Latulipe enters guilty plea in Simonds murder case

A Bombay man arrested in connection with the May 2008 murder of Daniel P. Simonds admitted to the shooting last month in a Syracuse court.

Brian Latulipe, 28, was the first of seven individuals arrested in the months after the murder. He and the other men were charged for their direct or indirect roles in attending the victim’s Stockholm, NY home (outside of Massena) in the middle of the night with the intent of robbing him of large amounts marijuana and money.

According to court documents, Latulipe and his friend Kaientanoron Swamp of Akwesasne received a phone call on May 12, 2008 from Derek Cook, also of Akwesasne. Cook allegedly told Swamp that Alan Jacobs of Akwesasne had work for them to do and a group met in Massena to discuss the plan. Jacobs allegedly wanted the men to rob Simonds, a former employee of his.

Latulipe was given a gun and he, Swamp and at least one other individual entered Simonds’ home in the early morning of May 13, 2008 and a struggle ensued. Latulipe said that he attempted to hit Simonds with the butt of the gun and in the struggle a shot went off, striking Simonds in the lower back and abdomen area. The men then panicked and fled.

Simonds was taken to a Burlington hospital where he later died. Police found at least $50,000 in cash in his home as well as large amounts of marijuana.

Also in custody for their role in the incident are Swamp, Cook, Jacobs, and Bryan Herne, all of Akwesasne, and Chad and Anson Edwards of Cornwall.

Latulipe will be sentenced on April 29. He faces up to life in federal prison.