by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 31 – When Wilson Baston was released on $8 million bond on fraud charges, Inner City Press was the only media there (see here and below).
Later it was announced "an Indictment charging WILSON BASTON, a/k/a “Chanon Gordon,” a/k/a “William Baston,” a/k/a “Jackie Wilson,” with wire fraud, securities fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a series of purported real estate investments managed by BASTON and the entity Gordon Management Group. BASTON, who was previously convicted in federal court of 17 counts of mail and wire fraud for operating a similar fraudulent investment scheme, hid his true identity and the fact of his prior conviction from his investors by falsely representing that his name was “Chanon Gordon.” BASTON was arrested this morning in New York and was presented in federal court this afternoon."
That was sent out after the presentment. Inner City Press threadette.
Jump cut to January 31, 2024: with no notice in the calendar, Baston and his Federal Defender showed up to plead guilty in the SDNY Magistrates Court. Inner City Press was the only civilian there - then a victim came in, joining the US Attorney's Office's victim coordinator.
Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger read from the plea agreement: 57 to 71 months, May 31 as sentencing control date. The fraud involved promissory notes, investments not spent on real estate investments but "personal expenses" and paying back other investors (Ponzi).
As Baston left, the victim looked. Then the victim coordinator said, I'm sorry this happened to you.
The case is US v. Baston, 23-cr-303 (Marrero / Lehrburger)
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