On a Christmas Eve in Manhattan, a young man's life was tragically cut short in a fatal act of violence. Amaury Paulino, a 23-year-old Black man, was shot and killed on December 24, 2014, in the vicinity of St. Nicholas Avenue and West 129th Street. The incident unfolded during the course of a planned armed robbery, shattering the peace of the holiday season.
The investigation into Paulino's death ultimately led to the identification and arrest of two suspects: Frank Bright, also known
as 'Frankie,' and John Duncan, who went by the aliases 'Balla' and 'Moreno.' The pair were federally indicted for their roles in the robbery and murder. The charges brought against them included robbery conspiracy, robbery, and murder through the use of a firearm. The case was a result of the collaborative efforts of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Frank Bright pleaded guilty to a robbery conspiracy offense. In August 2019, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla sentenced Bright to 20 years in prison for his part in the crime that led to Amaury Paulino's death. In addition to his prison term, he was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. John Duncan also faced charges for his alleged involvement in the deadly robbery.
