Burke & Hebert Challenged on Bid for LINKBANK FRB 3 AI Letters Rubberstamp

Burke & Hebert Challenged on Bid for LINKBANK FRB 3 AI Letters Rubberstamp by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack Federal Court, April 10 – As banks rush to merge given rubberstamping signals from US regulators, LinkBank has done too far with Burke & Herbert.   Back in 2023 Fair Finance Watch got the FDIC to impose a Community Reinvestment Act condition on LINKBANK, here.  Now with no indication of compliance, LINKBANK proposes to sell itself to also-disparate Burke & Hubert.   FFW on December 22 filed challenges with the Federal Reserve Board and FDIC. FRB version:  Dear Chairman Powell, Secretary Misback:   This concerns the proposal by Burke & Herbert to acquire LINKBANCORP and LINKBANK.    This is opposition at the earliest possible time. In light of a recent proposal in which only the OCC is considering a multi-billion merger, we are submitting this to the FRB as soon as possible. Please immediate inform FFW if Burke & Herbert is applying to the FRS, and consider this comment on any and all Burke & Herbert applications.    FFW previously raised disparities of LINKBANK to the FDIC - resulting on a CRA condition being opposed on October 3, 2023.  It is imperative that compliance be reviewed, including at the requested public evidentiary hearing. Given recent developments, there is no reason to believe that the FDIC would or will enforce even its own conditions.      Burke & Herbert in Virginia in 2024 made 83 mortgage loans to whites, and only SEVEN to African Americans. Meanwhile it denied two applications from African Americans, and only four from whites.   This is disparate.        Burke & Herbert in West Virginia in 2024 made 165 mortgage loans to whites, and only TWO to African Americans. Meanwhile it denied one application from an African Americans, and only 29 from whites.     Burke & Herbert in Maryland in 2024 made 18 mortgage loans to whites, and only TWO to African Americans.     Now Burke & Herbert wants to buy LINKBANK, on which FFW had a CRA condition imposed. The FDIC wrote:  CRA Protest In the course of reviewing public input on the application, the FDIC received an adverse comment from a protester that was considered a CRA protest... the FDIC decided to approve the application with the following condition. On January 7, the FRS wrote back: "The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond received your correspondence on  December 23, 2025, regarding a future application by Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corporation (“B&H”) to acquire LINKBANCORP (“LINK”). The Federal Reserve has not yet received an application by B&H to acquire LINK. Accordingly, no immediate action will be taken on the correspondence dated December 23, 2025. If a filing is received in the next three months, your comment may be considered as part of the application record for the filing." MAY be considered? On February 25 the Fed asked 10 more questions, including on fair lending, letter on Patreon here On March 3, the Fed asked 7 multi-part questions, including "Following the proposed transaction, CRE levels would continue to exceed the threshold for enhanced monitoring noted in SR 07-1. Accordingly, discuss whether and, if so, how the oversight of the loan portfolio, including concentration risk management practices and management's responsiveness to changing market conditions, would be enhanced. 5. Discuss the number of LINKBANK employees that B&H Bank would retain following the proposed transaction (aside from Messrs. Andrew Samual, Carl Lundblad, and Brent Smith)" - full letter on Patreon here On April 10 the Fed rubberstamped the application: "The commenter also noted that, in connection with its approval of an acquisition by LINKBANK in 2023, the FDIC placed a condition on the bank requiring the bank to take certain specific actions related to mortgage lending and related activities in certain areas, particularly with respect to African American consumers and LMI communities." No follow up. Even when banks are bad enough to have conditions imposed, there is no follow up. But we will follow up. Watch this site.   Watch this site. *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com

Two Law Firms File Habeas Petitions for Linzhong Huang One Hour Apart on Same Day

SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 10 –     One man named Linzhong Huang was detained by ICE on April 10 in 26 Federal Plaza.

Two law firms filed habeas corpus petitions later than day in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where Inner City Press found both.   

At 2:32 pm on April 10, the Law Office of Ng & Wasserman of 27 East Broadway filed a habeas petition, Linzhong Hwang v. Almodovar, et al., which got assigned to Judge Katherine Polk Failla.  

At 3:39 pm, the Law Office of Ling Li, PC of Main Street, [Flushing], Queens filed a habeas petition, Linzhong Huang v. Genalo, et al., which got assigned to Judge Vernon S. Broderick, who ordered "the Petitioner shall not be removed from US unless and until the Court orders otherwise."   

It seems this is the same man. Did both firms speak with Linzhong Huang? Did either? 

 The cases are Linzhong Hwang v. Almodovar, et al., 1:26-cv-2972 (Failla) and Linzhong Hwang v. Genalo, et al., 1:26-cv-2975 (Broderick)

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

UN Corrupt in South Sudan Wasted $300K on Empty Plane to Nepal Now Staff Fear Closing

UN Corrupt in South Sudan Wasted $300K on Empty Plane to Nepal Now Staff Fear Closing by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack UN GATE / Juba, April 11 – 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 April 10 they issued a canned statement on a new SRSG in Juba, Kiki Gbeho. Then this, from staff: "Many staff have begun discussing the appointment as a sign that the mission in South Sudan is approaching its closure!" We'll see. Previously from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press: As the memorial service of UNMISS former Head of Mission, Mr. Nicholas Haysom approached, following his demise, the Mission Leadership failed to inform its staff of the upcoming visit of USG Lacroix who arrives tomorrow, Thursday to the Mission - for the memorial service on Friday 27 March. One wonders why such visit should be kept a secret or kept away from Staff?   Secondly, it appears that the appointment of the New Head of Mission, (current DSRSG/HC), Ms. Anita Gbeho is also being kept a secret. While she has no good track record considering how she and her compatriot, Chief of Staff, Ms. Leda Limman, have almost succeeded in destroying the mission by their poor decision makings by far, particularly, about the recent downsizing exercises and their disconnect from the South Sudan Government (have no relationship whatsoever), by this new appointment, it confirms that, the organization rewards failure with promotion. Related, the mission leadership continues to waste money by travelling on costly special flights - one day visits, despite limited funding.  Finally, reference below and the attached picture, staff (National and International) are disappointed about the gross disrespect shown to the organization. The UNMISS flag displayed at half-mast in memory of the deceased SRSG is in a visibly deteriorated condition, which is unacceptable. This reflects a lapse in basic service delivery and a failure to uphold institutional standards . The responsible section must ensure that due attention is given to such essential duties, including the proper maintenance and timely replacement of official flags. There must be clear accountability and a system in place to guarantee that flags are maintained in good condition, particularly during occasions of solemn significance. Previously: Dear Matthew Russell Lee,   Last week, UMMISS Leadership failed to properly inform the Host Government about the Rotation of the Nepalese Contingent, as a result, UNMISS has again, just lost over $300,000 as the chartered flight which arrived in Juba to fly out the contingent, was sent back empty because, the Host Government was not properly informed.  Back on 6 Nov, in what seems like a pre-approved list shared by the UNMISS-SMG by mistake - and now given no answers published by Inner City Press on its DocumentCloud here - details some offices with specific names of International staff, to be considered for cuts.    It has happened at MINUSCA in Central African Republic too - and no answers from UN.  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. *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2025 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com

On NYCHA Bribery Garth Small Was Moving to Trial Then Pled Now 3 Month Sentence

On NYCHA Bribery Garth Small Was Moving to Trial Then Pled Now 3 Month Sentence by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 10 – For days Inner City Press had heard from its sources there would be a "takedown" on February 6, 2024 each SDNY Magistrate Judge would handle seven to 10 defendants. Arrests happen at 6 am. So at 5:55 am Inner City Press tweeted it, first to X subscribers with the spoiler alert: the expectation was that each of the current or former NYCHA employees would be released on bond the same day.   And then hours later at 9:39 am the prosecutors announced it. Media rushed around reporting it.  Inner City Press had it first, and after discretely waiting, published it first. Then this thread of presentments, here Jump cut to September 24, 2025 when one of it seems four defendants remaining, Garth Small, has a pre-trial conference. His two lawyers argued for a bill of particulars, and against the credibility of the prosecutions multiply-used witnesses and their identification of Small in a book of photographs. They quoted Judge Gardephe in the Cartajena case, which Inner City Press also covered.   Small's case was reassigned to Judge Valerie E. Caproni on August 27, 2025, and trial was still set for October 27. On October 20 Small appeared before Judge Caproni and pled guilty. On March 27, 2026 his lawyer wrote in asking for three years probation on April 10. On April 3 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for 15 months. On April 10 he was sentenced to three months in prison. The case is USA v. Small, 1:24-cr-208 (Caproni) On October 9, NYCHA defendant Joy Harris was on trial, the first trial. On the stand was an immunized witness, Mr. Singh, who said he twice paid bribed to Joy Harris. He described her saying, I need something; Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said for the record, rubbing his index finger and thumb together. Payments were made in the trash compactor room of the Taft Houses on East 114 Street in East Harlem. On cross-examination it emerged that the second payment was after Joy Harris signed the certificate of service allowing the witness' company DK Bangla to be paid. Might that be a gratuity, under current precedent? Judge Kaplan admonished the defense lawyer to hold for closing arguments. On October 10 another contractor was on the witness stand, who said he paid Joy Harris in increments of $500 for jobs such as installation of rolling metal gates, including at the [Lillian] Wald Houses on the Lower East Side. On October 17, Harris was found guilty by the jury of bribery and extortion under color of official right. On February 26, 2025, Harris was sentenced to 41 months in prison. On May 13 the US Attorney's Office, responding to an inquiry not in the docket, wrote in that a pro se submission by Joy Harris should not be dockets, but rather only sent to them. The trial was USA v. Harris, 1:24-cr-00207 (Kaplan)  Watch this site - and these feeds: X and  X for subscribers. And Substack here *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 20047, Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2025 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com