After Global Fake Pharma Fentanyl Scheme Paulino Pled Now for Trial Sweaters No Suit

After Global Fake Pharma Fentanyl Scheme Paulino Pled Now for Trial Sweaters No Suit by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 8 – A global counterfeit deadly pharmaceuticals ring was indicted on September 30 and US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams held a press conference.    Inner City Press, which closely covers SDNY and it Magistrates Court, went and asked a related case of one of the cited pill mills in The Bronx, two of the four defendants in which were allowed to plead guilty on September 24. That case is US v. Espinal, et al., 23-cr-577 (LJL) - and in that case on March 11, 2025 defense counsel wrote in that "after Doctor Krueger completes his report, I will submit a deferred prosecution request to the Government." Sentencing was moved back to May 22. Jump cut to July 19, 2025 when defense counsel asked for another adjournment of 60 days, with the US' consent, so that the deferred prosecution in 23-cr-619 can be considered "by various SDNY committees as well as by people in Main Justice in Washington, DC."   Whether the two escaped the "causing death" change, and why, remains unclear.     Later on September 30 named co-defendant Alba Gonzalez appeared in SDNY Mag Court. The prosecutors asked for detention but the defense said she is named only as receiving an email.   The judge ordered release on $300,000 bond with conditions; the AUSA did not ask for a stay to appeal to District Judge John P. Cronan.   On October 2 the US Attorney's Office wrote to four judges to consolidate their cases, noting - but not explaining - why the two were allowed to plead just before the superseding indictment. Also specified was that Christian Rosado Garcia "who fled the US immediately prior to an expected guilty plea in 24-cr-13 (LGS). Inner City Press will continue to cover the case(s). On October 8 Judge Cronan held a proceeding, and Inner City Press covered it, thread. On October 31, Inner City Press was the only media in the SDNY Magistrates Court when lead defendant Francisco Alberto Lopez Reyes was presented and detained, already in the yellow prison jumpsuit of Essex County (NJ) DOC. He was assigned the CJA lawyer on duty, and a conference set. On March 24, 2025 on co-defendant Vargas-Paulino the US asked for 60 months on March 31. On March 31, Inner City Press went. Defense counsel noted his client played baseball in the Dominican Republic, and was delivering food on an e-bike in New York. He moved into the Beaumont Avenue apartment to save money, and made a few deliveries. Judge Liman noted that he stayed, and didn't leave, and sentenced him to 42 months. Minus the 18 already served, it's two more years... On December 12, 2025, the US Attorney's Office wrote in that if Luis Paulino pleads guilty on December 16, they want him to be remanded to jail under 18 USC 3143(a)(2). On January 5, he was ordered remanded. On January 6 co-defendant Alba Gonzalez wrote in with a heavily redacted argument that it should be different for her, saying she has signed a plea agreement. Then on January 9 she argued that evidence against her should be suppressed. On March 13 for the upcoming of three co-defendants the US Attorney's Office wrote in urging the admission of Victim-1's message before the pill made her sick and killed her, such as "went to the gym" as well as photos of her dead body. The DOJ memo has redactions. On March 27 the defendants responded that the "went to Planet Fitness" note of Victim-1 is hearsay. On April 8, for the April 20 trial, Judge Cronan ordered co-defendant Juan Moises Perez Mendez to have shirts, sweaters, pants, belt, shoes and socks - but no suit jacket, perhaps not requested. And the others? More / extra on Substack here  It is (now) USA v. Paulino, et al., 1:23-cr-501 (Cronan) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com