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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 6 – While many even most cases in the Magistrates Court of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York are sealed or have case numbers given only later, on September 6 Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn arraigned four defendants in a case that even after the fact was still listed as sealed: 19-cr-627.  More on Patreon here.

The four defendants, each with their own lawyer - three CJAs and presumably one Federal Defender - each got a different bail package, with two remanded until they meet the conditions. Two were ordered to stay two blocks away from Amsterdam Avenue between 155th and 159th Street. Two can't be so ordered, because they live there. They were given home confinement.

One, whose name we will not publish, is a high school student. Portrayed by Assistant US Attorney Brett Kalikow as the leader and supplier was Keith Green, who seemed to get the Federal Defender. She said his shoulder had popped out and could the Marshals only handcuff him to the front. Granted. Second was Isaiah Ward of Metropolitan Avenue, released on his own signature and later a $50,000 bond to be signed by two financially responsible people.

Fourth was Lucian Rogers with an outstanding bench warrant. Judge Netburn urged him to take care of it, releasing him on his own signature perhaps for this reason.  All four were given a control date before District Judge Victor Marrero on October 18, with apparently more defendants coming in. Tracking the case in PACER, however, is problematic given the seal. More on Patreon here.

The day before on September 5 Judge Netburn ordered remanded a defendant whose complaint, even three hours later, was still listed as sealed. But in the Magistrates Court, where Inner City Press was the only media, Judge Netburn pointed out that while the prosecutor mentioned fentanyl it was not listed in the Complaint. Still, Judge Netburn said, Alvarez had a long rap sheet. He was described jumping out a third story window. His lawyer offered as bond signers a sister who works for Bank of America. Before the proceeding began he asked, Has the case been wheeled out? To who? Judge Cote? Oh terrific (this last sounded sarcastic). Now Alvarez, sans sweater, will be before Judge Cote on September 10. Watch this site.

Inner City Press will continue to cover this and other SDNY and 2nd Circuit cases - watch this site, and there is more on Patreon, here.