Letter from Cynthia Lewis to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan — United States v. Chanette Lewis, No. 1:21-cr-00729-LAK (Dkt. 99-1, S.D.N.Y.)

Summary

Document 99-1, filed 09/26/23 in Case 1:21-cr-00729-LAK in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, is a two-page letter addressed to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan by Cynthia Lewis, who identifies herself as Chanette Lewis's mother. The writer describes her daughter as caring, hardworking and a devoted parent, and says she has taken on caregiving duties for the writer. She says her daughter has worked on her mental health treatment since the case began. She states that her daughter hopes to own a business and return to college, and that she believes her daughter has learned from her mistake. She asks the Court to give her daughter another chance. These are the writer's own statements; other family, health and personal details are not repeated here.

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Record facts

Full text

Dear Judge Lewis A. Kaplan,  
      
My name is Cynthia Lewis, and I am Chanette Lewis’s mother. I am 52 years old and 
currently unemployed due to medical problems. I am undergoing adjuvant 
chemotherapy treatment. 
 
I usually call Chanette “Stevann.” She has a kind heart, and has always been the 
strongest of my 3 children. I was a young mother, so it was difficult learning how to 
parent, and I’m still learning today. I blame myself at times because, being a young 
mother, I wasn’t perfect. Both sides of my family have mental health problems like 
bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, so it got passed down. 
 
When I had my children, I didn’t want to treat my symptoms of schizophrenia, so 
Chanette witnessed most of my episodes because she was always around me. I wish 
it was different, but I also came in contact with human immunodeficiency virus as 
the result of an abusive relationship I was in. Once I caught that at the age of 23, I 
wasn’t mentally strong enough to take care of my children. I lost custody of my first 
child, Jeffrey Ghee, because I wasn’t stable enough emotionally and mentally.  
 
Years later, I met my fiancé Bertram Clark. He was working at the doctor’s office I 
went to for HIV treatment, and we got into a relationship. He helped me take care of 
my children, but later down the line he passed away because he also had cancer and 
AIDS. He was my daughter’s role model. He died just after she turned 14, and he was 
in her life from the time she was 2 years old. After this, I noticed a change in my 
daughter’s life. She was not a problem child, and many times came home with good 
grades. She just hid her pain well and had manic outbursts at times. As she’s gotten 
older, Chanette’s mental health has gotten worse. But now, she’s in treatment and 
she tells me she loves talking to her therapist so I see a lot of change. 
 
I wish she had a better childhood and didn’t have to live with the fact that I’m sick. 
My daughter, Cynthia Lewis, is also sick with HIV. My daughters’ biological father 
also died from an overdose in March 2023. Her husband died a year before in 
January 2022. Chanette always says how when she’s sad in front of her kids, their 
behavior changes. So I notice my daughter trying to remain strong for my 
grandchildren.  
 
Chanette is a really caring person. I remember when my social worker told her I had 
HIV, she tried to cook for me daily, reminded me to take my medication, and would 
even call me during school hours just to tell me she loved me. My daughter was 
trying to be my caregiver from a young age. When I used to get sick, she would make 
me soup and clean up my vomit. In 2022, when I was diagnosed with brain cancer, 
Case 1:21-cr-00729-LAK     Document 99-1     Filed 09/26/23     Page 1 of 2

she never missed coming to my doctor’s appointments and asking so many 
questions. Despite the trauma and pain she’s been through, her heart is pure.  
 
I’m actually proud of my daughter. Since this case, she’s worked hard on her mental 
health treatment and is my main caregiver. Since I got diagnosed with brain cancer, 
Stevann has taken care of me. She has always been caring, loving, and forgiving. She 
has a good heart, despite her mistakes. She learns. I’ve seen the way this case has 
affected her. Many times she gets depressed and speaks about her kids being alone if 
she gets sent to jail. I can see that my daughter is trying to change and become a 
better person.  
 
Stevann tells me about how she wants to own a business and go back to college to 
get her bachelor’s. Whether it takes her a couple of months or years, my daughter 
always goes for her goals. Still, this case has taken a toll on her. She tries to spend all 
her time with her kids and taking up more hours at work to take care of her family. I 
believe she’s learned from her mistake and is changing for the better. 
 
We are all each other has. Please give her another chance so she can continue to be 
the caring mother and helpful child that I know she is.  
 
Thank you, 
 
Cynthia Lewis Sr  
1325 Pennsylvania Ave, # 19D 
Brooklyn, New York 11239 
 
 
Case 1:21-cr-00729-LAK     Document 99-1     Filed 09/26/23     Page 2 of 2

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