Bronx
Man for Crack
ID-ed by UC-1
in Sealed
Court Was
Guilty Still
No US Exhibits
So Order
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Feb 13 – 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...
On January 19,
2026 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.
On January 30 -
still no exhibits or even
answer from a duo at the US
Attorney's Office - Director
Hernandez was on the stand,
telling the AUSA synonyms for
crack: rock, hard, stones.
On cross, CJA
Bradley asked for similar
synonyms for replica guns but
met resistance to scare piece,
dummy, joint for show. The
jury left, the charge
conference was held.
The result: ORDER
as to Kyrin Conyers: After a
jury trial, the jury returned
a verdict of guilty on all
three counts against Kyrin
Conyers. And still no exhibits
from the US Attorney's Office;
they could simply be uploaded
as they are in another current
trial.
On February 13,
with still no exhibits
released, Judge Clarke
docketed an order: "ORDER as
to Kyrin Conyers: During
trial, the Government
represented that it would make
public the transcript of the
UC's testimony and publish
redacted versions of the
exhibits -- including the buy
videos -- referenced during
the UC's testimony. The
Government shall provide the
Court with a status update
about its progress in
providing these materials no
later than February 20, 2026.
SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge
Jessica G. L. Clarke on
02/13/2026)"
The case is USA v.
Conyers, et al., 1:23-cr-457
(Clarke)
***
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