Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Peter C. Fitzhugh, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging DARON GOODMAN and JAMARR SIMMONS with the January 11, 2020, murder of Jason Parris, 36, in the vicinity of East 170th Street and Webster Avenue in the Bronx, New York. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge George B. Daniels. SIMMONS was arrested this morning. GOODMAN was in state custody and was transferred to federal custody. Both defendants were presented today before Judge Daniels and ordered detained.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged in the indictment, Daron Goodman and Jamar Simmons murdered Jason Parris earlier this month. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the NYPD and HSI, Goodman and Simmons now face federal murder charges for this terrible crime. We continue our daily work with our law enforcement partners to keep the streets safe, and to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who allegedly engage in acts of violence in our community.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “This indictment illustrates how committed we are to stopping those engaged in gun violence. The NYPD, together with federal agents and prosecutors, remain vigilant in our fight against violent crime as part of our joint effort to keep the city and its residents safe.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said: “In a most heinous act, both Goodman and Simmons are alleged to have murdered a man in cold blood. HSI will remain committed to work closely with our law enforcement partners on murder investigations in order to bring justice, and maybe some solace, for the victim’s family and loved ones.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
On January 11, 2020, DARON GOODMAN and JAMARR SIMMONS, shot and killed Jason Parris in the vicinity of 1441 Webster Avenue in the Bronx. GOODMAN and SIMMONS killed Parris in part to maintain and increase their position in a racketeering enterprise operating in the Southern District of New York.
GOODMAN, 22, and SIMMONS, 32, are each charged with using a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death, or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison. 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 HSI. Mr. Berman also praised the New York City Department of Correction, Correction Intelligence Bureau, for its assistance in the investigation.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
