Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI"), and William J. Bratton, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD"), announced the return of a Superseding Indictment charging TERRILL STATON with the Oct. 29, 2013, home-invasion robbery and murder of Erwin Elliot, 44, in the Bronx, New York.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “As alleged, the defendant went into Erwin Elliot’s home with a gun, robbed him, and murdered him. Thanks to the dogged efforts of the FBI and the NYPD, the defendant is now being held accountable for his alleged brutal crimes."
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez stated: “Today, Terrill Staton faces justice for his alleged role in the brutal home-invasion robbery and murder of a Bronx resident. The FBI would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance with this case."
NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said: “I want to commend the NYPD detectives and our law enforcement partners who were integral to this indictment, which we hope will offer some consolation to the family who lost their loved one to this violent act."
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment,[1] on Oct. 29, 2013, STATON carried out a home-invasion robbery of Erwin Elliot, a marijuana dealer, at 642 East 221st Street in the Bronx. In the course of the robbery, STATON shot and killed Elliot.
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STATON was already in federal custody, and will be arraigned on the Superseding Indictment before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald at a date to be determined.
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 defendant would be determined by the judge.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD. Mr. Bharara also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the case.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Hadassa Waxman and Michael Gerber are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
CHARGE
MAXIMUM PENALTY
Robbery conspiracy
20 years in prison
Robbery
20 years in prison
Murder
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum:
5 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other sentence
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
