Murder Charge in SDNY Had Johnson Eligible for Death Penalty Now Pleads to Conspiracy

Murder Charge in SDNY Had Johnson Eligible for Death Penalty Now Pleads to Conspiracy by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 29 – Paul Johnson was presented on December 19 on charges of a death penalty-eligible murder in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates court, which Inner City Press closely covers.    The indictment puts the date of the murder as February 6, 2022 and the victim as Jayquan McKenley. There is a Notice of Special Sentencing Factors, and Special Findings.     On Saturday, December 21 the Assistant US Attorney wrote in asking for the next conference to be on February 7, 2025. Jump cut to October 2, 2025 when the US Attorney's Office asked to push the October 10 conference to November 21: "The defense presented to the Department's Capital Case Section on June 24, 2025 and the Government is still awaiting a final decision." Jump cut to July 29, 2026. Inner City Press learned Johnson would plead guilty. Supporters and family of the victim were there, and Inner City Press live tweeted. He did not plead guilty to murder, but rather conspiracy, with a ten year minimum. More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here   The case is USA v. Johnson, 1:24-cr-706 (Marrero) *** 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 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