by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 9 – Darwin Martinez Castillo came to the US from Honduras. He was arrested for robbery in the Bronx, did two years in state prison then 65 days Federally before being deported.
Then he came back.
On August 9, 2023 he was before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein, to plead guilty. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag court. Thread:
OK - now at guilty plea in US v Martinez Castillo, who tells judge through Spanish language interpreter that he can't write, can read "pocito." Indicted for illegal re-entry of US as a felon. Has been in MDC-Brooklyn jail for 4 months.
Break was taken to translate US Attorney's Pimintel letter, which puts sentencing guideline at 30 to 37 months. Defendant says, Yo entiendo. After serving prison time he faces deportation. Again.
Martinez Castillo says when he robbed in The Bronx because he had nowhere to sleep. He did 2 years, then 65 days Federal before being deported to Honduras, where he had problems. Sentencing Nov 28. #JOH
That reference is to former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernandez, also in the MDC. Two tracks, in parallel.
This case is US v. Martinez Castillo, 23-cr-205 (Kaplan / Gorenstein)
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