By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 29 – Abel Montilla and ten others were indicted for a narcotics conspiracy involving sending cocaine into the mainland United States from Puerto Rico.
On October 13, 2020 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge P. Kevin Castel held an arraignment and scheduling proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.
A range of CJA lawyers, including as to one the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, entered not guilty pleas for their clients.
Discovery on large external hard drives was discussed.
Jump cut to September 26, 2022. Abel Montilla is one trial, and initial co-defendant Anabel Colon Reyes on the witness stand. She testified about package of cocaine mailed, including to DHL, from Puerto Rico to Orlando, Florida and to The Bronx. She was arrested in September 2019, spent seven days in jail then decided to cooperate with the government. She wants a 5K-1 letter.
Montilla's defense lawyer asked why she had gotten interested in his client's nickname, Cochabomba, and not Peter "El Loco." Judge Castel called the end of the trial day.
On September 28, this: "Re: United States v. Abel Montilla, a/k/a “Coche Bomba,” S9 19 Cr. 536 (PKC) Dear Judge Castel: The Government writes to respectfully request that the Court adjourn trial in the abovecaptioned case until the Government’s remaining witness (“CW-1”) is able to satisfy the Southern District’s COVID protocols and enter the courthouse, so that CW-1 may testify in person. (See Ct. Exs. 2, 3; Sept. 28, 2022 Trial Tr. at 358.) The Government has discussed this matter with defense counsel and defense counsel has conveyed that the defendant does not object to an adjournment. As the Court is aware, CW-1 arrived in Court today to testify as a Government witness. After taking the witness stand, but before the jury entered the courtroom, CW-1 indicated to a Spanish language interpreter that CW-1 was experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. At the Court’s direction, CW-1 was removed from the courtroom and a PCR test was administered, which came back positive for COVID-19."
On September 29, Inner City Press went to Courtroom 11D as Judge Castel, after argument, declared a mistrial based on "manifest necessity." He said memories would dissipate during a break until October 11, and noted that a juror had to leave October 7. Inner City Press will continue to follow the case.
The case is US v. Montilla, et al., 19-cr-536 (Castel)
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