Not Guilty Verdict for Bronx Man Charged Defaced Gun Near School Immigration Dropped

Not Guilty Verdict for Bronx Man Charged Defaced Gun Near School Immigration Dropped by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 2 – A man from Jamaica who entered the US through Otay Mesa, California then was arrested in New York with a gun with the serial number filed off was indicted on August 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covers. The case was assigned to Judge John G. Koeltl. On March 2 he was acquitted.   The complaint back in July said the stop was based on no license plate on his motorcycle on 233rd Street in The Bronx.  Then they found the Luger, which in the Complaint has its filed-off serial number circled. The defendant said he had bought it for $300. He has previously been served in person with a Notice to Appear. On February 11, 2026 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that they obtained a superseding indictment for gun in a school zone, and were dropping the alien charges. The defense still wanted the trial to proceed on February 23. On February 17 the US Attorney's Office objected to the defendant's proposal for asking jurors what they believe is "the most difficult problem facing our country today," saying it is likely to prompt jurors to reveal their political affiliation. Inner City Press went to Judge Koeltl's conference on February 20. He asked Gordon if he really wanted to go to trial so soon after the superseding indictment, and was told Yes. Thereafter he ruled on motions in limine ranging from Gordon having said he was wearing a ski mask because he was cold, to an attempt to bar as a witness a woman who live in the same building as Gordon, describing how close the school was. The trial started on February 23 and Inner City Press was there: Openings AUSA: This man had a gun by a school, P.S. 103. He was arrested on a motorcycle, with a loaded gun he bought on 214th Street in The Bronx. He had his gun by the Bronx Charter School for Excellence.  AUSA: He bought the gun for $300. You will see video. Defense: This is required to have been knowing, as to the schools Defense: He was 900 feet from any school, at 2 am. He couldn't see any school - it was blocks away. The FBI used a surveyor's wheel. Mr. Gordon had no such wheel. There is no evidence he had the gun in his home. On February 26 the US put on the stand a Mr. Murphy from P.S. 103, narrating photos of the school and playground and yellow SCHOOL signs. On March 2 Gorder was found not guilty, acquitted.   The case is USA v. Gordon, 1:25-cr-364 (Koeltl) *** 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 Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, 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