By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 30 - In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on May 25, 2022 a detention or release proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger on a man arrested and charged with trafficking 68 guns from Georgia to New York.
Judge Lehrburger ordered the defendant released on $150,000 bond. The order of release is on Patreon here. Assistant US Attorney Matthew J. King said his Office may or may not seek to appeal.
Ronald Rogers was arrested and his iCloud searched. It contained photos of guns that the prosecutors said were up for sale. His wife Anauncia Rogers, who the AUSA said has made domestic violence allegations in Georgia, was listed as the purchaser of 47 of the guns. The prosecutors consented to her release in Georgia.
Rogers' assigned Federal Defender Ian Marcus Amelkin pointed to that release, and to the Second Amendment right to have firearms. He said, "You can't punish your way to gun control."
Judge Lehrburger, after a break, agreed. He characterized the domestic violence as mutual. He surmised that Rogers sold guns to support his three children, and said that while on release he can continue working for Door Dash while hoping a more stationary job comes through. Rogers has previously worked for FedEx and for Carter's, a children's clothing business. He and his wife - and mother - live in Griffin, Georgia.
Travel will be restricted to the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, and SDNY for purposes of court appearances. He may stay with one of his two sisters in New York, who it was said work as a nurse and for a metropolitan credit union, respectively.
In the courtroom gallery, where Inner City Press was the only media, were two of the defendant's relatives, including an uncle who crossed himself when Judge Lehrburger ordered release.
Jump cut to June 30, when Ronald Rogers and Anauncia Rogers were to appear together to be arraigned before District Judge Jesse M. Furman, in the courthouse he is using to preside over the Joshua Schulte alleged CIA leaks trial. Inner City Press covered it.
Ronald Rogers appeared with a Federal Defender and pleaded not guilty. But Anaucia Rogers' Marshals-paid flight from Atlanta was late. Judge Furman said she might have to arraigned in the Magistrates court.
Inner City Press went there, covered another case - but they had not heard that Anaucia Rogers would be coming. Ultimately she was arraigned before Judge Furman and pleaded not guilty. Both are to appear on November 15 at 3:15 pm.
This case is US v. Rogers, 22-cr-321 (Furman)
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