| Graves
Pled Guilty In
Crack Case Got
5 Years Now
Co-D Wants
Same Citing 1
Corinthians
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Nov 6 – John Graves was
charged with being part of a
crack-dealing gang centered
around Valentine Avenue in the
South Bronx.
On
September 25, 2023 Graves was
brought by US Marshals before
U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge Vernon S. Broderick to
plead guilty. Inner City Press
was the only media there.
Judge
Broderick noted that the
initial charge carried a ten
year mandatory minimum prison
sentence; Graves was being
allowed to plead to the lesser
included offense of
conspiracy, with a five year
minimum.
Also,
Graves was waiving his right
to argue he is eligible for
release through the so-called
Safety Valve. Sentencing was
set for January 5, 2024 at 11
am.
On December 1 in
the same case, counsel for
co-defendant Zukeila Plaza in
a redacted submission asked
that she be given a five year
sentence, saying she only
operated the crack business
for her imprisoned boyfriend.
On January 17,
2024 she got just that: five
years
On January 19,
the US Attorney's Office wrote
in and for Graves asked for a
sentence in the 121 to 151
month guideline: more than ten
years.
On January 26,
Graves got 65 months.
On February 22,
in the same case, co-Defendant
Maurice Sinclair asked for 60
months.
On March 4, the
AUSA Attorney's Office for
Sinclair asked for 135 months.
On March 7,
Sinclair was sentenced to 68
months.
On March 15,
retained counsel for
co-defendant Ali Doby,
described as "a promising
young musician [who] feel in
with the wrong crowd out of
the lend support and
credibility to his burgeoning
rap career," asked for the 60
months minimum.
His sentencing
submission said he joined the
narcotics conspiracy "to book
studio time."
The US Attorney's Office
wanted it consecutive, but on
March 29 Ali Doby was
sentenced to five years,
"concurrent with his State
Court sentence"
On April 23, in
the run-up to co-defendant
Estiben Oliva's April 29
sentencing, the US Attorney's
Office puts in a list of
relevant sentencings - and
asked for immediate remand
On June 20,
co-defendant Louis Lawrence
was sentenced to 60 months,
five years.
On July 16,
co-defendant Nathan Smith's
lawyer wrote in asking for 60
months; sentencing was set for
July 26 at 2 pm.
Inner City Press
went. Smith said he was sorry,
that he had graduated from
Cardinal Hayes; Judge
Broderick added that he got a
scholarship to a college in
North Carolina "where there
are fewer people of color than
in NYC." He noted family
support, and gave a 60 month
sentence.
On November 6
counsel for co-defendant Green
wrote in asking for five
years, citing 1 Corinthians
13:11 (When I saw a child, I
spoke as a child... but when I
became a man, I put away
childish things). Sentencing
is set for November 20.
The overall
case is US v. Earl, et al.,
22-cr-142 (Broderick)
***
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