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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Thread
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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 11 – In the sex trafficking trial of US v. Carl Andrews that Inner City Press has been reporting on despite a partially sealed courtroom and US Attorney withholding of exhibits, the defense on March 14, 2020 asked for and got a stay and then end of the trial.

The reason? Coronavirus COVID-19.

  For that re-trial one of the US Attorney's Office's witnesses is blamed for putting the jury, court staff, and the Press at risk (Inner City Press witnessed and reported on her March 12 testimony, here), see below.

On April 21, 2021, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul A. Engelmayer held a conference in the run-up to the related US v. Rivera trial, set for June.

On June 9, the US Attorney's office was nearing closing its case. On the afternoon of June 9 victim Natalie Rivera answered question after question from the Assistant US Attorney, like:

  Did you want to keeping to prostitute for him?

Answer: No.

   What did he mean by, you're my bottom b-word?

  Answer: That's how pimps keep their prostitutes.

  Her testimony came across as forthright, as least to this reporter. The jury filed out at 4:55 pm, and Judge Engelmayer arranged for defense lawyer Anthony Cecutti to meet with Rivera inside 40 Foley before he was taken back to the MCC.

  On June 11 until 1:12 pm, Justin Rivera's defense lawyer gave his closing to the 15 jurors and alternates. He admitted, there were guns, Justin beat Natalie, they engaged in prostitution business. But he said Natalie had agency, that she chose to prostitute herself. He began, soon another person will be in that chair --

  The Assistant US Attorney objected, and Judge Engelmayer sustained the objection. With the jury out to lunch, he admonished the defense for misstating the standard on venue. It's not if the jury doubts the memory of being in Manhattan and the Bronx, it's the preponderance of evidece.

At 5 pm on June 11, Inner City Press went back to the courtroom, expecting to see the jurors instructed on not reading about the case (here) over the weekend.
 
  First, Judge Engelmayer said that the jurors had selected the foreperson, Juror Number 1, and that he would be sending them away for the weekend. Then he said, There's a been a verdict.

That was fast.

  Six U.S. Marshals came into the back row where Inner City Press was standing (the gallery had only nine positions, largely taken up with overflow counsel).

  The jurors were led in. On Count 1, Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, how do you find? The foreman said, Guilty. So did the others when polled.

It being six o'clock, Judge Engelmayer did not yet set a sentencing date. And the verdict won't be docketed until Monday. But it's here, just after, on Inner City Press. And see this live stream stand-up. Watch this site.

Back on March 22, Judge Engelmayer held another proceeding, and Inner City Press again covered it. One of the issues involved Justin Rivera being moved out of the SHU in the MCC. His laptop with discovery on it should be transferred with him, Judge Engelmayer said. He suggested the Rivera's counsel email the MCC, copying the US Attorney's Office which should "me too it," Judge Engelmayer said. Watch this site.

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