By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC-Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN NY Mag
SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 21 – Eduar Vidal is facing trial on bank fraud charges, for a scheme in which the auto dealership he ran processed faked auto loans.
On May 27, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Denise L. Cote held an in-person final pre-trial conference. Inner City Press went and covered it.
Judge Cote put on the record that the US Attorney's Office offered Vidal a plea deal for 18 to 24 months, which he rejected.
The Assistant US Attorney took to the podium, took off his mask and said if Vidal pleads guilty before trial without a deal the guidelines would be 41 to 51 months. If he goes to trial and is found guilty, the AUSA said, it would be 51 to 63 months - to some, a form of penalty.
Judge Cote turned to motions in limine, whether statements by those whose names were on the auto loan applications will be admissible as statements of conspirators.
Vidal sought to keep them out, as well as his immigration status and Dominican citizenship. The statements are in, but immigration out.
Jump cut to June 21: Judge Cote summoned the parties, including the defendant, to appear at 9 am with the charging conference. Then the closing arguments - Vidal's able lawyer said only an honest man would have consulted his lawyer, Nelson Rosado - and then, at 4 pm, the verdict.
Inner City Press was there, as were some 15 other people, seemingly supporters of the defendant. The verdict? Count 1: Guilty. Count 2: guilty. Judge Cote thanked the jurors for their service. And it was cover, at least the trial phase.
The trial is set to being June 14. The case is US v. Vidal, 21-cr-726 (Cote)
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