by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 6 – A woman was indicted for murder for hire in September 2024 and her case assigned to U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Analisa Torres. She was writted in from Miami to the SDNY Magistrates Court, which Inner City Press closely covers.
The murder was committed around Christmas 2023. The victim was Clarisa Burgos.
On October 4, the SDNY prosecutors wrote to Judge Torres that "DOJ has authorized this Office not to seek the death penalty."
On October 15, co-defendant Smith was in the SDNY Magistrates Court. Inner City Press as only media there live tweeted, thread
Note: the judge asked about Smith's "a/k/a" on the indictment and was told it was just his Instagram handle. And on that page, nine photos - more on X for Subscribers here, and Substack here
On October 17, Jeezy Mula, whose cases Inner City Press has previously covered, was added. Inner City Press, and as only media in the Mag court live tweeted, thread
On April 3, 2025, with the case transferred to Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, a hearing was held about the MDC cell search. Inner City Press thread here
On May 6, the US Attorney's Office wrote in of the previous day's superseding indictment which among other things adds co-defendant Batholomew, saying she'd be presented in the Magistrates court on May 7.
Inner City Press was there in the Mag court when she was presented, in an orange WCDOC jump suit. Her assigned lawyer consented to detention, saying he needed to study the issues.
On May 20 all four co-defendants were before Judge Engelmayer and Inner City Press was there. Each has two lawyers, but only one each fit at counsel table. Judge Engelmayer "strongly urged" Main Justice to decide if it is seeking the death penalty on McBean, by June 3.
On June 6, the US Attorney's Office "notifie[d] the Court and DAJAHN MCBEAN, a/k/a “Jeezy Mula,” a/k/a “Freeze,” the defendant, that the United States believes the circumstances of the offense charged in Count One are such that, in the event of a conviction, a sentence of death is justified under Chapter 228 (Sections 3591 through 3598) of Title 18 of the United States Code, and that the United States will seek the sentence of death for this offense: Conspiracy to Commit Murder for Hire Resulting in Death, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1958, which carries a possible sentence of death."
The case is USA v. Harris, et al., 1:24-cr-541 (Engelmayer)
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