For Wire Fraud, Rapper G Herbo Pleads Not Guilty and Can Travel to Georgia But Not Talk Case with A.S.; Fiancee in NJ
At the arraignment there was a lot of talk about the Rule 5(c)(3) documents linked to here - contrast it with nationwide travel of Chicago based banker Calk, lender to Manafort
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
FEDERAL COURT, Dec 9 – Herbert Wright a/k/a rapper G Herbo and five others have been indicted on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
G Herbo was arraigned on December 9, with the Assistant US Attorney seeking additional restrictions on his travel and clarifications about no guns, and no marijuana or lean. Inner City Press live tweeted the proceeding, here:
and later uploaded the discussed Rule 5(c)(3) documents on Patreon here
G Herbo's lawyer Lawson says his client wants to visit his fiancee, so wants permission to travel to New Jersey, through New York. AUSA Breslow says: Travel only to visit fiancee "and their child ultimately"; anything else requires permission of Probation.
Judge: Isn't he permitted to travel to Georgia? To visit a child? [Inner City Press notes: Chicago based banker Calk, who lent to Manafort, was allowed to travel nationwide. Coverage here.
Judge Robertson: I understand Mr. Wright is a singer.. He may not be performing at this time due to the conditions, but we can deal with it down the road.
AUSA Breslow: Mr. Wright shouldn't speak to witnesses. And the woman in Georgia, where he has a child, is one. He can speak with her about the child, but not the case. Her initials are A.S.
AUSA Breslow: The papers say Mr. Wright makes $1 million a year. The loss amount is $1.5 million. The bond amount is very low. So I do want to inform the court I want to have the opportunity to return about that requirement, with info from the case agent
Judge: From the paperwork, there is an unsecured bond in the amount of $50,000. [G Herbo is sitting at a camera in California with window behind him, can't really see his reactions to these statements by AUSA. Pretty calm, it seems. Now the lighting has changed
AUSA Brewlow: This concerns marijuana use. The California bond says don't possess even medical marijuana. But the pre-trial services report says he has a history of marijuana use, and Lean (definite it: codeine and soda) and has medical marijuana card...
AUSA Breslow: I want the court to be clear with Mr. Wright he's not permitted to use marijuana since it is prohibited by Federal law. We don't want Mr. Wright to use it mistakenly. Lawson: We understand he is not to use marijuana. I have discussed it with him.
AUSA Brewlow: Mr. Wright has a history with firearms. He's on probation in Illinois, and in Georgia, "that may be domestic violence." So we'd like it clear, no firearms. Lawson: No objection. AUSA Breslow: The box wasn't checked in California
Judge: No guns. For everyone's protection. Lawson: Understood. Clerk is now reading out the charges. "How do you plead?"
G Herbo: "Not guilty."
AUSA Breslow: Mr. Wright is charged in Counts 8 and 12, on identity theft. The statutory penalty for wire fraud, the guidelines would at least be 41 to 51 months after trial plus mandatory 24 months consecutive to any other form of imprisonment
AUSA Breslow: After trial, up to 95 months. If a plea, subtract three point. Some part of the offense may have been conducted while Mr. Wright was on probation, which would increase criminal history and expose him to more punishment. Judge: OK.
G Herbo: Someone just rang my doorbell. Can I be excused to go open it? Judge: Yes. We'll wait for you. G Herbo is back. Judge: The discovery is going to be voluminous. More than in, say, a drug dealing case.
AUSA Breslow: There's a lot of personal identifying info, PII. We will Bates stamp it.
AUSA Breslow: There is info directly pertinent to Mr Wright. I gave Mr Lawson a video of his client's interview in 2018. There's also social media accounts.
Judge: Mr Wright, you can join our Feb 24 discovery conference. I am a Magistrate. I deal with a lot of discovery. Lawson: We are all set.
AUSA Breslow: Will you enter a new order on the bail conditions? Judge: My deputy who's not here today will get back to you
Judge: Okay, we are finished. G Herbo: Good morning. Judge: It's afternoon here. G Herbo: Good afternoon then. Adjourned.