Sunday, April 30, 2023
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Girgis Charged As Illegal Rep of Egypt in NYC Wants FISA Warrant & Info on McGonigal Role
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY COURT, Exclusive series, April 28 – In another illegal spying or representation case, alongside Eastern District of New York prosecutions of a UN-affiliated Iranian spy and an NYPD officer reporing to China's Mission to the UN about Tibetans in New York, on January 6 the Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment charging PIERRE GIRGIS, a dual Egyptian and U.S. citizen, with acting and conspiring to act in the United States as an unregistered agent of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
GIRGIS was taken into custody on January 6 and Inner City Press is following the case. Later on January 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court where Inner City Press was the only media, Girgis was released on $100,000 bond by Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger, to be secured by his car within two weeks, see below.
On February 16 Girgis and his Federal Defenders appeared before SDNY District Judge Alison J. Nathan. There was talk of discovery to be loaded onto a 2 gigabyte hard drive in three weeks.
Jump cut to June 23, 2022: after Judge Nathan's elevation to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, Girgis' case was reassigned to Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who held an in-person conference which Inner City Press attended, one of two people in the gallery. (The other was a Girgis relative or supporter).
Federal Defender Andrew Dalack said he is considering challenging the FISA warrants. The Assistant US Attorney spoke of 25,000 recorded phone calls. Dallack cited the need for a (publicly-funded) interpreter, and his Saipov terrorism trial set for September with the death penalty still on the table.
On September 14, more delay was sought, to push the September 16 conference back 60 days because Girgis' lawyer is preparing for a death penalty trial (that Inner City Press is also covering). They ask to toll Speedy Trial Act time to allow the parties to discuss a possible pretrial disposition.
On November 29, 2022, on the eve of a scheduled status conference, Federal Defenders wrote it to propose pushing their time for a motion to compel to March 31, 2023, citing "lead defense counsel's trial scheduled in US v. Saipov" (which Inner City Press is also covering). Letter on Patreon here.
On November 30 at 11:30 am, Inner City Press went to the courtroom (lobby) at the time appointed for the status conference. But the door was locked. An hour later, this was docketed: "ENDORSED LETTER as to Pierre Girgis addressed to Judge Katherine Polk Failla from Attorney Hannah McCrea. dated November 29, 2022 re: On behalf of the parties, we write to respectfully update the Court regarding the status of discovery in this case and to propose a motion schedule for the defense's anticipated motion to compel certain documents and other items material to Mr. Girgis's defense and motion preparation, including materials implicating the propriety of electronic surveillance conducted pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)."
On April 28, 2023, Girgis' lawyers filed a motion for among other things the FISA warrants and all information about the role of Charles McGonigal, now himself indicted, citing McGonigal's charged misconduct.
Previously Dallack told Judge Nathan that Girgis has been receiving death threats, and he linked it to the "tone" of the DOJ's press release. He said Girgis had hired private counsel to make a no-charge pitch and was surprised when he was arrested. He said there is no allegation Girgis took money for spying. Filings are due in March, and in 90 days. Inner City Press will remain on the case.
But two weeks later Girgis' lawyers wrote in to say the bond was still not secured by Girgis' car and wanting, on consent, until February 4 to comply.
Girgis' case was assigned to District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who has been nominated for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Podcast here.
On March 30, Girgis' lawyers wrote to Judge Nathan to ask on consent for delay to May 2 as the US on March 9 gave thousands of documents and forensic cell phone extractions.
From 2014 to 2019, GIRGIS, a native of Egypt, acted in the United States as an agent of the Egyptian government, without notifying the U.S. Attorney General as required by law. GIRGIS operated at the direction and control of multiple officials of the Egyptian government in an effort to further the interests of the Egyptian government in the United States. Among other things, at the direction of Egyptian government officials, GIRGIS tracked and obtained information regarding political opponents of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
GIRGIS also leveraged his connections with local U.S. law enforcement officers to collect non-public information at the direction of Egyptian officials, arranged benefits for Egyptian officials who were visiting Manhattan, and coordinated meetings between U.S. and Egyptian law enforcement in the United States, including by attempting to arrange for Egyptian officials to attend police trainings.
On or about May 7, 2018, GIRGIS discussed his status as an agent of the Egyptian government with an Egyptian official (“Egyptian Official-1”) using an encrypted messaging application. During the conversation, Egyptian Official-1 expressed frustration that GIRGIS had communicated with personnel from a different Egyptian government agency, warned GIRGIS that “it is not possible to open with all the agencies,” and stated that Egyptian Official-1 was “letting you [GIRGIS] open with us only.”
Later in the encrypted messaging exchange, Egyptian Official-1 advised GIRGIS that other Egyptian government agencies “want sources for themselves, and you [GIRGIS] have become an important source for them to collect information.” GIRGIS responded, “I know and I see and I learn from you,” and then informed Egyptian Official-1, “it will not be repeated again.”
Approximately one year later, on or about March 8, 2019, in the course of GIRGIS’s continuing operations as an Egyptian agent, GIRGIS and Egyptian Official-1 discussed an upcoming trip of certain Egyptian officials to the United States. During that telephone conversation, GIRGIS stated, “Tell me what you want me to do,” and Egyptian Official-1 responded by inquiring about GIRGIS’s relationship with a particular U.S. law enforcement officer. Egyptian Official-1 then instructed GIRGIS “to ask [the U.S. law enforcement officer] for something. We want you to find out if there are any police trainings happening in Manhattan in the coming days, and if so, who are the people in charge of these trainings? We would like to attend.” Later in the conversation, GIRGIS again asked, “What you want me to do?” Egyptian Official-1 directed GIRGIS, “Make follow up, Ok?” and GIRGIS agreed by responding, “Ok.”
GIRGIS, 39, is a resident of Manhattan. GIRGIS is charged with one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The level of diplomatic sleaze is expanding, particular in New York where the United Nations is based but remains immune from the law. Inner City Press is on the case.
This case is US v. Girgis, 22-cr-6 (Failla)
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On Miles Guo Wengui US Stays SEC Case As Guo Cited SBF and Madoff But Denied Bail
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 28 – After a circus-like civil case involving Guo Wengui in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covered, here, March 15, 2023 saw the unsealing of a twelve-count Indictment charging
HO WAN KWOK, a/k/a “Miles Guo,” a/k/a “Miles Kwok,” a/k/a “Guo Wengui,” a/k/a “Brother Seven,” a/k/a “The Principal,” and KIN MING JE, a/k/a “William Je,” with various wire fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges. JE, who is KWOK’s financier, is also charged with obstruction of justice.
The prosecutors said that "KWOK was arrested this morning in New York, New York, and will be presented this afternoon. JE is currently at large."
Not mentioned was another, related arrest on March 15, of Guo's chief of staff Yangping Wang, aka Yvette Wang. Inner City Press, lone media in the Magistrates Court, live tweeted her presentment when the prosecutors, seemingly hoping to flip her as a cooperator, offered release on $5 million bond, but only with two co-signers they approve.
Minutes later, in a larger courtroom, Guo / Kwok was presented - with a Federal Defender for the day - and detained on consent. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread here
On March 31, Guo put in his written argument, on Patreon here.
But on April 20, Judge Torres denied bail. Full order on Patreon here.
On April 28, the prosecutors wrote in asking to stay the SEC action: they "seek a complete stay of this matter until the completion of the trial or other disposition in a parallel criminal case, United States v. Ho Wan Kwok et al., S1 23 Cr. 118 (AT) (the “Criminal Case”). The Criminal Case arises from the same operative facts as this proceeding... Defendant Mountains of Spices LLC (d/b/a “New York Farm”) would oppose a stay on discovery, because it indicated that it intends to move to “sever” itself as a defendant, but it noted that—should the Court be inclined to issue a stay—Mountains of Spices would" - full filing on Patreon here.
Judge Gardephe granted the motion: "Case Stayed (ks)."
The SEC case is Securities and Exchange Commission v. Kwok et al., 23-cv-2200 (Gardephe)
The case is US v. Kwok, et al., 23-cr-118 (Torres)
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UN Daniela Bas Hired Relatives & Moonlighted as Life Coach Staff Tell Banned Inner City Press
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, April 28 – In the UN of Antonio Guterres, there is scandal after scandal, each one covered up and/or ignored by the state media and scribes they let in, while banning the Press.
From the e-mail bag this week, while Spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refused all of Inner City Press' questions:
Dear Matthew Russell Lee: Tell the Daniela Bas story. This director of social affairs got fired from DESA for corruption and is running a huge consultancy firm now. The UN didn't bother to explain to anyone why she was fired.
We know very little. Over the weekend we were told that she was not coming in again (but she was in the office on Friday) and that John Wilmoth will be the acting director.
She was known to be very corrupt. She appointed her brother and her sister in law's company to do diversity training at the UN. She was accused of racism. She tried to get in people that were her friends and family and not qualified. She made statements about no-one being able to fire her because she is in a wheelchair.
In the end, she was apparently fired because she took paid contracts, in addition to her job, to do life coaching through an NGO. She now runs a company where she prides herself on her history with the UN. Proudly announcing that she 'was a senior director' at DESA.
Despite the fact that she should have left with her tail between her legs, she walks proud and tall. The UN has not said a word to any of the staff. Nothing. Zilch. Her staff were left in the dark, stunned when she left. Not sure whether you're going to get any more information but many, many, many of us are waiting to see what you print. Good luck."
Well, the UN despite Dujarric's on camera promise to answer Inner City Press' written questions doesn't. Daneila Bas who smiled answering Inner City Press' questions until it was thrown out did nothing after. But we continue to report. Watch this site.
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Felon Charged With Hitting Ex Says It Came After Threesome in House of His Client
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 28 – A defendant on supervised release for a 2013 armed robbery is now charged with selling crack and hitting, or strangling, his ex-girlfriend, allegedly as part of a threesome or "poly" relationship.
Inner City Press attended a three hour hearing about Jones' alleged violations of supervised release on April 28, 2023.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Sidney H. Stein held the hearing. At one point he asked Inner City Press why it found this more interesting than "Judge Kaplan's trial," that of E. Jean Carroll v. Trump. (That trial was on Friday hiatus on April 28).
Defendant Untra Jones was slumped in his chair. His lawyer said he had a problem with his posterior.
After three law enforcement witnesses, a Lakeysha Quinones testified that as Jones' current girlfriend, she had consented to a "poly" relationship with Untra's ex, the victim.
She and Untra both testified they when to have a threeway in Untra's house, actually the residence of his client (Untra is a live-in home health attendant).
But soon the ex felt Untra was paying too much attention to her successor, and mentioned some past abuse of Untra that was not allowed into evidence. She said Untra "strangled" the victim, after she hit him.
"No further questions," the Assistant US Attorney said. Decision and possibly sentencing will take place on May 2 - when the Carroll v. Trump trial is scheduled to be meeting.
This case is US v. Untra Jones, 13-cr-836 (Stein)
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FRB Downplays Its Failure on SVB As Claims No Review of Signature Crypto But FOIA Scam
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 28 – Alongside the larger flame-out of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank too failed, FOIA story below.
On SVB, the Federal Reserve on April 28 issues a report downplaying it failure(s) and notably not mentioning the lack of any public comment or Community Reinvestment Act / CBA review as SVB was handed over to First Citizens, and Signature to NYCB.
The Federal Reserve in belated response to Inner City Press' FOIA request says it has no record of reviewing Signature and crypto, nor any "record reflecting any review by the FRS of Silvergate’s (and Provident Bancorp Inc., Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Signature Bank, Customers Bancorp Inc.) of the banks’ connections with crypto-currency firms."
Federal Reserve letter to Inner City Press here
The Fed did, however, belatedly give Inner City Press the Farmington State Bank application it approved, with 100% ownership by Bahamas based Jean Chalopin. It's now on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here. We'll have more on this.
Inner City Press submitted to the Federal Reserve a Freedom of Information Act request including about Signature Bank: "This is a FOIA request for all record regarding FTX... Also, for Silvergate with its FTX connections, record reflecting any review by the FRS of Silvergate's (and Provident Bancorp Inc., Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Signature Bank, Customers Bancorp Inc.) of the banks' connections with crypto-currency firms... This is a request for expedited treatment."
The Federal Reserve acknowledged receipt and said it was granting expedited process. Then -- nothing.
Now, as the Fed belatedly backs up Signature Bank after Silicon Valley Bank, the Fed tries to paper its delay: "Months after the Federal Reserve said it granted Inner City Press expedited processing of its FOIA request on the Fed's work / errors on crypto, and two months after Inner City Press answered a request for clarification, past 4 pm on Friday March 10, 2023, this: "Good afternoon Mr. Lee The second part of your request seems to concern other entities (Silvergate, Provident Bancorp Inc., Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Signature Bank, Customers Bancorp Inc.). Please confirm the scope of this part of your request, did you intend to seek applications related information for these entities?"
Inner City Press again immediately responded and clarified, about FTX. Now the response above. Watch this site."
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On Miles Guo Wengui US Asks Stay SEC Case As Guo Cited SBF and Madoff But Denied Bail
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 28 – After a circus-like civil case involving Guo Wengui in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covered, here, March 15, 2023 saw the unsealing of a twelve-count Indictment charging
HO WAN KWOK, a/k/a “Miles Guo,” a/k/a “Miles Kwok,” a/k/a “Guo Wengui,” a/k/a “Brother Seven,” a/k/a “The Principal,” and KIN MING JE, a/k/a “William Je,” with various wire fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges. JE, who is KWOK’s financier, is also charged with obstruction of justice.
The prosecutors said that "KWOK was arrested this morning in New York, New York, and will be presented this afternoon. JE is currently at large."
Not mentioned was another, related arrest on March 15, of Guo's chief of staff Yangping Wang, aka Yvette Wang. Inner City Press, lone media in the Magistrates Court, live tweeted her presentment when the prosecutors, seemingly hoping to flip her as a cooperator, offered release on $5 million bond, but only with two co-signers they approve.
Minutes later, in a larger courtroom, Guo / Kwok was presented - with a Federal Defender for the day - and detained on consent. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread here
On March 31, Guo put in his written argument, on Patreon here.
But on April 20, Judge Torres denied bail. Full order on Patreon here.
On April 28, the prosecutors wrote in asking to stay the SEC action: they "seek a complete stay of this matter until the completion of the trial or other disposition in a parallel criminal case, United States v. Ho Wan Kwok et al., S1 23 Cr. 118 (AT) (the “Criminal Case”). The Criminal Case arises from the same operative facts as this proceeding... Defendant Mountains of Spices LLC (d/b/a “New York Farm”) would oppose a stay on discovery, because it indicated that it intends to move to “sever” itself as a defendant, but it noted that—should the Court be inclined to issue a stay—Mountains of Spices would" - full filing on Patreon here.
The SEC case is Securities and Exchange Commission v. Kwok et al., 23-cv-2200 (Gardephe)
The case is US v. Kwok, et al., 23-cr-118 (Torres)
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SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
As Goldman Sachs Indicted Insider Trader Goel Nears Trial Barclays Resignation Letter Sought
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 27 – Former Goldman Sachs investment banker Brijesh Goel was arraigned on insider trading charges on the morning of July 28, 2022. Inner City Press there - although the arraignment had not be listed in the docket, nor announced by prosecutors.
Goel's case is assigned to U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge P. Kevin Castel, who held the arraignment.
Even afterward, the docket did not contain any notice of the arraignment - in contrast to the July 27 arraignment for insider trading of former Indian Congressman Steve Buyer, Inner City Press story here, video here.
Goel, represented by defense lawyer Reed Brodsky who was still not listed on the docket - no notice of appearance? - after the proceeding, pleaded not guilty.
Assistant US Attorney Joshua Naftalis said his office agreed to release on $1 million bond, and no contact with "CC-1."
Brodsky, too, was concerned about CC-1. He specifically asked that all information about debriefing sessions with CC-1 be provided in two or three weeks, so that he or successor counsel can decide by the September 14 next conference whether to file motion.
This was incorporated into Judge Castel's Rule 5(f) order.
Goel is accused of feeding inside information to his graduate school friend and squash partner Akshay Niranjan, at Barclays.
Brodsky said Goel "could not consent" to excluding time under the Speedy Trial Act. But then after conferring, he did not oppose. Time was excluded.
On November 17, another conference was held, and Inner City Press was there. Brodsky said that the audio in the case is inaudible. Judge Castel said this came up before him recently - yes, in US versus former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernandez, as Inner City Press reported. Brodsky said he might make a motion, unlike JOH's counsel Raymond Colon.
Brodsky had other motions, some of which Judge Castel asked why he had "sat on" until this conference. When the time came to set the trial date, Brodsky asked for October, but Judge Castel put it at June 12 with motions due before that.
On January 4, 2023 Goel filed a motion against the US Attorney's Office subpoenas before a trial date was set, citing US v. Tuzman, 15-cr-536. It includes an email from AUSA Joshua Naftalis, including that "trial subpoenas issued before the trial date was set... all these subpoenas have been withdrawn."
On March 16, 2023, in turnabout, the US Attorney's Office moved to quash Goel's subpoenas to Akshay Niranjan and Barclays - except, perhaps, Request 8 which "seemingly attempts to uncover evidence that Niranjan learned of the potential M&A transactions through his employment at Barclays, rather than from the defendant." But the US still calls that overbroad.
On April 27, Judge Castel held another proceeding in the case. Inner City Press was there. The defense did not want to provide its list of witnesses until closer to their use; the AUSA said fine, they too would delay. A resignation letter will be sought from Barclays. Trial is approaching.
Inner City Press will continue to cover the case - watch this site.
The case is US v. Goel, 22-cr-396 (Castel)
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Guilty Verdict on Fishbein For Real Estate Fraud Amid Lawyer Blaming in Predatory Bender Age
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 27 – A trial began on April 18, 2023 in US v. Paul Fishbein, before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul A. Crotty. Inner City Press was there.
The prosecutors say Fishbein
"is charged with theft of government funds, wire fraud, and mail fraud for defrauding rental assistance programs by falsely claiming to be the owner and landlord of 20 properties in New York City, renting out the properties to families in need through the rental assistance programs, and collecting money as the purported owner and landlord of the properties."
The Assistant US Attorney's opening described the program defrauded, the notaries whose signatures were forged, the real estate broker whose license was usurped.
Fishbein's lawyer reminded the jurors of the 2008 subprime lending meltdown, and said his client was an unsophisticated real estate investor - that Fishbein was the victim, of bad advice.
On April 19, the government had on the witness stand a Ms. Brown from NYC HRA, testifying about Medicare eligibility and the requirement to disclose all assets including those of household members. The jurors appeared less than transfixed.
On April 20, the real estate broker who said Fishbein "got ahold" of her license was on the witness stand. On cross examination she acknowledged emailing Fishbein a copy of her licence, no less than three times, and to provide information about Fishbein to a lawyer, David Rutherford. She also acknowledged not always checking New York’s "Automated City Register Information System" (ACRIS); multiple objections from the AUSA were overruled by Judge Crotty (who previously was the Commissioner of the City's housing agency).
On April 24, Fishbein himself was on the stand, blaming his problems on lawyer David Broderick. His lawyer asked, Why did you switch representation from Snipes to Broderick? Fishbein blamed it on a paralegal he met in the courthouse, Diana Rodriguez. Bigger picture, he described the real estate Wild West of the era of Predatory Bender... (reviews I, II)
On April 27, the verdict: "conviction in federal court of PAUL FISHBEIN of multiple counts of fraud and aggravated identity theft. FISHBEIN stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from rental assistance programs administered by New York City’s Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) and New York City’s Housing Preservation & Development (“HPD,” and with HRA, the “Agencies”) by renting out properties throughout the City that he falsely claimed to own and by collecting made-up broker fees. FISHBEIN was also convicted of Medicaid fraud."
The case is US v. Fishbein, 21-cr-296 (Crotty)
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