by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 26 – The self proclaimed Wolf of Airbnb Konrad Bicher pled guilty on June 26, to a deal of 46 to 57 months and nearly $2 million in both forfeiture and restitution.
The change of plea was before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave, whose week on duty in the SDNY Magistrates Court Inner City Press is covering. From the transcript:
Q: Did you attend any college?
Bicher: No... I engaged in a scheme to use my real estate companies to fraudulently obtain funds by entering into these lease agreements for residential units in Manhattan... and making false statements to obtain loans secured by the US Government
Defense counsel: Mr. Bicher and his wife are expecting a baby August 7th.
Court: We're looking at the end of October [for sentencing]
The case is US v. Bicher, 22-cr-589 (Schofield / Cave)
Also June 26 before Judge Cave, a man arrested for stealing a US Postal Service key and mail was detained, apparently for one night.
The Assistant US Attorney told Judge Cave that the defendant had 91 previous arrested, and might be picked up on a warrant by NYPD if ordered released. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag Court.
The Federal Defender said detention was not needed, that the defendant's brother in Midtown would be willing to put him up. (His girlfriend, the Defender said, died on June 23).
Judge Cave said one night of detention would be needed, to get the brother, shelter or drug treatment arrangements in place. She asked for an update by June 27; she will cover the Magistrates Court all week.
The case is US v. Yancy, 23-mj-5072 (Cave)
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