By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY COURTROOM Exclusive, June 7 – In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 2, 2023 bail or detention proceedings were held by Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on a couple charged with setting up a fake law firm to embezzle over $90,000 from a Manhattan architectural firm.
The defendants are Matthew Blake Morrow-Wu with many aliases, and his husband Shangzehn Wu.
Inner City Press covers the SDNY Mag Court(s). Related Mag Court live-tweeted thread (more on Patreon here) vlog here
The Assistant US Attorney based his argument on risk of flight, emphasizing trips to China, and Morrow-Wu's rap sheet. His Federal Defender said that conditions for release could be crafted.
Judge Gorenstein after a break had ordered Morrow-Wu detained, citing his previously violations of trust and absconding, but offered release to Shengzhen Wu if he can find two financial responsible people as co-signers on a $50,000 bond; $5000 cash must be put up, he ruled. He did not bar the spouses from communicating.
On June 7, 2023, Matthew Morrow-Wu's bail appeal was heard. His Federal Defender had put into the record a handwritten note to him, "Hey white boy, I like you and I hear your [sic] gay... I will approach you when the time is right." Judge Hellerstein was amenable to release on bail - and asked that it be before the end of the day.
More on Substack here
The case is US v. Morrow-Wu, et al., 23-cr-90 (Hellerstein)
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
