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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 4 – The rap podcaster Taxstone, Darryl Campbell, was on trial for the May 25, 2016 murder of Ronald McPhatter and shooting of rapper Troy Ave, Roland Collins. 

 On March 6, 2023, Inner City Press went to cover the trial in 111 Centre Street, before Judge Abraham Clott.

After the guilty verdict, on June 10 Inner City Press returned when Judge Clott sentenced Campbell to 35 years of update incarceration. First, three McPhatter family members spoke. His mother showed his photo; a sister described him saving a woman on the Brooklyn Bridge.

  The prosecutor quoted Campbell about getting a Connecticut lobster roll at Red Hook Lobster after a shooting. She said his anti gang podcast talk was too little too late. She noted the ongoing Federal case Inner City Press is covering.

Judge Clott said consecutive sentencing was called for -- 35 years in total.

More details on Substack here

On June 21, Assistant US Attorney Hagan Scotten wrote to SDNY Judge Lorna G. Schofield that "On June 20, 2023, the defendant received a state sentence consisting principally of 35 years’ imprisonment. The parties agree that the Presentence Report in this case can now be ordered, and that a sentencing should be scheduled. The parties further wish to inform the Court that they do not anticipate the need for a hearing pursuant to United States v. Fatico, 603 F.3d 1053 (2d Cir. 1979). Rather, the parties agree that the applicable sentencing range under the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.” or the “Guidelines”) is 92 to 115 months’ imprisonment" - but it would be concurrent, not consecutive. Letter on Patreon here.

On July 6 (dated July 7), Judge Schofield sent the sentencing for October 30: "Defendant sentencing hearing shall be held on October 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Defendant's sentencing submission shall be filed by October 10, 2023. The Governments sentencing submission shall be filed by October 13, 2023 (Defendant Sentencing Submission due by 10/10/2023., Government Sentencing Submission due by 10/13/2023, Sentencing set for 10/30/2023 at 11:00 AM before Judge Lorna G. Schofield.) (Signed by Judge Lorna G. Schofield on 7/7/2023)."

Campbell's lawyer filed early, on September 18, asking for 92 to 115 months to run concurrent to the 35 year state sentence. Annexed were letters of support from, among others, Tamiko Grimes and Dustin Ross.

On October 5, Judge Schofield granted a request to push the sentencing back: "Memo Endorsed granting [124] LETTER MOTION Request an adjournment as to Daryl Campbell (1)... Endorsement: Application Granted. The sentencing currently scheduled for October 30, 2023, is adjourned to February 6, 2024, at 11am. Defendant's sentencing submission shall be filed by January 16, 2024. The Government's sentencing submission shall be filed by January 19, 2024 (Signed by Judge Lorna G. Schofield on 10/5/23) "

On January 29, it was extended again: "MEMO ENDORSEMENT as to Daryl Campbell on [126] LETTER by Daryl Campbell. Application Granted. The sentencing currently scheduled for February 6, 2024, is adjourned to April 8 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The Government's sentencing submission shall be filed by March 25, 2024. (Signed by Judge Lorna G. Schofield on 1/29/2024)."

On March 21, 2024 the US Attorney's Office wrote in requesting the guideline sentence: 92 to 115 months.

Docketed on March 29, Judge Schofield pushed by the sentencing: "MEMO ENDORSEMENT as to Daryl Campbell [130] LETTER MOTION addressed to Judge Lorna G. Schofield from Kenneth J. Montgomery dated March 21, 2024 re: Sentencing adjournment request. ENDORESMENT: Application Granted. The sentencing hearing currently scheduled for April 8, 2024, is adjourned to June 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m."

That was pushed back, then again on September 9, 2024: "MEMO ENDORSEMENT as to Daryl Campbell (1) granting [135] LETTER MOTION addressed to Judge Lorna G. Schofield from Kenneth J. Montgomery dated September 4, 2024 re: Adjournment request. ENDORSEMENT: Application Granted. The sentencing hearing currently scheduled for September 10, 2024, is adjourned to November 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The Clerk of the Court is directed to terminate the letter motion at docket number 135. (Signed by Judge Lorna G. Schofield on 9/9/2024)."

On November 14, "JUDGMENT IN A CRIMINAL CASE as to Daryl Campbell (1). THE DEFENDANT: pleaded guilty to counts 1 and 2. IMPRISONMENT: 115 Months to run concurrently on each count and to run concurrently with Defendant's state sentence. The defendant is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal. SUPERVISED RELEASE: N/A. ASSESSMENT: $200.00 due immediately. (Signed by Judge Lorna G. Schofield on 11/4/2024)."

The SDNY case is US v. Campbell, 17-cr-112 (Schofield)

  At trial evidence was entered about the guns recovered in Irving Plaza, which were in turn given operability tests. There was the bullet removed from Roland Collins legs - and, strangely, the cataloguing of boxer shorts and white T-shirts. Much of this came up in stipulations agreed to by the defense, testimony of retired NYPD detectives.

Passed 4 pm Judge Clott called it a day and let the jury go. Then he held a whispered sidebar with the lawyers previewing arguments about "the Rikers calls." Subsequent Baxter Street stand-up video here.
March 2 Collect Pond video here 

 After the jury left Taxstone was handcuffed behind his back and led out.

On March 23, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the trial conviction of DARYL CAMPBELL, a/k/a “Taxstone,” 37, for shooting and killing 33-year-old Ronald “Banga” McPhatter, a bodyguard, during a confrontation at Irving Plaza, and shooting and seriously injuring three others.  Assistant District Attorneys Christine Keenan and Christina Awad (Trial Bureau 40) handled the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Robert Ferrari (Chief of Trial Bureau 40) and Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division) with the assistance of Senior Investigative Analyst Holly Burns-LaRiche, Digital Evidence Analyst Mollie Somers and Investigative Analyst Jacob Willebeek-LeMair. 

 He has a Federal case as well, which Inner City Press is also covering.

More including analysis on Substack here

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