Saturday, February 3, 2024

As Binance and Iran Sued by Oct 7 Victims in SDNY July 2 Set as First Conference


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 2 – People taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and other victims of that massacre on January 31 sued Iran, Syria and Binance and its founder in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

  Binance founder CZ is facing sentencing in a case that Inner City Press is reporting on as it will on this one.

 Here, the complaint asserts that Binance "processed numerous transactions associated with Hamas, providing a clandestine financing tool that Binance deliberately hid from U.S. regulators." Its DOJ / OFAC settlement is quoted from.

It is notably that UNRWA has not been sued, despite a dozen staffers actually participating in the October 7 massacre. The UN is only not sued due to its claims of total legal impunity.

On February 1, the case was wheeled out / assigned to District Judge John G. Koeltl, who also has, among many others, the case of the Julian Assange visitors (to Ecuador's embassy in London) against the CIA...

On February 2, Judge Koeltl set an initial conference... for July 2, 2024: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge John G. Koeltl: Initial Conference set for 7/2/2024 at 02:30 PM before Judge John G. Koeltl."

More analysis here (X subscribers) and on Substack here

 This case is Raanan, et al., v. Binance Holdings Limited, et al., 24-cv-697 (Koeltl)

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Miles Guo Got New May 20 Trial Date Wang Wants to Sever Her Case to Avoid Prejudice


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 1 – After a circus-like civil case involving Guo Wengui in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covered, here, March 15, 2023 saw the unsealing of a twelve-count Indictment charging

HO WAN KWOK, a/k/a “Miles Guo,” a/k/a “Miles Kwok,” a/k/a “Guo Wengui,” a/k/a “Brother Seven,” a/k/a “The Principal,” and KIN MING JE, a/k/a “William Je,” with various wire fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges. "

Not mentioned was another, related arrest on March 15, of Guo's chief of staff Yangping Wang, aka Yvette Wang. Inner City Press, lone media in the Magistrates Court, live tweeted her presentment.

Jump cut to January 9, 2024 when Guo and Wang were arraigned on the superseding indictment. It was done on no notice; none of his supporters were there. Inner City Press was, and live tweeted, threadette here:

Guo: Good morning your Honor. Absolutely not guilty!

On January 12 Guo's lawyers filed that they want to move to dismiss the superseding indictment that added conspiracy, and so want to adjourn the trial to June 3. Letter on Patreon here.

On January 16, Judge Torres set a schedule and set the trial for May 20: "The trial scheduled for April 8, 2024, is ADJOURNED to May 20, 2024." Order on Patreon here

On February 1, Wang in arguing to sever her case noted DOJ arguments about her prior counsel (having worked on the prosecution of Guo) and noted she is not accused of buying "a $140,000 piano and $72,000 of mattresses." Wang's lawyer introduces three exhibits under seal, letter on Patreon here.

More courtroom detail on Substack here

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Guyana Takes Over UNSC For February But Ukraine Not Mentioned as Press Banned


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Feb 1 – Guyana tooks over the UN Security Council presidency on February 1, 2024 - while Inner City Press remains banned from the UN, despite its June 19 application.

On the morning of January 31, Inner City Press wrote to the Guyana Mission: This is a timely request that you allow Inner City Press to enter and cover, and/or provide the WebEx  pass code(s) to access Guyana's UNSC Presidency press briefing by your Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birketton February 1, 2024.

I have questions to ask on what you will do this month about Gaza, UNRWA and the coups in Gabon and Niger, Guyana's situation with Venezuela and the conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Yemen and Libya, and the revelations of El Pollo now in SDNY - and on ongoing cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers on many of which Inner City Press first reported

Please note that Inner City Press and I participate in the WebEx briefings of, for example, the IMF: March 31, 2022 and since with new IMF spokesperson Sept 28, 2023

  By the end of February 1, no answer from the Guyana mission. The Ambassador held a comical press conference, nothing on Ukraine, broken audio, nothing but best wishes and wishful thinking. Watch this site.

 Inner City Press on June 19 applied to the UN for access, as it gives 100s, to cover the UNGA week. Inner City Press has a NYC Press Pass and writes about the UN. From Ecuador and its UN Mission, nothing.

Watch this site. 

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Sen Menendez Redacted on Bribes Now Unsealing Ordered After Inner City Press Filed


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 1 – Amid reports of investigation against Sen. Robert Menendez for taking gold bars, Inner City Press' sources on September 21 it to expect on Friday, September 22 an appearance in Federal court in Manhattan by Menendez and his wife Nadine Arslanian. This scoop was true.

On January 2, Inner City Press was in the SDNY Magistrates Court with two of the AUSA on Menendez' case came in with a superseding indictment to be signed. Inner City Press tweeted that fact out to subscribers via here

Later, the superseder was unveiled, including charges of bribes to act for Qatar.

On January 10 Menendez filed a motion to dismiss, arguing "the government shockingly fails to disclose the exculpatory fact that [REDACTED]." Full filing on Patreon here

Late on January 10, docketed on January 11, Inner City Press filed to unseal Menendez' redactions - and documents "in the vault."

On January 17, after the NYT also requested (and cited Inner City Press), Judge Stein ordered the parties - including DOJ - to respond by January 22.

On February 1, Judge Stein granted some unsealing - including of some of the material in the vault which Inner City Press requested. Order here.

More on Substack here

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Josh Schulte Gets 40 Years For Wikileaks Vault7 Leak and CP Brutal Kangaroo Detailed Trials


By Matthew Russell Lee Schulte Book

 SDNY, July 14 – In June and July 2022 former CIA hacker Joshua Schulte was put on trial in a nearly empty and partially sealed courtroom in lower Manhattan.

Inner City Press covered it and the next trials - see book below - and live tweeted the sentencing, thread here.

Schulte compared his conditions to Nazi concentration camps, drawing a rebuke from SDNY Judge Jesse M. Furman.  He did not, however, get the life sentence urged by DOJ, but rather 40 years.

  There is a book. 

"Brutal Kangaroo: WikiLeaks Verdict Against Josh Schulte, and Other Whistleblowers: Convicted of sending the CIA's Vault 7 cyber tools to Wikileaks, Schulte remains in jail under DOJ SAMs," by Matthew Russell Lee. 

  U.S. e-book here, UK here, Australia here

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SafeMoon Karony in MDC Brooklyn Pleads Not Guilty Now Lawyer to Leave When New 1 In


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

EDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 31 – On November 2, 2023 SafeMoon's trio were indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Inner City Press covered it.

 Prosecutors charged Braden John Karony, Kyle Nagy, and Thomas Smith with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy for their roles in defrauding investors in a decentralized finance digital asset called “SafeMoon”  Earlier today, Karony was arrested in Provo, Utah...

 On November 3, Smith was arraigned, bond document on Patreon here ....

On November 8, EDNY prosecutors wrote "seeking the detention of the defendant Braden John Karony." Full memo on Patreon here.

But Karony was ordered free on bond, by Magistrate Daphne A. Oberg (whose previous freeing of January 6 defendant John Earle Sullivan Inner City Press previously covered here). The EDNY prosecutors have written to the assigned District Judge to appeal / seek a stay, 6-page letter on Patreon here.

On Sunday November 12 Karony's lawyers wrote in that "without more, every U.S. citizen facing criminal charges in the digital asset space would be detained through trial, in effect establishing an unrebuttable crypto presumption." Full letter on Patreon here.

On November 13, Inner City Press live tweeted the bail appeal in which Karony was ordered detained and to be brought to EDNY, thread

On November 22, Karony's lawyers filed - Letter on Patreon here.

On November 27, the prosecutors replied that transport will take the time it takes, and there is no basis for release. Letter on Patreon here.

Late on November 29 the EDNY US Attorney's Office filed its discovery list, on Patreon here.

 In the run up to an EDNY appearance by co-defendant Smith, the US Attorney's Office on December 5 disputed Karony's lawyers' characterization of their position. Email on Patreon here.

Inner City Press called in to District Judge Komitee's proceeding, but heard only lawyers on hot mic. The next day, it was docketed that the hearing - no public access, despite it being by phone? - was before a Magistrate Judge: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge James R. Cho: Government opposed the bail package as stated on the record." Was this an open proceeding? Judge Komitee has previously unsealed a sentencing video after Inner City Press' filing. But on this, there may be no remedy...

On December 18, co-defendant Thomas Smith had a new lawyer file a notice of appearance in the EDNY case - a Federal Defender, publicly paid. On Patreon here.

Back on December 8 Judge Komitee signed an order to move Karony from Utah's Metro & Oxbow Jail to the EDNY "forthwith," order on Patreon here.

And weeks later, Karony was appeared in the BOP database as in MDC Brooklyn for Christmas...

On December 28, co-defendant Thomas Smith's Federal Defender wrote in seeking permission, with prosecutors' consent, for him to travel to Evans, Georgia - for a training. Filing on Patreon here.

On January 2, Smith got the OK - and Karony pleaded not guilty: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl: Arraignment as to Braden John Karony (1) Count 1,2,3 held on 1/2/2024, Initial Appearance as to Braden John Karony held on 1/2/2024, Plea entered by Braden John Karony Not Guilty on counts to all counts. Defendant arraigned on the indictment. Defender pleads Not Guilty to all counts."

On January 31, Karony's lawyers who said he is not paying them were denied permission to drop him for now - until another lawyer, perhaps CJA, steps in: "ORDER: Defendant Karony's attorney has moved [42] to withdraw as counsel of record because of its client's inability to pay. "Non-payment of legal fees, without more, is not usually a sufficient basis to permit an attorney to withdraw from representation." In re Albert, 277 B.R. 38, 50 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2002) (quoting In re Revere Armored, Inc., 1997 WL 794460, at *3 (2d Cir. Dec. 30, 1997). Nevertheless, the court will consider -- and likely grant -- counsel's application for relief after new counsel has entered an appearance. If the defendant lacks the ability to pay for his defense, he should complete the process of applying for Criminal Justice Act counsel with his current lawyers' assistance. Ordered by Judge Eric R. Komitee on 1/31/2024.

Inner City Press will follow the case(s)

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Repeat Fraudster Baston Pleads Guilty to Fraud With Victim Present in the SDNY Mag Court


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 31 – When Wilson Baston was released on $8 million bond on fraud charges, Inner City Press was the only media there (see here and below).  

 Later it was announced "an Indictment charging WILSON BASTON, a/k/a “Chanon Gordon,” a/k/a “William Baston,” a/k/a “Jackie Wilson,” with wire fraud, securities fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a series of purported real estate investments managed by BASTON and the entity Gordon Management Group.  BASTON, who was previously convicted in federal court of 17 counts of mail and wire fraud for operating a similar fraudulent investment scheme, hid his true identity and the fact of his prior conviction from his investors by falsely representing that his name was “Chanon Gordon.” BASTON was arrested this morning in New York and was presented in federal court this afternoon." 

 That was sent out after the presentment. Inner City Press threadette.

Jump cut to January 31, 2024: with no notice in the calendar, Baston and his Federal Defender showed up to plead guilty in the SDNY Magistrates Court. Inner City Press was the only civilian there - then a victim came in, joining the US Attorney's Office's victim coordinator.

 Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger read from the plea agreement: 57 to 71 months, May 31 as sentencing control date. The fraud involved promissory notes, investments not spent on real estate investments but "personal expenses" and paying back other investors (Ponzi).

  As Baston left, the victim looked. Then the victim coordinator said, I'm sorry this happened to you.

 The case is US v. Baston, 23-cr-303  (Marrero / Lehrburger) 


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NYC Sanitation Worker Tased by NYPD Sued City Now on Stand at Trial in SDNY


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 30 – Brian Harris, an NYC Sanitation worker, rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital on September, 2020 after hearing his son had been shot and taken there in Harris' car.  

When he got to the front of the hospital, his car was in the street with its door open, and blood inside.

 He asked the NYPD officers if he could move it. Instead, he got tazed. He sued.

  On January 30, 2024 Harris was on the witness stand at trial. Inner City Press was there. 

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lorna G. Schofield, who only the day before had released a defendant on stalking charges with the victim impact statement still entirely sealed, asked Harris how long he had been off work. More than a week, he said.

 The case is Harris v. City of New York, et al., 20-cv-10864 (Schofield)

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As Delgado Sues Trump Over West Wing Job Withheld Miller Discovery Disputes Continue


By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Honduras - CIA Trial Book - NY Mag

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 30 – Arlene "A.J." Delgado sued the Trump campaign after she did not receive the West Wing job she said she was promised (but Jason Miller got).  

      On August 16, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker held an in-person proceeding. Inner City Press went and covered it.  

Neither Delgado nor of course Trump were there. There were just the two lawyers. The Trump lawyer made a point of saying that order(s) of protection were taken out against Delgado in Florida in 2010 and 2011.

Even if it were true, Judge Parker asked, how is it relevant? Would that have barred Delgado from a job in the West Wing? 

 No, Trump's lawyer conceded. It seemed the goal may have mostly been to smear, not uncommon in such litigation.

  Talk turned to Tweets, specifically six Delgado tweets that both sides said had previously been arbitrated.

After Judge Parker set a schedule (fact discovery runs into 2023, in this lawsuit filed in 2019), a quick review of Delgado's current tweets start with a pinned tweet about Jason Miller hiring prostituted (in fairness, pinned in 2019) and one from an hour before the proceeding, that Trump "overestimates his support. Aside from that crackpot who attacked the FBI office w a nailgun, no one is doing anything more for him than tweeting and Reddit posts."

Jump cut to January 30, 2024: Delgado is now pro se and moving to depose Reince Priebus and Eric Trump. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread

now covering civil case of Arlene Delgado v. Trump for President: "in 2016 Delgado learned that she became pregnant by her supervisor, Jason Miller." Discussion is of when depositions can be taken.

Judge: The scheduled deposition of Priebus was canceled without notice. The plaintiff is entitled to get some core discovery that was always contemplated. The Feb 14 date has to stick, unless you get court approval.

 Judge: Let's talk about the 30(b)(6) deposition. When is there a date when counsel for defendants is available? Delgado: This month is a little tight. Even during my son's spring break I could move things around. Judge: You can't take a deposition until March?

Delgado: I am available between February 21 and 29. Judge: OK, it will occur between those dates. If any new topics, serve them one week from today on Mr. Blumetti. By February 12, I'd like a status letter with what date has been set.

 Judge: Ms. Delgado, you can also depose Eric Trump. That must occur in March. What are you seeking, Mr. Blumetti? Blumetti: We want her testimony in a family court proceeding, on the topic of her relationship with Mr. Miller? Judge: But this is about pregnancy

 Judge: How is any testimony about Ms. Delgado's relationship with Jason Miller relevant to this matter about pregnancy discrimination?

Blumetti: Her family court testimony is inconsistent with her deposition in this matter. Judge: Why is that relevant to the campaign being sued for having a problem with Ms. Delgado's pregnancy?

Blumetti: She is making a gender discrimination claim. Delgado: Mr. Miller is not a named defendant in this case. It is focused on pregnancy discrimination

Judge: Ms. Delgado were you deposed about your efforts to find another job? Delgado: Yes. Judge: So Mr. Blumetti, you think this is relevant as to mitigation, if she spoke about it in the family court? Blumetti: Yes, it is referenced in a public decision

Judge: If you have a public decision, why do you need the testimony? Delgado: When I was asked to produce the applications of the jobs I applied to - I told the judge it's not the 1990s anymore, you don't fax applications. The judge didn't find it credible

Delgado: The judge said he didn't find what I said credible, that I didn't have records of applications. Judge: I do find some relevance, under the broad definition of relevance in Rule 26 - but sole portions relevant to mitigation should be turned over

 Judge: Everything else can be blacked out, if it's on the same page.  Delgado: If I have the transcript, I'll turn it over. And certainly the PDF I created of the dozens of jobs to which I applied.

 Blumetti: She testified in his action that she or her then attorney has the transcript Delgado: There have been many hearings. Blumetti: What about the text messages with Mr. Miller - unless Ms. Delgado is not pursuing that claim in this case.

Delgado: Mr. Blumetti said he would provide a copy of my deposition Blumetti: We'll provide it, I told Mr. Odle before he withdrew. Delgado: They've listed Kellyanne Conway as a witness, I think her deposition could be done in an hour

Blumetti: The campaign as I understand it, it is moving forward for 2024, but not the same individuals. The right witness, might have to subpoena them. Judge: You're required to produce someone or educate someone, under Rule 30(b)(6). You'll have to figure it out

Judge: That's going to be the campaign's problem. A non party can be designated. Blumetti: I'm just previewing that. Delgado: Please be sure to email me. Judge: Are you signed up for electronic notices? Delgado: I think so...

 Judge: Thank you, we're adjourned.

  Inner City Press will continue to follow the case.

It is Delgado v. Donald J. Trump For President, Inc. et al., 19-cv-11764 (Torres / Parker) 

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