| In
Brooklyn
Murder Case
Lopez Pled
Guilty then
Wrote in to
Change Lawyer
Now Dec 6
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Oct 22 –
Police found a
burned human
body in
Chester
County,
Pennsylvania
on June 18,
2023. The
decedent was
IDed at
Rolando
Blanco-Duarte.
They tracked
the murder
back to the
Black Horses
Tavern in
Brooklyn, NY
and arrested
Luis
Cerna-Marroquin.
On July 24 he
appeared, in
the yellow
prison
jumpsuit of
the Essex
County
Correctional
Facility,
before U.S.
District Court
for the
Southern
District of
New York Judge
John G.
Koeltl. Inner
City Press was
there, the
only media -
the only
person - in
the courtroom
gallery.
The
defendant's
CJA lawyer did
not consent to
excluding time
of the Speedy
Trial Act.
The
prosecutor
replied that
the clock
would only
began to run
upon
indictment. So
far, the only
charges are
Use of
Interstate
Commerce to
Promote
Unlawful
Activity and
Accessory
After the
Fact.
On
March 11, 2024
Cerna-Marroquin
pleaded guilty
to count 1 of
the
superseding
indictment,
that is,
obstruction of
justice. His
sentencing was
set for June
11 at 4:30 pm.
On
April 10, for
the sentencing
of Rodolfo
Lopez, defense
counsel wrote
in asking for
five years on
April 24,
citing his
"traumatic
childhood in
El Salvador."
Then
there was a
change of
counsel, and
sentencing
adjourned.
On
July 22
Cerna-Marroquin
wrote in to
ask for a
sentence
between 70 and
87 months;
sentencing is
set for August
5 at 11:30 am.
Inner
City Press was
there, Cerna
Marroquin got
120 months
after the
victim's
brother spoke,
thread:
Defense
lawyer: Since
he came here
from Central
America, he
has worked,
albeit
illegally. NYS
could also
still charge
him with
murder, not
just the
Federal charge
of obstruction
of
justice.
Judge: Don't
he be removed
from US after
prison? AUSA:
There is an
order
Defense
lawyer: I am
showing your
Honor photos
of him playing
the guitar in
church. He
acknowledges
that burning
the body was a
terrible thing
Defendant: I
made an error.
I had alcohol
in my system.
I am sorry.
Victim's
brother: I an
here in memory
of my brother
Victim's
brother: This
person next to
me has no
heart, no
soul. My
brother came
here for a
better future,
for his
family. This
person did not
stop to think
about us. He
does not
deserve a 2d
chance. He is
a person of
vices
Victim's
brother: He is
an
extortionist,
come to this
country to
cause
problems. He
is a bad
person. He is
not normal.
Imagine what
he did to my
brother. He
dumped him.
Give him the
longest
sentence
possible.
Thank you
Assistant
US Attorney:
The victim
came from
Guatemala. We
have not
charged this
defendant with
the murder.
But the victim
came out in a
garbage bags,
was burned and
dumped. The
guideline
would be the
same as if he
threw a gun in
the
river
AUSA: He
texted, after
the murder,
Dude if you
come by the
apartment
you're going
to have to
clean up.
Sorry bro.
Defense
lawyer: The
victim was
also here
illegally, is
my
understanding.
Judge: The
guidelines are
70 to 87
months.
Judge:
This case
merits an
upward
variance.
While removal
for the US is
likely, it is
not assured. I
sentence you
to 120 months
Co-defendant
Rodolfo Lopez
pled guilty -
then, after
switching
lawyers, wrote
in to switch
again. He
asked this his
pro se letter
be filed
unsealed - it
was - and on
October 22 he
appeared with
his new
appointed
counsel. Judge
Koeltl set a
December 6
deadline for a
motion and may
hear it on
February 19 at
4:30 pm.
More
on X for
Subscribers here
& Substack
here
The
case is US v.
Cerna-Marroquin,
23-cr-360
(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
SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA
Mail: Box 20047, Dag
Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017
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 2006-2023 Inner City
Press, Inc. To request reprint or other
permission, e-contact Editorial [at]
innercitypress.com
|
,
