By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Thread Letter
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 16 – When government cooperator Jona Rechnitz came up for sentencing for defrauding among others the NYC Correction Officers' annuity fund on December 19, 2019 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, Assistant US Attorney Martin Bell urged leniency.
Bell said that so that Rechnitz can continue to pay restitution, he should remain free in order to keep selling jewelry to the Kardashians.
In February 2020 Rechnitz was sued in California for fraud. Inner City Press published the complaint on Scribd here, and for download on Patreon here.
On July 26, 2023, after appeal the Second Circuit ruled that the case should be reassigned, as "the judge's relationship with [Andrew] Kaplan was sufficiently close... that a reasonable person would have questioned the district court's impartiality."
Thereupon, Rechnitz' counsel wrote it suggesting his case be reassigned to Judge Carter, or Judge Wood or Liman. It was reassigned to Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
On August 2024, resentencing and restitution were bifurcated: "as to Jona Rechnitz, the Court hereby ADJOURNS Defendant's sentencing to November 20, 2024. The parties are hereby ORDERED to submit opening briefs on the restitution issue on or before August 30, 2024. Any responsive briefs shall be filed on or before September 16, 2024. Finally, the parties are hereby ORDERED to appear for a hearing on the restitution issue on October 9, 2024, at 11:00
On August 30, the US Attorney's Office and COBA said the $12 million should be ordered. Rechnitz through counsel said restitution should only be "$891,00 ($1,206,00 minus $315,000 that Mr. Rechnitz has already paid the victim."
On September 16, COBA's Reply memo chided Rechnitz for claiming ignorance and even impoverishment; "having skin in a rigged game does not imply good faith."
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