By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 23 – Stefan Gillier, a Belgian citizen, was charged with defrauding airplane parts manufacturers out of millions of dollars. Now he has health problems in detention.
On September 30 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Richard M. Berman held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it.
Gillier's lawyer said his client was recently moved from the MCC to the MDC in Brooklyn (unlike, say, accusing CIA leaker Joshua Schulte, as Inner City Press first reported).
In the MDC, his lawyer said, Gillier cannot be a salt free diet. He washed the salt off food when he can, and foregoes some meat that is too salty.
Judge Berman said defense motions were due by November 10.
On October 6, 2021, the case was reassigned to Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. He scheduled trial for July 5, 2022 - then, September 13, 2022.
On September 6, Gilliers lawyer wrote to Judge Engelmayer that "this morning, I received a CORRLINKS message from Mr. Gillier relaying that he had been tested on Friday and was moved to the 'Maras Unit (83), highest security unit here'" - with no laptop. A delay was requested.
On September 7, after a telephone conference that Inner City Press covered, counsel wrote in again, that they scheduled a legal call through "the Skedda online booking system." But it hasn't been working and Judge Engelmayer's intervention with the Legal Department of MDC Brooklyn was sought.
The intervention will be coming: "Updates regarding setting up a legal call with Stefan Gillier. ENDORSEMENT: The Court will contact the MDC directly to underscore its order that a substantially longer call with Mr. Gillier and his counsel be arranged for Friday. The Court directs the government to convey this message to the MDC in no uncertain terms. SO ORDERED."
On September 15, with Gillier on trial wearing headphones for interpretation and two US Marshals guarding him, Inner City Press was in the courtroom when his payment through Bank of Montreal for a virtual office in Manhattan was detailed, apparently for venue. His counsel did not cross examine, then with the jury out on break asked to speak with the judge on a point of personal privilege. After the discussion, it turned out no more public read-out was required. The trial continues.
On September 17, the prosecutors asked Judge Engelmayer to allow them to present "Evidence of Flight and Continued Absence." This include an order of attachment executed at Gillier's warehouse in Kansas, and a flight on Air Canada on June 15, 2006.
Gillier was arrested in Italy on May 26, 2019, and he was extradited to the US on June 26, 2022. The defense says he had no reason to return to the US, so it does not reflect consciousness of guilt.
On September 23, the the trial adjourned until September 27, the defense asked Judge Engelmayer to preclude the US from using "the numerous mailings in GX106 in its summation" - included on the list are wires to HCBC, and mailing of air turbine starter from NY to Iowa. Watch this site.
The case is US v. Gillier, 11-cr-409 (Engelmayer)
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