by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 4 – The US Attorney's Office announced on April that it had charged Pat Lau and others "in connection with a massive scheme to defraud Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc., a leading cargo airline, of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the honest services of its employees."
On April 12, 2023, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave held a presentment of and bail hearing on Lau. Inner City Press went and covered it.
The Assistant US Attorney announced they had agreed to release Lau on $250,000 unsecured bond, with travel including Connecticut, where Lau owns a business.
He will have to turn in his Hong Kong ID card on April 13. The next date is May 4 before the assigned District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
From the announcement: "the unsealing of a four-count Indictment charging LARS WINKELBAUER, ABILASH KURIEN, CARLTON LLEWELLYN, ROBERT SCHIRMER, SKYE XU, BENJAMIN WEI, a/k/a/ “Ben Wei,” ALVARO LOPEZ, FABIOLA CINO, ORLANDO WONG, and PATRICK LAU, a/k/a “Pat Lau,” in connection with a massive scheme to defraud Polar. Nine defendants were arrested today. KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, SCHIRMER, and LAU will be presented in federal court in Manhattan this afternoon. WEI and WONG will be presented later today in federal court in the Central District of California. LOPEZ and CINO will be presented later today in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. WINKELBAUER was arrested today in Thailand and is pending extradition to the United States. SKYE XU remains at large."
On August 2, Judge Furman docketed that he referred to presentment and arraignment of Lars Winkelbauer, now in from Thailand, to the duty Magistrate Judge (this week, James L. Cott), with a pre-trial conference set for July 23, 2024 at 3 pm and FIRM trial date October 28, 2024.
On August 3, Judge Furman responded affirmatively to a US request that, with its bail agreement for $750,000 bond secured by $100,000 cash, a certified check be accepted by the clerk even if Winkelbauer is not presented under after 5 pm on August 4" - to avoid spending the weekend in jail. Letter on Patreon here
Inner City Press in its August 3 story asked, Bailing a defendant who had to be extradited in? Risk of flight?
On August 4 at 5 pm Inner City Press was there, the only media in the Mag court - and it happened, he was released. Thread:
OK - now Lars Winkelbauer, extradited in from Thailand for $52 million fraud on Polar Air Cargo, brought into SDNY Magistrates Court by 2 Marshals
Prosecutors have agreed in an advance of this that Winkelbauer will be released on $750,000 bond, secured by $100,000 vis Bank of America. Two tier justice? Smaller echo of SFB
Lars Winkelbauer is smiling in grey polo shirt and beige slacks, represented by MoFo. AUSA confirms he's been extradited in from Thailand. How is he not a flight risk?Judge: You're charged with honest services wire fraud and money laundering.
MoFo: Not guilty. Note: this afternoon I've watched one defendant after another detained. But this one walks straight out. Only one co-signer
He'll turn in his German passport, can travel to Eastern District of Louisiana. Co-signer not today. But he'll be released right now, unlike previous defendants Townsend, Lewis and Boone (whose parents were here in the gallery).
MoFo: He'll be in the residence in Louisiana. Judge: Is he paying for the GPS location monitoring? MoFo: We never agreed to that.
So payment for GPS is not ordered: it will be lrft up to Pre-Trial Services... in Louisiana.
AUSA: Clerk's office can't confirm receipt of the $100,000 wire, but he can be released today. Right now. And can talk to witnesses, why not.
More including comparisons on Substack here
Watch this site.
The overall case is US v. Winkelbauer, et al., 23-cr-133 (Furman)
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