Federal 2006

Sentenced to death in Federal, Missouri

By: A judge, after a recommendation of death by a jury

Date of crime: October 7, 2002

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Bolden was convicted of killing a bank guard during an attempted robbery.  Two other men were involved in the robbery, but testified that Bolden was the mastermind behind the plan and actually pulled the trigger that killed Nathan Ley.  Defense argued the two accomplices lied to get deals for lesser sentences.

Prosecutor(s): Steve Holtshouser, Michael Reilly  Defense lawyer(s): Kevin Curran

Sources: St. Louis Post Dispatch 5/11/06, 8/26/06; Belleville News Democrat 6/13/06; US Federal News 8/25/06

Sentenced to death in Federal-Maryland

By: By Jury

Date of crime: January 2002

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Lighty, along with Anthony Wilson and James Everrette Flood III, abducted, tortured and murdered Eric Hayes, the son of a DC police officer. Both Wilson and Flood received life sentences.

Prosecutor(s): Rod Rosenstein, Deborah Johnston, Sandra Wilkinson Defense lawyer(s): Jeffrey O’Toole

Sources: Baltimore Sun 11/11/05; US Federal News 1/30/06, 2/28/06

Sentenced to death in Federal District of Vermont

By: A jury

Date of Crime:  11/27/2000

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Fell and a cohort (who later committed suicide in jail) killed Fell’s mother and one of her friends.  Then they carjacked and kidnapped Terri King, transported her in the vehicle, and bludgeoned her to death as she prayed for her life.  In mitigation, the defense presented evidence of Fell’s miserable upbringing.

Prosecutor(s):  Defense Lawyer(s):  Alexander Bunin

Sources:  AP Alert – Vermont 6/8/06, 6/15/07; AP Alert – Crime 6/16/06; Chicago Tribune 6/17/06 (2006 WLNR 10491480).

Sentenced to death in Federal Northern District of Illinois

By: A jury

Date of Crime:

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Mikos was a podiatrist who had been committing massive Medicaid fraud (over 6000 surgeries never performed, netting over $1.2 million).  He was being investigated by a federal grand jury, and former patient Joyce Brannon was scheduled to testify against him.  Mikos invaded her apartment building and shot her to death with six shots as she sat in her garden.  Mikos claimed innocence on the basis that Brannon may have been killed by a gang that frequented the neighborhood.  In mitigation, he presented evidence of good character and drug usage.

Prosecutor(s):  Jeffrey Cramer, John Kocoros Defense Lawyer(s):  John Beal, Cynthia Giacchetti

Sources:  Chicago Sun Times 5/6/06 (2005 WLNR 7429691), 5/12/05 (2005 WLNR 23423449); Belleville News Democrat 5/24/05 (2005 WLNR 22691074); Chicago Tribune 5/24/05 (2005 WLNR 23398329); AP Alert – Illinois 5/26/06; Chicago Sun Times 4/26/06 (2006 WLNR 7002358), 4/28/06 (2006 WLNR 7437061); Chicago Tribune 4/28/06 (2006 WLNR 7299256).