By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell book
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 1 – Stanislav Yakubov is on trial for money laundering in connection with thefts of expensive jewelry in the Diamond District in Manhattan, and in Queens.
On January 26, 2023 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Edgardo Ramos was presiding over the trial in large Courtroom 318 of 40 Foley Square. Inner City Press went and covered it.
On the witness stand was a cooperator, Michols Pena. His cooperation agreement was shown, going beyond the crimes in the case to 25 DUIs, five fare beating and some some 20 fights.
Pena was shown redacted copies of transcripts of his appearances before SDNY Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, marked "sealed."
He was questioned by AUSA Chan about the money laundering, through the Colosseum in Queens, (well) over $10,000.
Now that the transcripts have been shown in open court - made public, albeit with redactions which were explained as to withhold irrelevant information from the jury - on what basis could they remain sealed in the docket?
On January 31, the Assistant US Attorney's closing argument zeroed in on transaction money laundering, and false statements to law enforcement. For the stolen watches, he said, there were no receipts and no IDs. Yakubov's recorded conversation with Guzman was shown, in transcript form - no checks, either.
On February 1, the jury returned a guilty verdict today against STANISLAV YAKUBOV, a/k/a “Steve,” on three counts in a Superseding Indictment, including one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents. YAKUBOV is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, who presided over the eight-day trial.
The case is US v. Yakubov, 22-cr-206 (Ramos)
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