for a narcotics conspiracy involving sending cocaine into the mainland United States from Puerto Rico.    

On October 13, 2020 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge P. Kevin Castel held an arraignment and scheduling proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.

  A range of CJA lawyers, including as to one the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, entered not guilty pleas for their clients.

Discovery on large external hard drives was discussed.  

On November 16, 2022, co-defendant Esteban Vargas Sanjuro was brought into Magistrates Court, seeking release on bond. Inner City Press was there; the defendant's wife was in the gallery. The defense lawyer offered a $350,000 bond, seven co-signers. But nothing in the package addressed the "danger to the community" posed by continued import of cocaine in custom-made furniture from Puerto Rico, Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis ruled. Sanjury remains detained.

  Jump back to September 26, 2022. Abel Montilla was on (first) trial, and initial co-defendant Anabel Colon Reyes on the witness stand. She testified about package of cocaine mailed, including to DHL, from Puerto Rico to Orlando, Florida and to The Bronx. She was arrested in September 2019, spent seven days in jail then decided to cooperate with the government. She wants a 5K-1 letter.

  Montilla's defense lawyer asked why she had gotten interested in his client's nickname, Cochabomba, and not Peter "El Loco." Judge Castel called the end of the trial day.

On September 28, this: "Re: United States v. Abel Montilla, a/k/a “Coche Bomba,” S9 19 Cr. 536 (PKC) Dear Judge Castel: The Government writes to respectfully request that the Court adjourn trial in the abovecaptioned case until the Government’s remaining witness (“CW-1”) is able to satisfy the Southern District’s COVID protocols and enter the courthouse, so that CW-1 may testify in person. (See Ct. Exs. 2, 3; Sept. 28, 2022 Trial Tr. at 358.) The Government has discussed this matter with defense counsel and defense counsel has conveyed that the defendant does not object to an adjournment. As the Court is aware, CW-1 arrived in Court today to testify as a Government witness. After taking the witness stand, but before the jury entered the courtroom, CW-1 indicated to a Spanish language interpreter that CW-1 was experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. At the Court’s direction, CW-1 was removed from the courtroom and a PCR test was administered, which came back positive for COVID-19."

On September 29, Inner City Press went to Courtroom 11D as Judge Castel, after argument, declared a mistrial based on "manifest necessity."

On November 4, Inner City Press was in the Magistrates Court when a co-defendant of Montilla came in and pleaded not guilty: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses:Arraignment as to Esteban Vargas Sanjurjo (13) Count 1,2 Esteban Vargas Sanjurjo (13) Count 1,2 held on 11/4/2022. Defendant is present with attorney Victor Molina; AUSA Andrew Jones and Spanish Interpreter are also present. Brady Order given. Plea entered by Esteban Vargas Sanjurjo (13) Count 1,2 Esteban Vargas Sanjurjo (13) Count 1,2 Not Guilty. Conference before USDJ on 12/13/22"

 Inner City Press will continue to follow the case.

The case is US v. Montilla, et al., 19-cr-536 (Castel)

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