By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Live stream
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY Court / Mag Exclusive, April 18 – Gerald Migdol, a lawyer who develops real estate in Harlem, was arrested early on November 19, 2021. Inner City Press covered his arraignment and when he was freed on $250,000 bond.
On April 12 the other shoe dropped when New York State Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was indicted. Announced were a noon press conference by US Attorney Damian Williams and a presentment in the SDNY Magistrates Court, both of which Inner City Press will cover.
Back in November Migdol was brought before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang on the afternoon of November 19, in blue jeans. Inner City Press was there, in the gallery.
As it happens, Judge Wang is also on duty on April 12, 2022. In the early afternoon she arraigned and freed Benjamin - on agreed conditions that allow travel to Georgia and Virginia, but not Albany: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang: Initial Appearance as to Brian Benjamin (2) held on 4/12/2022. Detention Hearing as to Brian Benjamin held on 4/12/2022. Date of Arrest: 4/12/2022, Vol. Surr. AUSA Alison Moe & David Abramowicz. Defense Counsel (Retained): James Gatta & William Harrington. Proceeding: Rule 9. BAIL DISPOSITION: Agreed conditions of release; $250,000 PRB; 1 FRP; Travel restricted to SDNY/EDNY/N.D.Ga., E.D.Va & points in between; Temporary additional travel upon consent of AUSA & approval of Pretrial Services; Surrender travel documents (& no new applications); Pretrial supervision as directed by Pretrial Services; Defendant to be released on own signature plus the following conditions: FRP; Remaining conditions to be met by 4/19/2022. ADDITIONAL PROCEEDINGS: Defendant arraigned; pleads Not Guilty. Conference before District Judge on 4/19/2022 at 11:30 a.m.."
Inner City Press sought to ask Benjamin why, when he left the courthouse, video here.
On April 14, the day before a scheduled proceeding in the Migdol case, sources told Inner City Press that Migdol had appeared in Magistrates Court - presumably to cooperate / plead guilty. On April 15, at the time of his proceeding, it was "adjourned sine die." See here.
On April 18, Benjamin appeared with his new Kramer Levin lawyers, who said that this is the first case prosecuting only political contributions, with no personal gain. Inner City Press live tweeted it here
OK - Ex NYS Lt Giv Brian Benjamin set to appear in Courtroom 318 at 11:30. Inner City Press exclusively reported last week co defendant (cooperator?) Migdol in Magistrates Court
Benjamin and 2 lawyers here in Courtroom 318. 3 prosecutors. Awaiting Judge Oetken.
From Lt Gov to defendant in less than a week.
Here's Judge Oetken. Benjamin has Kramer Levin.
AUSA: We've given 160,000 pages to the defense Benjamin's lawyer: This case is based only on political contributions, not personal benefit.
Defense wants 3-4 weeks. Judge Oetken sets for May 12, 11 am. Benjamin can now travel to NJ. Story (and vlog
and here's the live-streamed vlog, here.
We'll have more on this.
Back to Migdol's initial presentment: he Office of the US Attorney, being publicly sworn in at exactly that time at the Harlem Armory, agreed to Migdol's release on $250,000 personal recognizance bond.
Migdol has a gun, which must be turned into the local police precinct by November 23, and an expired passport due later.
According to the prosecutors, "Candidate-1 filed a certification with the CFB in or about September 2019, becoming a candidate for the office of the New York City Comptroller and opting in to the CFB’s matching funds program. Thereafter, MIGDOL and others conspired to obtain fraudulent contributions for Candidate-1 that would be used, among other things, to seek public matching funds from the CFB. .. Through these and other efforts, MIGDOL and others involved in the scheme procured nominee and other fraudulent contributions for Candidate-1’s campaign, which in turn were submitted to the CFB by Candidate-1’s campaign in connection with requests for at least tens of thousands of dollars in additional public matching funds."
The case is assigned to District Judge J. Paul Oetken, who has scheduled a conference for December 6 at 11.
Inner City Press will stay on the case.
It is US v. Migdol, 21-cr-706 (Oetken / Wang)
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