Crime Rival Shot in 2016 Got 35 Years Now Co-Defendant Redetained for Ammo in RRC

Crime Rival Shot in 2016 Got 35 Years Now Co-Defendant Redetained for Ammo in RRC By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 26 –  In December 2016 in The Bronx Edwin Romero robbed a drug dealer who worked for a rival gang. The leader of that gang, James Felton, came to 175th Street and Weeks Avenue and shot Romero four times, causing Romero to lose his right eye.    This injury, and the US Attorney's sentencing memorandum in Felton's case which described Romero "turn[ing] to walk away" before Felton shot him, were raised by Romero's defense lawyer Michael K. Bachrach at Romero's sentencing on November 26 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Loretta A. Preska.     The problem was, Romero in pleading guilty a year ago to conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine also stipulated to having shot and killed Jose Montalvo on May 13, 2004, also on 175th Street, this at the corner of Monroe Avenue, and to a series of crime since.     At the sentencing Assistant US Attorney Frank J. Balsamello describe Romero has having thrown a loaded gun into a taxi with his then-pregnant girlfriend, and having recruited a generation of young men on Weeks Avenue to sell crack.      Bachbach, in a stretch, asked Judge Preska for the 10 year minimum sentence, closing with the concept that mitigation is not making an excuse.    Judge Preska, after reciting Romero's crimes which led to quiet groaning and even some tears in the courtroom gallery where Inner City Press was the only media, imposed a sentence of 420 months or 35 years, to be followed by five years of supervised release. (Romero would be 72 years old by then).   She said the sentence should be publicized as a matter of general deterrence. Jump cut to September 2, 2025 when a co-defendant, facing sentencing on a VOSR on September 16, asked for time served. On September 16, 2025 he got it: 18 months on a new term of supervised release. But on May 26, 2026, co-defendant 35, Rodriguez, was brought to the SDNY Mag Court from the MDC on the last day of detention - and detained. Inner City Press was there, and live tweeted: while in a Bronx halfway house after a drug gang conviction he is charged with firing a gun. Now, with him set to be released tomorrow, DOJ is asking for detention. AUSA: I have never seen such serious conduct from a defendant in a halfway house. Federal Defender: He's already served his NYS time for the gun. OK, the US Attorney doesn't think it was enough time. But they could have charged him and the state would have dropped Federal Defender: His brother has gotten him a spot in an asbestos removal training program. He was in a program at Greenhaven. Judge: That'll be relevant at sentencing, if there is a sentencing. But all I have is a long rap sheet including contraband in prison Detained His new was is USA v. Rodriguez, 26-mj-1973 (Netburn) The earlier multi-defendant case is USA v. Olivo, et al., 1:17-cr-123 (Preska). *** 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, NY NY 10013 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 for