Mass Arrests and Release in COVID Loan Scheme Involving NYPD and other NY Officials
Inner City Press had heard rumblings of the take-down and will follow the cases through
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY MAG COURT EXCLUSIVE, Nov 30 - In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 30, detention or bond proceedings were held by Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn (and later Stewart D. Aaron) on defendants in a COVID loan fraud conspiracy case.
Inner City Press was there, often the only media in the Mag Court. The complaint is on its DOcumentCloud, here.
The first defendant Jpresented was Rodney Smith. The US Attorney's Office agreed to release him on $100,000 unsecured bond; it was noted that his spouse is in Florida and he can share personally identifiable information with her but not others.
Presented with him was NYPD officer Denise Gant. She got lower bond of $50,000 and can speak with her NYPD co-defendants Zhane Ratcliff and Yolanda Ratcliffe. She disputed the pre-trial report about her pension, stock ownership (she says she owns no stocks, and paid $64,000 down for her apartment). Both both publicly funded lawyers.
Next up before Judge Netburn: Ebony Simon Phya Scott, Priscilla Jackson, Sharon Charles Yolanda Lawrence, Yolanda Ratcliff, and Zhane Ratcliff (NYPD)
Then up before Judge Aaron in the Magistrates Court: Brandon Boyle Delilah Cummings Vashawn Foreman Trevor Gordon Dione Hall Toni McCullough Jarod Ottley Ronette Short Edwin Skepple Walter Susswell
The case is US v. Smith, et al., 22-mj-9604 (Aaron / Netburn).
ose Manuel Yanez Aguilar was appointed a lawyer, or seemingly two, under the Criminal Justice Act. But they did not make an argument for release on bond, instead consenting to detention.
"Without prejudice," they pointed out. It was after 5 pm, 30 hours after the arrest.
After conferring with the assistance of a court interpreter with their handcuffed client, they waived until the 30th day on a preliminary hearing. The case, an hour later, in PACER could not (yet) be found.
The case is US v. Aguilar, 22-mj-9489 (Aaron)
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