by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 25 – Leandre Barnett on July 17, 2023 was indicted for allegedly robbing a Dunkin Donuts on 132nd Street and Bruckner Boulevard in The Bronx on October 30, 2021. Inner City Press is covering the case.
The initial complaints recount that Leandre was in CC-1's phone as "Dre" and on the morning of October 30, 2021 texted CC-1 "Bouta try some money sh*t out real quick trynna find something."
When CC-1 replied, "I was about to rob Dunkin' Donuts," Barnett replied "I'm wit it" and later "Gotta ski on u," which prosecutors says refers to wearing a ski mask.
They say that Barnett delivered contraband to his inmate brother in 1 Hallack Street, The Bronx on April 14, 2023 - and there had his phone seized and searched, unearthing the evidence.
On July 25, Barnett appeared before SDNY Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo and was arraigned - and ordered released on $100,000 bond with father and mother to sign, to live with his grandmother in Yonkers with only a flip phone, no phone with Internet access. "Defendant to be detained until all conditions are met" - with an appearance before Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain on August 1 at 11:30 am.
Inner City Press went. Chief Judge Swain solicited and listened to Barnett's lawyer's arguments, including that in fleeing the police precinct his client had panicked. (He hastened to add that he was not offering an excuse).
The Assistant US Attorney said that Magistrate Judge Figueredo had not been able to see the video(s) of the Dunkin Donut incident. (Neither has the public). An open case in North Carolina was cited.
Judge Swain told a moment then explained she would detain Barnett on danger to the community groups. She thanked Barnett's friends and family in the courtroom for accepting it.
In January 2024, a guilty plea: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Laura Taylor Swain: Change of Plea Hearing as to Leandre Barnett (1) held on 1/10/2024. Defendant sworn. Defendant waived reading of the S1 Indictment and entered a plea of guilty as to Count Three (3) of the S1 Indictment. PSI ordered. Sentencing is scheduled for 5/1/2024 at 11:00am. Defendant continued remanded."
On April 26, for the sentencing set for May 1, the US Attorney's Office wrote in to request seven years.
On May 1, Inner City Press attended the sentencing, as did family and friends of the defendant. Barnett said he wants to start fresh for the people who look up to him. But the minimum was the minimum: seven years. And to that he was sentenced.
On July 25 Barnett's co-defendant Amier Wilson was up for sentencing before Chief Judge Swain. Wilson on July 10 had been sentenced to 156 months in another of his cases, by Judge Mary Kay Vyskosil. Judge Swain reviewed Wilson's tough upbringing - his mother stabbed his father - then imposed 84 months on top of the 156 for a total of 20 years. Restitution is still an open question...
The case is US v. Barnett, 23-cr-353 (Swain)
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