Accused Trading Desk Insider Trader Mitchell Was to Plead Guilty Oct 19 But Emergency

Accused Trading Desk Insider Trader Mitchell Was to Plead Guilty Oct 19 But Emergency by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 19 – When Jesse Mitchell, the former finance director for California-based online advertising company The Trading Desk, was indicted for insider trading and arrested on August 20, DOJ put out a press release and media, at least in Venture County, covered it.   But when Mitchell showed up in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 31, Inner City Press was the only media there. First in the Magistrates Court, where the Federal Defender explained Mitchell intends to retain private counsel by the end of the week, then up before the assigned District Judge where he pled not guilty, there was no one else there.    Mitchell was dressed informally, and had a white plastic shopping bag on the table next to him. Up before District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden, the question arose of whether he was "effectively unrepresented" or could nevertheless be arraigned. He was, and pled not guilty. A control date of September 22 - the first day of the UN General Assembly week speeches, when midtown will be full of heads of state - was set, and Speedy Trial Act time excluded until then. On September 8 - as the first part of the UNGA session began - Mitchell had a notice of appearance filed: NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: Michael Angelo Baldassare appearing for Jesse Mitchell. Appearance Type: Retained." On October 15 the US Attorney's Office wrote in that Mitchell is to plead guilty on October 19: "The Government writes regarding the conference scheduled for October 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. At that conference, the parties expect that the defendant Jesse Mitchell will enter a plea of guilty to Count One of the Indictment, pursuant to a plea agreement with the Government, a copy of which has been transmitted to the Court’s chambers by email" On October 19, this: "This firm represents Defendant Jesse Mitchell. I write to Your Honor requesting an adjournment of today's plea hearing due to Mr. Mitchell's health emergency. The Government does not object to this request. The Defense consents to the exclusion of time. We will consult with our client as to his status and plan to update the court by tomorrow with proposed dates for the rescheduled plea hearing. ENDORSEMENT: Application GRANTED. The plea proceeding scheduled for October 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. is hereby adjourned. The parties shall file a joint letter proposing alternate dates by October 20, 2026. " The case is USA v. Mitchell, 1:26-cr-361 (Rearden) *** 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 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