In Eaze - & Wirecard? - Trial of Weigand and Akhavan, Tassone Gets Immunity Deal To Talk
By the end of Day 2 of the trial, cross examination of cooperator had begun, to be continued. Inner City Press will stay on the case.
By Matthew Russell Lee, PatreonPodcast
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SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 2 – The trial of US v. Weigand and Akhavan began before Judge Jed S. Rakoff in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 1. Inner City Press, which has been covering the case including its Wirecard aspects, live tweeted Day 1, here and below.
On March 2, evidence began - and witnesses with immunity deals. (Tassone's immunity deal is now on Patreon, here). Inner City Press tweeted in Day 2, here:
Jury is not yet in the courtroom. Judge Rakoff is ruling on objections, in this case to 1st witness, alleged co-conspirator from "Wildflower." Defense objection: hearsay and relevance. Overruled.
Defense: Hearsay within hearsay. Judge Rakoff: Not offered for its truth. So, overruled... The juror said he'd be at Grand Central by 9:30, which would have put him here by now. But he's not. This might take a while.
Update: while now at 11:40 the lawyers are milling around the courtroom, the first witness (from Eaze ) described operations around 2015, home delivery of pot for cash, then the transition to taking cards. When asked, he said he has a Freedom card from Chase Bank
Update: Things are plodding along, witness in Plexiglass box being asking about his emails to EUprocessing at protonmail about charge-backs.
Finally: cross-examination. Q: Isn't one of your goals to have @Eaze come out of this going well?
Witness: Yes. I work for them. Those I'm paid by Stacks. I have stock grants. They are options. They have vested but I have not purchased them.
Q: On direct you said you believed you were a participant in a scheme to commit bank fraud. But delivering marijuana is legal? Judge: End in 2 minutes.
Defense: I have six questions. Is selling marijuana legal? A: In California. Not in the eyes of the US.
Q: Is it legal if they pay with a debit card? A: Yes it is.
Q: But not with a credit card?
A: That is my understanding.
Defense: We can take a break.
Judge Rakoff: We've off to a good start.
Inner City Press will stay on the case. For now, a summary: "ORDER as to Ruben Weigand, Hamid Akhavan: ORDERED that, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 6002 and 6003, TASSONE give testimony and provide other information as to all matters about which he may be questioned in United States v. Hamid Akhavan, et al.; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 6002 and 6003, no testimony or other information compelled under this Order, or any information directly or indirectly derived from such testimony or other information, may be used against TASSONE in any criminal case, except a prosecution for perjury, giving a false statement, or otherwise failing to comply with this Order. This order shall become effective only if after the date of this Order TASSONE refuses to testify or provide other information on the basis of his privilege against self-incrimination. (Signed by Judge Jed S. Rakoff on 3/2/2021)"
Tassone's full immunity deal on Patreon here.