SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 29 – While many even most cases in the Magistrates Court of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York are sealed or have no case number given, on July 29 before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang, things got even murkier. A man just released from a mental hospital who had called and emailed in threats to President Trump, his former spokesperson Sarah Sanders, Trump Tower and the SDNY courthouse, even GMHC where he was living, was brought into Mag Court in shackles, saying he wanted bail. The government said his threats waste resources and cause danger. His Federal Defender said he is now on medication, and that his phone could be looked at after the fact.
After a five minute break that turned into 15 minutes, Judge Wang agreed he can be released on bail: a $25,000 signature bond, a visit by pre-trial services to GMHC, and the promise to threaten no more. Meanwhile a defendant who made a single online threat to DC's Mayor is still detained. We'll have more on this. The case, hours after the presentation, is stilled as under seal. The defendant's name, as pronounced - no New Presentments list has been provided - is Mr De Luca a/k/a Clark. Murky, indeed. Inner City Press was the only media in the Mag Court, then returned to the PACER terminal it has worked at for months, only to find the case still sealed.
Earlier on July 29 defendant who was referred to as "Mister Ochoa Alvarez," names too common to usefully search in PACER, pled guilty to 100 grams of heroin. It was a lesser included offense to the original charge, one kilo. And it took place in Colombia, with the prepondrance of evidence for venue being a phone call made from the SDNY. Twice Judge Wang asked, Was an promise made beyond the plea letter? And twice Mister Ochoa Alvarez said, Yes. Until he we convinced or cajoled on the third time to say, No. He will be sentenced in October. Inner City Press will continue to try to find the case on the PACER terminal it has worked perched over for months.
Back on July 22 a defendant referred to only as "Ms. Grandison" (phonetic) was released by Magistrate Judge Stewart Aaron on a $20,000 bond on charges of access devise fraud and aggravated identity theft. But in terms of secrecy, no "New Presentments" were released, nothing.
Back on July 17 in a case that, hours after the defendants were ordered released on bail remained listed as "sealed," Munif Ahmed stands accused of conspiracy to distribute large quantities of drugs from China and with telling the now cooperating witness, "Don't f*ck with me."
The government argued that Ahmed is a risk to flee to Yemen; his Criminal Justice Act lawyer said no, blood clots in his legs prevent him from flying. Then there was the matter of where Mr. Ahmed lives - on Anderson Avenue in the Bronx with his uncle or in the store on West 168th Street which he lists on his ID. This was ascribed to not having an interpreter during the interview with pre trial services.
Ahmed was ordered released on a $250,000 bond with $30,000 in cash or property. His co-defendant who called "Mr Lazzaro" before turning himself in must put up $40,000 cash. He drive Uber; Inner City Press predicts he or Mr. Lazzaro or his associate will move to relax the conditions of release to extend beyond the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Watch this site.
