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Date: 10-10-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. James Felton
Case Number: 1:17-cr-00021-WHP-1
Judge: William H. Pauley, III
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (New York County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Frank Balsamello, Matthew Hellman, and Anden Chow
Defendant's Attorney:
Call 888-354-4529 if you need help finding a criminal defense lawyer in New York City, New York for conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession of a firearm during drug trafficking, or murder case.
Description:
New York, NY - Bronx Man Sentenced To Life Plus 75 Years In Prison In Connection With Murders Of Marvin Harris And
Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAMES FELTON was sentenced today to life plus 75 years in prison for the June 11, 2016, murder of Marvin Harris, whom FELTON shot 13 times, and the December 11, 2016, murder of Jose Morales, whom FELTON shot in the head. FELTON’s sentence also encompassed his participation in a drug conspiracy and firearms offenses. FELTON was convicted on June 19, 2019, after a jury trial before U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “James Felton murdered two people in cold blood and attempted to murder two others. The sentence imposed today is a just punishment for a brutal, unrepentant killer. We thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department for their outstanding work on this case and for their dedication in bringing Felton to justice.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and evidence at trial:
Between 2010 and 2017, FELTON was a member of a long-running narcotics conspiracy centered around 240 East 175th Street in the Bronx, New York, as well as a criminal enterprise consisting of members of his family and other associates. On June 11, 2016, at the corner of East 175th Street and Monroe Avenue, FELTON shot Marvin Harris 13 times after Harris insulted FELTON and challenged FELTON’s status within the drug territory. Six months later, at the corner of East 175th Street and Weeks Avenue, one block away from the scene of the Harris murder, FELTON shot rival drug dealer Edwin Romero four times, attempted to shoot Romero’s girlfriend, and shot Jose Morales in the head, killing him.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, FELTON, 50, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York City Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Matthew Hellman, and Anden Chow are in charge of the prosecution.
Charges:
21:846=CD.F CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
(1ssssss)
18:924C.F VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN/FIREARM USE, CARRYING, POSSESSION, BRANDISHING AND DISCHARGE IN RELATION TO DRUG TRAFFICKING
(2ssssss)
18:924J.F VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN/FIREARM USE, CARRYING AND POSSESSION IN RELATION TO DRUG TRAFFICKING WHERE DEATH OCCURS BY PREMEDITATED MURDER
(3ssssss)
21:848E.F CONTINUING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE (MURDER WHILE ENGAGED IN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY)
(4ssssss)
18:924J.F VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN/FIREARM USE, CARRYING AND POSSESSION IN RELATION TO DRUG TRAFFICKING WHERE DEATH OCCURS BY PREMEDITATED MURDER
(5ssssss)
21:848E.F CONTINUING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE (MURDER WHILE ENGAGED IN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY)
(6ssssss)
18:1959-7471.F RACKETEERING ACTIVITY, MURDER/KIDNAPPING
(7ssssss-8ssssss)
18:922G.F UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC. (POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR AMMUNITION AFTER FELONY CONVICTION)
(9ssssss-12ssssss)
Outcome: IMPRISONMENT: Life imprisonment on counts 7 and 8, 300 months consecutive on each of counts 2, 3 and 5, for a total of 900 months to run consecutive to life, all other counts to run concurrent to the life imprisonment counts. 120 months on each of Counts 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12, all to be served concurrently and 240 months on each of counts 4 and 6 also to be served concurrently and concurrent with terms of imprisonment on dockets 10-Cr-616 and 12-Cr-564; SUPERVISED RELEASE: 5 years supervision on counts 1-8, and 3 years on counts 9-12, all to be served concurrently for a total of five years.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: