| On Man
Convicted of Killing Federal Witnesses Got
Life Now US Wants 20 Years on Castro
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Nov 19 – William Jones is on
trial for Conspiracy to Murder
a Federal Informant To Prevent
Communication to Law
Enforcement. Inner City Press
is covering the case, from
2021 into 2023 and beyond.
On September 23, 2021 U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge Edgardo Ramos held a
proceeding. Inner City Press
covered it.
Judge
Ramos asked if the capital
decision had been made. It has
not. But the "Special Finding"
have been set forth.
The killing was
in Suffolk County, New York,
after abduction from The Bronx
on December 28, 2019.
Jump cut to June
28, 2023. In the SDNY
Magistrates Court, with Inner
City Press the only media
there, Jones was arraigned on
a superseding indictment. He
had three lawyers at the
table. His trial is set for
October 2, 2023, and Speedy
Trial Act time was excluded
until then by SDNY Magistrate
Judge Sarah L. Cave. Inner
City Press intends to cover
the trial.
On September 7
the US filed an additional
protective order for 3500
material citing the violent
nature of the case. The
defense is seeking to keep out
the autopsy photos of
Frederick Delacruz.
On September 21,
after yet another defendant in
the case passed through the
Magistrates Court, Genaro
Castro was brought in after
self-surrender in the Western
District of North Carolina. He
was nevertheless detained, on
danger grounds.
In October 2023,
the trial was on - and Inner
City Press went. Cooperators
Castillo and Rivera were on
the stand, testifying as to
the rules of retaliation, hand
signs, meetings and dues. The
prosecution wants a Detective
Jiminez to testify about what
the decedent, his CI, told
him.
The
defense objects, as hearsay.
But the prosecution argues
that Jones made the witness
unavailable. That's what we're
hear for, to decide, the
defense lawyer said.
But apparently
that finding of Jones' role
can be made on a preponderance
of the evidence, not
reasonable doubt.
On October 10
Detective Jiminez was on the
stand, testifying about
getting de la Cruz out of
trouble in NJ and then
Connecticut. Played for the
jury was de la Cruz' last
voice mail to Jiminez, that
"they are taking me out to
Long Island."
On October 11
Jones' lawyer in closing
argument picked up a weapon
from the prosecutors table and
said it was a cooperating
witness who knew more about
it. He cited Judge Ramos'
"lengthy by well done" legal
instruction. Next up: a
verdict.
It came on
October 12: "WILLIAM JONES,
a/k/a “Principe,” was
convicted by a jury of
racketeering conspiracy,
murder in aid of racketeering,
and firearms offenses for his
role in the murder of
Frederick Delacruz on December
28, 2019. The defendant
was found guilty on all counts
following an eight-day jury
trial ..murder through the use
of a firearm, which carries a
maximum penalty of life in
prison."
On December 8,
Jones' lawyers informed Judge
Ramos that after consultation
with Mr. Jones, the defense
will not be filing post-trial
motions. Judge Ramos then set
sentencing.
On April 19,
2024, the US wrote in and
asked for two life sentences.
On May 7, 2024,
Jones got life in prison - one
life sentence: "WILLIAM JONES,
a/k/a “Principe,” was
sentenced today to life in
prison for the December 2019
murder of Frederick Delacruz."
On October 25,
DOJ notified Judge Ramos it
will not seek the death
penalty against a
co-defendant: "LETTER by USA
as to Genaro Castro addressed
to Judge Edgardo Ramos from
USA dated October 25, 2023 re:
the Government's Decision Not
to Seek the Death Penalty
Against Genaro Castro Document
filed by USA. (Rodriguez,
Justin)."
Note: Castro's
Federal Defender was present
in the gallery throughout
Jones' trial...
On June 11,
Genaro Castro pled guilty:
Change of Plea Hearing as to
Genaro Castro held on
6/11/2024.
On November 19 on
Castro the US Attorney's
Office asked for 250 months,
on November 26.
The case is US v.
Jones, 21-cr-505 (Ramos /
Willis)
***
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