By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell book
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 23– Adedayo Ilori is on trial for a scheme to obtain more than $7 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans -- and also for identity theft, including for using a bank card in the name of a victim to purchase items as a Manhattan coffee shop.
On October 26, 2022, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil was presiding over the trial, while videos of the coffee shop purchases were played for the jury. Inner City Press was there.
The manager of the coffeeshop identified Ilori waiting in line, then inserting the bank card; he was asked about Square records. Ilori's Criminal Justice Act lawyer asked about "non cold brew draft with an extra single;" he paused his cross examination to confer with his client, who gesticulated and pointed at the screen.
Behind him were two U.S. Marshals. Ilori is in detention, also on violation of supervised release in another identity theft case before SDNY Judge Lewis J. Liman.
On October 27, a Special Agent who executed the search warrant on Ilori's Long Island City apartment was on the stand. He testified how he observed Ilori drive away in a white Mercedes. Upstairs in apartment 1805, co-defendant Chris Recamier answered the door. He was told he would be arrested, and that giving his real name would make processing faster.
In the apartment, along with an air mattress, were a shredder and a scanner, and a bunch of IRS documents.
On October 28, the agent was still on the stand, authenticating files taken off an iMac, then reading text messages about false IDs for loans. The government's direct examination ran to 5 pm, so Judge Vyskocil told the jurors to return Monday at 9:30 for the cross examination, and then summations.
On October 31, the government's summation by the newest of the three AUSAs on the case used sides and charts to run through the charges, and seven reasons the jury is to find Ilori guilty, including Ilori's conviction for a similar fraud. Another chart cites his moving of money from Coinbase to Capital One accounts.
On November 1, the jury "found ADEDAYO ILORI guilty of all six counts of an Indictment for his participation in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $10 million in government-guaranteed loans designed to provide relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The jury further found that ILORI committed these crimes while on pretrial release. Sentencing is currently scheduled for January 31, 2023, before Judge Vyskocil."
Ilori's sentencing date was pushed back to May 25, 2023, and Inner City Press attended. But the sentencing did not occur - Ilori wants a new lawyer, and apparently a Fatico hearing.
The Assistant US Attorney asked for a break to show evidence to Ilori's counsel. But that's the one he's firing. Judge Vyskocil asked for a letter, and also inquired into restitution being joint and several with the defendant who agreed to an amount $48,000 less. The AUSA said the $48,000 is for a defrauded landlord.
On July 14, 2023, the US Attorney's Office wrote in that a Fatico was not needed (the argument is that "the record is devoid of any evidence that any person (or entity) beyond the SBA suffered actual loss").
On August 8, 2023 Judge Vyskocil ruled that no Fatico hearing is needed -- "Defendant will have ample opportunity to discuss these issues at sentencing"-- and set the date for October 6 at 11 am.
On September 6, 2023 Inner City Press was in the SDNY Magistrates court when Ilori was brought it. He has won a resentencing in an earlier case before Judge Lewis J. Liman, who ordered that Ilori "be produced to magistrate court for the appoint of new CJA counsel" - who, through the CJA on duty, will be Ilori's counsel in his case before Judge Vyskocil.
On October 23, 2023, Inner City Press present for the sentencing. Judge Vyskocil sentenced Ilori to 25 years in prison:
After imposing sentence, the judge asked Ilori, Do you find something funny?
Ilori's lawyer said, I don't think he was --
Judge: He seemed to be smiling
This case is US v. Chancy, et al, 20-cr-378-3 (Liman)
The trial case is US v. Ilori, 21-cr-746 (Vyskocil)
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