By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY EXCLUSIVE, Aug 28 - In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 17, 2022 a detention or bond proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis on a defendant charged conspiring to transport 200 kilos of narcotics cross-country to New York.
Inner City Press was there, the only media in the Mag Court.
The defendant, Christopher Burgos, had retained counsel, who argued that his client has a job driving trucks in airports and should be released.
The prosecutor sought detention. But Judge Willis ruled that if a $100,000 personal recognizance bond is signed by three other people, including two family members (possibly including the wife from whom Burgos was said by his lawyer to be separated), he could be released.
He was. Jump-cut to August 16, 2023, when Burgos before Judge John P. Cronan sat at the defense table while his three co-defendants were in the jury box with US Marshals. Trial is set for January 29, 2024 - but issues have arisen about discovery being designated "attorney's eyes only," and defendant Bhupinder Singh Virk wants to argue for bail.
On August 28 he did, and Inner City Press was there - thread:
OK - now at bail hearing on Bhupinder Singh Virk in drug case. He offers up three homes as collateral; has asylum in US. He's from India.
Defense lawyer: My client is a Sikh & would be killed by BJP party police if he returns to India. He is a member of the MANN Party. He would not flee.
Judge: If he's convicted, would he lose his asylum status? Defense: Even with conviction he might not be removed
Judge: But if he'd lose asylum if convicted, wouldn't that give him an incentive to flee now to a country other than India? Defense: He's never been anywhere but India and the US.
Defense: He's been threatened and assaulted in MDC-Brooklyn [haven't heard that from SBF, only about no Adderall or vegan meals]. Stories coming
Judge: Virk will remain detained... US says he had ghost guns... He faces 188 to 235 months... He could lose asylum...
Inner City Press will continue to cover the case.
The case is US v. Burgos, et al., 22-cr-618 (Cronan)
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