SDNY COURTHOUSE,
April 1 – When Larry Ray was
arraigned on charges of sexual
exploitation, prostitution,
forced labor and money
laundering on February 12,
2020 he was wearing prison
blues and still had a Federal
Defender, but no financial
affidavit to have FD
appointed. Twitter theadette;
More on Patreon here.
On March 29, the
funneling by Ray of Clauria
Drury prostitution money into
North Carolina politics
emerged, and Inner City Press
began researching and asking,
below
On March
9, 2022, the jury for Larry
Ray was picked, by his five
Federal Defenders and three
prosecutors, on the robing
room of Judge Lewis J. Liman.
Inner City Press live tweeted,
thread here
(podcast here)
On March 10 Inner
City Press live
tweeted the
opening
statements, here
(podcast here)
Then the first
substantive witness, live
tweeted here.
On Day 2 of the
trial, March 11, Santos
Rosario continued on direct
examination, Inner City Press
live tweeted it here
(morning vlog here)
On Day 3 of the
trial, March 14, Santo Rosario
finished his direct and the
cross began. Inner City Press
live-tweeted here
(morning vlog here)
Day 4 of the
trial started late - Larry Ray
had a seizure, resulting in
cancelation of the trial on
March 16 and 17 - but then got
into troubling videos and a
question. Inner City Press
live tweeted here
(morning vlog here)
On March 18 the
trial continued, with Claudia
Drury on the stand. Inner City
Press live tweeted here
(vlog here)
On March 21 the
trial continued - then broke
at 11 am, again. Inner City
Press live tweeted it, here.
[The US
Attorney's Office had put in
an exhibit, cult articles on
Ray's laptop, on Patreon here]
On March 22,
Claudia Drury continued on
direct examination, getting
into her Backpage business for
Larry Ray and describing a
client as creepy. Inner City
Press live tweeted here.
On March 24,
after a day off for seizure,
Drury continued on the stand.
Inner City Press live tweeted
it here.
On March 25
another John was outed, this
time with immunity: editor
Randy Levinson. Inner City
Press live tweeted it, now
#JohnListGone song here.
On March 28,
another Larry Ray victim took
the witness stand: Felicia
Rosario. Inner City Press live
tweeted here:
On March 29, Felicia Rosario remained
on the stand and testified about sending
Claudia Drury prostitution money to a North
Carolina candidate that Talia Ray was campaign
manager for. Not named in the trial, but found
in research: it was Lowell Simon. Isabella
Pollok and Gordon Ray gave him $5000 too - did
Simon only hire Talia Ray to get these
prostitution funds? And, Felicia Rosario sent
over $10,000 in prostitution funds to the NC
Democratic Party, see below. Thread here.
On March 30, after
testimony about how few GoDaddy domain
names Ray sold, Upper East Side
doorman Carlos Pagan testified.
Inner City Press live tweeted
here.
On March 31 as the US case came
to rest, a slew of exhibits
through
Agent McGuire, Inner City
Press live tweeted here.
On April
1, the US rested
then grilled,
along with Judge
Liman, Ray's
former lawyer
Glenn Ripa. Inner
City Press live
tweeted it here:
OK -
Larry Ray trial
in last day of
evidence has IRS
agent crossed,
after Italy/LES
painter's name drops
AUSA: Money
doesn't have to
go through a
bank accountable
to be taxable,
does it? IRS
Agent: It does
not. AUSA: No
further
questions. Our
next witness is
Maritza Rosario,
who requires an
interpreter.
Judge Liman:
Let's take a
stretch break.
AUSA: Mrs.
Rosario, why did
Santos Jr. say
he needed money?
Mrs. Rosario: He
said he had
broken Mr. Larry
Ray's
refrigerator...
I gave him over
$150,000.
AUSA: What did
you understand
it was for?
Federal
Defender:
Objection!
Hearsay! Judge:
I'll permit it.
Now
cross-examination.
Federal
Defender: You
didn't really
believe Santos
had broken those
things at Mr.
Ray's, right?
Mrs. Rosario:
What was I to
do? He said he
owed the money.
Re-direct.
AUSA: You called
911 about Santos
Jr., right? Mrs.
Rosario: Yes. I
also called the
police other
times.
AUSA: Why did
you give your
children more
than $150,000?
Mrs. Rosario: I
didn't know what
else to do. I
was worried
about my
children. OK,
jury is back
from break and
now the US is
about to play
the Larry Ray
recorded prison
calls they've
been arguing
about. [Ring.
Ring.] "This
call is
from...'Ray' ...
from a federal
prison. It is
being recorded."
Larry Ray: Do
you have
something to
write with?
Larry Ray:
We need an index
of the
evidence...
There's are ones
from Claudia
about setting me
up... AUSA: Play
701B. Larry Ray:
Find an email
that Raven sent
to Claudia about
Dan, saying
things that were
not good about
Dan. Anything
negative about
Dan
Larry Ray:
We need to list
when when was
Claudia at the
apartment...
Claudia said she
wanted to stab
people like 50
times... Keep
the more violent
ones from
Claudia. What
did Felicia tell
you? AUSA: 701F.
Voice (Pappy?)
"And you will
have my love
forever."
Larry Ray: We
need to track
down where Dan
talked about
killing birds,
and cats, and
all that. AUSA:
June 19, 2020,
the call, play
it, 702A. Larry
Ray: The
portfolio is
worth $34
million. Larry
Ray: We need to
locate video of
Santos saying he
poisoned me
AUSA: The
government rests
its case. Judge
Liman: Jurors,
we're going to
let you go for
the weekend. Be
here Monday
morning.
With jury gone:
Federal
Defender: We
move to dismiss
under Rule 29.
Judge Liman: I'm
going to reserve
on that. Please
set up Mr. Ripa
as a
witness.
It's Larry Ray's
lawyer Glenn
Ripa, for
arguments about
"advice of
counsel."
Federal
Defender: What
do you do?
Glenn Ripa: I'm
an attorney,
sole
practitioner. I
went to Fordham
University
School of Law.
Before that I
worked as a
supervisory
agent at the
IRS. After, I
went to Brooklyn
DA from 1985 to
1988, private
practice since
Federal
Defender: Do you
have
recollection of
who Ms. Drury
said directed
her to poison
Mr. Ray? Ripa:
Her mother.
Federal
Defender: Was
the housing
court matter the
only time you
heard about
poisoning? Ripa:
No. I had an
ongoing
relationship
with these
people.
Federal
Defender: How
did you think
Ms. Drury made
money? Ripa: I
understood she
was a
prostitute.
Federal
Defender: Did
you provide
legal advice to
Mr. Ray? Ripa:
Yes, that she
was paying him
for poisoning
him, so it was
restitution. I
told him no need
to pay tax
Ripa: I
wrote to the
AUSA who had
prosecuted
Bernard Kerik.
My understanding
was the
poisoning of
Larry Ray was
directed by
Bernard Kerik.
Cross
examination:
AUSA: Did you
know that AUSA
Carbone did not
prosecute a
trial against Mr
Kerik?
Ripa: I thought
he did. AUSA:
Did AUSA Carbone
call you and
tell you that
Mr. Ray was,
colloquially,
"nuts"? Ripa: I
don't remember.
AUSA: How much
would you think
Claudia Drury
would owe Larry
Ray if she
poisoned him?
Ripa: I don't
know.
Judge
Liman: You don't
have phone
records? [Former
IRS agent now
lawyer] Ripa:
No. Judge Liman:
How much did you
charge Larry
Ray? Ripa: Like
10 grand. Judge
Liman: You have
no bank records?
Ripa: Not back
that far.
Judge
Liman: When were
you retained?
Ripa: I'm not
really sure.
Judge Liman: Do
you prepare
engagement
letters? Ripa:
Sometimes not.
Judge Liman: Did
you consider
yourself hired
by Mr. Ray about
taxes? Ripa:
[long pause] No.
Judge Liman: Mr.
Ripa, you may
leave. [Once
he's gone:]
Judge Liman:
Will the AUSA
proffer what
AUSA Carbone
would say? AUSA:
That Larry Ray
is not a
reliable
narrator of
facts...
Judge Liman: It
might be
relevant if Mr.
Ray had hired a
lawyer to go to
the US
Attorney's
Office with
evidence he said
shows he was
poisoned. But
I'm not sure
that's what we
have here. If it
came in, I think
AUSA Carbone
could take the
stand in
rebuttal Judge
Liman: We'll
take a break for
the parties to
consider my
draft jury
charge.
[What follow up has there been in North
Carolina
to the money laundering shown through Lowell
Simon and Act Blue / the NC Democratic
Party?]
Back on
April 28, 2021, there was a
suppression hearing about his
arrest and questioning. Inner
City Press live tweeted it here
and below.
On December
22 Ray's Federal Defenders
requested a jury questionnaire
citing adverse publicity "not
only in traditional media
outlets." But the next
sections contains redactions,
after the words "Community
Bookstore live, and apparently
of a URL, because it contains
a name. But how then is it
confidential?
On
February 4, the Federal
Defenders wrote to Judge Lewis
J. Liman that "the attorney
client relationship between
Mr. Ray and his defense team
has irreparably broken down...
Mr. Ray requests that the
Court appoint new counsel."
This was heard on February 10,
without the previously
available call-in line (unlike
a February 4 Coinbase oral
argument on which the line was
opened).
On March 7 in
Courtroom 24B, Judge Liman
informed the parties that he
will not tell the jurors about
sexual grooming, finding it
incorporated in sexual
manipulation.
Ray's
lawyers said they'd like the
jurors unmasked, so their
faces can be seen. They cited
NYC Mayor Eric Adams on March
7 eliminating masking
requirments except on the
subway. Judge Liman said his
previous ruling requiring
masks stands.
On March 8, a
heading for March 9 at 4:30 pm
was set: "Minute Entry for
proceedings held before Judge
Lewis J. Liman: Motion Hearing
as to Lawrence Ray held on
3/7/2022. Defendant (1),
Lawrence Ray (in custody)
present with Federal Defenders
Marne Lenox, Allegra
Glashausser, Neil Kelly, and
Peggy Cross-Goldenberg. AUSAs
Danielle Sassoon, Mollie
Bracewell, and Lindsey Keenan
present. Sawyer Dean present
on behalf of Claudia Drury.
Court reporter present. The
motion for Jane Doe 1 to
testify under a pseudonym is
denied as moot. Motion to
exclude Frost testimony is
denied. Ruling on 404B is
reserved by the Court. The
Court sealed the Courtroom to
hear from parties regarding
the Rule 412 Motion regarding
Claudia Drury. A Rule 412
Motion Hearing regarding
Felicia Rosario and Claudia
Drury is scheduled for
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at
4:30PM in Courtroom 15C."
There was
this, from Ray's Federal
Defenders: "We write in
response to the governments
letter of February 24, 2022
seeking a Court order
permitting five prosecution
witnesses to testify using
only their first names at Mr.
Rays upcoming trial. This
request should be denied both
because it is moot and because
the government cannot carry
its burden to justify such an
imposition on Mr. Rays (and
the public's) right to a
public and open trial."
While
Inner City Press always likes
counsel asserting the public's
right to access, it is ironic
because the Federal Defenders
are arguing
to SDNY Judge John P. Cronan,
and now the 2d Circuit, that
the financial affidavit of
"Dirty Doc" Cruciani should be
sealed, despite Inner City
Press' requests as in Avenatti
and Correia, here.
On March 3, the
schedule: "Jury Selection will
begin on Tuesday, March 8,
2022. The Jury Trial will be
held in Courtroom 24B, with an
overflow room to be set up in
Courtroom 15C. The Court will
be in session Monday to
Thursday from 9:30AM to 4:00PM
and Fridays from 9:00AM to
1:00PM. A Rule 412 Motion
Hearing is scheduled for
Monday, March 7, 2022 at
2:00PM in Courtroom 15C before
Judge Lewis J. Liman."
Now...
headphones? On March 4, this:
"ORDER as to Lawrence Ray. The
Court has received an email
from a paralegal for the
United States Attorneys Office
inquiring about the
availability of headsets for
the jurors to listen to
sensitive audio. The Court
will inquire into the
logistics regarding making
such headsets available. At
the same time, the Court
invites the views of the
parties, to be provided to the
Court by Sunday, March 6,
2022, at 5:00 p.m., regarding
the legal principles it should
apply in the event that there
is a request to publish
materials to the jurors and
the parties but outside of the
hearing or viewing of members
of the public." Watch this
site.
On February 9,
the US Attorney's Office wrote
in to "request that the Court
conduct a thorough inquiry
into the nature of the alleged
breakdown... Even if the Court
determines that the motion is
not a delay tactic, it may
nonetheless be appropriately
denied." Judge Liman ordered,
" Ray has not asked for the
trial to be adjourned.
However, it is possible that
if his current counsel is
permitted to withdraw and new
counsel were appointed, the
inevitable result would be for
trial to be delayed, perhaps
for a lengthy period of time.
The law permits the Court to
consider issues such as the
Speedy Trial Act and calendar
management in reviewing an
application for the withdrawal
of counsel and the appointment
of new counsel. In addition,
under the Crime Victims'
Rights Act, a crime victim has
the "right to proceedings free
from unreasonable delay." 18
U.S.C. s 3771(a)(7). Certain
individuals have been
identified as alleged victims
in this case. Accordingly, it
is hereby ORDERED that any
alleged victim who wishes to
be heard on the issue of
potentially delaying the trial
of this matter may be heard
either by letter submitted on
ECF on or before 1:00 p.m. on
February 10, 2022, or by
appearing in person at the
hearing." Watch this site.
On January
24 for an in-person conference
at 2 pm, Judge Liman issued
the following order: "ORDER as
to Lawrence Ray: The Court has
been informed by the United
States Marshals that Mr. Ray
is refusing to come to Court
for the previously scheduled
hearing today. The hearing has
long been on the calendar, and
defense counsel has not
submitted a request to excuse
Mr. Rays presence.
Accordingly, the Court has
informed the United States
Marshals to deliver Mr. Ray to
the courthouse. If necessary,
the Court will sign an order
authorizing the Marshals to
use force to compel his
attendance. A copy of this
Order will be emailed to
counsel for Mr. Ray and for
the government. SO ORDERED.
(Signed by Judge Lewis J.
Liman on 1/24/2022)."
Later,
shortly before the scheduled
hearing: "ORDER as to Lawrence
Ray: The Court has received
correspondence from the
Government and defendant's
counsel stating that they, and
Mr. Ray, are prepared to
proceed with today's oral
argument in-person in
Courtroom 15C. The Court
rescinds its previous order
setting this as a remote
hearing and restores it back
to an in-person hearing. All
counsel and Mr. Ray are
expected to appear in-person."
Watch this site.
Back on January
6, 2022 Judge Liman held
another conference; Inner City
Press live tweeted here.
On January
19, Judge Liman held a Daubert
hearing which Inner City Press
live tweeted here
hearing on
Federal Defenders-proposed
expert Joseph Pierre, who's
being paid $500/hr for 20 hrs,
so far.
Doctor Pierre
describes his paid testimony
for "sovereign citizens,"
acknowledged he's not a
forensic psychiatrist and
never interviewed Ray in
person (due to COVID
restrictions). Will Judge
Liman let him testify?
AUSA Sassoon: You
called Mr. Ray's beliefs
conspiracy theories. That's
not a term in the DSM, right?
Dr. Pierre: Right.
AUSA Sassoon:
Define delusion-like beliefs.
Dr. Pierre: There's not a
study. But there's agreement
on what it is. [You know it
when you see it?]
Dr. Pierre:
There's no study saying
diagnosis of a sore throat
does not involve asking the
patient if he or she has a
sore throat?
AUSA Sassoon:
Wait --
Judge: Let Doctor
Pierre talk. [Pause] Or, let
me ask. What's the difference
between a delusion and an
error?
AUSA: Can a
person have delusion-like
belief and follow the law? Dr.
Pierre: Yes. AUSA: They don't
explain violent behavior,
right? Federal Defender:
Objection. Judge: Sustained.
AUSA: So
Larry Ray told you he believed
he had been poisoned, at the
direction of Bernie Kerik? Dr.
Pierre: Correct. AUSA: And
that he put a lock on his
fridge in New Jersey, right?
Dr. Pierre: Yes, I believe it
was in New Jersey.
AUSA: Did
it strike you as strange that
Larry Ray continued to live
with people he thought were
poisoning him? Federal
Defender: Objection!
Judge: Overruled.
Dr. Pierre: I don't like to
use the word strange. And
we're back: US v. Larry Ray
Daubert hearing on whether to
allow Dr. Pierre is back on.
During a break,
Federal Defenders have been
required to provide US
Attorney's Office with
unredacted copy of Dr.
Pierre's notes. AUSA: It was
risky? Dr. Pierre: Define
that.
AUSA: And
you do not know if, when these
emails were written, the
writer had a knife to his
genitals? Dr. Pierre: I do
not... Judge: Thank you,
you are excused.
Dr. Pierre:
Thanks for not making me fly
out there. Arraignment on
superseding indictment to
follow.
Update and
conclusion (for this case, for
today) Arraignment will not
take place - Larry Ray has not
received a copy of the
superseding indictment. Judge
Liman adjourns the Daubert
hearing.
Watch this
site.
Back on September
27, Isabella Pollak moved for
a continuance (delay) or for
severance, noting the third
team of lawyers and this
volume of discovery: 516,169
images, 1,462 documents, 1043
spreadsheets, 320 audio files,
256 video files and 277
internet files.
On October 8, the
US Attorney's Office wrote to
Judge Liman that "the
Government objects to
adjourning the joint trial for
the lengthy period of time
requested by Pollok [but] does
not object to severing
Pollok's trial from Ray's,
keeping the trial of Ray
scheduled for February 2022
and scheduling Pollok's trial
for a later date."
But Ray opposes
severing Pollok's case. On
October 15 Pollok's Hastings
on Hudson-based lawyer
insisted on severance: "As
Judge Learned Hand succinctly
stated, '[n]o accused person
has any recognizable legal
interest in being tried with
another, accused with him.' US
v. Bronson, 145 F.2d 939, 943
(2d Cir. 1944 (L. Hand, J.)"
On October 18
Pollok's counsel wrote to
Judge Liman asking to modify
her conditions of release, so
she can work overtime at
Amazon, which no longer with
permit any electronic devices
(like GPS bracelets) on the
warehouse floor. The US
consents to this change.
And on October
19, Judge Liman granted the
requests: "MEMO ENDORSEMENT
granting [235] LETTER MOTION
filed by Isabella Pollok (2),
addressed to Judge Lewis J.
Liman from Attorney Jill R.
Shellow dated 10/18/2021 re:
Request to modify conditions
of pretrial release. I am
writing to request
respectfully two modifications
to Isabella Pollok's
conditions of pretrial
release: (1) Ms. Pollok has a
curfew from 9PM until 5AM. We
respectfully request that the
curfew condition be removed.
(2) Ms. Pollok wears a GPS
ankle bracelet. Accordingly,
we respectfully request that
the GPS bracelet condition be
removed. ENDORSEMENT: REQUEST
GRANTED. Bail modifications
approved. SO ORDERED. (Signed
by Judge Lewis J. Liman on
10/19/2021)."
But what about
Amazon barring any worker with
a GPS bracelet, under
pre-trial release (that is,
presumed innocent) from
working its warehouses?
On October 20,
Judge Liman granted severance:
"ORDER as to Lawrence Ray,
Isabella Pollok. It is hereby
ORDERED that the proposed
schedule appearing at Dkt. No.
219, setting forth the
deadlines related to expert
witnesses in the case United
States v. Ray,
20-cr-110-LJL-1, is APPROVED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that,
for the reasons stated by the
Court on the record at the
October 19, 2021, Status
Conference, the motion of
Isabella Pollok for a
continuance is GRANTED and the
trials of Lawrence Ray and
Isabella Pollok are severed,
with Isabella Pollok's trial
to begin on July 18, 2022."
The case is US v.
Ray, 20-cr-110 (Liman).
***
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