A Tale of 2 Sentencing: Ex NYPD Ed Mullins Gets 24 Months For Stealing $600000 from SBA Union & For NBA Fraudster Williams Gets 10 Years in Prison
Comparison and analysis here below the fold / paywall line
Ex NYPD Ed Mullins Gets 24 Months For Stealing $600000 from SBA Union
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 3 – In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 23, a detention or release proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on former NYPD Sargeant and union official Ed Mullins, who was released on $250,000 personal recognizance bond and had no comment (unlike Sarah Palin) out on Worth Street.
On August 2, 2023, after Mullins' guilty plea, Inner City Press attended his sentencing. He got 24 months in prison. Thread:
OK - now at sentencing of Ed Mullins, former Sergeants Benevolent Association boss, for embezzlement and fraud. Inner City Press is covering the case and warrants
Sentencing already delayed 24 minutes. Mullins wants to play a video. Now it's on the screen, woman at a podium, "Focus Forward Project." Courtroom nearly full. All rise!
Defense: Sure there are members of the Fourth Estate here. But Mr Mullins also has friends and supporters here, and the head of the Focus Forward Project, who wants to speak. He pled - but is retribution and jail needed? We urge a gentler approach
Defense: Mr Mullins had an acrimonious divorce. He lives a middle class life with a lot of debt... This is why he stole. But he is selfless, a volunteer ice hockey coach, digging in the smoldering ruins of Ground Zero
Defense: Eddy, a Catholic with Irish and Puerto Rican parents, helped his rabbi neighbor. He is investigating a possible murder in the Marissa Antonucci case.
Now defense cues up video of Mullins speech at Focus Forward Program. But it is not working.
Judge is back, 1:20 into sentencing. Video shows Ed Mullins speaking at Focus Forward. The video is blurry, then freezes and unfreezes.
Mullins' speech is barely comprehensible... Marcy Projects in Brooklyn... Pre-Trial is dangerous... I encourage each of us.. you will command the attention of the world.. Defense apologizes for sudio - and gives floor to Focus Forward head Pamela Miller
Focus Forward head says she previously worked for a diverse Fortune 25 company. Teacher of Mullins' Class 65, she says, is a bestselling author. He read a book about Sierra Leone child soldiers. [Note: While I've seen FF in sentencing memos, never video & speech
FF head gushes Mullins is a good person who embraces diversity, "he was one of only two white guys in the class,' she says, and laughs. Asks for #MercyForEdMullins
Defense calls Ed Mullins' pre sentencing employment menial - only to say, Ed doesn't call it that. He was delivered used cars. Says he doesn't need deterrence.
Defense urges no jail time for SBA Ed Mullins, instead home or "community-coonfinement." #EscapeFromLongIsland
Now Mullins himself, with written speech: I joined NYPD at 20. I made mistakes along the way. My girlfriend of 15 years left me...This is what happens when good men fall from grace.
Mullins: I ask the members of the media for pursue justice for Marissa Antonucci. The sun sets, but I still care. AUSA: He was a liar and a thief who stole from union members, The FBI searched [Inner City Press published warrant on DocumentCloud] and found out
AUSA: The 3553(a) factors demand 41 months. He stole again and again, from hardworking NYPD Sergeants.
Judge: He stole from SBA union members for 4 years. He was a police officer for 29 years. I sentence Ed Mullins to 24 months in prison, voluntary surrender
comparison below next article then paywall line
For NBA Fraudster Williams Gets 10 Years in Prison As US Says His Glock Had Clip In It
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Video
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 3 – Former NBA players Anthony Allen, Sebastian Telfair, Terrance Williams and 15 others former players were named in an indictment unsealed on October 7, 2021 for defrauding the NBA health fund, in Telfair's case, for $350,000.
Telfair nevertheless got a publicly funded lawyer. Inner City Press was there, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrates Court and live tweeted it here and below(street video here)
On August 26, 2022 lead defendant Williams pleaded guilty, to a plea agreement that he will not (and now cannot) appeal any sentence 145 months or less. Plea agreement on Inner City Press' DocumentCloud here.
On August 2, in advance of sentencing, the US Attorney's Office informed Judge Caproni that when Williams was arrested on October 7, 2021, "[t]wo SWAT special agents recall that a loaded mazagine was inserted into the Glock 9mm. Neither agent recalls whether the Glock had a bullet loaded in the chamber." There were three more guns.
On August 3, Inner City Press went to the sentencing. Williams got 10 years in prison. Thread:
OK - in NBA health fund fraud case, now at sentencing of lead defendant Terrence Williams, also had 3 guns.
Williams is here with 2 US Marshals. Judge: I can consider the guns in a home with a 3-year. Defense: This infringes on his 2nd Amendment rights.
Defense: The obstruction was a threat to spit on someone. Judge: He passed out in a car [drunk] with a gun while on probation. AUSA: He has a leadership enhancement.
AUSA: He created invoices. He recruited CC-1 as a "famous former professional basketball player. We want 121 to 141 months. [Williams puts his head in his hands]
AUSA: There was an assault weapon in his apartment, like magazine, not in a safe while he played video games. He will not stop..
In Williams defense, Paris Ramsay wrote that "adding a girl brought out a softer side." His sister wrote, He just had a baby boy. Also, the Boys and Girls Club of Seattle, and LadyBug Childcare / Academy
SENTENCE: 10 years in prison imposed
more - comparison and analysis below fold / paywall line here
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