by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack
LITERARY COURTHOUSE, Sept 16 – In closing arguments back on March 6, 2024 AUSA Tarlow said that narco trafficking had grown under JOH. On March 7, out of the hearing of the jury and for then the Press, JOH's lawyer Stabile said he'd heard different overnight.
From who?
The defendant's wife he said.
Was this just a play for a mistrial?
Judge Castel concluded it was, and denied Stabile's motion, Order on Patreon here.
Later on March 8, the verdict, here- then a book
Jump cut to September 15-16, 2025, when the lead named defendant sought to seal his sentencing memo and materials; Inner City Press filed opposition. Judge Castel docketed: "ORDER as to Victor Hugo Diaz Morales: On September 15, 2025, defendant filed a motion to file under seal his sentencing memorandum and annexed a copy of that memorandum. (ECF 863.) In a September 15, 2025 email sent to the Chambers Inbox, Matthew Russell Lee of the Inner City Press asks the Court "to unseal the sentencing memo and exhibits," citing Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110, 119 (2d Cir. 2006). The Court has not finally ruled on the motion to seal defendant's sentencing memorandum and any exhibits. Consistent with United States v. Greenwood, 145 F.4th 248 (2d Cir. 2025), counsel for defendant shall email to the Chambers email address within 14 days a proposed redacted version of defendant's sentencing memorandum and any exhibits, together with a statement of reasons, with copy to the government. The government shall respond five days thereafter. (Signed by Judge P. Kevin Castel on 9/15/2025)." US v. Greenwood was Inner City Press' win in the 2d Circuit....
"Narco Drama: The trial of Honduras' JOH," here. Some: The former president of Honduras demanded a new lawyer. His first one, he said he could no longer pay. Anyway the man was getting sick, and had been picked in the first instance by a rabbi who was reporting to the Drug Enforcement Agency. So Juan Orlando Hernandez spoke to the judge, first in open court, then obscured by white noise at the sidebar. Kurt Wheelock knew he had to write
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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