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ICP has published a (double) book about
a variety of Bronx-relevant topics -- a review in
Commonweal magazine of Dec. 5, 2003, opines that
"Predatory Bender... is as vivid an account of life in
the Bronx as you are likely to read" -- click here for
sample chapters, here for
an interactive map,
here
for fast ordering
and
delivery, and here for
other ordering
information. See
also, "City
Lit: Roman a Klepto [Review of ‘Predatory Bender’],"
by Matt Pacenza, City Limits, Sept.-Oct. 2004. CBS
MarketWatch of April 23, 2004, says the
the novel has "some very funny moments," and that the
non-fiction mixes "global statistics and first-person accounts."
The Washington
Post
of March 15, 2004, calls Predatory Bender: America in
the Aughts "the first novel about predatory lending;" the
London
Times of April 15, 2004, "A Novel Approach," said it "has
a cast of colorful characters." The Pittsburgh
City Paper of Dec. 11, 2003, wrote that it "may, in fact,
be the first great American lending malfeasance novel" including
"low-level loan sharks, class-action lawyers, corporate bigwigs,
hired muscle, corrupt politicians, Iraq War veterans, Wall
Street analysts, reporters and one watchdog with a Web
site." And all in The Bronx! Click
here
for that
review; for more information, contact us.
See, in Nov 2021, Inner City Press' book "Belt and Roadkill,"
here
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Nov 28 – Akeba Palmer was arrested on November
22 and charged with selling a gun to a
confidential source in front of his building in
the Bronx, with a child with him.
On
November 27 he was brought before U.S. District
Court for the Southern District of New York
Magistrate Judge Saral L. Cave. Inner City Press
was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag
Court.
Palmer
had five supporters, including a girl, in the
gallery. The AUSA noted the defendants prior
convictions, including for armed robbery of a
food delivery person, back in the Aughts.
The CJA lawyer said that was a long time ago,
and that Palmer is himself a food delivery man
now. Judge Cave said Palmer could be
released but only after co-signers are vetted;
he cannot, she said, work as a food delivery
person.
The AUSA said his Office would be appealing to
the Part 1 Judge Victor Marrero.
Inner
City Press was there when the appeal was heard;
thread:
Defense:
This is not the most dangerous crime. If he's
jailed he will lose his apartment. Part 1
Judge
Victor Marrero: I revoke the bail package. This
involves a career criminal, allegedly selling a
gun.
Akeba
Palmer will be detained, apparently in MDC
Brooklyn.
Inner
City Press will continue to follow the case. It
is US v. Palmer, 23-mj-7289 (Cave / Marrero)
***
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Nov 24 – A Bronx man out on supervised release
after serving 38 months in prison in a narcotics
conspiracy was arrested in The Bronx and charged
with gun possession on October 11, 2023. He had
been in Federal detention since October
13.
On November 24, his lawyer filed with the judge
a link to an Instagram video of the arrest,
complete with an NYPD officer repeatedly
punching him in the face. Inner City Press found
the filing and followed the link.
The
request now is for release on $100,000; a
hearing is set for November 28 before U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York Judge George B. Daniels.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
Exclusive, Nov 17 – Mohammed Kassim tried to
return marijuana he bought from a smoke shop at
1274 Castle Hill Avenue on March 13, 2023. They
refused to take it back.
He
returned on March 17 and lit the store on
fire.
On
November 17, 2023 Kassim was brought before U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger to
plead guilty - to possession of marijuana. While
marijuana is now level at the New York State
level, it is not at the federal
level.
This
was the SDNY prosecutors' way to finesse the
arson charge. They indicated they will agree to
a sentence of six months in a halfway house, but
successfully opposed release on bond for the
holidays.
In
the gallery, along with Inner City Press, the
only people were Kassim parents, with
interpretation headphones on.
More
detail and analysis on Substack here
The case is US v. Kassim, 23-cr-608 (Lehrburger)
***
Your support means a lot. As
little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access
to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Nov 9 – Tyriek Skyfield was arrested
and charged with being a felon in possession of
ammo, after a shooting in The Bronx. He has
demanded a Speedy Trial.
On
November 9, 2023 he appeared before U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York Judge Lewis J. Liman for a change of
counsel. Inner City Press was there.
The
first counsel said he would be unable to
represent Skyfield in any trial in the 70 days
of the Speedy Trial Act.
The
day's CJA lawyer said the same.
Judge Liman said his deputy will try to find a
CJA lawyer who can, and set a January 16, 2024
trial date.
After
first appearing to say that the AUSA requested
"wiggle room" was no ground to exclude time, he
nevertheless excluded time for a week, to find
another lawyer.
To some, it might appear that fights under the
Speedy Trial Act are contingent on being able to
pay for counsel.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 30 – Terrence Allen was arrested
and charged with shooting a gun 13 times in the
Melrose Houses in the South Bronx. In state
court he was released on $50,000 bail.
Then
the case was Federalized and he was arrested
again.
On
October 30 Allen appeared by U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of New York new
Magistrate Judge Stein Gary. Inner City Press
was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag court.
The AUSA emphasized 13 shots, and Allen's arrest
twice in the same silver Mercedes. The Federal
Defender said he works two jobs on Long Island
and could stay with his wife near the
Williamsburg Bridge.
Judge
Stein took a break to mull it, then returned and
said he had to detain Allen on danger grounds.
The preliminary hearing was set for the 14th
day.
The
case is US v. Allen, 23-mj-6928 (Stein)
***
Your support means a lot. As
little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access
to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 24 –
Two men were
presented and
detained in
Manhattan
Federal court
on August 9,
2023 for a
shooting of an
11-month-old
baby in
January 2022.
The baby was
in the
courtroom -
and so was
Inner City
Press. Thread:
OK
- now
presentment of
AHMED ALTOREI
& SAMUEL
BAUTISTA after
a street
shooting on
Jan 19, 2022,
targeting a
rival drug
dealer but
shot an
11-month-old
baby in the
face.
Courtroom
filling.
Deputy:
Mr Lazzaro,
are you
consenting?
[To detention]
A:
Yes. [This
could be a
short one]
In
the gallery, a
couple with a
baby...
All rise!
Lance
Lazzaro, for
Ahmed Altorei
(he i$
retained)
Federal
Defender for
Samuel
Bautista, with
financial
affidavit.
Judge:
Cocaine base
aka crack
sales, using
guns,
brandished and
discharged.
Bautista is a
felon, with
.380
ammo
Judge:
Both consent
to detention
without
prejudice.
Medical order
as to Mr
Bautista.
AUSA: Next is
Sept 8 at 11
am in the U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York.
Afterward,
the couple and
the now older
than a year
baby went out
together down
the hall.
On
September 8,
the two were
back in court,
before SDNY
Chief Judge
Laura Taylor
Swain. Inner
City Press was
there. Beyond
setting the
next
conference for
Novemver 15 at
11:30 am,
Bautista asked
to be released
on bond.
The
AUSA responded
with a
narrative of
the background
to the
shooting: a
feud with
Tyrone Handley
a/k/a Smokey,
in and around
2860 Grand
Concourse and
198th Street
in The Bronx.
The baby's
parents spoke,
and urged that
detention be
continued. As
docketed on
September 12,
it was.
On
October 5,
docketed
October 6, a
superseding
indictment,
with Altorei,
Bautista and
Ronald Coradin
a/k/a
Scrappy...
On
October 19
Coradin got
his Rule 5(f)
order before
being detained
on consent and
Lance Lazzaro
asked to make
an application
for bail for
Altorei on
October 25,
citing six
friends who
would co-sign,
from Panda
Group and
Alabama
Chicken.
On
October 24,
the bail
hearing was
set for
November 1,
before Chief
Judge Swain:
"Request for
the
Opportunity to
Make a Bail
Application.
ENDORSEMENT:
The below
request is
granted. A
bail hearing
in this case
is scheduled
to proceed on
November 1,
2023, at 3:30
PM in
Courtroom
17C." Watch
this site.
Inner
City Press
will stay on
the
case(s).
The case is US v. Altorei, et al., 23-cr-407 (Swain / Gorenstein)
***
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
EXCLUSIVE, Oct 20 – A NYPD officer who was on
modified duty for three years was arrested and
presented on October 20 in Federal court for
trying to selling kilo-weight fentanyl. Inner
City Press was there. She was released on
$100,000 bond.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York Magistrate Judge James L. Cott was
presiding. Inner City Press thread:
AUSA
Amanda Weingarten: Rosa Grace Baez worked in the
NYPD precinct in the East Village, this was her
side hustle. She had a kilo press with her
boyfriend Cesar Martines. She was placed on
modified duty 3 years ago. It is eggregious. She
resigned yesterday.
CJA:
She wants bail
Defense:
She owns a house in the Bronx, has 2 children.
Her father flew up from the Dominican Republic
today to be here. Don't put a now former police
officer in the MDC...
AUSA:
My understanding is that the investigation of
Baez 3 years ago was for consorting with gang
members and drug dealers. [Echo of US v Mestre
case Inner City Press first covered here
Judge:
I am setting bail for Ms Baez: $100,000 bond
with 2 co-signers. She can be released on her
own signature today, home detention in her Arnow
Ave home.
The
case is US v. Baez, 23-mj- 6893 (Cott)
***
Your support means a lot. As
little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access
to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 12 – William Jones is on trial
for Conspiracy to Murder a Federal Informant To
Prevent Communication to Law Enforcement. Inner
City Press is covering the case, from 2021 into
2023 and beyond.
On September 23, 2021 U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New York Judge Edgardo
Ramos held a proceeding. Inner City Press
covered it.
Judge Ramos asked if the capital decision had
been made. It has not. But the "Special Finding"
have been set forth.
The
killing was in Suffolk County, New York, after
abduction from The Bronx on December 28, 2019.
Jump
cut to June 28, 2023. In the SDNY Magistrates
Court, with Inner City Press the only media
there, Jones was arraigned on a superseding
indictment. He had three lawyers at the table.
His trial is set for October 2, 2023, and Speedy
Trial Act time was excluded until then by SDNY
Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. Inner City Press
intends to cover the trial.
On
September 7 the US filed an additional
protective order for 3500 material citing the
violent nature of the case. The defense is
seeking to keep out the autopsy photos of
Frederick Delacruz.
On
September 21, after yet another defendant in the
case passed through the Magistrates Court,
Genaro Castro was brought in after
self-surrender in the Western District of North
Carolina. He was nevertheless detained, on
danger grounds.
In
October 2023, the trial was on - and Inner City
Press went. Cooperators Castillo and Rivera were
on the stand, testifying as to the rules of
retaliation, hand signs, meetings and dues. The
prosecution wants a Detective Jiminez to testify
about what the decedent, his CI, told him.
The defense objects, as hearsay. But the
prosecution argues that Jones made the witness
unavailable. That's what we're hear for, to
decide, the defense lawyer said.
But
apparently that finding of Jones' role can be
made on a preponderance of the evidence, not
reasonable doubt.
On
October 10 Detective Jiminez was on the stand,
testifying about getting de la Cruz out of
trouble in NJ and then Connecticut. Played for
the jury was de la Cruz' last voice mail to
Jiminez, that "they are taking me out to Long
Island."
On
October 11 Jones' lawyer in closing argument
picked up a weapon from the prosecutors table
and said it was a cooperating witness who knew
more about it. He cited Judge Ramos' "lengthy by
well done" legal instruction. Next up: a
verdict.
It
came on October 12: "WILLIAM JONES, a/k/a
“Principe,” was convicted by a jury of
racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of
racketeering, and firearms offenses for his role
in the murder of Frederick Delacruz on December
28, 2019. The defendant was found guilty
on all counts following an eight-day jury trial
..murder through the use of a firearm, which
carries a maximum penalty of life in prison."
The case is US v. Jones, 21-cr-505 (Ramos / Willis)
***
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Oct 7 – Cristian Eustate Espinal and
three others were arrested in a residence in The
Bronx with 50 pounds of fentalyl and pill and
kilo presses.
Cristian,
late on October 6, 2023, was released on bond,
on his own signature, in the U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of New York. Inner
City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY
Magistrates Court.
Cristian's
Criminal Justice Act lawyer argued that he had
merely been present in the drug house, and not
tied to it. The Assistant US Attorney argued it
would have been impossible for him not to have
known it was a narcotics factory, what with the
garbage bags taped over the windows.
SDNY
Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron ordered
release on bond. But the AUSA said they would
appeal to the week's Part 1 District Judge, Arun
Subramanian.
Judge
Subramanian held the appeal in the Magistrates
courtroom. Again, Inner City Press was there.
After
detailed inquiry into where the drugs had been
found -- in an alcove of the bathroom, as shown
on the AUSA's phone -- Judge Subramanian upheld
Magistrate Judge Aaron's release order, adding
that the CJA lawyer must turn in Cristian's
Dominican passport by noon on Saturday or he
would be arrested.
The
CJA lawyer replied that she would be in the MDC
jail on Saturday, until 3 at the latest - and
that if she did not have the passport by then,
she would turn Cristian in to the Marshals.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Sept 28– Following the death of a
one-year old baby by fentanyl, on September 19,
2023 the US Attorney for the Southern District
of New York charged Grei Mendez and Carlisto
Acevedo Brito.
On
September 25, with no notice and Inner City
Press initially the only person in the courtroom
gallery, the third man was brought in: Renny
Antonio Parra Paredes. Inner City Press live
tweeted, thread:
Renny
Antonio Parra Paredes is seated at defense table
with assigned lawyer and SPanish interpretation
headphones. Judge still not here but others
coming
All
rise! Mag Judge Ona T. Wang presiding. Arrest
just after midnight on Sept 23, Saturday and
waived speedy presentment. He is in a white
T-shirt. CJA defense lawyer is appointed.
Judge
Wang: You are charged with conspiracy to
distribute narcotics. AUSA: We seek detention,
and they consent. Defense lawyer: Most of his
family is out of town. We consent.
Parra
Paredes, in jean long shorts now without belt,
us led out.
His
lawyer asks,
MDC?
Yes.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Sept 19 – Following the death of a
one-year old baby by fentanyl, on September 19,
2023 the US Attorney for the Southern District
of New York charged Grei Mendez and Carlisto
Acevedo Brito.
The
charge was and is narcotics possession with
intent to distribute resulting in death and
conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in
death in connection with the overdose of four
children under the age of three, one of whom
died, at a daycare facility in the Bronx on
September 15, 2023.
Inner City Press went to the SDNY press
conference and asked US Attorney Damian Williams
if his office would be seeking pre-trial
detention (yes) and if those upstream who sold
the fentanyl would be charged with the death. No
answer, at least not yet. Video here.
The duo was set to be presented in SDNY
Magistrates Court, to which Inner City Press
next turned. It was present there for hours.
Thread here:
Brito
is brought out, already in MDC tan
uniform.
Magistrate
Judge Jennifer Willis now presiding in US v
Brito
AUSA
Thompson: We seek detention. Defense: We consent
at this time.
Brito
is led back into the holding cell [and later to
MDC, where SBF is complaining about lack of
vegan meals and fast enough laptop. Brito, it
seems clear, will not be exempted from prisoner
count like Sam is]
OK -
now fentanyl daycare Ms Mendez has been brought
out. She is crying.
Federal
Defender: Ms Mendez is a 36 year old legal
resident. She worked in a restaurant. She is a
single custodial parent, now that her husband
has fled.
Judge:
I am going to detain you. Mendez: Aye, no!
[crying]
Federal
Defender goes back on the record to say she has
diabetes. Both sides agree: she will be in MDC
More
on Substack here
Watch
this site.
***
Your support means a lot. As
little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access
to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Sept 12 – A multi-defendant
case charging narcotics conspiracy and guns,
with phone data dumps and complaints from
Valhalla and Essex County jails landed in
Federal court.
On
February 5, 2021 U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York Judge Katherine
Polk Failla held a proceeding. Inner City Press
covered it.
Assistant
US Attorney Frank Balsamello described the range
of discovery, and a parallel state case.
Defendants
cut in, complaining of bad treatment. Judge
Failla supported the idea of a discovery
coordinator.
Jump cut to June 2022 when defendant Drilon
Haxhaj, according to his lawyer, has been
engaged in extensive plea negotiations - and
therefore asks that his May 2022 suppression
motion be held in abeyance. He pled guilty on
June 27.
On
July 21, 2022 Judge Failla held a proceeding
with remaining defendants and Inner City Press
went and attended, live tweeting here:
On
March 29, counsel for Shpendi Haxhaj filed a
reply memo to sever his case, citing the risks
of a joint trial. Dkt 161. In a garbled
footnote, "the defense does not concede that the
alleged statements made by the court-defendant
are true or that they were in fact made at all.
The defense argues that if the declaration
co-defenses t's statements were omitted as
evidence that regardless of their truth they
would prejudice the defendant."
On July 24, 2023,
counsel for Shpendi Haxhaj
filed another letter with
Judge Failla, that "we
informed Mr. Haxhaj that if he
is convicted at trial of
murder in aid of racketeering,
he would face a mandatory life
sentence... Mr. Haxhaj has
informed Counsel that he has
elected to proceed to trial."
On August
9, co-defendant Ivis Perdomo's
lawyer filed a
supplemental sentencing
memo complete with DD5s
and photos of a club
shooting, objecting to the
US seeking at least 240
months.
On
August 17 Jeremy Cedeno was
sentenced, at the top
of his guideline.
Inner City Press was
there, thread.
On
September 12, co-defendant
Boris Beltran was
on trial on
Courtroom 110 of
40 Foley Square.
The gallery behind
him
was nearly full;
the right side,
empty. A 49th
Precinct sergeant
was on the
witness stand,
identifying
the drugs
seized that
night. But on
cross she was
asked if she
knew if
Beltran lived
in the raided
apartment. She
did not.
On
September 13,
the cooperator
on the witness
stand was
cross-examined about, among
other things,
getting back
into drug
dealing the
day after he
was released
from prison,
then cutting
the cooperation deal. On
January 5,
2021 he pled guilty
to conspiracy
to distribute
5 kilos or
more of
cocaine, with
a ten year
minimum,
maximum life.
But on
cross he
acknowledged
he never planned for
five kilos -- "if
I'd
managed to
stay out I
might have gotten
there," he
said. Then
why, with only
three years
left on his
state
sentence, did
he agree to
this plea to
ten to life?
It also
emerged he couldn't
say it was Beltran
who put drugs
in the jacket
passed under
the table of a
restaurant on
Fordham
Road in The Bronx,
or into the
trunk of his
car outside.
On
September 14,
with defendant
Yeltsin
Beltran
greeting those
in the gallery
behind him,
the prosecutor
put an
NYPD detective
on the stand,
to describe
the victim Ramon
Encarnacion
bloody in Lincoln
Hospital, and
the afterhours
location on 149th
Street by
Courtlandt Avenue.
On
September 15,
Beltran's
lawyer was cross
examining a
member of the
police team
which made
undercover
drug buys. He
defined
"ghosting" and
admitted that
their CI was
himself
selling crack
and so was "deactivated."
The trial
continues.
The case is US v. Haxhaj et al., 21-cr-17 (Failla)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell
Book
BBC-Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN NY
Mag
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Sept 6 – Kai Johnson of Soundview in
The Bronx is charged with the murder of Price
and Malik Tunstall on August 21,
2021.
On April 11, 2022 U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York Judge Lewis J.
Liman held a proceeding. Inner City Press went
and covered it. Johnson was in an orange
WDOC jumpsuit and accompanied by two U.S.
Marshals.
It
is a capital case and the prosecutor said they
are preparing to make their recommendation to
Main Justice whether to seek the death
penalty.
For
that reason, Johnson's lawyer opposed setting a
trial date or even motion schedule, insteading
asking for another status conference in 90 days.
In
January 2023 Johnson pleaded guilty, with a plea
deal for a 40 year sentence.
On
September 6, 2023 the US Attorney's Office wrote
to Judge Liman that "a sentence of 40 years'
imprisonment is necessary to comply with the
goals of sentencing." The defense is asking
for... 30 years. Johnson is 28 years old.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, Aug 28 – Jonathan Laureano fired 11
shots at a crowd outside a Bronx nightclub on
September 10, 2022. He was up for sentencing on
August 28, 2023 before U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New York Judge Valerie
E. Caproni. Inner City Press is covering the
case, and went to the sentencing, which ended in
screaming from the gallery and in the hall.
The SDNY prosecutors wanted the top of the
guideline for felon in possession of ammunition:
87 months.
The defense wanted 48 months, citing Laureano's
history. They say his mother Milagros Carrero
was drug addicted and died when he was 16.
"His father re-established contact, and moved
into the family's apartment," then moved out,
abandoning Jonathan and his brother, Carlos.
"Carlos has not survived this trauma any better
than Jonathan; he is currently incarcerated in
New Jersey."
While
that is sourced to the Pre-Sentencing Report,
the defense objects to the PSR: "his unmentioned
sister, Mayling Carrero, is 30 and lives in
Connecticut. Also, one sister is named Taisha
Laureano, not Tisha, and is 38, not 41; and his
brother, John Cruz, is 41 or 42, not 40." The
PSR is, of course, sealed.
On
August 28, Inner City Press went to the
sentencing. In the gallery were relatives,
including the mother of Laureano's son. Judge
Caproni pointed out that the shooting happened
soon after his son's birth, and sentenced him to
87 months. His son's mother shouted and ran out
into the hall. Court Security Officers were
called; a person on the elevator said, This is
exciting.
The
case is US v. Laureano, 22-cr-670
(Caproni)
More,
from Endless Sentences on Substack here
***
Your support means a lot. As
little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access
to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here
to become a patron.
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
EXCLUSIVE, Aug 24 – Rodney Spratley, while
robbing a Bronx bodega at 1665 Topping Avenue in
May, shot a man in the hip.
At
the time, the man was expected to survive. But
he was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital on 183rd
Street.
On August 24, 2023 Spratley was presented before
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. Inner
City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY
Mag court.
The
charge, now, included murder. The victim died,
and the case was entirely sealed until the
presentment, no announcement of which was
made.
At the time of arrest, Spratley's mother said
"He’s a good kid, maybe a little lost and
confused. I can’t say he’s had a perfect life.
None of us have. But I broke my back to give him
everything. He’s a little troubled now, I
guess.”
And
indicted for murder. The robbery yielded $1200.
The
case is US v. Spratley, 23-cr-283