In Bronx Drug Case Guilty Plea by Ex Monroe College Student Asks 10 Years Praises HCCC

In Bronx Drug Case Guilty Plea by Ex Monroe College Student Asks 10 Years Praises HCCC By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 18 – Derian Del Carmen was charged with six counts in a narcotics conspiracy in The Bronx. On December 16, he pleaded guilty to two counts, 9 and 12.   U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge J. Paul Oetken held the change of plea proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.  Judge Oetken asked his age and education. 24, one year at Monroe College. [Update: Monroe College wrote in calling the above summary an "error." Here is the formal now docketed transcript: THE DEFENDANT: I went to my third semester in college. THE COURT: Where was that? THE DEFENDANT: Monroe College in The Bronx.] Jump cut to May 6, 2025 when the US Attorney's Office filed opposition with Judge Oetken to a request for bail in Del Carmen's new case, denying his allegations of mistreatment in the MDC.   Del Carmen's lawyer wrote in on April 10 that "on April 5, Derian was assaulted by multiple guards. Early in the morning, Derian's cellmate was informed that guards would be coming to take him to the SHU because of rumors that other inmates intended to fight him... They also ordered Derian to dress and come with him.. He was then pepper-sprayed and assaulted."  The US Attorney's Office denies it. On June 2 the US Attorney's Office filed opposition to the defendant's motions, including to suppress. On June 3 the defendant was granted an extension to June 16 to reply. On June 17 defense counsel wrote in that "the parties have reached a resolution [so] June 24 be converted to a change of plea proceeding." After the plea, sentencing was set for October 7. On September 19 defense counsel wrote in to ask that it be pushed back to December, in light of another trial. Then on January 6 his lawyer, noting he faces a 10 year mandatory minimum on January 15, asked for delay until April to complete drug treatment. On March 18 counsel wrote in praising the programming - and his client's performance - in Hudson County Correctional Center - and asking for a total sentence of 10 years, including the VOSR. The first case was US v. Del Carmen, 18-cr-669 (Oetken). This new was is USA v. Del Carmen, 1:24-cr-601 (Oetken) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 130222 NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com