By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY MAG COURT EXCLUSIVE, April 7- In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 7, a series detention or release proceedings were held until 8 pm by new Magistrate Judge Jennifer Willis after an early morning police raid on a fentanyl mill on the fourth floor of 15 East 196th Street in The Bronx.
One of the final two defendants had sold a kilo and a half of fentanyl to an undercover agent, the Assistant US Attorney told Judge Willis. The other had fled out of the drug mill apartment upon the arrival of the police by kicking out the airconditioner and going up the fire escape to an apartment on the fifth floor. He entered by kicking in the airconditioner.
The Criminal Justice Act lawyer for the defendant charged with selling the fentanyl said that his client's father, an Uber driver, was downstairs in the courthouse. He asked for permission to go down and get him, which was granted.
But 15 minutes later, the lawyer had not returned, and it was nearing 8 pm.
Inner City Press covers the SDNY Magistrates Court as it has The Bronx, sometimes as the only media in the gallery, as it was on April 7. It left and sent to find the lawyer and the defenant's father, ultimately finding them by the metal detectors at the 200 Worth Street entrance.
Back up on the Magistrates Court, Judge Willis said that the fentanyl seller could be released upon the signature of his father as moral suasion. But the defendant who fled, and who is not a US citizens, would have to have a GPS bracelet installed. It being too late to accomplish that, he was ordered detained overnight.
His passport was not seized in the drug mill apartment. His CJA lawyer said his client's brother has the passport but his client does not know his brother's number, it is saved in the contacts of his phone the police seized.
Judge Willis said the passport should be turned in as soon and possible, and with the GPS the defendant should not go near an airport.
Inner City Press will continue to follow these cases.
This case is US v. Cabral, et al., 22-mj-3223 (Willis)
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