by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 17 – A man from Ecuador who entered the US illegally through Texas in late November 2023 was arrested in New York on August 12, 2025 on charges of robbery using a dangerous instrument, causing injury.
When he was released from the NYS Department of Corrections in The Bronx on August 19, he was arrested again, this time on a warrant from the Western District of Texas for illegal reentry of the US.
He has been held in the MDC-Brooklyn jail since.
On September 16 he was brought before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky to plead guilty. She deemed the illegal reentry charge a "petty offense," allowing him to plead guilty in New York and not be returned to Texas.
The AUSA said that, under a process formalized by Chief Magistrate Judge Netburn, a review of criminal records had been conducted. Inner City Press ran it too, in WebCrims: PL 160.15 03 ** TOP CHARGE ** BF , 1 count, Arrest Charge DescriptionRobbery-1st:use Danger Instrmt Count1 Arraigned, Pled Not Guilty PL 160.10 01 CF , 1 count, Arrest Charge DescriptionRobbery-2nd:aided By Another Count2 Arraigned, Pled Not Guilty PL 160.10 02A CF , 1 count, Arrest Charge DescriptionRob-2nd:causes Physical Injury Count3 Arraigned, Pled Not Guilty PL 160.05 DF , 1 count, Arrest Charge DescriptionRobbery-3rd Count4 Arraigned, Pled Not Guilty PL 165.50 DF , 1 count, Arrest Charge DescriptionCpsp-3rd-value Of Prop > $3000 Count5 Arraigned, Pled Not Guilty PL 120.14 01 AM , 1 count, Arrest Charge DescriptionMenacing-2nd:weapon Count6 Arraigned, Pled Not Guilty
There, a next appearance of October 7 in Tap A is listed. But in SDNY, he will appear again on September 17 for sentencing.
The Federal Defender says a non-incarceratory sentence would be consist with six recent sentences in SDNY and EDNY in cases arising out of the Western District of Texas:
USA v. Diaz Aguilera, 1:25-mj01706 (SDNY Aug. 7, 2025, one year probation);
USA v. Nunez Estrada, 1:25-mj-235 (EDNY, Aug 7. 2025 ($25 fine);
USA v. Garcia, 1:25-mj-237 (EDNY, July 31, 2025, $10 fine);
USA v. Quijada, 1:25-mj-227 (EDNY, July 30, 2025, one day community service);
USA v. Tigasi Ona, 1:25-mj-225 (EDNY July 30, 2025, one day community service); and
USA v. Armas Gallardo, 25-mj-201 (EDNY June 27, 2025 (time service).
On September 17, Inner City Press went back:
Judge: I have determined this is a petty offense, no prison time, $25 fine
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
This case is USA v. Ruiz-Salas, 1:25-mj-2618 (Tarnofsky / Moses)
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