In Roman Storm Trial 3 Victims then NFT Fraud Cooperator Describe Tornado Cash Dealings

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 16 – Roman Storm is charged using his cryptocurrency mixed Tornado Cash to help launder money for North Korea's hackers in the Lazarus Group.

On September 6, 2023 he was arraigned before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla. Inner City Press was there - thread

The US on July 9, 2025 filed opposition - just as in the Samouri Wallet case a letter from Senator Lummis and Wyden that cites theTornado Cash case, letter now on Patreon, with Samouri story, here.

On July 11 Inner City Press live tweeted a conference in which the US said Witness-1 only began speaking to them on July 3 and is seeking sentence reduction under Rule 35. Judge Failla will let Witness-1 testifying, but expressed doubts on venue. Thread.

On July 14 Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection.

On July 16, catfishing victim Lin, hacking victims Ronin and Bitmart (through outside counsel under subpoena) testified - thread - then rugpull convict Andre LLacuna, whose case went dormant in SDNY

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is USA v. Storm, et al., 1:23-cr-430 (Failla)

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Amid UN80 Guterres Burns Money in Abyei as Fails on Sudan War and Bans Inner City Press

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, July 15 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Today Inner City Press focuses in again on Sudan, specifically Guterres' failing and wasteful UNISFA mission in Abyei.

Dear Matthew Russell Lee:

The ongoing failures under UN Secretary-General António Guterres' leadership have culminated in a disastrous situation at the largest UN site in Sudan—the KADUGLI site. The decision to close this critical site, made by CMS Uchenna Odenigbo—currently facing pending harassment charges for misconduct involving staff in Libya—has led to severe, irreparable damage to the KADUGLI camp.

  In the first week of July 2025, Odenigbo issued orders for the complete dismantling and destruction of the KADUGLI site, signaling the permanent closure of the camp. This reckless decision resulted in the destruction of critical infrastructure, valued in the millions of dollars. Despite this irreversible damage, Odenigbo shockingly reversed her stance just days later, instructing senior staff to somehow sustain the camp despite the extensive destruction.

 Details of the Destruction:  All UN barcodes, signs, and official markings were stripped from UN-owned assets, leaving the site in an unrecognizable state. Equipment worth millions of dollars was destroyed on-site, rendering vital resources useless and irreparable.  This hasty, ill-thought-out, and poorly coordinated action has ignited deep frustration and anger among senior UN officials, including the two Under-Secretaries-General (USGs), Mr. Khari and Mr. LaCroix [who has done nothing about the accelerating rapes by his UN "peacekeepers," stoked by Guterres' regime of impunity and banning of critics and Press.]

Among the senior UNHQ officials now tasked with managing this fallout and attempting to restore functionality to the KADUGLI site are:  Anna Lisa Gazzola Maurizia Calo  Vadim Potanin  Massimo Lo Schiavo Priya Sehgal  Yuriy Kryvoruchko Stewart Simms  Barbara Reggi  Istvan Koever  Irena Erakovic  Yohannes Nigussie  Raihan Khalil  and many more... 

Who will be held accountable for the cost of restoring the UN equipment and rebuilding the KADUGLI camp?  Given the millions of dollars in damage caused by the reckless decisions surrounding the camp's closure, it’s crucial to know who will foot the bill for these preventable losses. Will the UN absorb the financial burden of this crisis, or will those responsible for this catastrophic failure be held to account?

  The Press must be allowed back in to ask.

Now this, from UN whistleblowers through Inner City Press:

Dear Matthew Russell Lee, please publish:

...Under the UN80 reform, what we know so far is, among the positions to cut (mainly individuals from the base) there are 3 P5 positions. It seems they've been singled out by either their sexual orientation or due to their nationality and gender (female). Competent and capable women singled out, cornered to the point where their careers are about to be terminated in retaliation

And what is the UN of Antonio Guterres doing about all this? Nothing - but banning the Press that reports it. On June 19, 2025, reapplied to re-enter, here, to get answers in person to these questions since they do not answer written questions - totally corrupt.

We'll have more on all this. Keep the info coming.

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Amid ICE Detentions in 26 Federal Plaza Honduran Man Indicted for Grabbing at Gun

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 7– Amid detentions effectuate during immigration appointments in 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, on June 27 a national of Honduras was presented and detained in the Magistrates Court of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covers. 

  Joel Antonio Alonzo of Honduras is accused of Assaulting an Employee of the United States - specifically, grabbing for the gun of a federal protective security officer on the 12th floor of 26 Federal Plaza on June 6. 

  On June 27 with the consent of his appointed Federal Defender, the defendant was detained and a medical order issued. 

On July 7 the case was indicted and assigned to Judge Margaret M. Garnett, who set a arraignment for July 16 at 11:30 am.

 The case is ow USA v. Alonzo, 1:25-cr-305 (Garnett)

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Sean Combs Was Sued for Sexual Assault by Donsha Tucker of Royal Reigns Now Name In

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 15 – With Sean Combs in jail in MDC-Brooklyn, then as now after three not guilties and two guilties, back in October 2024 a slew of civil cases against him were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Inner City Press is covering the cases. 

 One of them, filed on October 14, was by a John Doe who said he worked at Royal Reigns Management when in 2021 he was drugged at a party then saw Combs over him, suffered abused and trauma.

The case was assigned to Judge J. Paul Oetken. 

Jump cut to July 8, 2025, when six days after the three not guilty and two guilty verdicts Judge Oekten ruled that John Doe must refile with his real name in seven days or see his case dismissed. 8-page Order on Patreon here.

On June 15 Mr. Donsha Tucker added his name to the complaint, now on Patreon here

 This case is, now, Tucker v. Combs, et al., 1:24-cv-7772 (Oetken)

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In Roman Storm Openings US Says He Helped North Korean Hacks He Says Made People Safe

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 15 – Roman Storm is charged using his cryptocurrency mixed Tornado Cash to help launder money for North Korea's hackers in the Lazarus Group.

On September 6, 2023 he was arraigned before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla. Inner City Press was there - thread

The US on July 9, 2025 filed opposition - just as in the Samouri Wallet case a letter from Senator Lummis and Wyden that cites theTornado Cash case, letter now on Patreon, with Samouri story, here.

On July 11 Inner City Press live tweeted a conference in which the US said Witness-1 only began speaking to them on July 3 and is seeking sentence reduction under Rule 35. Judge Failla will let Witness-1 testifying, but expressed doubts on venue. Thread.

On July 14 Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection.

On July 15 in opening statements, AUSA Kevin Mosley said Storm knowing helped North Korean hackers. Storm's Keri Axel said he made people safe. Then US witness Lin described being scammed.

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is USA v. Storm, et al., 1:23-cr-430 (Failla)

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As Tunisia Jails Dahmani Under Decree 54 Free UN Coalition for Access Joins Call as UN Silent

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE / SDNY, July 15 – Among the arrests of journalists and lawyers in Tunisia, that of Sonia Dahmani stands out. Not only has she been imprisoned under Decree Law 54 - her sister has been sentenced in absentia to two years for advocating for her freedom. 

  The Free UN Coalition for Access, along with Inner City Press, has signed on to a global petition of media freedom organizations calling for her release, here.

     Inner City Press has repeatedly asked United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokespeople, Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming about press freedom, including in Tunisia.

  They refuse to answer, and have kept Inner City Press banned from the UN since it began questioning omissions from Guterres' financial disclosures and links including to CEFC and the Terramar Foundation, as exposed in a trial in SDNY that Inner City Press live tweeted.  

 Other lawyers imprisoned in Tunisia include Ahmed Souab, Sonia Dahmani, Dalila Msaddak, Islem Hamza, Ayachi Hamami, Ghazi Chaouachi, Mehdi Zagrouba, and Lazhar Akremi.

Today's UN is lawless, and it is spreading. A fish rots from the head. FUNCA will not rest.

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With Do Kwon Trial Set for Feb 17 2026 Judge Asked of GENIUS Act Now Papers July 29

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 14 – After the collapse of the crypto firm Terraform Labs, Inner City Press covered the SEC's trial against it and Do Kwon - except that Kwon was in Montenegro.  Now, Do Kwon book here

 Early on January 2, 2025 Inner City Press learned and vlogged that Kwon would be presented later in the day before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.    

The superseding indictment, Inner City Press immediately put it online here

Just after noon Do Kwon was presented and pled not guilty, was detained, thread

The case was reassigned to Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to whom the US Attorney's Office on January 6 directed a victims' notice motion, on Patreon here

On January 8 Judge Engelmayer held a conference and set a January 26, 2026 trial date, among many other things. Inner City Press pressed and live tweeted, thread

On February 27-28, the US Attorney's Office put in a four page letter describing discovery (including documents from a country left unnamed), and proposed adjourning the upcoming status conference. Filing on Patreon here

On April 10 Inner City Press live tweeted the status conference at which trial was pushed back to February 17, next conference to June 12, and this:

Judge Engelmayer: Let's turn to the Deputy Attorney General's memo and if it has any implication for the case.

On June 25 Inner City Press covered a brief conference in US v. Do Kwon, tweets here including

Judge Engelmayer: I have asked if Judge Rakoff's rulings in the civil case SEC v Terramar Labs and Do Kwon are binding on me...

Do Kwon's lawyer: We say no.

Judge: Not surprising.

Do Kwon's lawyer: There are issues we should litigate far in advance of trial, for example about the money laundering charge

Judge: That's helpful. On the securities issue, I am mindful of the GENIUS Act

While papers were due July 1, on June 28 Do Kwon's lawyer wrote in asking for two more weeks, amid "productive discussions."

Then on July 14, the day before the July 15 deadline - and the day the House Rules committee moved the Senate's GENIUS Act forward, counsel wrote in asking for two more weeks "to allow the parties to continue these discussions"

More / extra on X for Subscribers here, Patreon (with earlier US case status summary) here

  Amid talk of the Administration's crypto executive order and now DOJ memo - and before the SEC moved to drop its case against Coinbase - Inner City Press published a book: "Crypto Death Spiral: Could a Luna Rise Again?" by Matthew Russell Lee, ebook here, audiobook here.

Watch this site

The case is USA v. Kwon, 1:23-cr-151 (Engelmayer)

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CRA Challenge to Planters Bank and Trust Cross Keys Merger Triggers Belated Admissions

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SOUTH BRONX/Federal Court, July 14 – A proposed merger by Planters Bank & Trust in Mississippi and Tennessee with Cross Keys Bank in Louisiana and Texas has brought into focus Planters' disparate lending.

  On June 9 Fair Finance Watch, reviewing Home Mortgage Disclosure Act patterns nationwide, filed a timely Community Reinvestment Act protest with the FDIC:

The applicant Planters Bank & Trust Company in 2023 in Mississippi had a denial rate for the mortgage loan applications of African Americans more than twice as high as for white applicants. For whites it originated 11.53 loans for every denial to whites; for African Americans it originated only 4.59 loans for every denial.

   Planters Bank & Trust Company in 2023 in Louisiana, in which it proposes now to further grow, made three loans to whites with no denials to whites; one to an African American applicant with also denying an African Americans' application. 

  Planters Bank & Trust Company in 2023 in Tennessee originated eight mortgage loans to whites and NONE to African Americans.

  These practices should not be allowed to expand, and should not be introduced into Texas.  This merger and expansion proposal should be denied.

 [In May 2025 the FDIC imposed a CRA condition on ConnectOne, after Fair Finance Watch's challenge - letter with condition on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.

And on Planters Bank & Trust?

Well, on June 24 a strange response was received from Planters Holding Company's legal adviser Walker Jones, or really, from Mimecast. They demanded that one open an account in order to be able to read whatever response they sent to the FDIC. Given the record, no. FFW has filed a second comment including

Since then, all we have received is a strange message from "postmaster" as Planters' legal adviser, saying we'd have to enter information and open an account to read whatever they sent us, presumably a response to our CRA protest. We are reluctant, and ask that whatever response be regular emailed to us, or through the FDIC. 

   Meanwhile we have now been able to review Planters 2024 HMDA data, just made available - and it is worse that in 2023.   Planters Bank & Trust Company in 2023 in Louisiana, in which it proposes now to further grow, made three loans to whites and one to an African American applicant.

In 2024? Planters in Louisiana made five loans to whites, and still only one to an African American. It is getting worse, the disparity is widening.   

Planters Bank & Trust Company in 2023 in Tennessee originated eight mortgage loans to whites and NONE to African Americans. It continued with no loans to African Americans in Tennessee in 2024.  

   In Mississippi the applicant Planters Bank & Trust Company in 2024 still had essentially double the denial rate for African Americans as for white applicants.    

   Including now in light of the strange "response" by Planters and/or its counsel, Inner City Press is requesting an extension of the public comment period, public / virtual evidentiary hearings and that, on the current record, the applications not be approved.

On July 14 Planters submitted a response, presumably its second, which in laying out the data essentially admits disparities, with over 60% of its denials, but only 33% of its originations, being to African Americans. Now what?

Watch this site

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Ghislaine Maxwell Appeal Opposed by DOJ As UN Antonio Guterres Covers Up Epstein Links

 

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 14 – With Ghislaine Maxwell in prison, she has reportedly offered to testify to Congress about Jeffrey Epstein, presumably for a pardon.     Inner City Press is on the case, noting on July 14 DOJ's opposition to Maxwell's appeal - "that Epstein’s nonprosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida barred petitioner’s prosecution by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. That contention is incorrect" - after having asked Maxwell herself question when she did a press conference in the UN. After that, Inner City Press was banned from the UN by SG Antonio Guterres. His spokesman Stephane Dujarric on July 14, 2025 refused to answer written questions, including: On deadline, explain why Ghislaine Maxwell was granted a press conference in the UN briefing room, and why a UN correspondent who did a fundraiser with Ghislaine Maxwell - convicted of sex trafficking here in SDNY, and known at the time to be manager for Jeffrey Epstein - is allowed in daily and can ask questions, while Inner City Press which asked and asks remains banned, with 6/19/25 application to MALU pending, none of the promised (by Dujarric) answers to written questions like this provided       No answers.      On April 19, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Loretta A. Preska held a proceeding to unseal some but not all documents.  Inner City Press, which has published a book on the Maxwell trial here, and another book including the Larry Ray trial "John list" here, live tweeted it, thread here:  173-6 it will be sealed [or redacted.] Jump cut to April 25, 2025, with Virginia Giuffre declared dead, reportedly by suicide. A redacted life. Rest in Peace. Inner City Press continues reporting on the UN (where Ghislaine Maxwell was allowed a press conference and SG  Antonio Guterres  had a rep on her Terramar board  (video here, story here).    Watch this site.   *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.

In OneCoin Case Scott Guilty in 2019 Must Report Aug 18 Now Armenta Pays $500000

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 10 –  As Inner City Press covered the OneCoin trial in October 2019, a number of names of indicted co-conspirators emerged on which we followed up, see below.

In the 2019 trial, Mark Scott was convicted. But he is still not in prison, now in 2025. On May 14, the US Attorney's Office wrote in that "
Earlier today, the Second Circuit denied the defendant’s motion to stay issuance of the mandate pending a petition for writ of certiorari, and it issued the judgment mandate to the district court. Id. Dkts. 98, 99. The defendant was convicted at trial more than five years ago, the Second Circuit has affirmed his conviction by summary order, and the Second Circuit has issued the mandate back to this Court. The Government respectfully requests that the Court set a prompt surrender date for the defendant."

On May 16, Judge Ramos gave Scott some time to file: "In light of Scott's ongoing medical issues, Scott requests an opportunity to provide this Court with a more detailed update regarding the status of his conditions and treatment before this Court sets a surrender date. Scott will make any such submission by May 19, 2025. ENDORSEMENT: Scott is granted leave to file his submission by May 19, 2025. SO ORDERED." Watch this site.

Of course, it was entirely sealed [like Sebastian Greenwood's sentencing letters]. Then this: "Upon review of the government's application, and Scott's response, filed under seal, Scott shall surrender for service of sentence at the institution designated by the BOP on August 18, 2025. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 5/21/2025)."

  One more was Gilbert Armenta, who  recorded Ruja Ignatova. Inner City Press has repeatedly asked the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for more information; it continues even now to withhold the exhibits it flashed on the screen at trial. Inner City Press had to file a FOIA request; the Department of Justice denies expedited processing.

Next we reported this: the US Attorney's Office gave Armenta his own secret docket number and kept it sealed for three years, until AFTER Inner City Press exclusively reported on Armenta's continuing dubious business activities even while a "cooperator." The case was initially assigned to SDNY Judge Willian H. Pauley III, then moved to Judge Edgardo Ramos - who to his credit has now put an end to continued extensions, and set a sentencing date for October 21, 2020. The unsealed indictment is now on Patreon here.

  Inner City Press wrote to Judge Ramos, full letter on Patreon here: "Dear Judge Ramos:     On behalf of Inner City Press and in my personal journalistic capacity, this is an application for compliance with this Court's April 29, 2020 Memo Endorsement, Docket No. 10 to docket and unseal materials in US v. Armenta, 17-cr-556 (ER).   While Docket No. 10 has a full paragraph and one or more footnotes redacted, it clearly provides for the docketing and unsealing of, inter alia, "the initial pretrial conference before the Honorable William H. Pauley III, held on September 27, 2017" and "the bail proceeding held before this Court on March 25, 2020."    

On July 10, 2025 on Armenta this: "as to Gilbert Armenta. Defendant's motion to exonerate bond is denied and the Government's cross-motion for an order directing that the $500,000 cash posted by Armenta to secure his release on bail be applied toward his outstanding forfeiture judgment is granted. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 7/10/2025)."

  More on Armenta's ongoing companies on Patreon here.

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