By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 17 – A multi-defendant case charging narcotics conspiracy and guns, with phone data dumps and complaints from Valhalla and Essex County jails landed in Federal court.
On February 5, 2021 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.
Assistant US Attorney Frank Balsamello described the range of discovery, and a parallel state case.
Defendants cut in, complaining of bad treatment. Judge Failla supported the idea of a discovery coordinator.
Jump cut to June 2022 when defendant Drilon Haxhaj, according to his lawyer, has been engaged in extensive plea negotiations - and therefore asks that his May 2022 suppression motion be held in abeyance. He pled guilty on June 27.
On July 21, 2022 Judge Failla held a proceeding with remaining defendants and Inner City Press went and attended, live tweeting here:
OK- now in multi-defendant drug case US v Haxhaj, et al, gallery half full, lady with United Nations bag...
Judge criticizes Murray Richman's associate for Richman's non presence. One defense lawyer is in the gallery with a wireless mic
One defendant says he doesn't have a copy of the superseding indictment. Now copies are passed to the defendants shackled in jury box; Marshals says they can take the copies with them back to jail
AUSA says new terrabytes of discovery is about murder, rivalry with another gang scatological names makes two UN-bagged supporters in the gallery visibly wince
There was more to be said. The superseding indictment names the murder victim as Isael Lagares, and the lead defendant as "White Mike."
The government said the one terrabyte of discover is largely social media.
On March 29, counsel for Shpendi Haxhaj filed a reply memo to sever his case, citing the risks of a joint trial. Dkt 161. In a garbled footnote, "the defense does not concede that the alleged statements made by the court-defendant are true or that they were in fact made at all. The defense argues that if the declaration co-defenses t's statements were omitted as evidence that regardless of their truth they would prejudice the defendant."
On July 24, 2023, counsel for Shpendi Haxhaj filed another letter with Judge Failla, that "we informed Mr. Haxhaj that if he is convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, he would face a mandatory life sentence... Mr. Haxhaj has informed Counsel that he has elected to proceed to trial."
On August 9, co-defendant Ivis Perdomo's lawyer filed a supplemental sentencing memo complete with DD5s and photos of a club shooting, objecting to the US seeking at least 240 months.
On August 17 Jeremy Cedeno was sentenced, at the top of his guideline. Inner City Press was there, thread:
OK - now at sentencing of Jeremy Cedeno, whose lawyer says his crimes trace back to going on tour with Puff Daddy. But in guilty plea he said he wanted to "legitimize" the crime, judge notes.
Judge: He's 37 and other than dancing with Puff Daddy, all he's done is illegally drive a cab & sell marijuana. Defense: Prison is harder on older people like my client, they learn faster. Judge: This is his 10th conviction. Defense: It's landed on him differently
Defense: My client is not like Mr. Perdomo. Even after his arrest he sent threats over social media. Judge: He says his account was compromised. Defense: The shooting here didn't hurt anyone.
Defense lawyer is now arguing against the over-guidelines sentences cited in last night's SDNY prosecutors' letter... Jeremy Cedeno: I feel ashamed... Now I am different. I apologize for wasting your time. Judge: We'll take a break.
Judge is back. All rise! Judge: The guideline is 108 to 135 months. The US asks for 180 months [15 years]. I sentence you to 135 months, which bakes in his time on Rikers Island. Adjourned.
The case is US v. Haxhaj et al., 21-cr-17 (Failla)
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