| Bronx
Man Arrested
for Crack
ID-ed by UC-1
in Semi Sealed
Courtroom US
Owes Exhibits
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Jan 29 – In a four defendant
crack conspiracy case centered
around the Lambert Houses in
The Bronx, Malik Muhammad had
a bail hearing on September
14, 2023 before U.S. District
Court for the Southern
District of New York
Magistrate Judge Sarah L.
Cave. Inner City Press was
there.
The
Assistant US Attorney, after a
trial day that ended at 3 pm,
cited beyond the alleged crack
to a shooting he said Muhammad
had been picked out of a line
up for.
Judge Cave
said she had before her only
the crack indictment.
The AUSA
passed up to the bench a six
pack photo array and at first
asked the defense counsel not
see it as it had the witnesses
name. The defense said
"attorney-eyes only" and saw
it.
Judge Cave
ordered the defendant released
on $25,000 bond, subsequently
raised to $75,000.
Meanwhile,
Conyers headed to trial.
On January 28,
2025 Conyers' counsel wrote it
asking to delay the trial
scheduled for May 5 until late
June, or September, so that
Conyers can have shoulder
replacement surgery.
On March 25 the
US Attorney's Office wrote it
saying that Conyers has
refused treatment for a dental
condition which precludes or
further delays the shoulder
surgery. Amid sealed medical
records, and references to
Bronx street videos, the US
says it wanted to proceed to
trial.
On July 10
co-defendant Muhammad pled
guilty to Count 1.
On November 18
his counsel wrote in asking
for the five year mandatory
minimum on November 20. And
that's what he got.
On January 19,
Judge Clarke agreed to seal
the courtroom for an
Undercover at trial.
On January 28 it
was clarified that there was
an audio feed in 23B. Inner
City Press went:
...AUSA: Does the
fact that you record the
defendants discretely contribute
to the quality of the video and
audio?
Undercover: Yes.
It's blurry and people talk over
it. AUSA: If it doesn't work
during a case buy?
Undercover: It
could shut down without me
knowing
AUSA: Where did you
make these buys?
Undercover
Detective "Smith" - the 2016
West Farms Convenience, deli, on
Boston Road.
AUSA: Do you see
who you bought from? UC Smith:
Over there.
AUSA:
Indicating defendant Conyers.
Please look at the binder...
We wrote on
January 28 that we hoped to
have more on the exhibits
shown in the courtroom that
was sealed to conceal the
undercover's identity. These
were requested from the US
Attorney's Office early on the
morning of January 29; by
day's end, nothing from the
Office. They owe exhibits,
including here and in US v.
Alexander.
Judge Clarke, on
the other hand, docketed that
"as of 10 am the courtroom is
unsealed" then "the Court will
seal the courtroom at 1:30
today, and audio feed is
available in 23B." It is
appreciated.
In the courtroom,
NYPD drug experts testified.
In the afternoon, when the
defense told "Detective Smith"
that they had no more
questions he said, "That's
it?" Eliciting laughter.
The trial
continues. The wider case is
USA v. Conyers, et al.,
1:23-cr-457 (Clarke)
***
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