By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
SDNY MAG COURT EXCLUSIVE, Jan 9 - Accused of money laundering with a source from Mexico and Israel, Moises Hanono Azrak was presented in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court on August 5. Inner City Press was the only media there.
Azrak for Mexican drug cartels arranged more than 40 money laundering contracts from October 2020 through July 2022, including a bulk cash pick-up in Appleton, Wisconsin and a at least one firearm.
He handle an Amazon Prime package containing $105,990 in cash. He laundering through Chicago, Los Angeles and Port Chester.
Azrak "indicated that he wanted to cooperate with law enforcement, and agreed to travel from Seattle to New York City to participate in further debriefings." Document at 10(f) on Patreon here.
Then, with no other media in the Magistrates Court, he was presented and consented to detention before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker o Inner City Press was the only media in the Mag Court for these proceedings as on the July 29 Azerbaijan AK-47 stalker of an Iranian dissident (story here, credited here).
The plot thickened - Azrak coming to NYC to cooperate was found to be tipping off another about his cooperation with the "agency of the three letters" - the DEA - and so got arrested, see below.
On August 11, this retained (paid) lawyer filed a notice of appearance for the wanna-be cooperator: "NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: James Kousouros appearing for Moises Hanono Azrak. Appearance Type: Retained. (Kousouros, James)."
On October 6, the case was kicked down the road: "ORDER TO CONTINUE IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE as to Moises Hanono Azrak re: [5] Order to Continue - Interest of Justice. Time excluded from 10/6/22 until 11/7/22. Affirmation of Emily Deininger attached. (Signed by Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on 10/6/22)."
Thereafter it was extended on November 7 by Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave, on December 7 by Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo - and on January 6, 2023 by Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, again on the representation that "Mr. Kousouros is engaged in discussions concerning a possible disposition of the case." Watch this site.
"MOISES HANONO AZRAK, a/k/a "Moe," the defendant, traveled from Seattle, Washington, to New York, New York, accompanied by me and another law enforcement agent, on or about August 1, 2022. 13. Based on my participation in this investigation, my conversations with CS-1, and my review of WhatsApp chats between CS-1 and another money laundering broker identified during the course of this investigation ("CC-3"), I know that on or about August 3, 2022, CC-3 contacted CS-1 via WhatsApp and wrote, in substance and in part, the following: CS-1.
a. CC-3 stated that he had something urgent to tell CS-3 then explained that CC-3 and CS-1 both needed to change their phone numbers because "Moy" had been detained in the United States the previous Sunday while on a cruise to Alaska that left from Seattle.
b. CC-3 told CS-1 that he had received this information "directly from [May's] employees."
c. CC-3 told CS-1 that "Moy" had been asked to cooperate with the "agency of the 3 letters" and that he was now in New York waiting to proffer with prosecutors in the next few days. Based on my training, experience, and participation in this investigation, I believe that the "agency of the 3 letters" refers to the DEA.
d. CC-3 then re-emphasized to CS-1 that they should change their numbers, and also that CS-1 should warn another individual that CS-1 works with. 14. Based on my participation in this investigation and the interview of MOISES HANONO AZRAK, a/k/a "Moe," the
defendant, conducted on July 31, 2022, I know that AZRAK did not identify CC-3 as someone that AZRAK engaged in money laundering activities with or otherwise mention CC-3 during the course of that interview. WHEREFORE, the deponent respectfully requests that a warrant be issued for the arrest of MOISES HANONO AZRAK, a/k/a "Moe," the defendant, and that he be arrested and imprisoned or bailed, as the case may be."
Now what? Inner City Press is on the case.
This case is US v. Azrak, 22-mj-6402 (Unassigned)
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