Source: United States Department of Justice News
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against DARNELL KIDD a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Donney,” a/k/a “Donney Black,” on one count of an indictment charging him with the 2011 murder of Jonathan Johnson, 21, in White Plains, New York. U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román presided over the eight-day trial.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Darnell Kidd shot and killed Jonathan Johnson during a robbery. He now stands guilty of that murder. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate gun violence and pursue justice for the victims of violent crimes.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and the evidence at trial:
On or about March 18, 2011, DARNELL KIDD murdered Jonathan Johnson by shooting him during the course of an armed robbery for marijuana in White Plains, New York. KIDD’s co-defendant MARCUS CHAMBERS arranged by phone to purchase the marijuana from Johnson. CHAMBERS and KIDD met with Johnson to rob him of marijuana, and during the robbery, KIDD shot and kill Johnson.
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KIDD, 31, of Yonkers, New York, was convicted of one count of murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum prison term of life.
The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
CHAMBERS previously pled guilty for his role in the murder. CHAMBERS was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, United States Probation Office, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Westchester County Department of Public Safety, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, New York City Police Department, Yonkers Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, Peekskill Police Department, Greenburgh Police Department, New Rochelle Police Department, White Plains Police Department, Clarkstown Police Department, and Ramapo Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the White Plains Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this matter.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olga I. Zverovich, Christopher Brumwell, Steven J. Kochevar, and Hagan Scotten and Paralegal Specialist Shannon Becker are in charge of the prosecution.