Prisoner Who
Passed Balloon of Contraband in
Cell Awaiting Release Is Freed
After Testing
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
June 26 – Just after being
ordered released, a Federal
prisoner removed a four-inch
balloon of contraband from his
colon and threw it to a prison
in the next holding cell,
wrapped in a T-shirt. The U.S.
Marshals saw.
He was
brought back before U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Magistrate Judge James L.
Cott, on his last day
presiding of the SDNY Mag
court before retiring. Inner
City Press was there.
The
Assistant US Attorney said the
defendant admitted to Marshals
that the ballon contained
narcotics as well as tobacco.
But the Federal Defender
insisted it was tobacco only
and that he should still be
release.
Judge Cott put
his previously release order
in abeyance, pending testing
of the contents of the
balloon. He said he retained
jurisdiction - and he did:
"ORDER as to
Carlos Colon: Given that the
Government is not seeking to
reopen the Court's release
order, and that the contraband
tested negative (or
inconclusive) for all
narcotics tested, the Court
hereby directs that the
defendant be released
forthwith, consistent with the
Court's prior release order.
The Government is directed to
arrange for the defendant to
be transported to 500 Pearl
Street for processing as soon
as tomorrow if possible.
(Signed by Magistrate Judge
James L. Cott on 6/24/2024)."
Then on June 26,
"Order Setting Conditions of
Release Bond Entered as to
Carlos Colon. Home Detention;
Location monitoring technology
as directed by Probation."
The case is
US v. Colon, 13-cr-376 (Ramos
/ Cott)
***
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