By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 22 – Frederick Scheinin was charged, and then convicted, for child pornography. He was a DEA diversion investigator.
And 24 hours after he was convicted in a jury trial Inner City Press covered below, he was dead in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (where Ghislaine Maxwell is detained).
After his conviction, Scheinin was placed in the MDC Special Housing Unit: "he was alone in the cell and had no cellmate. The MDC SHU cells on that tier each have solid metal doors with a clear window. The SHU hallways have cameras but the individual cells do not.... The final results of the autopsy have not been received by the family." The request to Judge Jed S. Rakoff to probe is itself heavily redacted.
Now on July 22, the US Bureau of Prisons has responded that Judge Rakoff should NOT see the records, that a report is being prepared that can be requested after August 8 - under FOIA. Inner City Press will have more on this.
On April 16, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lorna G. Schofield held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.
The defense said it is difficult to work with Scheinin while he is incarcerated amid COVID.
On May 7 SDNY Judge Jed S. Rakoff, to whom the case has been re-assigned, held a proceeding. The June 16 trial date was re-affirmed - and Inner City press has been covering it, including on Juneteenth, when the government's main witness was cross examined.
She, a 32 year old law enforcement officer, impersonated a 14 year old boy on Grindr. Scheinin asked her/him about meeting on the Staten Island Ferry, and (much) worse. The defense argument was, Scheinin knew she was an adult.
But this opens the door to 404(b) evidence, including photos that the defense on June 18 said is too prejudicial. It will be emailed to Judge Rakoff, who has promised fast rulings and a draft charge by midday Monday.
And now on Tuesday, June 22: "the conviction in Manhattan federal court of FREDERICK L. SCHEININ for attempted production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and attempted enticement of a minor... Attempted production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; attempted receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and attempted enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum sentence of life in prison. SCHEININ is scheduled to be sentenced on September 23, 2021, at 4:00 pm."
And Judge Rakoff to his credit signed a medical attention order: "MEDICAL ATTENTION FORM as to Frederick L. Scheinin. (Signed by Judge Jed S. Rakoff on 6/22/2021)."
The case is US v. Scheinin, 20-cr-133 (Rakoff)
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