For Do Kwon Trial Set for Jan 2026 Discovery Status Has Info from a Country Left Unnamed

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 28 – After the collapse of the crypto firm Terraform Labs, Inner City Press covered the SEC's trial against it and Do Kwon - except that Kwon was in Montenegro.  Now, Do Kwon book here

 Early on January 2, 2025 Inner City Press learned and vlogged that Kwon would be presented later in the day before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.    

The superseding indictment, Inner City Press immediately put it online here

Just after noon Do Kwon was presented and pled not guilty, was detained, thread

The case was reassigned to Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to whom the US Attorney's Office on January 6 directed a victims' notice motion, on Patreon here

On January 8 Judge Engelmayer held a conference and set a January 26, 2026 trial date, among many other things. Inner City Press pressed and live tweeted, thread

On February 27-28, the US Attorney's Office put in a four page letter describing discovery (including documents from a country left unnamed), and proposed adjourning the upcoming status conference. Filing on Patreon here

More / extra on X for Subscribers here, Patreon (with earlier US case status summary) here

  Amid talk of the new administration's crypto executive order - and before the SEC moved to drop its case against Coinbase - Inner City Press published a book: "Crypto Death Spiral: Could a Luna Rise Again?" by Matthew Russell Lee, ebook here, audiobook here.

Watch this site

The case is USA v. Kwon, 1:23-cr-151 (Engelmayer)

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Blake Lively Wants To Subpoena Warfarer Employees Now Baldoni Moves to Quash

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 28 – In the Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni lawsuits, a hearing was held on February 3 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lewis J. Liman. Inner City Press was there with live coverage, thread

On February 10, Lively's lawyer asked for delay: "Plaintiff Blake Lively respectfully moves for an extension of time to file her amended complaint to March 5, 2025.  Full filing on Patreon here

On February 11 Baldoni's lawyer consented to delay but noted "unnecessary and baseless attacks on non-party Jed Wallace and the litigation pending against Ms. Lively" - filing on Patreon here

On February 25 Baldoni disagreed on the proposed protective order, on Patreon here

On February 28 Baldoni filed to expand the quashing of Lively's subpoena to include Warfarer employees - filing on Patreon here

Back on February 6, a new book "Hollywood Hearsay," ranging from the CRD complaint in California o Jed Wallace's new case in Texas, comparing SDNY defamation cases, from Sarah Palin through Devin Nunes v Rachel Maddow. Book here, Audiobook here

More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here, Buy Me a Coffee here

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Trevor Milton Was Sentenced to 4 Years for Nikola Fraud No Restitution Deal So Schedule

w/ Exclusive Interviews by Matthew Russell Lee

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 28 -- In September and October 2022 Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola Motor was put on trial for fraudulent claims about NKLA's hydrogen trucks.

On Friday, October 14, Milton was found guilty on three of four counts.

Inner City Press published a book, Hydrogen Heist, here on Amazon (which by contrast on November 11, 2024 blocked a similar book about the more recent Sean Combs case, Diddy Do It).

On November 14, 2023 Milton's counsel  asked for mere probation, contrasting Milton to Elizabeth Holmes and more recently OneCoin's Sebastian Greenwood (whose sealing of sentencing letters Inner City Press has appealed)

On December 11, the US put it its requested sentence for Milton: 132 months or 11 years.

On December 15 Milton claimed there was no loss. On December 17, the US Attorney's Office wrote in opposing Milton's late filed comments on the Pre-Sentencing report, 5 pages on Patreon here.

On December 18, after a surreal speech by Milton, he got four years. Thread here.

On November 11, 2024 his lawyer Alexandra Shapiro has filed a motion for a new trial on Count IV.

On December 12 the US Attorney's Office opposed a new trial on the count.

On February 28, 2025 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that "The parties have attempted to reach a resolution on restitution, but unfortunately are unable to come to an agreement. Therefore, the parties respectfully request that the Court set a briefing schedule" - filing on Patreon here
 

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Corruption in UN Economic Commission for Africa Contracts Alleged by Whistleblowers

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Feb 28 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Today's example is from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, from which whistleblowers have informed Inner City Press that Director of Administration Mr. Carlos Haddad has been suspended while ECA contracts are being covered up by OIOS and that his replacement is Ms Mai Ellen Jarrett.

 No answers from Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming, with Inner City Press still banned with no due process.

  In Guterres' mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, this from a UN whistleblower, sent to Inner City Press:

Dear Mr. Matthew Russell Lee:

 Senior officials within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have reportedly left their posts without notifying their teams, creating operational disruptions and raising concerns over accountability and leadership integrity.

Some officials have left the country without proper handovers, forcing junior staff to take on their responsibilities, while others remain at home, expecting their subordinates to not only perform official duties but also carry out personal errands, including cooking at their residences.  [Sounds like Big Tony Guterres - a fish rots from the head]

The situation is further exacerbated by the extreme heat wave affecting South Sudan, which has led to increased cases of heat-related illnesses among staff. The harsh weather conditions, combined with high workloads due to absent leadership, are putting additional strain on personnel, raising concerns over health risks and mission effectiveness

 Guterres, they say, should resign or lose immunity - and end censorship. Watch this site.

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Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com

Corruption in UN Economic Commission for Africa Contracts Alleged by Whistleblowers

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Feb 28 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Today's example is from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, from which whistleblowers have informed Inner City Press that Director of Administration Mr. Carlos Haddad has been suspended while ECA contracts are being covered up by OIOS and that his replacement is Ms Mai Ellen Jarrett.

 No answers from Guterres' spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming, with Inner City Press still banned with no due process.

  In Guterres' mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, this from a UN whistleblower, sent to Inner City Press:

Dear Mr. Matthew Russell Lee:

 Senior officials within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have reportedly left their posts without notifying their teams, creating operational disruptions and raising concerns over accountability and leadership integrity.

Some officials have left the country without proper handovers, forcing junior staff to take on their responsibilities, while others remain at home, expecting their subordinates to not only perform official duties but also carry out personal errands, including cooking at their residences.  [Sounds like Big Tony Guterres - a fish rots from the head]

The situation is further exacerbated by the extreme heat wave affecting South Sudan, which has led to increased cases of heat-related illnesses among staff. The harsh weather conditions, combined with high workloads due to absent leadership, are putting additional strain on personnel, raising concerns over health risks and mission effectiveness

 Guterres, they say, should resign or lose immunity - and end censorship. Watch this site.

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In UN South Sudan No Return to Office As Big Wigs Work From Home as Locals Feed Them

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

UN GATE, Feb 27 – How corrupt is today's UN under Antonio Guterres? Today's follow up is again on his mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, about which his spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Melissa Fleming refuse all Press questions. Inner City Press has asked them, and others, about the newest sex abuse case against the UN there. Now this, from a UN whistleblower sent to Inner City Press:

Dear Mr. Matthew Russell Lee:

 Senior officials within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have reportedly left their posts without notifying their teams, creating operational disruptions and raising concerns over accountability and leadership integrity.

Some officials have left the country without proper handovers, forcing junior staff to take on their responsibilities, while others remain at home, expecting their subordinates to not only perform official duties but also carry out personal errands, including cooking at their residences.  [Sounds like Big Tony Guterres - a fish rots from the head]

The situation is further exacerbated by the extreme heat wave affecting South Sudan, which has led to increased cases of heat-related illnesses among staff. The harsh weather conditions, combined with high workloads due to absent leadership, are putting additional strain on personnel, raising concerns over health risks and mission effectiveness

 Guterres, they say, should resign or lose immunity - and end censorship. Watch this site.

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In Charlie Javice Trial JPM Exec Thought BofA Was Bidding Admits User Number Not in Reps

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 27 – JPMorgan Chase bought a start-up called Frank, which claimed to have 4 million students signed up to file their FAFSA forms, for $175 million. Then Chase learned Frank had only 300,000 customers.

On April 4, 2023, Frank founder Ms. Charlie Javice was brought before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses and was freed on $2 million bond.

On January 24, 2025 Inner City Press published the first book on the case, Fintech Fraudster? here

In the February 20 openings, both defendants' lawyers hammered JPM Chase, with Javice's Baez naming Jamie Dimon. Thread here.

On February 21 as Houston Cowan took the stand, then paused due to audio problems, Javice filed that "evidence and argument regarding Bank-1 should be excluded." Letter on Patreon here.

On February 26, the second then third witness, with not four but ten million floated, and running commentary from defense table called out.

On February 27 the third witness Leslie Wims Morris of JPMC admitted they thought BofA was bidding and she's now with Chase Auto

Continued thread and more on X for Subscriber here and Substack here

  This case is USA v. Javice, et al., 1:23-cr-251 (Hellerstein)

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SDNY Press Room

In Eric Adams Bribery Case He Asks to Dismiss With Prejudice Now Judge Sets Schedule

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 27 – The five-count indictment of NYC Mayor Eric Adams was unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court. Inner City Press was the first one in and live tweeted it. City of Maybe book

The unsealing thread

On September 17 at noon he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. Thread.

On February 10, 2025 DOJ's Emil Bove - a former SDNY prosecutor - wrote to acting US Attorney Danielle Sassoon ordering her to move to dismiss the case. Sovereign District book here

On February 14 after 6 pm, DOJ's Edward Sullivan filed a nolle prosequi citing Damian Williams' website and asserting Adams' need for security clearance for immigration enforcement.

On February 17 Inner City Press filed an application to unseal: "On February 12, 2025 as Dkt No. 117 on PACER it was stated "SEALED DOCUMENT placed in vault." This is a request to unseal this and all other sealed and/or redacted documents in this case. It is imperative there be access to the entire docket."

On February 21, after argument, SDNY Judge Ho adjourned the trial but did not yet dismiss the indictment, instead appointing Paul Clement as an amicus.

Early on February 26 Adams' lawyer Spiro filed a motion to dismiss with prejudice, citing the leak of Danielle Sassoon's February 12 letter. 20 page memo on Patreon here.

On February 27 Judge Ho set a schedule, parallel to DOJ's motion and the amici: "the Government shall file any opposition to Mayor Adams's motion by March 7, 2025. It is further ORDERED that Mayor Adams shall submit any reply by March 11, 2025."

More on X for Subscribers here & Substack here

The Adams case is USA v. Adams, 1:24-cr-556 (Ho)

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