By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 20 – Celvin Freeman, originally from Ghana, is charged with a series of frauds against individuals and business. He asked to suppress his statements to law enforcement.
On August 17, 2021U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jed S. Rakoff held an oral argument. Inner City Press covered it.
Freeman's lawyer noted that those who interrogated him told him it was up to him to advocate for himself, and that whoever cooperated first would get the best deal.
The Assistant US Attorney said the "advocacy" language had been about cutting the first deal, not giving up the right to a lawyer.
Judge Rakoff took the issued under advisement, with the trial penciled in for November 8 pending the SDNY Committee.
On October 20, Freeman again argued for release on bond, even testifying under oath as to immigration and certain other issues. Judge Rakoff acknowledged that he could still invoke the Fifth Amendment, but inquired into whether it was credible Freeman was getting wires of money from in the US and sending cars to Ghana.
Jump cut to March 23, 2022 with Celvin Freeman on trial. Inner City Press went to attend. A witness from Texas, 76-year old Candy Duggins, described being scammed to wire $122,000, including directly to Celvin Freeman. She said it was for gold from Ghana, and love, but that she was instructed to say it was to buy a car. But, she said, Wells Fargo inaccurately and unilaterally wrote down the purpose as "consulting fee."
On March 30, the verdict: "FREEMAN CELVIN, a/k/a “Celvin Freeman,” was convicted today of all seven criminal counts he was charged with for his participation in a fraud and money laundering conspiracy based in the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) involving the theft of millions of dollars. CELVIN was convicted after a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff."
And on October 20, Judge Rakoff sentenced him to 78 months "for his participation in a fraud and money laundering conspiracy based in Ghana involving the theft of millions of dollars. CELVIN was previously arrested on February 17, 2021, and has been detained since his arrest.
The case is US v. Freeman, 21-cr-88 (Rakoff)
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