by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 23 – Yosef Cohen was charged with laundering money for drug deals and, after pleading guilty, was set to be sentenced on June 8, 2023.
But U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Jed S. Rakoff asked if Cohen has lied in saying that an offer to launder $60 million for the movement of cocaine out of Costa Rica had actually being about his mining business in Mexico.
The sentencing was postponed to June 23, along with a Fatico hearing on the issue.
On June 23, there were a dozen family members and supporters in the courtroom gallery, along with Inner City Press, apparently the only media there. Cohen said he always paid his taxes and had made a mistake.
Judge Rakoff said he had helped drug dealers, and told a lie. He sentenced Cohen to six years in prison, to start in 60 days.
When the Assistant US Attorney opposed ending Cohen's curfew, Judge Rakoff remarked that given the risk of flight, he was surprised the Government didn't ask for instant remand. But they did not.
More on Substack here
The case is US v. Cohen, 21-cr-444 (Rakoff)
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