Friday, August 7, 2026

For Luigi Mangione NYS Trial Still No Overflow Courtroom After Inner City Press Letter Now Mangione Writes In

1oo CENTRE STREET, July 31– The New York State trial of Luigi Mangione still will not have an overflow courtroom for the press and public, unlike the Trump trial in the same building. Who made the decision, and why, has not been publicly explained.

  Inner City Press wrote to presiding Justice Gregory Carro on July 18, challenging the lack of an overflow courtroom. It has continued to push - and now on July 31 Mangione's lawyers have written to Justice Carro. They say they only learned of the restriction from Inner City Press. And they want a hearing on how it was and perhaps is chosen, which media and which journalists can enter and cover the trial

The argument for an overflow courtroom have become even stronger.

In the Federal SDNY courthouse, which always provides overflow rooms to view trial of wide interest, Luigi Mangione was presented on December 19, 2024 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.

On April 1, 2025 DOJ announced it would seek the death penalty against Mangione. But SDNY Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the death eligible charges, and set an October 13 court date.

  After some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, now Amazon here

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

  On February 6, 2025 NYS Justice Gregory Carro convened a hearing and, after a long whispered sidebar, announced that NY and he should go first, on June 8. Karen Friedman Agnifilo said that was too fast, and said she would raise double jeopardy.

Luigi Mangione while being led out said it's common sense, that's double jeopardy

February 6 extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

  Inner City Press pushed to get exhibits unsealed, waiting through one of Justice Carro's calendar days to hand up a letter. While that led to unsealing, afterward Justice Carro granted privileged access to some, but not others, in the press corps.

On February 9 Mangione's lawyers wrote to SDNY Judge Garnett, recounting what Justice Carro said and opposing it, promising another filing - this one on Patreon here

  Now after NYS Justice Carro did everything he could to have his trial go before the Fed, on July 17 it was announced "Hon. Gregory Carro presiding... Overflow Courtroom: There will be NO overflow room for this proceeding   Time Courtroom Opens: 9:30 am  Duration of Proceeding: Approximately six to eight weeks; weekdays excluding Wednesdays  Press Arrival Outside Courthouse: By 7:00-7:45 am." So, waiting two and a half hours, some days in the rain, to get in.

   Who this benefits, other than fee-charging line-sitting companies, is unclear. At a minimum, or really as a first step to getting this reversed, it must be disclosed who made this decision, and why.

On July 18 Inner City Press streamed this vlog on the topic; here is its letter to Justice Carro, on DocumentCloud since NYS has no PACER, here.
July 1
8 more on X for Subscribers here and Substack here.

And on July 31, Mangione's lawyers Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan wrote in. Watch this site.

July 31 more on X for Subscribers here and Substack here.

Man Charged with Fentanyl Dealing Asks to See the Proof Then Consents to Detention in SDNY



Man Charged with Fentanyl Dealing Asks to See the Proof Then Consents to Detention in SDNY

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 31 – A defendant was brought into U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court on July 31, in shorts and a hoodie. Inner City Press was in the gallery and tweeted.

He was told, through a Spanish language interpreter, that he is charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

  He asked to be show "la prueba" - the proof.

The judge said the proceeding was not for that, then asked the prosecutor if the Government was seeking detention.

  Yes, the AUSA said, and we understand the defense consents to it.
 
  The CJA lawyer confirmed that, without prejudice to making a later bail application.

The case is USA v. Suarez Paula,, 1:26-mj-3107 (Parker)

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sdny

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

Man Charged As Felon with Gun Thrown Into Bronx Street Is Ordered Free on Bail in SDNY



Man Charged As Felon with Gun Thrown Into Bronx Street Is Ordered Free on Bail in SDNY

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 31 – A defendant was brought into U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court on July 31, charged as a felon in possession of a gun. Inner City Press was in the gallery and live tweeted:

AUSA: We are seeking detention. Police officers spotted this defendant in The Bronx on Home Street and Interval Avenue with a gun. They asked him to stop but he did not. He ran and threw the magazine first, then the gun, into the street, at 6:29 pm

AUSA: This is his third gun charge in four hours. He was sentenced to three years in 2024. He is a danger: he ran at full speed down a residential street. He pulled out a loaded firearm, then threw the magazine over a fence. We have body-worn camera video

Federal Defender: He is a livelong resident of NYC. He was released from prison in January of this year. He was presented in The Bronx and bailed out. Of course, their standard is different. But he should be released. He is a musical artist

 Judge: I will release him on $100,000 unsecured bond, with two co-signers.  But you will be detained until all conditions are met. When can the suretors sign?

Federal Defender: I'll aim for Monday.

Judge: You can use this time to make music. Adjourned

The case is USA v. Jackson, 1:26-mj-3012 (Parker)

***

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sdny

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

Woman Charged with Drug Dealing Detained with Causing Death Mentioned Now New Judge



Woman Charged with Drug Dealing Detained with Causing Death Mentioned Now New Judge

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 31 – A female defendant was brought into U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court on July 30, shivering in a black T-shirt. The superseding indictment charged her with conspiracy to distribute narcotics. But the prosecutor said "resulting in death," and a relative of the deceased was in the otherwise empty courtroom gallery with Inner City Press. From the thread:

AUSA: Judge Oetken has recused himself.

Judge: Case will be reassigned 

AUSA: We are seeking detention. Federal Defender: While my colleague Mr. Williams will be counsel going forward, I will argue today for release. 

AUSA: Law enforcement raided her apartment and found crack, pills and an unsecured firearm.  We believe the drugs she told resulted in the death of a woman whose relative is here in the courtroom. [The woman, with frizzy hair, has waited all day]

 AUSA: We arrested her yesterday in a hotel room with drug equipment. She is a danger to the community. The victim died in a car right next to her. She didn't change her behavior 

AUSA: She stole a truck and crashed it. She did not show up in state court.  Federal Defender: We seek release on $25,000 personal recognizance bond and drug treatment.  She contests a substantial number of the allegations. At 14 she got probation...

Judge: I find this defendant a danger and a flight risk and I detain her. There has been escalating behavior in the past year, suggesting she in out of control, possible due to drug addiction. That has endangered other people...

At Press time, the case had yet to be reassigned.

On July 31, it was reassigned from Judge Oetken to Judge Loretta A. Preska - the wheeling out took place in the Magistrates Court around 3 pm, and Inner City Press was there. Then this: "Case as to Saydie Noelle Bonilla REASSIGNED to Judge Loretta A. Preska. Judge J. Paul Oetken no longer assigned to the case."

At 10:37 am, before the reassignment, a seal document was filed in the case.

The case is now USA v. Bonilla, 1:26-cr-326 (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.

sdny

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

Shooter in Taxi Got 21 Years Now Gets 30 Months Concurrent for Assaulting MDC Transportation Officer



Shooter in Taxi Got 21 Years Now Gets 30 Months Concurrent for Assaulting MDC Transportation Officer

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 31 – Travis Moore was charged in connection with a 2020 murder - he was downstairs in a taxi, in which his co-defendant Kyeone Stone and two guns were found. 

 On July 10, 2023, Moore was arrested at 6 am and appeared before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrberger at 4 pm. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag court. 

 Moore's lawyer emphasized that the Bronx District Attorney had dropped the charges. The Assistant US Attorney said his office has more evidence. 

Judge Lehrburger said the presumption had been overcome and ordered Moore released on $100,000 unsecured bond, urging him to go out and look for employment. 

On August 8, the case was indicted and wheeled out to District Judge Ronnie Abrams.

On August 30 Judge Abrams held a proceeding, but only Moore was there. Stone, Judge Abrams said, wasn't feeling well. Moore's lawyer asked for nine weeks and got it, until October 30 at 11:30 am.

On September 12, 2023 Stone was brought in in custody before Judge Abrams to be arraigned. Other than Inner City Press, there was only a couple in the gallery. He pleaded not guilty and was told of the October 30 conference. The Marshals took him down by the 40 Foley Square elevators.

Jump cut a year to November 1, 2024 - the US Attorney's Office, in a heavily redacted letter, speaks of an evaluation by a psychiatrist and that BOP says an evaluation is unlikely to occur in time for trial to proceed on February 3, 2025.

On November 8, Stone's counsel docketed its notice that Stone "intends to introduce expert testimony relating to a mental disease or defect bearing on the issue of guilty."

On December 26 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that Stone was transferred to FCI Butner on December 13 and that due to defense counsel obligations, no trial is possible until September 15, 2025. Judge Abrams set a January 3 conference at 1:30 pm, asking to hear about Stone waiving his presence.

On December 27 Stone's lawyers wrote in that "we have not been able to reach our client since his departure from the Brooklyn MDC... However we believe we may waive his appearance."

On December 30 Judge Abrams agreed, citing US v. Jenkins (2d Cir. 2022)

Jump cut to August 8, 2025 when the US Attorney's Office wrote to Judge Abrams to move an August 11 deadline for motions to at least August 14 "in anticipation of possible pretrial dispositions."

On August 12 Moore pled guilty, with sentencing set for December 12.

On October 4 - a Saturday - counsel to Stone wrote to Judge Abrams and to Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who has Stone's case for assault a transportation officer on the way back to MDC [24-cr-349], asking that Judge Abrams consolidate the sentencings before herself, for reasons heavily redacted.

On October 10, Judge Abrams docketed, "The motion is denied. Judge Engelmayer and I will each handle the sentencing in our respective cases."

On December 1 Moore's lawyer wrote in asking for time served on December 12.

On December 2 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for zero to six months.

Docketed on December 4 a letter from the mother of the victim: "I hold him just as responsible as the shooter...I am pleading with this Court to keep him detained."

He got time served. And on February 27, 2026 Judge Abrams docketed an order, as to Stone, that "the Court is in receipt of the Forensic Evaluation Republic by Dr Kelsey Laxton. The parties are directed to propose next steps in this matter."

Docketed on April 21, the defense wrote in asking for 17 years.

On April 29, for the May 6 sentencing at which the defendant will be allowed to wear civilian clothing, the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for 21 years.

Docketed on June 1, Stone was sentenced to 252 months - 192 months on Count 3 to run consecutive to 60 months on Count 5.

On July 16, counsel to Kyeone Stone in the Judge Engelmayer case wrote in asking for a sentence concurrent to Judge Abrams' for assaulting a transportation officer while being transported to the MDC on December 15, 2023.

On July 31 he got 30 months - concurrent.

This case is USA v. Stone, 1:24-cr-349 (Engelmayer)

The case is USA v. Stone, et al., 1:23-cr-409 (Abrams)

***

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.

sdny

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 2006-2025 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com