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September 2012

The Sad Sentencing Case of One of Shaws Resident Drug Lords And the Vicious Cycle
Excerpted from the official transcript of The United States of America v. Epsey Brown, Jr., Defendant Criminal Action No. 11-245-1 July 26, 2012, Washington, DC

[ Prosecuting Attorney Mr. Kenneth F. Whitted, Esq.: ] What was striking about the drug trafficking that was committed by Mr. Brown, that it involved many of whom were living within that particular area and specifically in the Immaculate Conception apartment complex at 1330 7th Street, Northwest. They were using their homes either to store drugs and also to run a customer base inside that particular apartment building. the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that he had, along with his crack, a 40 caliber semiautomatic firearm along with ammunition in relation to his drug trafficking case. Im sure the Court has already read the victim impact statement, which was provided to the Court from the Convention Center Community Association, their disdain for the defendants conduct and impact he has left on that community, and their personal feelings about whether or not he should return to that particular community or to the community at all at any particular time in the near future. ... I will say, Your Honor, that while today is a day of accountability for Mr. Brown, I did have an opportunity to read the letters that came from his family members, in particular his children and I guess his ex-wife. They were quite very moving. Its a sad day in the sense because I do understand that him going to prison for the amount of time that he is going is going to have a negative impact on their lives. It was very moving as to what his wife had to say about the impact on his young girls at this point. It is an unfortunate situation that Mr. Brown brought upon himself and brought upon his family, but balancing everything together, the sentence that is requested by the United States and the parties in this case, it is a term of at least 160 to 211 months total custody, would be appropriate. On behalf of the U.S., that is our request. [ Defense Attorney Mr Ron Earnest, Esq.: ] ... It was a very thorough investigation. It was replete with a lot of proof. Certainly, the surveillance on Mr. Brown identified people, led to the wiretaps; and the community ought to be grateful for the results of the investigation, which netted 27 defendants. My client is extremely remorseful of his conduct; ... At no time did he contest any of the evidence. [ Defendant, Espey Brown: ] I want to apologize for my actions and take full responsibility for what Ive done and apologize to my family and my kids and my mother for taking them through this, and to the community. Im truly sorry. [ The Honorable Reggie B. Walton, The Court: ] Why did you do it, sir? [ Brown: ] I wasnt thinking clearly. [ The Court: ] And you say you werent I dont understand when you say you werent thinking clearly. I mean you cant tell me that you didnt have some appreciation of what these type of drugs do to people. [ Brown: ] Judge, I know what they do to people. I wasnt thinking clearly, being selfish, trying to support myself and my kids. [ The Court: ] Why didnt you do something else to support your kids? I mean, I understand that, you know, sometimes, you know, things are tough, but I guess the way I was raised in very humble beginnings with parents who, because of the times and because of their skin

complexion, could not get a job that made much money. My mother couldnt even get a job because they wouldnt even hire her just because she happened to be AfricanAmerican to even work in a store selling things at a fiveand-ten-cent store. She couldnt get a job. That wasnt available. My father couldnt do anything other than be a laborer and then a janitor because even though he was a smart man, because he was African-American, he couldnt get anything else. So they didnt make a lot of money. I doubt that my parents, even when my mother started to work, probably never made over $18,000 a year and had three kids to take care of. We never went without a meal. We didnt live in the best of houses. We didnt have what we wanted all the time. We had a lot of beans, but there was always food on the table. I had parents who made me appreciate that as hard as things were that they werent going to go out and engage in criminal behavior because, number one, if they do that, they put themselves in a position youre in where now theyre not available to be a parent to their children; and number two, they understood that if they were going to be criminals, there was a good chance that we would be criminals, and they had to be good role models and, therefore, they didnt engage in that type of behavior. So I guess when you tell me that you had to do it or felt compelled to do it because times were tough, that sort of falls on deaf ears because you werent having it as hard as my parents were, and they never went out and did anything like that. As a result of that, all of their children went to college, all of their children have advanced degrees, and it was because of them and nothing other than them. I understand it is a vicious cycle because, unfortunately, your father wasnt there for you, and thats what I see over and over and over again. Every case basically that comes before me is the same situation; young men didnt have fathers, no role models and, therefore, they dont know how to act as a man, so theyre out there doing the stuff that their fathers were doing and then they leave these children behind. I hope your little girls will be all right. They wrote some really compelling letters. Obviously, they love you, and thats the reality of children. Regardless of what their parents do, they love them. The unfortunate reality is that a lot of times

-- and I saw it especially when I was across the street on the local court -- little girls who grow up in a home where they dont have a father that are around for them to be that loving man that any little girl needs, they start looking for that love out there in the street, and they get involved with no-good men, and a lot of them get involved with the same type of men that their fathers

It is unfortunate, sir, that you have put yourself in this position. ... [R]egardless of what sentence I give you, ... youre not going to be there for [ your loving daughters ], because when you come out, ... it is going to be too late for you to really influence their lives, and thats sad.
The Honorable Reggie B. Walton, United States District Court

Shaws Dunbar in Top 5 For DCPS Truancy

Although its not true that all truants become criminals, most criminals have at some point been truant. DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson

were. So theyre out there involved with a man who is also doing crime who gets locked up or gets killed. They have children by them, and the cycle keeps going because then their children dont have a father. It is unfortunate, sir, that you have put yourself in this position. I dont know how we break this cycle, because until that cycle is broken and we start to have more men who are responsible men like my father was who are in that house all the time for their kids, until we get to that point, we cant break the cycle. So we will find, unfortunately, all too many folk who look like you and me locked up in prison, [women] pregnant with no men in their lives helping them raise those children, thats going to continue. Unfortunately, you know, you have contributed to this. While your father wasnt there, from everything I could read and from the things that your mother said in the letter that she sent to me, it sounds like she was a decent woman who tried very hard under difficult circumstances to give you a shot at life. [ Brown: ] Yes. [ The Court: ] But, unfortunately, for whatever reason, you know, it didnt stick, and you were in the system three times before. You were arrested a number of times, but you were convicted three times. You got probation on two of those occasions, and you got a split sentence on one of those occasions, and unfortunately you didnt get the message. [R]egardless of what sentence I give you based on the plea agreement that was reached, youre not going to be there for them, because when you come out, theyre going to be young women, and theyre basically going to be who they are going to be, and it is going to be too late for you to really influence their lives, and thats sad. Mr. Brown, I know its a long time, but with good time, you probably could be out in about 12 years. I know thats a long time, but hopefully while youre in, you will maintain contact with your girls and try and encourage them to make the right decisions in life despite the fact that youre not going to be there with them. I still think it is important that you try and stay active in their life to the extent that you can and that you do the things to try and get your life together so that when you come out you will maybe be a changed person. So, [youll be] 49, maybe 50 years old, which is not old in todays world, and you still have a lot of years ahead of you. So I can only hope that when you come out you will take a different path in life.
Community Impact Statement (CIS) for Espey Brown submitted by Convention Center Community Associations Martin Moulton who prompted an Advisory Neighbourhood Commissioner to submit ANC2Cs first ever CIS to help eradicate crime in Shaw. The Districts heroic US Attorney Ron Machen recommends that residents submit CISs to inform judges about all the facts they need to give criminals appropriate sentences.

Complete 2011-2012 City-Wide DCPS Truancy Chart available at www.PhilMendelson.com. Truancy has been identified as an early warning sign that students are headed for delinquent activity, social isolation and educational failure.

Elect Moulton for Shaws ANC6E02

Vote for Proven Results for Everyone in Shaw.
Ive personally known Martin for more than an decade. Hes extremely talented and a supporter of small businesses. He wants the best for everyone in our community and believes the District should be the greatest city on earth. The influence of Martins dedication and work in Shaw over the past ten years can be seen all around the neighborhood. This is not just a campaign ploy, this is part of his love for the City. Martins a hard worker, enjoys civic involvement and is committed to his community and to our city all of which adds up to the criteria that make for a good ANC Commissioner. I support Martin for ANC.

Dolores, P St NW resident
Tuesday 25 September 2012

I am sorry Martin wont be representing my SMD due to redistricting, but hell be good for the Commission. My son often speaks to Martin in and around the neighborhood.

Cheryl A Lofton Phil Mendelson

CherylLofton.com
Tuesday 2 October 2012

DC Council Chairman
Tuesday 2 October 2012

Dottie, O St NW resident
Sunday 23 September 2012

Dog Parks in these neighborhoods are so important. ... I know Martin was very instrumental in getting [the Bundy Dog Park] done.

Jack Evans

Ward 2 Councilmember
Thursday 23 August 2012 Dupont Dog Park Celebration

Martin Moulton, whos our camera man [ and DJ! ] here today, does a great job of advocating for our neighborhoods!

Tommy Wells
Saturday 22 September 2012 Taste of Gibson Plaza event

Mr. Moulton has been a strong supporter of the recently completed Shaw Campus, along with all of the related programs. He has consistently advocated for the safety of KIPP students, along with that of the larger community. Aside from helping us manage community engagement in the expansion and renovation of the KIPP DC: Shaw campus, he has played key roles in the Bundy Field redevelopment, and has served as a lead volunteer on several occasions. Our partnership with Mr. Moulton and the community is one we would like to maintain for a long time.

On behalf of Gibson Plaza Apartments Tenant Association, and all of our residents, I would like to thank Mr Moulton for his ever diligent work for our community. From assisting us with our inaugural Taste of Gibson Plaza event, to developing our outstanding web sites, to supporting the development of our Learning and Job Preparedness Center, Martin has been a godsend.

Barbara Curtis
President, Gibson Plaza Apartments Tenant Association and former ANC2C Commissioner
Monday 1 October 2012

Ward 6 Councilmember

Alex Shawe

General Counsel, KIPP DC Joseph, 5th St NW resident

Tuesday 25 September 2012 Wednesday 3 October 2012

Martin is a very good man and I believe he would be a very good ANC member.

Mon 22 Oct!
MRMoulton2012@gmail.com | (202) 422-1161 | @ShawingtonTimes Paid for by Moulton for ANC 2012. Andrew Gaidurgis, Treasurer. MMXII. All rights reserved.

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