Saturday, January 31, 2026
Bronx Man for Crack ID-ed by UC-1 in Semi Sealed Courtroom Synonyms US Owes Exhibits
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 30 – In a four defendant crack conspiracy case centered around the Lambert Houses in The Bronx, Malik Muhammad had a bail hearing on September 14, 2023 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. Inner City Press was there.
The Assistant US Attorney, after a trial day that ended at 3 pm, cited beyond the alleged crack to a shooting he said Muhammad had been picked out of a line up for.
Judge Cave said she had before her only the crack indictment.
The AUSA passed up to the bench a six pack photo array and at first asked the defense counsel not see it as it had the witnesses name. The defense said "attorney-eyes only" and saw it.
Judge Cave ordered the defendant released on $25,000 bond, subsequently raised to $75,000.
Meanwhile, Conyers headed to trial.
On January 28, 2025 Conyers' counsel wrote it asking to delay the trial scheduled for May 5 until late June, or September, so that Conyers can have shoulder replacement surgery.
On March 25 the US Attorney's Office wrote it saying that Conyers has refused treatment for a dental condition which precludes or further delays the shoulder surgery. Amid sealed medical records, and references to Bronx street videos, the US says it wanted to proceed to trial.
On July 10 co-defendant Muhammad pled guilty to Count 1.
On November 18 his counsel wrote in asking for the five year mandatory minimum on November 20. And that's what he got.
On January 19, Judge Clarke agreed to seal the courtroom for an Undercover at trial.
On January 28 it was clarified that there was an audio feed in 23B. Inner City Press went:
...AUSA: Does the fact that you record the defendants discretely contribute to the quality of the video and audio?
Undercover: Yes. It's blurry and people talk over it. AUSA: If it doesn't work during a case buy?
Undercover: It could shut down without me knowing
AUSA: Where did you make these buys?
Undercover Detective "Smith" - the 2016 West Farms Convenience, deli, on Boston Road.
AUSA: Do you see who you bought from? UC Smith: Over there.
AUSA: Indicating defendant Conyers. Please look at the binder...
We wrote on January 28 that we hoped to have more on the exhibits shown in the courtroom that was sealed to conceal the undercover's identity. These were requested from the US Attorney's Office early on the morning of January 29; by day's end, nothing from the Office. They owe exhibits, including here and in US v. Alexander.
Judge Clarke, on the other hand, docketed that "as of 10 am the courtroom is unsealed" then "the Court will seal the courtroom at 1:30 today, and audio feed is available in 23B." It is appreciated.
In the courtroom, NYPD drug experts testified. In the afternoon, when the defense told "Detective Smith" that they had no more questions he said, "That's it?" Eliciting laughter.
On January 30 - still no exhibits or even answer from a duo at the US Attorney's Office - Director Hernandez was on the stand, telling the AUSA synonyms for crack: rock, hard, stones.
On cross, CJA Bradley asked for similar synonyms for replica guns but met resistence to scare piece, dummy, joint for show. The jury left, the charge conference was held. And still no exhibits.
The trial continues. The wider case is USA v. Conyers, et al., 1:23-cr-457 (Clarke)
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Darden Conned NBA Dwight Howard Now Cohen Trial Has Nyjer Morgan Texts Next Jrue Holiday
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 30 – Calvin Darden Jr. was on trial for defrauding NBA player Dwight Howard to convince him he was buying the WNBA team the Atlanta Dream. Inner City Press is covering the trial. September 30 thread
Then, the conviction of CALVIN DARDEN, JR. for his role in defrauding former National Basketball Association players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons out of $8 million. The defendant was found guilty following an 11-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.
On December 23, Judge Broderick revoked his bail and jailed him: "Defendant Calvin Darden, Jr., present, defendant's bail has been revoked. Defendant is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal's Service."
On March 26, sentencing did not occur due to "an incident at the MDC." On March 31, defense counsel wrote in asking for sentencing on April 2 at 2:30 pm.
In advance of that, Judge Broderick rightly docketed: "As Defendant has recently suffered an injury, I find that it is necessary to conduct a direct colloquy with Darden Jr. to confirm the knowing and voluntary nature of his waiver request. That colloquy will occur at the beginning of the time reserved for sentencing on April 2, 2025 at 2:30 pm, and if I am satisfied that Darden Jr. has made a knowing and voluntary waiver, he will be excused for the remainder of the proceeding."
Inner City Press went - but it was locked. In the docket:
Then saw: "Sentencing is hereby ADJOURNED to April 3, 2025 at 1:00 pm."
Inner City Press went. Darden was present, then at his request taken out by Marshals. Judge Broderick after argument sentenced him to 151 months, with Georgia requested.
On July 17 co-defendant Darryl Cohen wrote in waiving personal attendance in favor of telephone presence at a July 18 hearing.
On July 18 Judge Broderick set Cohen's trial date: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Vernon S. Broderick: . Defendant Darryl Cohen present remotely. The trial in this matter scheduled for September 23, 2025 is hereby adjourned to January 2026."
On January 23 Judge Broderick issued his initial description, of Cohen being charged with defrauding three players: Jrue Holiday, Chandler Parsons, and Courtney Lee.
On January 30, it was said Jrue Holiday would testify, as he was in town with the Trailblazers to play the Knicks. But to the end of the day it was an SDNY paralegal, reading into the record Cohen's texts about Nyjer Morgan. Then, with an anti-ICE protest in Foley Square, jurors were led out onto Pearl Street and told to turn right.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is USA v. Cohen, et al., 1:23-cr-134 (Broderick)
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Fulton Financial Disparities Raised on $243M Deal Now Bank Dismissive of Consumer Beefs
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY/SOUTH BRONX, Jan 30 – 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.
So on December 8 Fair Finance Watch filed with the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency - in advance - against Fulton Financial's newest merger proposal, under the Community Reinvestment Act. The Fed directed Fulton to make its branch closing plans public, as it did with Fifth Third - but on the day the comment period is set to expire, Fulton refused.
Immediate FOIA request and comment:
Now at 4:41 pm on the day the comment period is set to expire, Fulton refused to comply with the FRS' request it make its branch closing thoughts public, as the FRB Cleveland made Fifth Third on Comerica do. Weimmediately filed a FOIA request.
On January 30 Fulton Bank - or tellingly only its outside counsel Dimitri Nionakis of Holland & Knight - filed a short and dismissive response, not addressing the specific branch closing issues raised nor the consumer complaints.
FFW noted that Fulton had a seat on the FRB of Philadelphia's board, and FOIA-ed what safeguards are in place. Still no documents, but on January 20 the FRBP wrote to FFW:
"the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FFC and Fulton Bank, N.A., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, serves on this Reserve Bank’s board of directors. As stated in the Application Acknowledgement Letter sent to FFC and in the Reserve Bank’s letter acknowledging the comment you submitted on December 8, 2025, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Board”) is processing the above-noted Application and is considering your comment dated December 8, 2025, in reviewing that Application." Then an enigmatic, "No further action will be taken with respect to your email received by the Board on January 12, 2026." Including by the Board?
Later on January 20 Inner City Press submitted its third timely comment, noting with support another comment. With branch closings still withheld, and conflicts unresolved, the comment period must be extended. Watch this site.
Fulton Bank NA in Delaware in 2024 made 199 mortgage loans to whites, and only 24 to African Americans. Meanwhile it denied five applications from African Americans, and only 68 from whites. This is disparate.
Fulton Bank NA in Pennsylvania in 2024 made 2381 mortgage loans to whites, and only 181 to African Americans. Meanwhile it denied 111 applications from African Americans, and only 616 from whites.
On January 15, the Fed told Fulton to make it branch closing plans public." But they haven't been, yet. Watch this site.
Inner City Press, which has opposed the FDIC's moves to close itself to public scrutiny - American Banker op-ed here - will be submitting FOIA requests on all this. The FDIC said it will eliminate public notices because it does not receive enough public comments. That is now changing. Watch this site.
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Prostitute Who Faced Death For Killing John by GHB Quietly Pleads Guilty Docketing Delay
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 30 – In a bar in midtown Manhattan on the evening of August 15, 2023 Stanley Stark met up with a woman and took her to a hotel at 1 am.
Once in the room he was drugged with GHB, the date rape drug, and his credit card, iPhone and wallet stolen.
He was found dead by hotel staff in the morning. The NYC Medical Examiner named the cause of death as "acute intoxication by the combined effects of cocaine, ethanol and gamma-hydroxybutyrate" - that is, GHB.
Summer Caster and her pimp Jalen Teague were arrested and indicted with the death penalty on the table, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Inner City Press, which covers the SDNY courthouse closely, exclusively reported on their arraignment with two other women in the case, in chains, then on the transfer of one of them from Bedford Hills to the MDC.
With no notice, not in the day's docket on PACER, Summer Caster appeared on January 30, 2026 before the week's Magistrate duty judge Henry J. Ricardo - not in the normal Magistrates Courtroom 5A, but upstairs in Courtroom 21D.
Initially there was no one else in the gallery. The three defense lawyers, including learned counsel certified for death penalty cases, were summoned in to meet Magistrate Judge Ricardo in his chambers. Later the two prosecutors went in. They all emerged, and the proceeding began.
Summer Caster was pleading guilty to all 10 counts against her, including Count 2 with a mandatory minimum of life in prison.
Learned counsel intervened to say that that is also the maximum: Summer Caster is no longer facing the death penalty. But why was she pleading guilty with a minimum of life in prison?
The AUSA asked the sentencing not be set for a full six months in the future, then asked that no date be set, nor pre-sentencing report order at this time.
The CJA lawyer said off-handedly that the proceeding should not be docketed.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The overall case is USA v Teague, et al., 1:25-cr-40 (Broderick / Ricardo)
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Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013
In Luigi Mangione Case Death Penalty Out Like Counts 3 and 4 But DOJ Could Appeal
by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack Book Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 30 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on December 19 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.
On April 1 DOJ announced it will seek the death penalty against Mangione.
In the interim, after some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, now Amazon here
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
On January 14 Judge Garnett set the hearing for January 23 at 11 am: "as to Luigi Nicholas Mangione: The suppression hearing referenced in the Court's January 12 Order (Dkt. No. 90) will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m."
The hearing went 11 to 12:30, about Altoona PD's policies for searches, ending with if an item found in a vehicle, go get a warrant. But not a bag? Judge Garnett called it helpful, "see you in a week."
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
And just before the full week, Judge Garnett dismissed counts 3 and 4 and with them, the death penalty. In the hearing live tweeted by Inner City Press she said the US might appeal, but if they don't, things will start in September. And the July 1 NYS date requested by Alvin Bragg? Watch this site.
In the state case late on December 2 Inner City Press emailed, then on December 3 faxed and hand-delivered, a letter asking to be heard and for unsealing, here.
On unsealing bid, more / extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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Venezuelan in Migrant Hotel Charged with Robbery of Pokemon Stores Detained 1 Week
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 28 – A man from Venezuela living in a migrant hotel was Federally changed in connection with the armed robbery of a Pokemon card store - and asked to be released on bond on January 22. Inner City Press was there and live tweeted, here:
AUSA Ariana Bloom: He was arrested on unreleased state charges two days ago. Federal Defender: Detention is entirely unwarranted. He has an asylum application. He lives with her in a government shelter specifically for migrants, on the West Side.
Federal Defender: He has no interest in fleeing - it would entirely undermine his asylum application. Judge: Doesn't engaging in violence undermine his claim? FD: He did NOT engage in violence. Judge: What about the state charge? FD: A fight with a friend
Federal Defender: He sells used items on the street. A man bought things, then said he'd pay him to drive people somewhere. He had no idea what they would do... They hit him in the head, he was the victim of violence
Federal Defender: He wanted nothing to do with the robbery. He told the police what happened. It's in the Complaint but it's different. I'd like to hear the recording. He had no mens rea. If it he did, his role is minor
Federal Defender: He grew up in Venezuela without schooling. He's been in the migrant shelter for a year. He can come and go as he pleases. He spends his day on the street selling used items. He makes roughly $2400 a month. We order a $25,000 [unsecured] bond
Federal Defender: To the extent there are photos on his phone of masked armed men, it's that he was threatened by them. Judge: Isn't there a presumption for a Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy? FD: There is no 924(c) count. So, no. AUSA: They promised him gifts
AUSA: He drove them a second time, after having seen the first time guns, and bags packed with stolen goods. In the Mirandized interview he says he did it again because what he got was pretty good. His cell phone has the location of the 2d robbery
AUSA: If he were released, it's not clear there is not an ICE detainer out for him. The Pokemon cards stolen here are for their resale value. She says he sells things on the street. Judge: Were you going to agree to release? AUSA: I called my supervisor
Judge: Recess
Judge is back. Judge: You may be seated. I have re-reviewed the complaint. It suggests that during the first, Queens robbery he knew they were dressed like robbers and had 3 guns - he drove them there and back and was given things of value
Judge: The second time, the Manhattan robbery, he agreed to go it for something of value. He understood that a violent robbery was going to take place. You say he was the victim - but that was after the robbery. This is troubling. He has an incentive to flee
Judge: I don't think anyone in this courtroom knows what will happen to asylum applications from Venezuela. A GPS bracelet is not sufficient. I am going to order him detained. Federal Defender: They framed it in the complaint. His children are in school
Judge: If after you've seen the evidence, if you fashion another proposal, submit it to me. Federal Defender: I'm not entitled to Rule 16 discovery until he is indicted - will you order some discovery of the post-arrest statement?
AUSA: I'll turn it over tomorrow 5:45 PM · Jan 22, 2026 · 2,027 Views View post engagements
[Defendant is crying at defense table, deputy approaches with cup of water]
The only thing to add is that before the proceeding began, AUSA Bloom was out in the hallway. When she came in, she whispered to the AUSA. Later she said that after the recommendation of pre-trial was seen, she called her supervisor and they decided to ask for detention (they were not going to, apparently, before).
From January 22 to 28, the docket number was not available - the case was not in PACER. And then it was: with the complaint naming the Manhattan Pokemon store as 412 West 13th Street, and that they stole $115,000 of Pokemon merchandise.
The case is USA v. Colina, 26-mj-179 (Netburn).
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For Enabling Epstein Bank of America Counts 1 and 4 Survive in SDNY Enabling & Beneficiary
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell book
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 29 – J.P. Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank were sued for their enabling of Jeffrey Epstein, in lawsuits filed on Thanksgiving 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where Inner City Press found them in the docket.
The JPM Chase complaint is on Patreon, here.
Maximum Maxwell book here.
On October 15, 2025, amid a push in Congress to fully release the so-called Epstein files, a lawsuit was filed in SDNY against Bank of America, 1:25-cv-8520 (Rakoff)
Jones Day stepped in for Bank of America on its Epstein issues - which have been raised to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency by Fair Finance Watch.
On January 29 Judge Jed S. Rakoff while dismissing some counts against BofA allowed to go forward count 1 ("Knowing Beneficiary in a Sex-Trafficking Venture in Violation of 18 USC 1591(a)(2), 1595") and count 4 ("Obstruction of the Enforcement of the TVPA, 18 USC 1591(d)" - and still the OCC (and UN) do nothing.
The B of A case is Doe v. Bank of America, 1:25-cv-8520 (Rakoff)
Meanwhile, the UN has yet to answer Inner City Press on why SG Antonio Guterres maintained a rep on the board of Ghislaine Maxwell's Terramar Project (instead bannign the Press); Norway won't answer on its AMbasador Mona Juul and Terje Roed Larsen taking $130,000 personal loan from Epstein.
The JPMC case is Doe 1 v. JP Morgan Chase & Co., 22-cv-10019 (Rakoff)
Watch this site.
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SDNY Press Room
In Pokemon Trading Card Fraud Trial Guilty Verdicts No Remand Before May Sentencing
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 28 – Two men were charged with trading card fraud in 2024. On January 14, 2026 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Ronnie Abrams, one of them testified against the other. Inner City Press was there, and live tweeted, here:
Witness: I think Anthony [Curcio] wanted revenge on PSA. He was working on a short movie. He also thought we should make money off youth basketball
Witness: A card buyer from NY called and threatened me, mentioned my ex-wife. Then a guy called from Dallas, said he'd fly and find me. Anthony told me he resolved it with them.
On January 15, after other witnesses, the cooperator was back on the stand, still on direct. He was shown photos of his co-defendant's Lego mansion, and use of his name in e-mails.
Behind the scenes, the parties exchange letters about the scope of cross examination of the cooperator, how much of Curcio's history with and feelings about PSA can get in. Both letters on Patreon here
While Curcio's motions in limine argued to keep out expert witnesses, PSA Expert witness Jackie Curiel took the stands. Curcio's motions in limine also argued "to limit the introduction of his prior conviction for an elaborate robbery of an armored car... shown on ABC's 20/20.. Curcio overwhelmed an armored care driver with mace, utilized unwitting hired actors wearing work uniforms matching his own so as to disappear into a crowd and floated away down a nearby creek using an inner tube."
On January 29, guilty verdicts but no remand to jail before sentencing, set for May.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is USA v. Curcio, 1:24-cr-312 (Abrams)
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