SDNY COURTHOUSE, August 29 – Afterhaving been arrested and taken off a Qatar Airways flight at JFK airport, Delowar Mohammed Hossain was presented on July 26 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Stewart Aaron, charged with one count of attempted provision of material support for terrorism. He was adjudged eligible for free counsel as was assigned experienced Federal Defender Amy Gallicchio.
The US government sought, and got, detention, without prejudice to a later application for release on bond. The preliminary hearing was set 30 days out, for August 26. Inner City Press wrote that it would have more on this case, which had been assigned the number 19-mj-6978.
Now on August 29 Hossain was brought, still in chains, into the 23rd floor courtroom of SDNY Judge Sidney H. Stein. His new lawyer, retained, was Steve Zissou. He began by informing Judge Stein that he last appeared before him in 1999, on a case from 1978. Judge Stein deadpanned, And you still remember the day.
(The case, Inner City Press can report, was USA v. Chang-Sun, 78-cr-254, re-assisgned to Judge Stein on March 18, 1999, from which then-Judge PACER sayeth not. Hossain's case is now 19-cr-606; it was wheeled out to Judge Stein by SDNY Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on August 26, the thirtieth day after Hossain's presentment.)
The August 29 proceeding went quickly. In the gallery with six adult family members or supporters, and one baby with him Hossain smiled. Judge Stein directed that the government provide all discovery by September 30. He set the next conference date for October 30 at 2:30 pm, by which time Zissou is to say what motion he might or might not file.
Hossein was taken back in shackles into the holding cell. Later his supporters came out onto Pearl Street. We will continue to follow this case - and whether diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad's efforts to find some agreement between the Taliban and the Trump Administration have any impact on the case.
While many even most cases in the Magistrates Court of the U.S.are sealed or have no case number given, on July 17 before Magistrate Judge Kevin N. Fox, things got more dramatic. 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 ofdrugs 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.
