Sunday, September 21, 2025
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Friday, September 19, 2025
Chinese Consulate Present as Wang Gets 25 Years in Hubei Fentanyl Import Case in SDNY
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 19 – The day after fentanyl and China were denounced by all eight GOP candidates in their debate in Milwaukee, two defendants were brought shackled into a federal courtroom in New York, charged with conspiracy to important at least 200 kilograms of fentanyl precursors. Inner City Press was there.
Qingzhou Wang had recently changed lawyers, from a free Federal Defender to retained counsel Daniel Arshack.
Citing the change of counsel, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul G. Gardephe set another court date in the future, October 24 at 10 am.
The Assistant US Attorney described trying to brute-force crack the defendants' cell phones, two each.
Also charged in the case is the company Hubei Amarvel Biotech Co. LTD, which is unrepresented in the docket like a Last Name Unknown co-defendant also known as Er Yang or Anita.
Back on June 28 , counsel to co-defendant Yiyi Chen asked Judge Gardephe, "I've spoken to representatives of the Chinese Consulate. They're here in court today. They'd like to know if they can have a brief non-contact visit with Ms. Chen and the co-defendant if it's okay with the Court and the marshals."
On September 5, now Yiyi Cheng brought in as retained counsel Shaoming Cheng (whose only SDNY case this is).
On October 12, counsel to Qingzhou Wang wrote to Judge Gardephe complaining about the government's delay in providing funds for translations to Mandarin (initially justified by the possible government shutdown). Counsel remains "available" on October 24, though.
On October 24, Inner City Press was on the 7th floor of 40 Foley Square when the two defendants would brought up by elevator, in MDC tan, by Marshals. Afterward, "Status Conference as to Qingzhou Wang held .
On July 25, Judge Gardephe held a status conference and Inner City Press went, thread
On November 18, Judge Gardephe denied severance and heard of discovery and health issues. Inner City Press was there, from the thread
Judge: I deny Wang's motion to sever. Trial is set for Jan 13.
On January 14 Inner City Press went; jury selection continued, with the legal question eliciting "yes" answers from a Westchester defense attorney and former prosecutor. Wang had written in to the judge in Chinese (docketed); the US put in the docket exhibits from Google Ads, rejecting an ad for fentanyl.
On January 15, Yiyi Chen requested, and Judge Gardephe granted, the right for the defendant to have her discovery laptop in Courtroom 105 during trial.
On January 17, Inner City Press was there amid testimony about a meeting on meth and fentanyl, thread:
AUSA: What were you buying from them? Witness: Fentanyl. Also chemicals for meth. AUSA: Please play the video 502 [mostly audio, of witness talk drug shop with the defendants]
After a break, more audio played for jury. Chen: We can ship it to Mexico, but it has to go through America Rodriguez: Mr Wang is the boss, right? Chen: There is another boss in Japan
AUSA: Did you end up meeting this other boss, during the meeting in Bangkok? Rodriguez: Yes, by Facetime.
Jump cut to January 29, when the US proposed to Judge Gardephe to add more to his answer to the jury question, Does supplying chemical constitute manufacturing?" Judge Gardephe denied the US motion to supplement his answer.
On January 30, a mixed verdict: "JURY VERDICT as to Qingzhou Wang (2) Guilty on Count 2s and Yiyi Chen (3) Guilty on Count 2s. Qingzhou Wang (2) Not Guilty on Count 1s and Yiyi Chen (3) Not Guilty on Count 1s." They will be sentenced in May and June - and they remain in detention...
On April 16 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for forfeiture of $67,168.25 from Wang, and two domain names from Chen.
On June 5 the June 26 sentencing of Wang was pushed to August 21 after his lawyer said he just learned that when he was just days old he was sold for $400 by his biological parents to his adoptive parents in a remote village of China; counsel wishes to explore it.
On June 26 "as to Qingzhou Wang, Yiyi Chen. Defendants' Rule 29 and Rule 33 motions (Dkt. Nos. 135-136) are denied. (Signed by Judge Paul G. Gardephe on 6/24/2025)."
On July 21 Wang asked for three years on August 21.
On August 18 Inner City Press went to cover Yiyi Chen's sentencing at 3 pm. The defendant and defense counsel, who had filed a letter that morning, were there, as was the prosecutors and others. But the sentencing was pushed back to Friday, August 22...
Inner City Press went on August 22, for more than two hours. Thread. She declined, twice, to speak. Judge Gardephe sentenced her to 15 years. Afterward into the elevator in shackles, stoic still. She is 33 years old, has no children, her cancer-ridden mother in Wuhan saying if only she hadn't been trapped there during the pandemic...
On September 4, delay for the co-defendant: "ORDER as to (23-Cr-302-2) Qingzhou Wang. Defendant Wang's sentencing that is currently scheduled for September 8, 2025, is adjourned to September 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
On September 18 it was pushed back again, for another day: "ORDER as to Qingzhou Wang: Defendant Wang's sentencing that is currently scheduled for September 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. is adjourned to September 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 705 of the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, New York, New York. SO ORDERED. (Sentencing set for 9/19/2025 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 705, 40 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 before Judge Paul G. Gardephe) (Signed by Judge Paul G. Gardephe on 9/18/2025) (lnl)
On September 19 Inner City Press live tweeted the more than two hours sentencing culminating in Judge Gardephe saying the mitigating factors (sold as a baby, work at 7, 11 year old son) were "swamped by the aggravating factors and sentenced Wang to 25 years. Thread here.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is USA v. Hubei Amarvel Biotech Co. LTD, et al., 1:23-cr-302 (Gardephe)
More details on Substack here
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Two More Into Tren de Aragua Case in SDNY with Murder and Special Circumstances Cited
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 19 – A defendant charged with conspiracy to commit carjacking as part of the Tren de Aragua gang was presented on December 12 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag Court.
The defendant Samuel Castro repeatedly turned and gestured to the law enforcement officials in the back of the courtroom; his Criminal Justice Act appointed lawyer said he wanted medicine for his ear.
He had arrived from immigration detention after being arrested on November 6.
On December 12 Castro was detained on consent on the conspiracy charges.
On January 17, 2025 co-defendant Jarwin Valero Calderon came from the MDC to the Magistrates Court, with his CJA lawyer seeking release on bond. Inner City Press was there. Thread:
AUSA: We found photos on defendants' phones, in this document of four left hands holding guns, one is purple on the bottom. Judge: I have only a black and white copy here.
[Color copy handed up] AUSA: He was stopped at the border illegally entering. He was released from immigration custody with an ankle bracelet, pending a hearing. He was later arrested in Florida and ordered removed to Venezuela. But they wouldn't take him.
AUSA: Due to lack of bed space he was released again with an ankle bracelet... Then the car jacking, in front of 1790 Prospect. Defendant was in the building, he jumped out of a window to try to evade arrest and throw away his phone.
Defense lawyer: We are requesting release. He can't flee to Venezuela, "unless things change politically down there."
Judge: TDA is a serious criminal organization. There was the October 2024 threat-call, and surveillance video. Yes, he was working for DoorDash. This is his fourth arrest here, including a larceny conviction in Nassau County
Judge: All the rest of his family is in Venezuela. I order you to continue to be detained
On August 8 CJA counsel to co-defendant Perez-Gonzalez asked for a change of counsel hearing citing a deterioration in the attorney client relationship.
On September 19 Inner City Press was in the SDNY Magistrates Court when two more were brought into the case, with murders and special circumstances cited.
The case is USA v. Gonzalez Castro, et al., 1:25-cr-41 (Cote)
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On FOIA of Circle Proposal for Charter OCC Releases Redacted Slide Deck only After Appeal
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SOUTH BRONX/SDNY, Sept 19 – With the US Congress passing the cryptocurrency GENIUS Act, Ripple Labs as well as Circle and others, have applied for banking charters to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Inner City Press asked the IMF about the GENIUS Act on July 24, here.
Later on July 24, the OCC responded to its FOIA request for communications related to Circle's proposal by stating "[p]lease provide the email addresses of Circle's counsel as well as the specific OCC personnel whose correspondence you would like for us to search.
This was a travesty: it is the OCC which knows the identity and address of applicant Circle's counsel, and of the OCC personnel.
Seeking to get the records during the comment period, Inner City Press provided what names it could. On August 21 - after closing its comment period - the OCC provided some 80 pages, more than half entirely redacted. Inner City Press has immediately appealed:
On this important application, after delaying until the OCC's comment period is officially closed, now the OCC withholds in full for example the slide deck Circle presented to the OCC on March 3, 2025 ("Sebastian - please see attached for today's presentation deck"). This is inappropriate. Circle is seeking approval based on this presentation; it cannot be withheld from the public in full. It appears to consist of 26 pages, with every single word and image withheld. The OCC is required under FOIA to make public all "reasonably segregable" portions of records it claims contain withholdable portions. That was not done here (nor on the b(5) redactions, which we are also hereby appealing).
Next, the OCC withholds in full at least 16 pages after a reference to helpful questions. Note that your sister regulator the Federal Reserve specifically provides the requesting public (or Press) with questions and answers. Withholding this in full is inappropriate, particularly on an application of this import. This appeal should be processed on an expedited basis - and the comment period should be re-opened / cannot close.
On September 29 the OCC "granted in part and denied in part" Inner City Press' FOIA appeal, while saying there is no link between getting information about the application and the comment period. It released emails apologizing for head fake and asking the lawyers about another of their clients, a potential applicant - and the heavily redacted slide deck, now on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here
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In Fat Joe Suit Against Dixon Misquoted Cases Seeming AI Now Fat Joe Asks for Sanctions
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 18 – Terrance Dixon says he was abused by Joseph Cartagena a/k/a Fat Joe.
But Fat Joe sued Dixon first, for defamation. After that, Dixon's lawyer Tyrone Blackburn filed his suit against Fat Joe.
On August 1 both cases were addressed before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jennifer L. Rochon. Inner City Press live tweeted, here.
The upshot is that Judge Rochon declined to stay discovery in Fat Joe v. Dixon, but also declined the request of Fat Joe and Roc Nations that Dixon's case be dismissed and made into a counterclaim in Fat Joe's suit.
Instead, Dixon's case will be consolidated with Fat Joes, with Dixon directed to effectuate service of process before an Initial Pre-Trial Conference in that case in October.
On September 5 Judge Rochon docketed the schedule: "Depositions shall be completed no later than December 1, 2025. The case is to be tried to a jury. Counsel for the parties have conferred and their best estimate of the length of trial is 5 days. Deposition due by 1/20/2026. Fact Discovery due by 12/1/2025. Expert Discovery due by 1/20/2026. Discovery due by 1/20/2026. Case Management Conference set for 2/17/2026 at 10:00 AM before Judge Jennifer L. Rochon. Pretrial Conference set for 2/17/2026 at 10:00 AM."
On September 8 Dixon's counsel Blackburn wrote in asking to amend a filing with a series of misquoted or non existent cases - and on September 10 Judge Rochon declined to accept the amendment, stating "defendants may address any inaccuracies in their previous brief in reply. full filing and endorsement on Patreon here
On September 18 Fat Joe's lawyers from Reed Smith pointed to earlier instances and asked for attorneys fees / sanctions.
The two cases have been consolidated under the first filed case, Cartagena v. Dixon, et al., 1:25-cv-3552 (Rochan)
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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In Sudan Case BNP Paribas Was Sued in 2016 At Trial Kordofan Judge Describes Bashir Coup
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 18 – BNP Paribas was sued, and raised as part of its defense the laws of Switzerland and of Sudan.
On November 5, 2020 U.S. then-District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Alison J. Nathan held an oral argument. Inner City Press covered it.
The case involves BNP violating Sudan sanctions, and the mass killing of civilians in Darfur and elsewhere by the then Omar al Bashir government, for which BNP claims to bear no responsibility.
Going back from the docket, neither the complaint nor the amended complaint are available to the public.
But the Rule 44.1 notice of issues of foreign law is.
Jump cut to September 9, 2022, after Judge Nathan ascended to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The case was reassigned to District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who held a proceeding. Inner City Press again covered it.
Now the parties described to District Judge Hellerstein how the case is being processed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. Judge Hellerstein mulled when and where he will come in - on class certification and Daubert motions, he proposed. The response was that those are intertwined.
Judge Hellerstein said to proceed before Magistrate Judge Willis, then return to him on with a proposed agenda and schedule.
On May 5, 2023 the case convened again, and Inner City Press was again there. Now there is new bloodshed in Sudan - but it was not mentioned, not only. There was discussion of Daubert motions, a summary judgement briefing schedule moved from August to September 8 due to "vacations and kids," as one of the lawyers put it. No mention of kids currently in Sudan, nor those left abandoned by largely European countries.
On November 18, 2024 the lawyers were back before Judge Hellerstein, but for a break for two criminal cases. Judge Hellerstein has said the class is all refugees or asylees admitted by the US who formerly lived in Suden or South Suden between Nov 4, 1997 and December 31, 2021. Appointed as administrator is Epid Class Action and Claims Solutions.
Jump cut to September 16, 2025, when Inner City Press covers the trial as a former compliance officer was asked about blocked transactions resubmitted without the word Sudan and passing; and a CNN journalist testified about El Fasher, where Inner City Press reported on UN corruption until it was (and still is) banned.
On September 17 Dr. Harry Verhoeven described BNP as Bashir's partner; a virtual witness was asked about Alain Peon saying BNP paid Bashir's government a $60 million a month "stipend."
On September 18, Next plaintiffs' witness is a refugee from Sudan Plaintiffs' lawyer: Are you now a US citizen? Witness: Yes Plaintiff's lawyer: Did you grow up in Wow or somewhere else? A: Kordofan
Plaintiffs' lawyer: How was your life in North Kordofan? Witness: It was great. My father was a policeman, his salary covered all our important needs. Sudanese, families have a lot of kids. Four or five bedrooms. I am from the Keraish tribe
[Note: It seems the witness is Turjuman Adam - deposition filed under seal] Plaintiffs' lawyer: What is your level of education? Witness: I got an LLM in Western, I'd passed the bar exam in Sudan in 1989
[Judge Hellerstein docketed: "as to Plaintiff Turjuman Adam's deposition testimony concerning his prior criminal & domestic violence history, the minimal probative value of such cross-examination is substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice
Plaintiffs' lawyer: When they came for you, were they armed? Witness: Yes, with AK-47. As a Sudanese judge, I was supposed to have immunity. Plaintiffs' lawyer: Where did they take you? Witness: To Wow. To the headquarters. They started beating me (sobs)
Inner City Press will continue to cover the trial- and the country.
The case is Kashef et al v. BNP Paribas SA et al., 1:16-cv-3228 (Hellerstein)
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UN Representative to ECOSOC Sent FBI Agent Selfies Drinking Wine Now Hearing Sept 26
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 17 – A woman describing herself as a UN Representative at ECOSOC was arrested on November 21, 2024 and presented in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on charges of false statements about contact with the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federal. Inner City live tweeted, thread
now at US v Ms. Nomma Zarubina - an NGO "ambassador to UN ECOSOC," with Russian interpreter present. Inner City Press as only media here will report Judge: You are charged with false statements to US law enforcement about communications with Federal Security Service & official of Russian Federation.
AUSA: We agree to release with 1 co-signer, not communications with foreign officials except Russian consulate
After several continuances, on April 21, 2025 a three count indictment - Mann Act and two counts of false statements - was filed, and the case was assigned to the Chief Judge of SDNY.
On July 23, Chief Judge Swain prohibited any contact with Case Agents, after being told that Zarubina repeatedly texted Case Agent-1 to "start looking to massage places and long term relationships with Slavic females involving money." Full filing with more on Patreon here
On July 31 Judge Swain ordered a mental health evaluation: "Ms. Zarubina's release conditions are hereby modified by the addition of the following condition: Ms. Zarubina is hereby directed to undergo a mental health evaluation by a provider chosen by Pretrial Services and to engage in mental health treatment to the extent recommended by that provider. All other conditions remain in effect as previously ordered. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 7/31/25)."
On August 19 the Federal Defender wrote in asking for permission for a trip to Texas from September 12 through 16, noting that "the government objects."
On August 20 Chief Judge Swain directed the US Attorney's Office to explain its opposition by August 25: "The Government shall file an explanation of the reasons for its objection by 5:00 p.m. on August 25, 2025.
On August 25 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that "on August 16, 2025 the defendant published on Facebook a post referring to a 'titled investigator,' which the Government believes is a reference to Case Agent-1... We believe that the defendant has traveled outside the Permissible Districts without permission... as recently as late July 2025, she has no known family or other connections to Texas.
On September 17 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for detention, annexing 8 pages of text messages including a selfie drinking wine, all texts on Patreon here
On September 18 Chief Judge Swain endorsed the parties' request that the hearing be pushed back a week to September 26 at noon, to allow a defense submission by September 22.
The case is USA v. Zarubina, 1:25-cr-179 (Swain)
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As Pinnacle Bank Synovus Merger Protested Now Fed Asks Fair Lending and Blackrock Qs
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
NASHVILLE, Sept 18 – Synovus Bank, with a track record of disparate lending and consumer complaints, now proposes to cash out and merge with Nashville-based Pinnacle.
But Pinnacle has its own disparities, and is under-regulated by the Tennessee Commissioner of Financial Institutions, who refuses to provide any documents to anyone but Tennessee "citizens" (not even those *in* Tennessee).
So Fair Finance Watch filed Community Reinvestment Act challenges with the Federal Reserve and the Georgia regulator (both have confirmed receipt and the Fed has sent to Pinnacle) as well as the recalcitrant Tennessee regulator, who refuses to give records or even confirm receipt of the challenge. Pinnacle for now seems to think it has Tennessee in the palm of its hand, lock stock and barrel, regulator and media. But then there's Inner City Press, and other states...
On September 15 the FRB of Atlanta sent Fair Finance Watch a list of question sent to Pinnacle and Synovus including "an analysis of CRA and fair lending impacts and the potential effect on the community and customers served by the branch, particularly distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle- income census tracts, majority-minority census tracts, LMI census tracts, and rural areas;" and "The Application identifies that The Vanguard Group, Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and FMR, LLC, would each hold more than 5 percent of the combined organization’s common stock. Explain in further detail why, as the Application represents, “[n]one of these parties would trigger any presumption of control” - full letter on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here
Dear Chair Powell and others in the FRS:
... Fair Finance Watch has long been concerned about Synovus, as the Federal Reserve memorialized, noting "disparities in denial rates and home mortgage originations to African Americans and/or Hispanics, as compared to whites, in certain markets. The commenter also noted a complaint filed with the CFPB against Synovus Bank relating to collecting on a debt allegedly not owed."
Fair Finance Watch has reviewed the just-released 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of Synovus and finds that while it made 3.18 loans to whites for each denial to whites, it made only 1.7 loans to African Americans for each denial to African Americans.
Pinnacle is of even greater concern. In Virginia, where Pinnacle received a Low Satisfactory on the Lending Test in its most recently (May 2023) CRA performance evaluation, in 2024 it made 133 mortgage loans to whites, with 19 denials, but only 13 loans to African Americans, with fully eight denials.
In Alabama, where Pinnacle also received a Low Satisfactory on the Lending Test, in 2024 Pinnacle made 106 mortgage loans to whites, with 16 denials, but only 56 loans to African Americans, with fully nine denials.
In North Carolina, where Pinnacle also received a Low Satisfactory on the Lending Test, in 2024 Pinnacle made 653 mortgage loans to whites, with 178 denials, but only 202 loans to African Americans, with fully 82 denials.
Even in Tennessee, which conceals its records, Pinnacle was rated Low Satisfactory on the Lending Test in Knoxville and Chattanooga. Not in the exam:
In Florida in 2024 Pinnacle made 38 mortgage loans to whites, with 11 denials, but only five loans to African Americans, with fully NINE denials.
In Kentucky in 2024 Pinnacle made eleven mortgage loans to whites, with seven denials, but NO loans to African Americans. This application should not be approved; particularly in light of the disparities, public evidentiary hearings are needed.
Watch this site.
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Truist Poised to Open 100 Branches Applauds FDIC Violating Community Reinvestment Act
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SOUTH BRONX / SDNY COURT, Sept 18 – The Community Reinvestment Act directs bank regulators to consider banks' records of lending in poor neighborhoods when they apply to expand with mergers or, right in the statute, branches ("deposit facilities").
But now the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is quietly moving to eliminate public notice of, and public comment on, banks' branch applications. While Inner City Press has Freedom of Information Act requests pending, Fair Finance Watch commented twice to the FDIC, on the proposed change, and published an op-ed about it in the American Banker, here.
Truist Bank, successor to Suntrust and BB&T, also wrote in to the FDIC - to applaud the violation of the CRA and urge the FDIC to go further. Explanation: this comes as Truist CEO Bill Rogers brags of "building 100 new insights-driven branches, renovating more than 300 branches in high-opportunity markets, enhancing digital capabilities and hiring additional Premier advisors to serve clients with more complex financial needs." We'll have more on this.
Filed:
On behalf of Fair Finance Watch and in my personal capacity this is a timely comment opposing - including as illegal - the FDIC's proposals in RIN 3064-AG10.
The Community Reinvestment Act specifies that "the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency shall (1) assess the institution's record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of such institution; and (2) take such record into account in its evaluation of an application for a deposit facility by such institution." That is, the only enforcement mechanism of CRA is its consideration on applications for deposit facilities: branches.
But now the FDIC blithely proposes to eliminate public notice and public comment on branch applications. This is blatantly against the CRA. Ironically, the FDIC's reasoning is that few comments are filed. So, that must change.
And is: consider, among currently pending branch applications, these:
the pending application by Harmony Bank to expand with a deposit facility at "Suite 400 MIDLOTHIAN, TX" - no street address is given [!] FFW has reviewed the 2024 HMDA data - not in any CRA evaluation - of Harmony Bank. In Texas in 2024 it made 27 mortgage loans to whites and NONE to African Americans. * * *
Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company for a branch at 25910 Canal Road ORANGE BEACH, AL. The application is listed as somehow received on September 1 with a comment period running through September 19. FFW has reviewed the 2024 HMDA data - not in any CRA evaluation - of Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company. In Louisiana in 2024 it made 726 mortgage loans to whites and denied only 107 applications, 1 to 7. For African Americans, 220 loans and fully 54 denials: approximately 1 to 4. Worse in Alabama in 2024 Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company made loans only to whites, none to African Americans. * * *
the pending application by TexasBank to expand with a deposit facility at 300 West Seventh Street, FORT WORTH, TX. The application is listed as filed on August 21 with a comment period running only through September 15. FFW has reviewed the 2024 HMDA data - not in any CRA evaluation - of TexasBank. In Texas in 2024 it made 1158 mortgage loans to whites and only FIVE to African Americans.
There are more.
Then: in the two weeks since FFW commented on the nine branch applications, with 2024 HMDA data analysis, only one of the FDIC banks has responded. The blame for the state of affairs that the FDIC presents in its RIN lies not with the public, but elsewhere. On the one bank that has at least responded, Somerset Trust Company, we have replied by email that "in Virginia in 2024, Somerset Trust Company made HDMA loans to whites - and NONE to African Americans. The same was true in 2024 in Maryland, where even the CRA PE puts SMT as "low satisfactory" in all three tests. In Virginia, Somerset Trust Company got Needs to Improve under two of the three tests, and Needs to Improve Overall."
This proposal to eliminate public notice and comment on branch applications must be withdrawn
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