In Other Media-eg New Statesman, AJE, FP, Georgia, NYT,  Azerbaijan, CSM Click here to contact us     .

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 9 – A year ago Doctor Dante A. Cubangang and three others including his receptionist Loren Piquant a/k/a Loren Luna were indicted for illegally selling some six million Oxycodone pills, or 180 kilos of Oxy.

    On October 9, a week before receptionist Loren Piquant / Luna goes on trial before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul G. Gardephe, her boss Dante Cubangbang pled guilty without a sentencing date.

    The plea letter partially read out in the SDNY Magistrates Court by Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang said that the government might ask for a reduced sentence based on Cubangbang's cooperation, presumably against his receptionist.

    After the short and murky proceeding, Inner City Press asked Cubangbang's lawyer if the plea deal specified a sentencing guideline that the government will recommend. No, he answered.

    Inner City Press asked him, "Does the letter mention Section 5K1?"

     "No comment," he said and got on the elevator.

   5K1 is the section of the sentencing guidelines which can erase "mandatory" minimum sentences for cooperates like, in the last month, Daniel Hernandez a/k/a Tekashi 6ix9ine and, in the trial against Honduras' president's brother Juan Antonio Hernandez, former mayor Alex Ardon who confessed to killing 56 people.

   How many people did Cubangbang's six million Oxy pills kill? And who is more responsible, this doctor or his receptionist? Inner City Press will continue to cover this case. It is US v. Cubangbang, 18-cr-00723 (Gardephe).

SW