In First Brands SDNY Case US Chides Edward James For Pushing Too Close to Trial Like Robinson

In First Brands SDNY Case US Chides Edward James For Pushing Too Close to Trial Like Robinson by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 27 –   After the collapse of First Brands and banks calling themselves the victims despite having continued to do business with them, DOJ in late January announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging PATRICK JAMES of First Brands Group, LLC, and his brother EDWARD JAMES with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud and bank fraud, in connection with various schemes to defraud lenders regarding the liabilities and financial condition of First Brands.  PATRICK JAMES was charged in an additional count of managing a continuing financial crimes enterprise in connection with the charged schemes.    On February 4 the duo was in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court on arraignment and bail conditions. Inner City Press live tweeted:  All rise! [Co-defendant repped by former EDNY US Attorney DuCharme, who points out Edward James is not charged in count onr Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky: How do you plead? Not guilty. Not guilty. More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here On February 19, Patrick James' lawyers at Quinn Emanuel asked Judge Torres to order that his cash bail be put in an interest bearing account, saying "the Government takes no position." Docketed on April 13, DuCharme for Edward James asked to delay the July 13 trial, saying the US Attorney's Office has been too slow on discovery. 7-page letter on Patreon here. Jump cut to July 1 - the trial having been delayed to February 9, 2027, now Edward James' lawyer wrote in - on consent - pushing back motions to September 11, reply November 9. On July 23 Edward James lawyer from Bracewell wrote in asking for permission to "open a new credit card account since one of his card issuers recently closed his account." Close it because he is charged with a felony, financial fraud? On August 27 the US Attorney's Office oppsed James' proposed trial schedule, saying it would "all but guarantee that the parties will be litigating -and the Court deciding - number matters on the eve of trial." Sort of like the Office's 11th hour motion to seal the courtroom in US v Robinson before Judge Abrams, a strategy they have not explained or owned. Watch this site. The case is USA v. James, et al., 1:26-cr-29 (Torres / Tarnofsky) *** 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 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