By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 15 – Angel Villafane, previously convicted of a felony, was arrested for having a gun in incidents starting at 97th Street and Second Avenue then 110th Street and the FDR (long barrel firearm)
On May 20, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Victor Marrero held a conference. Inner City Press covered it, the only media there.
Jump cut to March 6, 2024 - now it was grown to a 16 defendant indictment: "As alleged, day in and day out, this crew distributed fentanyl, heroin, and crack along several blocks on Valentine Avenue."
Inner City Press went to arraignments including that of Christopher Meadows, who the prosecutor described as an enforcer for the lead named defendant (who was detained on consent).
Based on medical conditions named in court but which Inner City Press will voluntarily not report, he was ordered bailed on $50,000 bond to his mother's residence in Soundview by Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. On the day of appeal, the US agreed to release.
On March 20, co-defendant Damel Marcus asked for release on bail, in Magistrates Court. Inner City Press was there, thread
Late in the day came notice that the defense has appealed to Part I, for March 21. Inner City Press was there, thread
On October 4, a bail review and a full-case proceeding, thread
On March 20, counsel filed a critique of slow production of discovery, and of the scope of the alleged conspiracy, now back to 1993, "when many of the defendants either were not born, were in diapers or had never even been to The Bronx."
On March 21, Inner City Press went, from the thread:
Here in 15th floor hallway, at least 50 family members. Defendants were brought from MDC Brooklyn by bus, not van.
All the family members who have come can't fit in courtroom 15B. Defendants will be split into two groups...
On April 2, referring back to the March 21 conference, Paramus-based retained counsel to co-defendant Calderone wrote in that she opposed Speedy Trial Act time exclusion on his behalf, not of another co-defendant she was also standing in for.
On April 23 co-defendant Banks was presented and detained on consent; the next conference is set for May 16.
On May 15 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that two trials should be set, March 2 and May 4, 2024, saying "should the Government be directed to seek the death penalty," motions would ensue. Directed from Main Justice?
Inner City Press went to the 15th floor courtroom on May 16. The courtroom was entirely full, with defendants in the jury box, CJA lawyers at the tables and in the front row. They spoke in term, some more recently in the case. Judge Marrero floated the idea of having another judge preside over one of two trials. The AUSA was feisty, saying one of the defense lawyers were verging on being "disruptive." She joked back, as to pushing back a trial date, "I wish I was that busy." Several defendants laughed. Ultimately, this: " Defense counsel was ordered to submit a letter indicating their respective positions on a motions schedule and other outstanding scheduling matters by July 15, 2025. The Court adjourned the matter until August 14, 2025, at 12:00 PM."
Watch this site.
The case is USA v. Villafane, et al., 1:21-cr-93 (Marrero)
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