In OneCoin Case Inner City Press Won Appeal for Greenwood Letters Now He Cites Burden

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast Order

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 5 -- For scam crypto currency OneCoin, Sebastian Greenwood who co-founded the company with Ruja Ignatova was sentenced to 20 years in prison by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Edgardo Ramos on September 12, 2023. Inner City Press was there and live tweeted, thread here

Inner City Press had sought the unsealing of Greenwood's 33 sentencing letters but with him opposing (citing a Mafia case) and the US Attorney's Office inappropriately taking no position, it was denied. Judge Ramos' order is here.

On October 10, Inner City Press filed Notice of Appeal of the sealing of all of Greenwood's letters.

On July 28, 2025, Inner City Press won: "Before: Parker, Park, and Nathan, Circuit Judges. Appellant Matthew Lee appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Ramos, J.) denying his motion to unseal and unredact Defendant-Appellee Karl Greenwood’s sentencing submission. On appeal, Lee argues that he enjoys a right of access to Greenwood’s sentencing memorandum and sentencing exhibits. We conclude that a First Amendment right of access attaches to Greenwood’s sentencing memorandum and sentencing exhibits and therefore requires the district court to make individualized findings to justify sealing those materials. Although the district court’s findings adequately justified the narrowly tailored redactions in Greenwood’s sentencing memorandum, the district court did not adequately justify its decision to seal Greenwood’s sentencing exhibits. Accordingly, we VACATE in part the order of the district court and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." Opinion here.

  On August 12 Greenwood's until now retained counsel wrote in to "request that the Court appoint the undersigned as temporary CJA counsel."

Near-immediate opposition was filed to devoting public funds to further pursue the unprecedented withholding in full of these sentencing letters, particularly without a CJA financial affidavit which Inner City Press has requested in advance be unsealed, as it won in US v. Avenatti and other cases.

On August 28, Judge Ramos docketed: "The application to submit proposed redactions by September 15, 2025, is granted. Greenwood is directed to submit a CJA financial affidavit to the Court by email and respond to Inner City Press' letter by September 5, 2025."

When they did, it was to argue for not even a CJA Form 23, and for delay on any unsealing until that it resolved. Inner City Press immediately wrote in that CJA Form 23s are done daily in SDNY Mag Court, Greenwood stole / pocketed $300 million, and - unsealing should begin and be done.

Watch this site. More on Substack here

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Fat Joe Suit Against Dixon Goes Forward with Discovery Schedule Here Into 2026

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 5 – Terrance Dixon says he was abused by Joseph Cartagena a/k/a Fat Joe.

 But Fat Joe sued Dixon first, for defamation. After that, Dixon's lawyer Tyrone Blackburn filed his suit against Fat Joe. 

   On August 1 both cases were addressed before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jennifer L. Rochon. Inner City Press live tweeted, here. 

  The upshot is that Judge Rochon declined to stay discovery in Fat Joe v. Dixon, but also declined the request of Fat Joe and Roc Nations that Dixon's case be dismissed and made into a counterclaim in Fat Joe's suit. 

   Instead, Dixon's case will be consolidated with Fat Joes, with Dixon directed to effectuate service of process before an Initial Pre-Trial Conference in that case in October. 

On September 5 Judge Rochon docketed the schedule: "Depositions shall be completed no later than December 1, 2025. The case is to be tried to a jury. Counsel for the parties have conferred and their best estimate of the length of trial is 5 days. Deposition due by 1/20/2026. Fact Discovery due by 12/1/2025. Expert Discovery due by 1/20/2026. Discovery due by 1/20/2026. Case Management Conference set for 2/17/2026 at 10:00 AM before Judge Jennifer L. Rochon. Pretrial Conference set for 2/17/2026 at 10:00 AM."

The two cases have been consolidated under the first filed case, Cartagena v. Dixon, et al., 1:25-cv-3552 (Rochan)

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Luigi Mangione on Killing of UnitedHealth CEO Stresses No Link to Tamura NFL Shooting

by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack Book Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 5  – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on December 19 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.

On February 4, death penalty qualified (learned) counsel was appointed for Mangione in SDNY, endorsed letter on Patreon here

On April 1 DOJ announced it will seek the death penalty against Mangione.

  In the interim, after some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, audiobook here.

On April 15 the US responded to Mangione's anti-death penalty filing with a ripeness argument: "The defendant has identified no authority for the notion that it can prevent the Government from seeking capital punishment before indictment." Full filing on Patreon here

On April 17, Inner City Press vlogged in the morning to expect something - and past 5 pm the SDNY prosecutors docketed an indictment of Mangione, with "Special Findings Regarding the Murder of Brian Thompson" - here.

On April 24 the US filed "NOTICE OF INTENT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY" - here.

On April 25 Inner City Press live tweeted the arraignment, including Karen Friedman Agnifilo said that a telephone call between her and Mangione was inappropriately monitored. Thread.

On July 25, Mangione's lawyer filed for more information from the US - 18 page memo on Patreon here.

On August 27 the US wrote in that Mangione has enough detail, for example on "Grave Risk of Death to Additional Persons... The photograph, and the originating video, show a female bystander standing only a few feet from Thompson as the defendant fired multiple shots." 20 page memo on Patreon here.

On September 5 Mangione's team including Marc Agnifilo - also retained counsel to a defendant charged with hate crime assault of a woman who questioning the tearing down of October 7 hostage posters - wrote in for an informational outline, emphasizing that there is "absolutely no link between Mr. Mangione andthe recent murder of four people in Manhattan by Shane Tamura and there is no evidence that Mr. Tamura was influenced in any way by the murder of Mr. Thompson" - 10 page memo on Patreon here

The Federal case is US v. Mangione, 1:25-cr-176 (Garnett)

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TowneBank Already Disparate in NC Seeks FDIC OK to Buy Dogwood Bank There

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SOUTH BRONX/SDNY, Sept 5 – Amid the FDIC's bid to eliminate public notice of and public comment on branch applications, TowneBank will be applying to the FDIC to acquire a bank in North Carolina, Dogwood Bank, for $476 million.

   Fair Finance Watch, which has commented to the FDIC that its branch proposal violates the CRA, has compared TowneBank's lending record in North Carolina in 2023 to 2024. It has gotten worse and more disparate.

  In 2023 in North Carolina, TowneBank made 80 loans to African Americans while denying 10 applications from African Americans. In 2024 it made fewer loans to African Americans - 77 - while denying more: 13. Now it wants to expand there.  

Inner City Press disputed the FDIC's withholding of TowneBank information under FOIA. Watch this site.

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Woman from Panama for Crossing Texas Border Pleads Guilty SDNY Judge Says More Coming

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 4 – A woman from Panama who illegally re-entered the United States in El Paso in June 2024 came to plead guilty to that as a misdemeanor on September 5, 2025 - before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Chief Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. Inner City Press was there. 

  Judge Netburn began the proceeding by saying there should not have been so many last minute filings. It's that Pre Trial Services does not view it as its job to produce reports in such cases, nor Probation. 

  Judge Netburn said she got the RAP sheet and Jeniza Graciela Ardines James had pled guilty after petit larceny charges. The Federal Defender added that she has been in the MDC Brooklyn jail for two weeks. 

  The Federal Defender proposed at five or ten dollar fine. After Judge Netburn suggested one year probation, the AUSA said this might result in a slew of re-enters being transported back to SDNY on parole violations. 

  Judge Netburn noted that and imposed a $25 dollar fine. Ardines James was taken back into the holding cell. 

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is USA v. Ardines James, 1:25-mj-2675 (Netburn)

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Peck Slip School Challenge to Shelter in Former Hotel Next Door Result in Injunction

by Matthew R. Lee

LOWER MANHATTAN, Sept 4 – A controversy has been developing near the South Street Seaport, in which the NYC Department of Social Services is moving to open a men's shelter next door to the Pcck Slip school. 

   Inner City Press and its Downtown News Service went to investigate, and found what was previously a Hampton Inn hotel at 320 Pearl Street now empty, with brown paper on its windows. 

  It turns about the David Schwart's Slate Property Group, already subject to protest by tenants on the Upper West Side for radically raising their rents - threatening to make some homeless - bought the Hampton Inn in December 2023 for $24 million.  

How is it more lucrative to turn it into a homeless shelter than run it as a hotel? And why is the City doing this plan, with a developer being protested by its existing tenants?   

On September 4 Justice Arthur Engoran, best known for his now partially reversed civil judgment in the Trump case issued an injunction against the shelter absent a Fair Share Statement that complies with the law.

A Freedom of Information Law request has been filed - and on July 12 the City pushed its time to respond back to September 10:

"Dear Mr. Lee,     I write in response to your request below, emailed July 7, 2024, seeking:     All NYC contracts for homeless shelter at 320 Pearl Street     … records regarding the (proposed?) "Safe Haven" homeless shelter at 320 Pearl Street, which David Schwartz' Slate Group reportedly bought in December 2023.     [All records reflecting] …Was there an RFP process? [and]     How was the community, including the Peck Slip school next door, consulted?    

  Please be advised that before a further response can be provided, the agency requires time to conduct a diligent search in order to locate available records and review what is found for responsiveness and releasability. Based on the overall volume of requests received by the agency as well as an initial review of the particular language of your request, including the volume of records requested, the type of records requested, the search methods involved and the potential need for redaction, the agency will respond further to your request on or before September 10, 2024.     Thank you for your request, and please feel free to call or email with any questions or concerns.     Sincerely,     Avraham Schmeidler | FOIL Assistant OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS | Legal Process & Records Access Unit 150 Greenwich Street, 38th Floor, New York, NY 10007."

  Watch this site.

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Defendant Contests Probation Officer IDing Him in Video Before Luigi Mangione Judge

 

by Matthew & Russell Lee, Patreon Substack

100 CENTRE STREET, Sept 4 – A man accused of slashing another in East Harlem was bought into court on September 4 to contest his identification from video by his former probation officer.

   Citing People v. Mosley, his appointed lawyers cross-examined the probation officer then argued to Justice Gregory Carro that her testimony should not be heard by the jury in his upcoming trial. 

  The ADA devoted his direct and re-direct trying to establish how well Probation Officer Michelle Gonzalez knew the defendant: from a dozen in-person meetings, and one chance encounter in front of his mother's building in East Harlem. 

  She testified that when she took him into custody, he swore at and threatened her.   Justice Carro acknowledged that the video was blurry, but made findings under Mosley before ruling that she may testify.  

The defense insisted she not be allowed to recount his behavior while being arrested. But Justice Carro said the door to that might be opened at trial.  

 At day's end, defendant Ortiz rose to speak for himself, reading his interpretation of the clearly seminal Mosley case. He said he has more to say - will he testify at his trial?

  Justice Carro also has the Luigi Mangione case...

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Damon Dash Depo In Film Fight Was Ordered Now After No Show Dash Files for Bankruptcy

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 4 – Damon Dash has been sued in a dispute about a film called "The List" or, "Dear Frank." But he has been avoiding being deposed, or questioned under oath, in person.  

 Inner City Press covered and live tweeted a proceeding on December 3 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger, thread

Jump cut four years and a judgment later: on December 31, 2024 counsel to Webber and Muddy Water Pictures wrote to Judge Lehrburger: "The selling of the assets is supported by this Court’s decision relating to Damon Dash’s previous ownership interest in Roc-A-Fella Records Inc. See filing on Patreon here

On April 18, 2025 plaintiff's counsel wrote to ask Judge Lehrburger to order the turn over of documents about chains and rings and companies to facilitate their sale, and for attorneys fees.

On May 12 counsel for Webber and Muddy Waters Pictures moved for contempt and that adverse inferences be issued by the Court.

On June 9 turn overs were ordered.

On August 22, "On August 28, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., in Courtroom 18D, Dash and Poppington shall show cause why sanctions for failing to comply with the Court's orders should not be imposed against them; 2. Dash must appear in person for the hearing along with counsel

The August 28 proceeding was canceled: "As for defense counsel, the Court is troubled by his stance toward at the hearing that was scheduled for August 28. The Court scheduled the hearing on August 22, 2028 and directed that Dash "must appear in person along with counsel." (Dkt. 482 at 1.) Given that defense counsel knew he would be away on a "pre-planned" family vacation at the time of the hearing, why did he not so advise the Court promptly after the Court entered its August 22 order rather than waiting until literally the eve of the hearing?  While the Court is not inclined to impose sanctions inasmuch as the Court did cancel the conference, defense counsel is on notice that the Court will not overlook such concerns in the future... by September 4, 2025, Plaintiffs shall file a letter proposing next steps for resolving Bluroc asset issues."

On September 4, counsel wrote in that Dash has filed for bankruptcy in Florida, filing on Patreon here

 The case is Webber v. Dash, 1:19-cv-610 (Liman / Lehrburger)

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In TRO Over 26 Federal Plaza Rooms Plaintiff Shifted to Orange County Jail So Jurisdiction Q

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 4 – A putative class action was filed on August 8 over immigration enforcement conditions in 26 Federal Plaza. (Inner City Press on that day covered the courtrooms on the 12th floor and the ICE activities just outside).  

 The case was assigned to US District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Gregory H. Woods at Part 1, who on late on August 8 ruled that "the Court anticipates that on August 11 a hearing to discuss the application for the entry of the requested provisional injunctive relief will be scheduled."

 On August 11 the case was assigned to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who then ruled that defendants' paper opposing at TRO are due by 5 pm on August 11, with oral argument set for August 12 at 10 am.

 The listen only call in line did not work, but thankfully now a transcript, on DocumentCloud here. Judge Kaplan mused about 50 square feet per person and increased and more private legal calls, with a TRO order to follow.

And at 4 pm the TRO issues, on square footage, legal calls and more, Order here

On August 13 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that "providing toothbrushes, rather than teeth cleaning wipes, presents a potential safety concern for other aliens in custody as well as ICE personnel because toothbrushes can be readily improvised as weapons. Accordingly, Defendants have been providing teeth cleaning wipes to detainees instead...

ICE is unable to provide interpreter services for confidential attorney phone calls due to a lack of resources and a lack of a contract for such services, as the agency has never been required to provide this service even in long-term facilities. Accordingly, Defendants have not been able to provide this service. "

On September 4, Judge Kaplan ordered briefing on his continuing jurisdiction: "ORDER DIRECTING FURTHER BRIEFING AND EXTENDING TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER: "[F]ederal courts have an independent obligation to... raise and decide jurisdictional questions that the parties either overlook or elect not to press." Henderson ex rel. Henderson, Shinseki, 562 U.S. 428, 434 (2011). The Court notes that the plaintiff in this putative class action was transferred from 26 Federal Plaza to the Orange County Jail and thus appears not now to be detained in the holding rooms at the former location. While defendants have not contested the subject matter jurisdiction of this Court, the Court is obliged to raise the issue sua sponte and requires the patties to brief the issue before rendered decisions on the pending motions. Accordingly, parties shall brief the questions whether the Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims of plaintiff Mercado and, if not, whether it nevertheless has such jurisdiction over the claims asserted on behalf of the putative class. Plaintiffs brief shall be filed at or before 5 p.m. on September 8, 2025, defendants' response at or before 5 p.m. on September 11, 2025, and plaintiffs reply brief at or before 5 p.m. on September 13, 2025. In view of the need for this further briefing, the temporary restraining order, as previously extended, is hereby further extended to and including 11:59 p.m. on September 18, 2025. SO ORDERED."

From Inner City Press' August 8 report:

  There are a dozen ICE officers with masks over their faces in front of Courtroom 1237 in 26 Federal Plaza. In the hall outside the media is allowed to stand, waiting. 

  On the morning of August 8, Inner City Press was there when a Latino family came out of the courtroom. A woman was crying, asking "porque?" as she was comforted and taken down a short hallway away from the click of the cameras.  

 "Did they grab somebody?" a journalist asked, without answer.  

 ICE officer told journalists and photographers to stand to the side as the family passed: a man pushing a stroller, a toddler in a blue Oxford cloth shirt, and the crying woman.  

  "Please get against the wall," one of the ICE agents told reporters.   

  There are no overflow courtrooms, allowing the Press to observe the cases, and little transparency.

 The judges in the courtrooms in 1237 appear to be named Sponzo, Harbeck, Sagesse and Nasser - no first names on the sign.

Instead, a sign says "A message to illegal aliens: A warning to self-deport." 

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here  

  The case is Barco Mercado v. Noem, et al., 1:25-cv-6568 (Kaplan)

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