by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY Exclusive, Oct 17 – A defendant charged with conspiracy to commit carjacking as part of the Tren de Aragua gang was presented on December 12 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag Court.
The defendant Samuel Castro repeatedly turned and gestured to the law enforcement officials in the back of the courtroom; his Criminal Justice Act appointed lawyer said he wanted medicine for his ear.
He had arrived from immigration detention after being arrested on November 6.
On December 12 Castro was detained on consent on the conspiracy charges.
On January 17, 2025 co-defendant Jarwin Valero Calderon came from the MDC to the Magistrates Court, with his CJA lawyer seeking release on bond. Inner City Press was there. Thread
On September 19 Inner City Press was in the SDNY Magistrates Court when two more were brought into the case, with murders and special circumstances cited.
On October 15 an all-defendant conference held. Four face possible death penalty requests. Their mitigation submissions are due December 19, but defense counsel said information is hard to get from Venezuela - and that Criminal Justice Act investigations, interpreters and mitigation specialists have not been paid since July 3, before the shutdown.
On October 17 the Coordinating Discovery Attorney filed a status report noting that "the Office of Defender Services offers free, unlimited storage Box.com accounts to all defense counsel and staff working on CJA cases." But who's paying now? Inner City Press is on the case(s).
The case is USA v. Gonzalez Castro, et al., 1:25-cr-41 (Cote)
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