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By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope, Photos

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 28 – For weeks the trial of US v. Latique Johnson et al plodded along in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Courtroom 318 in 40 Foley Square; on March 20, 2019 a defense lawyer was giving his summation, waving around a rifle before SDNY Judge Paul G. Gardephe.

  Inner City Press, while the jury was out, asked him if there had been any jury notes. He said yes, but that was it. Requests to be informed when the jury came back were unavailable, despite talk of general deterrence.

Then on March 28, about March 27, this: "LATIQUE JOHNSON, a/k/a “La Brim,” a/k/a “Straight 2 Business,” a/k/a “Breezy,” a/k/a “Boss Dog,” BRANDON GREEN, a/k/a “Light,” a/k/a “Moneywell,” and DONNELL MURRAY, a/k/a “Don P,” were found guilty yesterday of racketeering conspiracy, narcotics trafficking conspiracy, and firearms offenses in connection with their membership in the “Blood Hound Brims” (“BHB”), a violent street and prison gang that operated in New York City, upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere."

Now on July 22, this: BRANDON GREEN, a/k/a “Light,” was sentenced today to approximately 24.5 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe in connection with his leadership of the Blood Hound Brims, a violent street and prison gang that operated in New York City and elsewhere, and his participation in narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses.  GREEN was convicted on March 27, 2019, following an approximately five-week jury trial before Judge Gardephe, who also imposed today’s sentence.

  Not mentioned by the prosecutors was the last minute letters of protest from Brandon Green, about a Mr. Bash calling him, his right to self-representation, and request for a new trial. These were all denied.

 Back on March 22, 2019 the courtroom was quiet with six in the audience and the defense lawyers - but not prosecutors - waiting. Inner City Press stopped in and waited, since neither the government nor administration will commit to announcing when the jury comes back. The public has spent much money on this prosecution; the government called it a proceeding of interest. But where are the exhibits? Where is the commitment to notice? What of general deterrence, if it comes to that?

Back on March 20 the lawyer asked, Do you think you could stuff this rifle in your pants? And get in the back of a taxi? It's ludicrous. He also mocked a proffered jailhouse confession -- "who does that?" -- and emphasized that government witness Rosario had access to discovery in the case. You've read the book, now you can tell the story, the defense lawyer snarked, telling you jury, You won't lend these witnesses fifty dollars, why should you believe them? The rifle appeared again, (mis) described as a "baby AK" in connection with the "chicken spot shooting."

At day's end on March 18, the defense had asked for a ruling on a cryptic note among the 3500 material: "Prince shot  Box kills = beef b/t egp and brims."  Judge Gardephe asked the lawyers, That's some gangster or gang? Well, yes: East Gangster Bloods and bloodhound brims, was the answer, all leading to a shoot out on White Plains Road in The Bronx. Judge Gardephe said, Let the jury decide what it means, if as the government says it's two incidents (Prince being shot and Box being killed) or at the defense surmises, Prince shooting Box to death. Judge Gardephe said he will rule on March 19 on the phone calls Latique Johnson the defendant wants to offer.  The case began with a sealed indictment, signed by Preet Bharara in 2016, alleging the use of a firearm for a drug dealing conspiracy in The Bronx. Preet has moved on, but the trial continues.

On March 15 there was talk of sour diesel marijuana packed in vacuum sealed bags, BWM car keys and digital scales. Judge Gardephe said he would not be comfortable with a witness saying he thought the Facebook photo showed marijuana; the relative attributability of Instagram and Facebook pages was discussed...

The overall case is USA v. Johnson, 16-cr-281 (Gardephe)

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