Man’s sentencing delayed for 2019 killing of N.Y. woman
GREENWICH — The coronavirus pandemic has once again delayed the sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty to killing a young woman and dumping her body in Greenwich nearly two years ago.
The scheduled court date of Jan. 27 has been put off until June 4 for Javier Da Silva, 25, for his role in the death of Valerie Reyes, 24, a bookstore worker from New Rochelle, N.Y.
Her body was found in a suitcase off Glenville Road on Feb. 5, 2019. Da Silva is facing 30 years to life in prison after pleading guilty a year ago to a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death. He is due to be sentenced in the U.S. District Court in White Plains, N.Y.
According to a court filing made by Da Silva’s lawyers earlier this month, “Due to the impact of the current health crisis, defense counsel requires additional time to meet Mr. Da Silva at the jail, to meaningfully review materials with him, and to prepare a sentencing submission.”
The coronavirus pandemic has put restrictions on visits to detention facilities in the past year. Earlier filings by Da Silva’s legal team noted that “in-person client meetings” were permitted only late last year, and there were additional restrictions placed on lawyers meeting defendants.
Judge Vincent Bricetti approved the adjournment and told the lawyers in the case to prepare the sentencing submissions, which will assist Bricetti in deciding the criminal penalties, for late May.
Da Silva, an immigrant from Venezuela who overstayed his visa and was in the U.S. illegally, pleaded guilty before Briccetti on Feb. 4, 2020, a year to the day that the Reyes’ body was found in a suitcase off Glenville Road by a road crew.
Prosecutors say he killed Reyes in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2019, after going to her apartment in New Rochelle, N.Y. He covered her mouth with tape, bound her and put her in a suitcase, resulting in death by homicidal asphyxiation.
She fought for her life, according to recent court filings. In a transcript from Da Silva’s guilty plea in court nearly a year ago, a federal prosecutor said traces of DNA were found under Reyes’ fingernails, indicating she fought back against him.
After putting her in a suitcase, Da Silva stole money and belongings. He used her debit card to make $5,350 in withdrawals, according to the federal prosecutors.
In addition, Da Silva had a cut under his left eye after the deadly assault in her apartment, according to federal law enforcement.
When Reyes’ was found, she had also suffered a severe head injury, but it was not a fatal blow, according to the medical examiner.
He was arrested Feb. 12, 2019, the day of Reyes’ calling hours, at his apartment in the Flushing neighborhood by federal authorities.
Reyes had briefly dated Da Silva from January 2018 to April 2018, according to information presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Andrews.
Reyes worked as a clerk at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Eastchester, N.Y. Friends and family said she was a talented artist who was devoted to her family.