In Trial for Taking $25M from Eth Sandwich Defense Fights and Gets Anton Arrest Video In

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 31 – James Peraire-Bueno was indicted for "conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged novel scheme by the defendants to exploit the very integrity of the Ethereum blockchain to fraudulently obtain approximately $25 million worth of cryptocurrency within approximately 12 seconds."  

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here.

On October 14, Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection, here.

Late on October 14, the defendants opposed Miller: Filing on Patreon here

On October 31 the defense case proceeded, with a summary witness from W&C and a fight - won by the defense - to get the arrest video of Anton Peraire-Bueno into evidence.

Analysis, timing and more on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

While Amazon took down Inner City Press' books on SBF, Do Kwon, Roman Storm and more from October 24 to October 30, this interim book was put on Google Play here

Inner City Press is covering this trial.

The case is USA v. Peraire-Bueno, et al., 1:24-cr-293 (Clarke)

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On Fifth Third Bid for Comerica Challenged on CRA Fed Acknowledges Receipt But Hides

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY/SOUTH BRONX, Oct 31 – As US bank regulators loosen rules - including the FDIC moving to eliminate public comment altogether on branch expansion applications - now more big banks are moving to get bigger.

   On October 6, amid the pending PNC - FirstBank and Pinnacle - Synovus proposals, Fifth Third announced it will apply to buy damaged Comerica Bank. On October 8-9, it was opposed, to the Fed and OCC.

   Inner City Press submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Fed, the same it has used on other mergers, always resulting in expedited treatment.

 But on October 16, the Fed for the first time denied expedited treatment on Fifth Third - Comerica and Direct Express. Inner City Press appealed, asking that the Governors answer: what changed?

  The Federal Reserve explained it was because the application has not been filed yet. Fine. On October 30, the Fed send "Mathew Lee,  Attached is a letter from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (the “Reserve Bank”) acknowledging receipt of the public comment you submitted (the “receipt letter”) regarding Fifth Third Bancorp’s, Cincinnati, Ohio, intended acquisition of Comerica Incorporated, Dallas, Texas.   Also attached is a letter from this Reserve Bank to Fifth Third's retained counsel transmitting your comment and giving the company an opportunity to respond."

  But at 4 pm on October 31, notice of the application was still not on the Fed's website. Inner City Press raised just this to Governor Michelle Bowman at the FRBKC's hearing on EGRPRA on October 30. Watch this site.

   Fair Finance Watch filed:

   Dear FRB Chair Powell, Comptroller Gould:

      This is an early first comment on, the proposal and applications by Fifth Third to acquire Comerica. Beyond the lending disparities preliminarily identified below, the US government's Direct Express payment program was removed from Comerica, part of its weakening, and given to Fifth Third, which now applies to acquire Comerica. Public hearings are needed, and hereby required.  

  Fair Finance Watch has long been concerned about Fifth Third.  Fair Finance Watch has reviewed the just-released 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of Fifth Third, not reviewed in any Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation. 

  In state after state, Fifth Third for African Americans has (many) more denials than originations, while the opposite is true for white borrows. The pattern is striking, starting with two states Fifth Third and Comerica overlap in:   

   In Michigan, the state Comerica abandoned for Texas, Fifth Third in 2024 denied 249 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 177loans - while it made fully 4189 loans to whites and denied only 1688 applications. This  is disparate [there are more states]

   From the many complaints against Fifth Third, there's a major one by the CFPB itself...

 Inner City Press, which has opposed the FDIC's moves to close itself to public scrutiny - American Banker op-ed here - has now submitted FOIA requests on all this. The FDIC said it will eliminate public notices because it does not receive enough public comments. That is changing, starting now. Watch this site.

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De Niro Grandson Death Triggered Detention in SDNY & Sealed Filings Now 5 Coming In

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY EXCLUSIVE, Oct 30 – Many people are killed by fentanyl these days.

On the morning of July 14, 2023 Inner City Press covered the sentencing to three years of a man for causing a deadly overdose of another, Peter Krasniqi. Only his family, and Inner City Press, were in the courtroom gallery. 

 Later on July 14, a 20-year old woman charged with causing the death of the grandson of actor Robert De Niro was held, with significantly more interest. As in the first case, Inner City Press was there, thread

Since then, with no docketing of this defendant Sophia Marks being released, there are 16 "Sealed Documents Placed in Vault."

On October 30, Inner City Press learned of five defendants under indictment 25-cr-496 - in which Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez is Victim-3, July 2, 2023.

The first case is US v. Marks, 23-mj-5518 (Wang)

The now related case case is USA v. Nichols, et al., 1:25-cr-496 (Ramos).

 More analysis on Substack here 

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SDNY Press Room

South Sudan Tells UN to Ground Spy Copters and Not Spare Tony Cronies From Budget Cuts

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN Gate Exclusive, Oct 29 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Consider South Sudan, where UN personnel stand accused of child rape on which UN spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming have refused all Press questions. On October 29 this, from UN whistleblowers sent to Inner City Press, which exclusively publishes the government's cable to the UN, here

Dear Matthew Russell Lee, 

 During these critical periods when the UNMISS Mission Leadership are cutting staff posts and have informed staff to reduce expenditure, etc causing severe mental health and low morale amongst staff, it is noted that UNMISS Senior Management continue to spend unnecessarily/ wasting funds. It is not clear why its leadership are still planning to spend so much money on Special flights traveling to the field locations for one (1) day return trips. The only advantage for these trips is that they receive DSAs for personal gains. Are these trips necessary during these critical periods?

The UNMISS Chief of Staff, Leda Limann ( Pastor Leda) planned visit to Aweil on 29 Oct was cancelled due to the attached code cable.   The mission is now in a very confused state and it is not clear if the contingency plan will be effective. The mission has failed by not coordinating with the host government earlier. The mission continues to be discreet creating more confusion amongst staff members.  It appears that most mission leaders are currently absent from duty.

The Director of Mission Support is reportedly on vacation, the SRSG Haysom is on extended medical leave [no answers from Guterres Spox Dujarric], and the Chief of Staff is preparing to depart the mission area and traveling to new York for a long vacation. This leadership gap has left staff increasingly concerned about mission direction, continuity, and accountability.  

  Many staff members believe the mission leadership has drifted from the core UN mandate and has instead engaged in questionable administrative practices. Concerns have been raised regarding possible coordination between senior leadership, the Chief of the Conduct & Discipline Unit, and OIOS in the use of disciplinary mechanisms. Reports indicate that cases have  been initiated against genuine staff members based purely on managerial instruction  during private party gatherings, where senior officials(including OIOS & CDT) drink vodka and smoke weed.

Staff also report that key decisions appear to be influenced through informal social gatherings among certain senior officials rather than through transparent, impartial institutional mechanisms. There are serious concerns regarding informal networks influencing decisions on staff retention and separation, reportedly in alignment with certain interests at UN Headquarters. These practices undermine transparency, fairness, and the credibility of the internal justice system. These issues have not gone unnoticed. The Government of South Sudan is reportedly aware of financial and administrative irregularities within the mission. As a result, it has introduced measures such as restricting contracts for non-South-Sudanese companies operating outside South Sudan. Many staff view this as a response to long-standing governance concerns and hope it will prompt meaningful accountability and restore confidence in the mission’s leadership and operations. 

 Guterres, they say, should end censorship. Application was made on June 19, 2025, here. Still as of October 7 no answer at all from Melissa Fleming or Stephane Dujarric. Totally corrupt. Watch this site.

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25 Year Sentences for Duo Guilty For Plot to Kill Iran Dissident Masij Alinejad Q&A on UN

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Jan 27 vlog

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 29 - A man from Azerbaijan was arrested with an AK-47 style assault rifle surveilling the Brooklyn home of an Iranian journalist, Inner City Press exclusively reported learned on July 29, 2022,

   In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York past 5 pm that day, a detention or release proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave on defendant Khalid Mehdiyev. Inner City Press was the only media there.

On January 27, 2023, Mehdiyev's paymaster was presented, but not arraigned, again before Judge Cave. Vlog here

  On February 1, both Amirov and Mehdiyev were on court before District Judge Colleen McMahon.

On January 24, Inner City Press went to a proceeding in the case, with Rafat Amirov only. Two defendants are in Czechia and Georgia; Medhiyev was not there.  Now now at trial. Thread.

On March 10, jury selection went past 5 pm and still wasn't finished.

On March 11, opening statements, BOP witness and ... Mehdiyev, about the Russian mob, Guli vor, and Polad. The AUSA says he has two to five hours more - Judge McMahon said tighten it up. Thread here, more / extra on Substack here.

On March 13 Mehdiyev was crossed by Omarov's lawyer about, among many other things, making up the death of his mother and his visa fraud, thread

On March 14 Mehdiyev's mother testified then was cross examined. She denied wanting a green card, and that she told her son on a recorded call that they "had" to get to the US. More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

On March 17 the trial continued including with the FBI's Iran squad chief testifying that Mehdiyev got paid, $30,000 in cash - thread

On March 18, Masih Alinejad herself testified (Inner City Press thread) - there was no cross examination, and after the charge conference, closing arguments approach...

On March 19, the closing arguments, with the defense targeting the credibility of Mehdiyev - and his mother, thread

On March 20, the same afternoon the jury got the case it found both men guilty on all charges, though Amirov for money laundering only on international promotion, not concealment...

On August 14 counsel for Polad Omarov wrote in that "in a sealed ex parte letter submitted on June 6, 2025 Mr. Omarov's defense counsel had requested permission to travel to Georgia in preparation for sentencing." Then, "military escalations" but now "the US, Israel and Iran entered into a ceasefire agreement." So they want to go again, and to postpone Omarov's sentencing to Oct 27-30 or after Dec 1. Amirov wants to go forward...

On August 20, Judge McMahon docketed, "re: adjourn sentencing. ENDORSEMENT: The sentencings for both Amirov and Omarov are adj. to Oct. 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM."

On October 15 Omarov asked for 120 months, Amirov for 156 months.

On October 22 the US Attorney's Office asked for 660 months - 55 years - on each defendant.

On October 27 counsel to Omarov wrote in about an amended Exhibit B - but the original Exhibit B, about a taxpayer funded evidence gather trip to Georgia, does not appear to have been docketed. Nor will Omarov speak in court on October 29.

Inner City Press live tweeted on October 29. Both defendants were sentenced to 25 years. Afterward Inner City Press asked Masih Alinejad, and Mark Wallace, about the UN [from which Inner City Press remains banned]
Q&A here

On the case, more on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is USA v. Medhiyev, et al., 1:22-cr-438 (McMahon)

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Drake Files Notice of Appeal After Judge Dismissed his UMG Lawsuit about Not Like Us

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 29 –   In Drake's lawsuit against UMG for Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us," a hearing was held on April 2 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jeannette N. Vargas. She denied UMG's motion to stay discovery, and asked for a case management plan.

On October 9, Judge Vargas dismissed Drakes case, ruling that "Because the Court concludes that the allegedly defamatory statements in “Not Like Us” are nonactionable opinion, the motion to dismiss is GRANTED." Order on Patreon here

On October 29, Drake filed a notice of appeal. Inner City Press tweeted it, while noting that the book on the ongoing case it had planned will no longer be on Amazon, it seems, due to censorship. Watch this site.

Back on April 9 Drake's lawyer Michael Gottlieb filed a plan, saying there have been no settlement negotiations and that a trial will / would take three weeks. Proposed plan on Patreon here.

On April 14, Judge Vargas signed and finalized the plan, with deposition not due until February 2026 - final signed plan on Patreon here

Back on April 2 Inner City Press was there, from the thread:

Judge Vargas: You say there are 16 RFP [Requests for Production] pending - any third party discovery? 

Drake's Willkie Farr lawyer: We've served three third-party subpoenas, and we are trying to serve a fourth. They will go forward is discovery is not stayed

Judge Vargas: I cannot find on that basis that a stay of discovery is warranted. Here there is only one defendant, which weighs against staying discovery. UMG can object to individual requests.  The motion to stay discovery is denied.

On June 30 Judge Vargas heard oral argument on UMG's motion to dismiss; Drake's lawyer Gottlieb emphasized damage, not only reputational but via stream bots, thread

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is Graham v. UMG Recordings, Inc., 1:25-cv-399 (Vargas)

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Man For Assaulting Jews at NYC Protests Got 18 Month Plea Deal Judge Imposes 17 Months

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY MAG COURT EXCLUSIVE, Oct 28  – A young man charged with assault, the Assistant US Attorney said on Jews, was ordered free on $150,000 bond on May 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court. Inner City Press was the only media there in the Mag Court for the first appearance and live tweeted

  Letter was due Friday at noon.

On May 21 Judge Richard M. Berman ordered him detained, noting that "the total cash recovered from the Defendant is $750,062.06" and he traveled to the West Bank and Jordan for three weeks in September and October 2024.

On June 11 Inner City Press was in the courtroom when Bazrouk pleaded guilty; the plea deal estimates his sentencing guideline at 12 to 18 months.

On October 14 defense counsel asked for a sentence of six months imprisonment - already served, so time served? It is not phrased that way in the memo,  but it does say it "mitigates against an additional term of imprisonment."

Late on October 21- actually, early October 22 - the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for "at least 36 month" - three years.

Late on October 27 the Federal Defender wrote in to say that would be too much, citing cases such as the Pryor Cashman lawyer who threw a Molotov cocktail at an NYPD vehicle and got a year and a day. There are NYS cases in 100 Centre Street that Inner City Press is covering that they might have cited...

On October 28, with its SDNY books being banned by Amazon, Inner City Press live tweeted the sentencing from 11 am to past 1:30 pm, culminating with Judge Berman saying he intends to sentence Bazrouk to 17 months.

More detail on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is USA v. Bazrouk, 1:25-cr-203 (Berman)

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As US Bank Regulators Exclude Public They Hear from PNC and Zions So FFW Comment

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY/SOUTH BRONX, Oct 27 – As US bank regulators loosen rules - including the FDIC moving to eliminate public comment altogether on branch expansion applications, and OCC to reduce them - now big banks are moving to get bigger, most recently PNC with FirstBank, and Fifth Third with Comerica.

  The cynicism of the regulators is boundless. While the FDIC on September 16 closed its comment period on eliminating public notice and comment on branch applications, on September 9 this announcement:

"Federal bank regulatory agencies will hold a hybrid public outreach meeting on October 30, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, as part of their review of regulations. The Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act (EGRPRA) requires the agencies, with input from the public, to review their regulations at least once every 10 years to identify any outdated or otherwise unnecessary regulatory requirements applicable to certain supervised institutions."

On October 21, as the OCC also moved to reduce public comment, Inner City Press checked the docket and found fraud-rocked Zions Bank to have urged loosening anti-redlinining rules. An individual, anonymous, commented against Zions. Since then, PNC and joined with, among others, Capital One, in commenting. Antitrust, anyone? Fair Finance Watch filed, beginning

"with issues we raised, or have attempted to raise, to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on one of its deregulatory moves...

 the OCC proposes to make the process of public notice, public comment and CRA review nearly meaningless.    It is already toothless. On August 30, 2025 Fair Finance Watch commented to the OCC on / against the branching application of Terrabank NA noting that this national bank in Florida in 2024 made 30 mortgage loans to whites and NONE to  African Americans.     On September 2 the OCC's Danielle Larrimore, Licensing Specialist, sent acknowledgement of receipt. In the days since, nothing from the OCC - even as the application is listed as approved on the OCC website.

 The OCC proposes to further speed up the public process - this while the OCC is now automatically denying Inner City Press' requests for expedited treatment of its FOIA requests for applications  It is now proposed that bank need not even apply. How is the public to get notice, and comment if necessary, if there is no information about the proposal? 

  See, American Banker, Sept 10, 2025, "The FDIC is taking the 'community' out of CRA enforcement," by Matthew R. Lee, here

    The request for comment asks, among other things, to "indicate how they should be amended."    Given recent statements about the CFPB, Fair Finance Watch has asked the FRB, and asks the agencies here, to ensure uninterrupted public access to HMDA data, which was moved to CFPB. 

  While the entire focus seems to be reducing regulation and oversight, recent moves by some in the crypto currency industry will require more, not less, oversight. This EGRPRA "review" seems in context to be a scam, a parlor debate while the public is being excluded. There will be more comments and advocacy, not less. As there much be.   The FDIC's and OCC's recent proposals, and the FRB's recent moves, must be reversed. Watch this site.

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SDNY Press Room

Before NBA Gambling Indictments of Rozier and Billups There Was US v Shane Henner

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

EDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 27– Before the EDNY indictments in the NBA gambling (Terry Rozier, et al.) and poker fraud (Chauncey Billup, et al), there was and is the case of US v. Shane Henner.   1:25-mj-00006 - not yet indicted.

  Inner City Press, which covers EDNY as well as SDNY, has been tracking it since indictment, now a number of continuances. Does this indicate cooperation, as it does in many case? For now, this:

NBA Gambling Indictment Blues

By Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City Press

Coming down the court, it's Terry Rozier
Fans far away, he hears them cheer
But Terry's not feeling so good today
Telling the bookies he will not play

Crank up the prop bets
Call Chauncey and set up the game I
nnocent until proven guilty
Still in the hall of fame

Watch this site.

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Book Ban by Amazon Extends from Ghislaine Maxwell to SBF and Eric Adams UN and Sudan

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 24 –     There is a lot of talk these days about censorship and book banning. Here is one example, from Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing on the evening of October 24 to Inner City Press: 

"We have terminated your KDP account because you submitted offensive content, which violates our content Guidelines, in the book(s) listed below.

Maximum Maxwell: The Narrow Prosecution: From UN Collusion to Five Guilty Verdicts, Impunity on Trial- external_id:46769426

 American Ugly: Kevin Spacey Beats the Rapp: But Dark Secrets Made Public in SDNY Live- external_id:52331181 

As part of the account termination process:

• You can no longer access your KDP Account, Bookshelf, or Reports.

• We have removed your published books from the Amazon Store.

• You are not eligible to receive any outstanding royalties.

• You are not allowed to open a new KDP account. 

If you have any questions or believe your account was terminated in error, please reply to this email."

 All of these books report what was said in court. Inner City Press did immediately respond - and was told to wait until next week. But KDP did not wait before taking down and disappearing books about the United Nations (Belt and Roadkill), the Sudan genocide and BNP Paribas, Sam Bankman-Fried, Eric Adams, Rudy Giuliani, Blake Livery, Tekashi #6ix9ine and Kay Flock and more.  

 Amazon / KDP's decision, without any any, resulted in the books, even used, disappearing from Barnes & Noble and elsewhere. 

 Inner City Press is going elsewhere with its book about US v. Peraire-Bueno, Crypto Bros.

But isn't this censorship? Isn't this, quite literally, book banning?  To be continued.

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