by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 1 – Miguel Diaz was charged with being in possession of ammunition after a previous felony conviction. He is described as having shot a man in the arm in broad daylight near Jessup Avenue in The Bronx.
On October 24, 2023 Diaz was brought before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. Inner City Press was covering the Mag Court, that and every day, the only media in this SDNY Mag Court.
The case was Federalized as a felon in possession charge, to maximize the penalty and odds of conviction.
Jump cut to February 26, 2024: Diaz after switching lawyer has gone pro se. But at the prosecutors' request he is not being shown the whole warrant to search his residence on Nelson Avenue. His trial is set for July 10, 2024.
On May 31 his standby counsel wrote in to say Diaz wants him removed: "he believes we are too busy... we are currently engaged in US v. Mendendez and it appears we will be for several more weeks and likely into July 2024."
On November 7, Diaz pled guilty to Count 1.
On January 31 Diaz wrote in pro se requesting a Fatic[o] hearing before his February 21 sentencing, on whether the arm injury was serious bodily harm and against enhancement points.
Sentencing was pushed back to April 1 and on March 18, defense counsel wrote in asking for 46 months. At sentencing it was specified: in a Federal Medical Center.
On March 25, the US asked for 15 years.
Inner City Press live tweeted the sentencing, resulting in a guideline of 84 to 105 and upward variance to 112 months.
Extra from courtroom, for Endless Sentences project, on X for Subscribers here and Substack here.
The case is USA v. Diaz, 1:23-cr-576 (Liman)
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