by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
100 CENTRE STREET, Aug 28 – In November 2023 two women were charged with assault as a hate crime for ripping a Star of David off of a 41-year-old woman on West 82nd Street after tearing down fliers about hostages taken in the October 7 attack in Israel.
One of them, Stephanie Gonzalez, has as her lawyer Marc Agnifilo, who represents Sean Combs and now fellow sex abuse defendant Oren Alexander. Inner City Press first reported this and and asked: pro bono?
24 hours later, late on August 28, the WebCrims record was updated to specify that Agnifilo is a Retained Attorney to Stephanie Gonzalez. Charging the same rate as to Sean Combs and Oren Alexander? Will there be a GoFundMe?
Inner City Press was in the courtroom for Stephanie Gonzalez' August 27 appearance in 100 Centre Street (where Agnifilo's wire Karen Friedman Agnifilo represents Luigi Mangione). But Agnifilo, who Inner City Press saw up close in the Diddy trial and SDNY elevators, was not there.
Again, would Agnifilo represent Gonzalez at the now scheduled trial about the alleged anti-Semitic hate crime?
NYC tabloids covered their first appearance in court. Quotes were reported: "They are not victims, they are A.I generated. I love Palestine," then "F**k Israel, f**k your white privilege."
On August 27, 2025 the pair appeared in 100 Centre Street, TAP A. Inner City Press was there, along with four observers, no other media. So it live tweeted:
OK - now at NYS case for "assault as a hate crime" on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Oct 7 fliers - People v. Mehwish Omer and Stephanie Gonzalez.
Judge: What is the offer of the People?
ADA: Assault 3 as a hate crime - if they complete the bias program and remain arrest free for a year, time served.
Judge: It is being accepted today? Counsel: No. Judge: So, I'll set a trial date, October 14.
Ms. Omer and Gonzalez, if you deliberately fail to appear, the case will continue. Do you understand, Ms. Omer?
Yes. Yes.
Judge: Parole will be continued
Agnifilo was not the lawyer talking to the duo out in the hall afterwards. Later on August 27 he filed for Oren Alexander about sex trauma abuse.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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