By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
EDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 28 – In the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York at noon on December 28, a guilty plea proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon in the case of Joel Persaud.
He was charged with illegally bringing birds from Guyana into the United States, in his suitcase, into JFK airport on August 31, 2021. Inner City Press covered the guilty plea proceeding.
Persaud's lawyer said his client can't read. Judge Scanlon asked, Can't read English or can't reat at all?
Can't read at all was the answer. Changes were made to documents that said they had been read. Whether Persaud will be subject to deportation for this misdemeanor plea was left unanswered. The sentencing guideline is 12 to 18 months - but 12 months is the maximum.
The sentencing is set for April 21 at 10 am.
The case is US v. Persaud, 21-cr-627, EDNY (Johnson / Scanlon).
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