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By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 22 – After an alleged drug dealer was shot in a vestibule U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Sidney H. Stein was told by the government on July 22 that due to the nature of Federal laws gunshot victims are often imperfect. Indeed. After listening to the shootee run down by CJA counsel, as herself gun-toting, Judge Stein ordered defendant Rakim Brown remanded and asked the CJA how much time to make her motions.

  The response referred to a trial in October, seemingly before SDNY Judge Oetken, and other professional obligation. There followed a sidebar with defense counsel only, transcript by a court reporter but not audible.

  And what was the number of the case? It was not on the board in the lobby of 500 Pearl Street on July 22: only US v. Belliard was, with a CJA counsel who appeared before Judge Stein in a recent criminal slip and fall case. No case named Brown on the calendar for July 22.

  But, back at the PACER terminal where Inner City Press has been working from, there was a US v. Brown on the calendar - for the next day, July 23. The defendant's name is Rakim Brown a/k/a "Ra," and he was presented before Magistrate Judge Fox on July 19, during the DNC v. Russia oral argument before Judge Koeltl. Magistrate Judge Fox provided for release on condition of a $75,000 bond with two FRP's - financial responsible persons - as co-signers.

Apparently this condition wasn't met and the government appealed and moved up the July 23 appearance to July 22. Now Brown is remanded; the file does not say the name of the victim ("Ms. Ludis"?); there is a sealed document. A problem here is there have been no "New Presentments" listed since July 17. We aim to have more on this.

   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 no case number given, on July 17 before Magistrate Judge Kevin N. Fox, things got more dramatic. In a case that, hours after the defendants were ordered released on bail remained listed as "sealed," Munif Ahmed stands accused of conspiracy to distribute large quantities of drugs from China and with telling the now cooperating witness, "Don't f*ck with me."

The government argued that Ahmed is a risk to flee to Yemen; his Criminal Justice Act lawyer said no, blood clots in his legs prevent him from flying. Then there was the matter of where Mr. Ahmed lives - on Anderson Avenue in the Bronx with his uncle or in the store on West 168th Street which he lists on his ID. This was ascribed to not having an interpreter during the interview with pre trial services.

Ahmed was ordered released on a $250,000 bond with $30,000 in cash or property. His co-defendant who called "Mr Lazzaro" before turning himself in must put up $40,000 cash. He drive Uber; Inner City Press predicts he or Mr. Lazzaro or his associate will move to relax the conditions of release to extend beyond the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Watch this site.  

On July 15 there was a more visceral mystery. Between two presentments and bond hearings no fewer than 10 NYC Emergency Medical Services paramedics rushed into the Mag Court cell block. Then emerged with a man on a gurney, followed by a US Marshal with shackles, on their way to "Downtown," the NY Downtown Hospital at 100 William Street. Better there than the MCC, someone said. Judge Fox then resumed processing defendants. There was Andre Muller in a white T-shirt presented for Hobbs Act Robbery, apparently in Maine. They said his case number was 19-MAG-6576 but when an hour later Inner City Press looked for it on PACER, it said "Cannot find case 19-mj-6576." He got $100,000 bond with two co-signed (he had four people in the Mag court gallery where Inner City Press was the only media). He has to appear in court in Maine on July 24. Judge Fox set a July 29 control date to make sure that he made it there.

There was Claudia Juarez Bernard, charged with narcotics conspiracy. In the Mag Court the case number 19-MAG-6580 was read out. But an hour later, after the gurney to the hospital from the cell block, this case number was still listed in PACER as "This case is under seal." She was released on $100,000 bond, on her signature, to the Central District of Florida. Federal Defenders said they would get her on the plane; she had been in detention since 2:30 am betwen Saturday and Sunday.

Back on July 11 a defendant with the last name Jones, no case number, was brought in charged with murder. He was detained, all the way until September 5 for his next appearance.

  Who is he? Whom did he allegedly kill? This was not said in Mag Court, and Inner City Press has been told to not ask questions. But we will. After Jones there was an interminable wait for a presentee for whom at least two names were given - Colin Williams - but for whom the various players wandered away seriatim. There was yet another, with report delayed. We hope to have more on this.

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