| Among 16
Bronxites Indicted in Valentine Ave Drug
Case now Marcus Detention Upheld Jan 10
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
May 31 – Angel Villafane,
previously convicted of a
felony, was arrested for
having a gun in incidents
starting at 97th Street and
Second Avenue then 110th
Street and the FDR (long
barrel firearm)
On May 20,
2022 U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York Judge Victor
Marrero held a conference.
Inner City Press covered it,
the only media there.
Jump cut to March
6, 2024 - now it was grown to
a 16 defendant indictment: "As
alleged, day in and day out,
this crew distributed
fentanyl, heroin, and crack
along several blocks on
Valentine Avenue."
Inner City Press
went to arraignments including
that of Christopher Meadows,
who the prosecutor described
as an enforcer for the lead
named defendant (who was
detained on consent).
Based on
medical conditions named in
court but which Inner City
Press will voluntarily not
report, he was ordered bailed
on $50,000 bond to his
mother's residence in
Soundview by Magistrate Judge
Valerie Figueredo. On the day
of appeal, the US agreed to
release.
On March 15,
another co-defendant had a
bail hearing before Magistrate
Judge Stewart D. Aaron. Inner
City Press was there, here
OK - now at bail
hearing in Bronx Valentine Ave
16 case - 10 supporters of
detained defendant here.
Defense: My client could move
out of The Bronx, to his
mother's on Staten Island, or
to a suretor's in Orange
County. He's charged with
aiding & abetting the use
or brandishing of a firearm in
connection with narcotics
sales
AUSA: We are
appealing one order to
release: we agreed to release
Meadows ["The Enforcer," Inner
City Press live tweeted that
too]. Defense: My client
manages a musician, sells
clothing at clubs. He used to
be a porter at Tracy Towers
[in The Bronx]
AUSA: He
possessed a loaded weapon, and
sold fentanyl. He faces 360
months to life in prison. Four
cooperating witnesses will
testify against him, one of
them a rival. Another will
testify to selling him a gun.
AUSA: He
was arrested with a gun and
hollow point bullets, in a
bedroom shared with a two year
old autistic child. He is a
clear and present danger to
the community
Judge: I'm
focusing on danger to the
community. A gun was found at
your residence. I'm ordering
detention.
On March 20,
co-defendant Damel Marcus
asked for release on bail, in
Magistrates Court. Inner City
Press was there, thread
Late in the day
came notice that the defense
has appealed to Part I, for
March 21. Inner City Press was
there, thread:
Judge: I am
ordering him to continue to be
detained. I am concerned about
the firearms discharge, and
the wielding of the chains,
that he was present. Adjourned
On March 29,
co-defendent Moreno came
before Magistrate Judge James
L. Cott seeking release on
bond. After questioning of his
CJA counsel, and conferring
with Pre-Trial Services in the
robing room, the application
for bond was denied and
detention continued.
On April 10, a
co-defendant was writted in
from Rikers and detained:
"Minute Entry for proceedings
held before Magistrate Judge
Sarah Netburn: Arraignment as
to Victor Mending...
Conference before USDJ on
6/28/24 with Speedy Trial Time
excluded until that date.
On May 31, Judge
Marrero upheld Magistrate
Judge Aaron's detention of
co-defendant Juan Calderon:
"Minute Entry for proceedings
held before Judge Victor
Marrero: Status Conference as
to Juan Calderon held on
5/31/2024. After de novo
review of the March 15, 2024
bail determination of
Magistrate Judge Aaron, the
Court affirmed the Magistrate
Judge and ordered the
defendant detained pending
trial on the basis that no
condition or combination of
conditions of release would
assure not flee or pose a
danger to the safety of any
other person or the
community."
On October 4, a
bail review and a full-case
proceeding, thread
OK - now at multi
defendant Bronx / Valentine
Ave case, detained defendants
and the appointed lawyers in
the jury box. AUSA: We
provided discovery on July 8
and 26, and August 9. There
have been disciplinary issue,
we are looking into them.
Judge: Wasn't trial for two of
them to begin in a month?
Defense: January.
Defense 2: No access to law
library at Essex County jail
Coordinating
discovery attorney: This have
moved slowly in this case.
Judge: Next is January 10.
Please confer before then.
[Some family members and
suppoters shaking their heads.
Then there was the matter of a
bracelet] Adjourned.
and Bond Hearing
as to Damel Marcus held on
10/4/2024. AUSA, Thomas Wright
present for the Government.
Defendant present with
attorney Benjamin Adam
Silverman. BAIL DISPOSITION:
Detention:
Watch this site.
The case is US v.
Villafane, et al., 21-cr-93
(Marrero /
Netburn)
***
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