Two Men Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With 2014 Robbery And Murder
NEW YORK - James J. Hunt, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement (DEA), Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James P. O’Neill, Police Commissioner of the City of New (“NYPD”), and announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging Frank Bright, a/k/a “Frankie,” and John Duncan, a/k/a “Balla,” a/k/a “Moreno,” with the murder of Amaury Paulino. Paulino was shot and killed on Christmas Eve in 2014 during the course of an armed robbery in the vicinity of St. Nicholas Avenue and West 129th Street.
Bright was arrested today and will be presented in federal court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda K. Caracappa. Duncan is in federal custody on another offense. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: “A cold case has brought two men before the bar of justice today after efforts by the NYPD, DEA, and U.S. Attorney’s Office to find those allegedly responsible for a 2014 Christmas Eve murder.”
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, Bright and Duncan planned a gunpoint robbery of Amaury Paulino, which resulted in his murder. The defendants will now face justice for their alleged roles in this violent robbery. We thank our law enforcement partners for their extraordinary efforts investigating this murder.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment and information in the public record:
On December 24, 2014, Bright and Duncan robbed Amaury Paulino in the vicinity of St. Nicholas Avenue and West 129th Street. During the course of the robbery, Paulino was shot and killed.
Frank Bright, 31, and John Duncan, 32, are charged in the Indictment with one count of robbery conspiracy, one count of robbery, and one count of murder through the use of a firearm and aiding and abetting the same. A chart containing the charges and maximum penalties is below. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and the DEA.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit and Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Gina Castellano, Jordan Estes, and Jason Richman are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
