Cold Case: 2011 Death of Joshua Rubin In Brooklyn Results in 28 Years for Kevin Taylor in SDNY

Judge Jed Rakoff's courtroom was full, mostly of Taylor's family and supporters, but also two of Joshua Rubin's relative. For them, it's been a long road. And 28 years is a long time. Inner City Press

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 10 – Kevin Taylor, Gary Robles and Michael Mazur were indicted for the death of Joshua Robin while robbing him of marijuana near 1021 McDonald Avenue, Brooklyn.     

  Early in the (cold) case, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Laura Taylor Swain held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it. 

Then on September 17, 2021, KEVIN TAYLOR, GARY ROBLES, and MICHAEL MAZUR pled guilty to participating in the October 31, 2011, murder of Joshua Rubin.  After shooting and killing Rubin in Brooklyn, New York, the defendants drove Rubin’s body to rural Pennsylvania, where they doused his body in lighter fluid and set it on fire.  TAYLOR and ROBLES pled guilty today.  MAZUR pled guilty on July 1, 2021.  All three defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, to whom the case is assigned."

  On February 10, 2022 Taylor was up for sentencing before Judge Rakoff, in large Courtroom 24B which was full. Inner City Press live tweeted (most of) it, thread here:

now for killing of Joshua Rubin, Kevin Taylor is up for sentencing before SDNY Judge Jed Rakoff. The (large) courtroom is full.

Taylor's lawyer: He's been locked up in Essex for two years, and no infractions. Maybe you'll give him another 26 years like his co-defending. You see his family in here today. (Courtroom full). You've seen photos of the victim, too...

 From US sentencing submission (they're asking for 360 months, or 30 years; Probation recommends 25. Defense is asking for 20 years, minus the two years already served

Assistant US Attorney: This room is full with the defendant's family. And that's a good thing. But there's also relatives of Mr. Rubin. They've been here for every sentencing. So we will tell the facts again, of the fateful night of October 2021.

 AUSA: First he tried to rob Joshua Rubin but it didn't work. So he tried again with Robles...  [From US Sentencing submission: Rubin was confronted by Taylor & Robles who demanded he turn over the marijuana. When Rubin refused, Robles shot him once in the chest]

Judge Rakoff: For me the big issue in this sentencing is the comparison of Mr. Taylor and Mr. Robles. To be honest, though I haven't made up my mind, the likelihood I will give only 20 years is low. It's between 25, 28 and 30, realistically

AUSA: On the drive out to Pennsylvania, he took the victim's credit cards. He sends 2 friends shopping with them. He gets a shirt. That conduct, after murder - it doesn't stop there. Years after the murder, when he is no longer a teenager, he offers $ to witnesses

Here from the docket are the credit card charges: Polo in Woodbury Mall, and Wasabi Janes ("Asian Food") [After a brief programming snafu]

Judge Rakoff: I am sentencing him to 28 years. No fine, because he is not the position to pay one now or in the immediate future.

 Judge Rakoff: You have the right to appeal, do you understand?

Taylor (in a suit) Yes your Honor.

Marshals handcuff him.

The case is US v. Taylor, et al., 20-cr-227 (Rakoff)