By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC-Guardian UK - Honduras - Scoop - Credit
SDNY COURTROOM EXCLUSIVE, Jan 25 - In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 4, a detention or release proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on a defendant charged with throwing a Molotov cocktail onto the front porch of a house in The Bronx, and of being the driver for a co-defendant who threw a Molotov cocktail at a car.
The house-bomber, with a Federal Defender, was released on $15,000 bond. The car-bomber, with the day's Criminal Justice Act counsel, didn't even ask for a bail hearing. At the end he was led out asking, "So I'm staying in jail?" His significant other in the gallery, where Inner City Press was the only media as on the July 29 Azerbaijan AK-47 stalker of an Iranian dissident (story here, credited here).
On September 1, District Judge John P. Cronan held arraignments and a status conference. Inner City Press went and live tweeted it here:
Now at arraignment of Molotov cocktail duo, both sitting in jury box with US Marshals. Judge Cronan mentions a Chowdhry civil case he has, bandwidth sale.
Co-defendant Mendez, incarcerated from Day 1, doesn't look happy. COVID mask not covering nose. Pleads not guilty as well.
Ukraine Molotovs cited again. One placed under a dark Acura in The Bronx on June 6, 2022. 2 supporters, on info and belief Bangladeshi or South Asian, enter. Mendez' significant other not here.
AUSA Amanda Weingarten cites huge video tracking the duo all over The Bronx. Federal Defender says Chowdhry phone has exculpatory info on it. AUSA says it was never seized.
Defendant exchanging glances. Both in prison beige. Next is Nov 2, 9:30 am. Adjourned.
Back on August 24, the defendant who was released on conditions including drug treatment was back for a bail revocation, which it barely avoided. Inner City Press was present and live tweeted here.
Here is the blow by blow of the arson duo's first proceeding, here.
On January 19, 2023, it was docketed that Mendez intends to plead guilty on January 25: "NOTICE OF HEARING as to David Mendez: The change of plea hearing for David Mendez is scheduled for January 25, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. in Courtroom 12D of 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007. **Change of Plea Hearing set for 1/25/2023 at 03:30 PM before Judge John P. Cronan."
Inner City Press went to the guilty plea on January 25. Mendez pleaded guilty, and the US Attorney's Office unveiled an agreement to release him from detention to Odyssey House and postpone sentencing until October 31, 2023.
Then they asked for the transcript and even superceder to be sealed, because it seemed Mendez might cooperate if Chowdhury goes to trial in August. But the plea, and all that was said, was in open court. Judge Cronan asked for a status report in 60 days if it needs to be kept sealed.
The case is US v. Chowdhury, et al., 22-cr-464 (Cronan)
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