On Prostitution Charges Movie Producer Jordan To Move For Deferred Prosecution in SDNY

 

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 28 – A California based movie producer, Dillon Jordan, was arrested and presented on July 15, 2021 on federal prostitution charges. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here (picked up by the UK Daily Mail) and below.

On November 12, 2021 Jordan through counsel asked Judge Cronan for "a 60-day adjournment of the status conference scheduled for November 22," citing 130,000 pages and 50 emails.

Docketed on November 15, Jordan got it: "MEMO ENDORSEMENT as to Dillon Jordan on re: [20] LETTER MOTION filed by Dillon Jordan addressed to Judge John P. Cronan from Ilana Haramati, Esq. dated November 12, 2021 re: Request for Adjournment of Status Conference. ENDORSEMENT: The status conference scheduled for November 22, 2021 is adjourned to January 24, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. (Status Conference set for 1/24/2022 at 02:00 PM before Judge John P. Cronan. )"

Then yet more delay: MEMO ENDORSEMENT as to Dillon Jordan (1) granting [22] CONSENT LETTER MOTION addressed to Judge John P. Cronan from Ilana Haramati, Esq. dated January 19, 2022 re: Request for Adjournment of Status Conference. ENDORSEMENT: This request is granted. The status conference scheduled for January 24, 2022 is adjourned to March 28, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. With the consent of Dillon Jordan, by and through his attorney Ilana Haramati, time is excluded pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3161(h)(7)(A). The Court finds that the ends of justice served by excluding time until March 28, 2022 outweigh the interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial, by allowing time for the parties to engage in discussions concerning possible disposition."

On March 28, Judge Cronan held a proceeding and Inner City Press live tweeted it here:

OK - now proceeding for Hollywood producer Dillon Jordan, on Federal prostitution charge

Judge Cronan: The most recent letter from the defense indicated that there discussions ongoing about a pre-trial resolution. Is that true? Assistant US Attorney: We finished discovery production in October. Now we are in plea discussions since January.

AUSA: I understand Mr Jordan will be making an application for deferred prosecution. I don't have it yet. I propose was adjourned until June 24; I start a trial the following Monday. So either resolved by then, or we will proceed on another track.

Defense counsel: I agree to all of that except that the application for deferred prosecution may be rejected. [Laughs]

Judge Cronan: Hopefully there'll be no need for motion practice, then. But if there were? Defense: We'd be raising 4th Amendment issues

Judge Cronan: If if it's not resolved, July and August on motions. And evidentiary hearing. I don't want to interrupt any summer vacation plans...

So, August 17 at 2 pm. If Mr. Jordan were to testify, I'd prefer for it to be in person rather than Zoom. Inner City Press @innercitypress Judge Cronan: OK, I'll extended time under the Speedy Trial Act. Adjourned

With Jordan free on bail, he was arraigned on July 29, in the SDNY. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here:

Judge Cronan: I previously worked for DOJ, at SDNY until August 2017, then the Criminal Division in DC until confirmed by the Senate in August 2020. I think I did not overlap with AUSA Cecilia Vogel. AUSA Vogel: We never met.

Judge Cronan: I don't think I had a case with Mr. Mazurek. Maruzek: I don't think so. But your face looks familiar. Judge Cronan: Yours too... I see no reason I cannot preside over this. If you want to make a motion, please do so in 2 weeks.

Judge Cronan: Was he presented in the Central District of California?

AUSA Vogel: Yes, on July 15, in the morning I think. [Yes - Inner City Press' thread picked up there and in Singapore

 Judge Cronan: Guns surrendered? AUSA Vogel: Yes. Judge Cronan: And Mr. Mazurek, your client was unable to find his passport? Mazurek: Yes, we submitted a declaration. If we find it, we'll present it to Pre-Trial.

Judge Cronan: Urinalysis? Mazurek: I don't know.  Mazurek: There's a condition of non-association. But the allegations end in 2017. So it may not be clear who the people not to associate with are. We'd like a list.

AUSA Vogel: I can discuss that will defense counsel outside of this proceeding.

 Judge Cronan: I think the co-signed need to re-sign out here so that the bail is issued from this district. Let's turn to the arraignment. Mazurek: Not guilty to each of the 4 counts. Judge Cronan: Conspiracy to violate the Mann Act, enticement, money laundering.

AUSA Vogel: A prostitution business through front companies. The bulk of the discovery consists of emails, from warrants, including on two co-conspirators. 50,000 emails. Financial records and some recorded conversations objection from confidential sources

 Mazurek: The recordings, were they consensual? Or under Title III? AUSA Vogel: They were consensual.

Judge Cronan: Any post arrest statements? AUSA Vogel: No. Judge Cronan: Are you going to charge the co-conspirators? AUSA Vogel: Don't anticipate it

 Replying to  @innercitypress Judge Cronan: Discovery in next six weeks.

 Mazurek: I'd like four to six weeks beyond that to review the discovery and confer with my client. Judge Cronan: October 25 at 10 am. Adjourned

Inner City Press will stay on the case(s).

It was the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York which announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging DILLON JORDAN, a/k/a “Daniel Jordan,” a/k/a “Daniel Maurice Hatton, a/k/a “Daniel Bohler, with conspiracy to violate the Mann Act, substantive Mann Act and Travel Act violations, and money laundering in connection with operating a prostitution business and laundering the proceeds of that prostitution business through two front companies – a purported party and event planning company and an actual movie production company.  JORDAN was arrested today in San Bernardino County, California, and will be presented today in the Central District of California.

 Inner City Press live tweeted the presentment(s), which resulted in the release of Dillon Jordan on $150,000 bond with suretors (and apparently victims) unknown, while another defendant remained incarcerated while suretors were sought. Here is Inner City Press' thread:

....Seems Dillon Jordan will be getting out on $150,000 bond. He says he lives in Lake Arrowhead (gives street address). 

Dillon Jordan: Is there anothe prisoner on this call?

Yes.

Dillon Jordan (scoffs): So random

 Dillon Jordan's lawyer is doing the presentment in prostitution case  by video from his car parked across from the California courthouse, says he forgot his ear buds.

Dillon Jordan, behind a prisoner's screen, is rolling his head around to stretch. He has on big headphones. The other prisoner, a woman whom he called "so random," has on a COVID mask and no headphones.

 While the Judge is now supposed to be coming out, Dillon Jordan's lawyer Peter Swarth from his car across from the courthouse says he is running out of power, would have to put to down on the charge pad, might lose picture.

Clerk: We'll keep that in mind. Inner City Press @innercitypress · 1h The Honorable Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym has arrived. All rise! (?)

Dillon Jordon's lawyer is no longer on. Now he's back, but frozen. Clerk: His battery was going out.

Judge Pym: Have you seen or been read the indictment from the SDNY? Dillon Jordan: My attorney read it to me a short while ago. I wasn't given a copy when I was arrested. Judge Pym: Are you prepared to go forward? Dillon Jordan: Yes. Judge Pym: You're giving up your rights to an identity hearing? Dillon Jordan: Yes.

Judge Pym: Are you here in Riverside lock-up? Dillon Jordan: Yes. Judge Pym: Has a copy of the indictment been taken down? Clerk: No. The Marshals usually take it to them, but no.

 Defense lawyer Swarth is off again. Meanwhile, copy of indictment belatedly being brought to Dillon Jordan in lock-up. Judge Pym: Mr. Swarth, can you hear us? Silence.

 A participant suggests that Swarth get out of his car and come into the courthouse. Judge Pym: He's free to do so. But he can't hear her.

Participant: I just spoke to Mr. Swarth - he's on his way up. You're in Courtroom 3? Judge Pym: No, Courtroom 4. Let's use this time to do the other case. I have a financial affidavit. I find your are entitled to Federal Defenders. [Reads 5f Brady notice]

 The other "so random" defendant will be spending the night in detention - her Federal Defender is asking for a day to speak to suretors. And at tomorrow's hearing the defendant won't be present. Trial set for late August... 2021.

Swarth has arrived. Judge Pym says he's on the plaintiff's / prosecutors' side. He moves to the jury box. On screen from lock up, Dillon Jordan is waving (not waiving) the indictment around. Judge Pym: Are you willing to face charges in the SDNY? Jordan: Yes.

 Judge Pym: I understand there is an agreement, $150,000 bond. Peter Swarth: I'd like 2 weeks to find the two suretors. Judge Pym: Do you know who they are? Swarth: No. [So why is the other defendant staying in while suretors are sought, but Dillon Jordan is out?]

AUSA: The government does not object to forthwith release. And New York tells us there's no judge assigned yet but will be within two weeks. Swarth: My phone was acting funny. Any unusual conditions of release? Judge Pym: No telemarketing? Pre-Trial: That's right

 Pre-Trial: Can the government verify no minors involved? AUSA: We're checking with New York. I emailed them. Pre-Trial: Because is so, it would fall under the Adam Walsh law.

 Judge Pym: Please call them in NY. ASUA (goes on mute, returns) The case agent says nothing that is charged here involves minors.

Judge Pym: I'm going to order he be released on a $150,000 appearance bond, release forthwith. In 10 days, by July 26, either 2 suretors or secured by property.

 Judge Pym: When will the passport be surrendered? Dillon Jordan: I just need to find it. Judge Pym: Travel restricted to Central District of California & SDNY. No contact with victims or witnesses or co-defendants. 

Dillon Jordan: I don't know who the victims are.

Judge Pym: You have firearms, can you turn them over? Dillon Jordan: Yes. To a friend or neighbor? No problem. AUSA: The NY team want him to surrender the firearms to the NY case agent. She is currently out here in California. Judge Pym: So turn the firearms over to case agent.

Dillon Jordan: Permanently? Or just during the case? Swarth: During the case. Judge Pym: Do you agree? Dillon Jordan: Are the just going to randomly search my house at some point?

 Judge Pym: Yes. Do you know if presentments in NY are in person? Answer: Depends on the judge. Judge Pym: Appear in NY in person or by video in three weeks. Adjourned.

The case is US v. Jordan, 21-cr-423 (Cronan)

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In Corrupt UN Of Guterres Reena Ghelani and Sex Favors Cited By Whistleblower to Inner City Press

 

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

UN GATE / SDNY, March 28 – In the UN corrupted by Antonio Guterres, with the Press banned, the scandals continue to accumulate. To banned Inner City Press from a whistleblower:

"After the John Ging dictatorship came to an end, his deputy dictator Reena Ghelani took over as new dictator — as always excluding the USG or ASG from anything other than nominal leadership and representation. 

[Inner City Press past coverage of Ghelani here]

"Different USGs and ASGs who over the years were happy to be lame ducks and get their salary without caring the least about how their Organization was run. 

"Now, JUST YESTERDAY, she has been suspended. Will a new dictator take over? Or will someone realize how OCHA, rather than focusing on helping those in need, has been marred for more than a decade by internal politics, fights, toxic work environment, harassment, racism, recruitment based on nepotism and favoritism,including sexual favors and actual cash payments?

"Will someone put an end to this? Or will Reena just leave way to another despot running her own private club?  (Seems Russia also complained about the OCHA stance in Ukraine).   Keep up the good work! "

  Keep the info coming - the corrupt and censorious regime of Guterres cannot last.

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Fed and Citizens Bank Thumbed Noses At CRA On Investors Bank, Request for Reconsideration

 

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Story Order
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

FEDERAL COURT / S Bronx, March 27 – Whether or not the U.S. Community Reinvestment Act will be again enforced under the current Administration and its regulators is an open question still - though the answer is more and more No.  The proposed acquisition of Investors Bank by Citizens Bank was a litmus test, one that both Citizens and the Fed have failed.

   Investors Bank is one of the most disparate banks in New York State, where in 2020 it made only three mortgage loans to African Americans, while denying fully seven applications from African Americans. By contrast, it made 164 loans to whites while denying only 76 applications from whites.

  Inner City Press raised the 2019 disparities to the FDIC - and on July 30 was contacted by the FDIC that it imposed rare conditions on Investors. Letter here. This was raised on Citizens' applications: "be aware that based on Fair Finance Watch's comments to the FDIC about Investors, it recently imposed a condition on Investors. Investors has yet to meaningfully implement the required improvements; this application should not be approved, much less at this time.    The FDIC wrote:

 "Matthew Lee, Esquire Executive Director Inner City Press/Fair Finance Watch  Dear Mr. Lee: We are writing to inform you that the FDIC approved Investors Bank’s application to acquire eight branches from Berkshire Bank. As part of the application review process, we investigated the issues you raised in your e-mail dated January 19, 2019... The Bank will develop and Board approve an Action Plan within 60 days of the  effective date of this Order to ensure that its home mortgage lending adequately  addresses the credit needs of all segments of its market areas. The Action Plan  should include, at a minimum, the following: a. The Bank will regularly monitor application and origination activity of home  mortgage loans in majority-minority census tracts and from Blacks throughout the  Bank’s assessment areas.  b. The Bank will ensure marketing and outreach efforts are inclusive of all communities,  including minority communities within all the Bank’s assessment areas. The  marketing and outreach efforts should focus on home mortgage product awareness.  Marketing activities should use materials and media that reflect the racial and ethnic  composition of the targeted communities. The Bank should also have specific  advertising and outreach goals, and the results of these efforts should be documented,  monitored, and evaluated for effectiveness.  5. Upon Board approval of this Order, the Bank will provide a copy of the signed Order to  the FDIC's New York Regional Office within 30 days.  6. Upon Board approval of such Action Plan, the Bank will provide a copy of the Plan  to the FDIC’s New York Regional Office. 7. The Bank will provide the FDIC’s New York Regional Office with quarterly  updates detailing its progress in meeting the goals listed in the Action Plan."

  But in response to this, Citizens only said dismissively that the record of the acquiree doesn't matter. So they could buy OneCoin? It is major law firm making this argument. It is an embarrassment. And the Federal Reserve's question letter of October 22 does not address it, and Citizens' law firm late provided its "answer" and two responses to the Fed.

Nevertheless on March 22 the Federal Reserve Board, with Sarah Bloom Raskin blocked from joining and two others yet to arrived, rubber stamped Citizens' application. It stated that "The commenter also alleged that, as a result of disparate marketing, Investors Bank made disproportionately fewer home loans in the states of New Jersey and New York to African American individuals as compared to white individuals based on 2020 HMDA data. In addition, the commenter noted that the FDIC had imposed a condition in connection with a previous branch acquisition that Investors Bank develop an action plan to ensure that its home mortgage lending adequately addresses the credit needs of all segments of its market areas. The commenter asserted that Investors Bank has yet to meaningfully implement the required improvements and that the proposal should not be approved at this time."

The Fed gave its March 22 approval despite Investors having done very little or nothing. This as Fair Finance Watch has raised another moribund condition, by Oakwood Bank in Dallas, to the FDIC. What do these conditions mean? Inner City Press filed a timely request for reconsideration: "This is a timely request for reconsideration of the Board's approval of the Applications by Citizens Financial Group's application to acquire Investors Bancorp noting but not addressing Investor's weakness which gave rise to FDIC condition.    This is a new low for the FRB. This was a condition imposed by one of the two other Federal bank regulators. If the Board won't even inquire into and take a written position on a merger partner's performance under a written condition imposed by another regulators, these conditions are meaningless.    Fair Finance Watch timely put into record before the Board:  The FDIC wrote: "Matthew Lee, Esquire Executive Director Inner City Press/Fair Finance Watch  Dear Mr. Lee: We are writing to inform you that the FDIC approved Investors Bank’s application to acquire eight branches from Berkshire Bank. As part of the application review process, we investigated the issues you raised in your e-mail dated January 19, 2019...  The Bank will develop and Board approve an Action Plan within 60 days of the  effective date of this Order to ensure that its home mortgage lending adequately  addresses the credit needs of all segments of its market areas. The Action Plan  should include, at a minimum, the following: a. The Bank will regularly monitor application and origination activity of home  mortgage loans in majority-minority census tracts and from Blacks throughout the  Bank’s assessment areas.  b. The Bank will ensure marketing and outreach efforts are inclusive of all communities,  including minority communities within all the Bank’s assessment areas. The  marketing and outreach efforts should focus on home mortgage product awareness.  Marketing activities should use materials and media that reflect the racial and ethnic  composition of the targeted communities. The Bank should also have specific  advertising and outreach goals, and the results of these efforts should be documented,  monitored, and evaluated for effectiveness.  5. Upon Board approval of this Order, the Bank will provide a copy of the signed Order to  the FDIC's New York Regional Office within 30 days.  6. Upon Board approval of such Action Plan, the Bank will provide a copy of the Plan  to the FDIC’s New York Regional Office. 7. The Bank will provide the FDIC’s New York Regional Office with quarterly  updates detailing its progress in meeting the goals listed in the Action Plan."      The Board in its approval merely recited this, without addressing it: "the commenter noted that the FDIC had imposed a condition in connection with a previous branch acquisition that Investors Bank develop an action plan to ensure that its home mortgage lending adequately addresses the credit needs of all segments of its market areas. The commenter asserted that Investors Bank has yet to meaningfully implement the required improvements and that the proposal should not be approved at this time."     Has Investors meaningfully implemented these requirements? The Fed with all its resources does not address it. The Order makes a mockery of the regulators' way to approve an otherwise unapprovable merger like Investors.    The Order should be reconsidered, by each current government and those incoming, before this proposal is consummated - the Order should be stayed for that purpose." Watch this site.

 Citizens in 2020 in New York State based on its disparate marketing made 7183 mortgage loans to whites, with 3116 denials to whites -- while making only 323 loans to African Americans, with more than that in denials: 336.  

Watch this site.

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John List Gone But Diamond Dealer Surfaced From Larry Ray Trial Amid Censorship & Stigma & SLAPP

 

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY / NYC, March 26 -- Like a moth to a flame, a blogger to a take-down of a powerful hypocrite - but suddenly Kurt doubted, this could be different from the United Nations.

  The UN threw him out, then did its best to ignore him. In Power New York, people sued and tried to silence their critics or exposers. But wasn't there a New York anti-SLAPP law? Kurt jotted down he need to look into it.

  And still the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press had not responded. Two tiers everywhere - in which Johns were outed and which were protected, in which media got the protection, and which was left out in the cold.

   Beyond the requests and threats to take John List down, even as it was clear that they patronized a young woman who was being chained up and suffocated by a mad man, Larry Ray, there was a push from another side. A self-described high-class hooker wrote in to say that the Johns shouldn't be stigmatized. It made Kurt pause.

  Could they not have known that Claudia Drury was being tortured? Randy Levinson, given immunity, recalled thinking he would get a good deal, since Claudia was so in need of money. Is exploitation a sin? Is it a crime?

   Levinson was given immunity - but was it for the structuring of his payments to defeat the Suspicious Activities Report system, or because of the crime of being a John? Was that a Federal crime?

 Could the SDNY prosecutors offer any assurance that local authorities wouldn't prosecute this local crime? In New York City, they wouldn't. And so the hedge funder had his name on a children's museum. Another was described as a diplomat inspired by the current president, wanting rapprochement with China. But first, #JohnListGone, a diamond dealer, on Patreon here

[It, like a song about Lev Parnas was also covered, behind a paywall, by New York Magazine which had this to say about Inner City Press' covered in late 2021 of the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, book here via one of the companies with an executive on the John list.]

 When Inner City Press for investigative reporting was roughed up and thrown out onto First Avenue from covering the United Nations of/by UNSG Antonio Guterres, many did nothing. But as we've previously noted, the First Amendment stops at First Avenue. We'll have more on this, here and on other platforms. 

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US Army Was Sued For Withholding Names of Afghans Eligible for US Visas Now Just Fees

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 25 – The U.S. Department of Defense has been sued under the Freedom of Information Act to provide information to help Afghans eligible for US visa to get them, before the US pulls out of the country on September 10.    

     On July 9, 2021 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.   

 The government's lawyer wanted further delay, but the plaintiff noted the time pressure and Judge Hellerstein to his credit agreed. He said the documents should be provided by August 13.  

 Then the plaintiff spoke about another U.S. agency, holding them to the same deadline. The government lawyer immediately said the other agency is not part of the case. 

But what sense would it make, Judge Hellerstein asked, to have two separate cases?

He set a deadline for a motion to bring in the agency, and told the government letter to get them ready to produce documents.

Jump cut to March 25, 2022 when Judge Hellerstein held another proceeding in the case, and Inner City Press again covered it. Now Judge Hellerstein said the parties have resolved all disputes except for the attorneys' fees owned to the plaintiffs. They will appear again on this on March 20 at 10 am.

The case is International Refugee Assistance Project, Inc. v. Defense Contract Management Agency, et al., 20-cv-306 (Hellerstein)

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