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SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 13 – A dozen men in shackles charged with ATM skimming came into  the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York courtroom of Judge Laura Taylor Swain on January 9, 2020. They had interpreters in French and Romanian, and now a coordinating discovery attorney, Emma G. Greenwood.

  But on Monday, March 16, amid the Coronavirus crisis when two more defendant in the case extradited from Romania on Friday were presented before SDNY Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron, their lawyers were not physically present. They appeared by telephone. One asked that his business card be given to his client. For the other, the defendant asked who he was.

   Both asked that their appointments be back dated to March 9. It was granted, and the defendants were detained on consent.

In January 2022, "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Laura Taylor Swain: Sentencing held on 1/12/2022 for Theofrastos Lymberatos (6) Count 2. The Court sentences Defendant Theofrastos Lymberatos as follows: 47 months of imprisonment on Count Two. The Court recommends to BOP that Defendant be afforded the opportunity to participate in the RDAP Program, and that Defendant be designated to Fort Dix to facilitate the maintenance of family ties and RDAP participation. Voluntary Surrender at designated facility by 2pm on April 28, 2022."

In late December 2021 it emerged that a co-defendant has been diagnosed with COVID and the Court has been informed: "FIRST LETTER MOTION addressed to Judge Laura Taylor Swain from Daniel S. Parker and Christina S. Cooper dated December 30, 2021 re: request Order re. emergency medical treatment and monitoring re. new COVID diagnosis. Document filed by Cristian Ulmanu. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit Exhibit A, email from BOP 12/30, # (2) Exhibit Exhibit B, email from Gov't 12/30/21, # (3) Exhibit Exhibit C, email from USMS)." Watch this site.

 In detention in the MCC, David Georgescu was forced to insert his own catheter due to an enlarged prostate, with anesthesia. On June 18, Juneteenth, his lawyer wrote to the Court for "urgent assistance in ensuring that Mr. Georgescu is receiving needed medical care."

On August 2, Georgescu was again before the court, and Inner City Press again covered it. Now Georgescu is being appoined a non-conflicted CJA counsel on limited issue(s); the AUSA said the pole camera video can be viewed at the FBI in DC. But was Georgescu supposed to see it?

On November 15, 2021, he pleaded guilty: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang: Change of Plea Hearing as to David Georgescu held on 11/16/2021. Defendant present with counsel Donna Newman. A.U.S.A. - Robert Sobleman present for the Government. Defendant enters a plea of Guilty to Count Two of the above referenced Superseding Indictment. Mag. Judge Wang accepts the plea. Court reporter present. PSI ordered. Detention continued. Control Date: 2/11/22."

On October 8, 2021, a trial date, in 2022: "Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings as to Mircea Constantinescu, Nikolaos Limberatos, Cristian Costea, Alin Hanes Calugaru, Ionela Constantinescu, Peter Samolis, Iuliana Mihailescu, Florian Claudiu Martin, Alexandru Radulescu: Jury Trial set for 6/20/2022 at 09:30 AM before Judge Laura Taylor Swain."

 In July 2021, defendant Nikolaos Limberatos wrote to Chief Judge Swain stating that he no longer has confidence in his assigned lawyers and has terminated them.

On July 19, this: "ORDER as to Nikolaos Limberatos. Karloff C. Commissiong, Esq. and Carlos M. Santiago, Esq., are relieved as CJA counsel for the defendant. Sanford N. Talkin, Esq., is now appointed as CJA counsel for the defendant in the above-captioned matter (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 7/19/21)."

Then on July 21, this: "ORDER as to Nikolaos Limberatos. Mr. Sanford N. Talkin, Esq is relieved as CJA counsel for the defendant. Mr. Xavier Donaldson, Esq is substituted as CJA counsel for the defendant in the above-captioned matter. (Signed by Judge Laura Taylor Swain on 7/21/21)."

  On June 8, 2021, one of the co-defendants  Robert Duczon was up for sentencing. His lawyer spoke about the harsh condition in the Hungarian prison he had awaited extradition in.

SDNY Chief Judge Swain acknowledged those hardships, but noted that a time served sentence would create disparities with the sentencing of others in the overall case.

  Judge Swain sentenced him to 22 months. The remaining time, before removal, will be served in Putnam, it seems. Judge Swain wished him well.

On June 10, for a co-defendant still in pre-trial detention in the MCC, Florian Martin, a request has been made for a one-month adjournment of the June 23 conference: "we continue to engage the government in plea negotiations and to review discovery." The US Attorney's Office consents to the adjournment. So turn the wheels.

  Including a 30th defendant into the case on a now unsealed indictment: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein: Initial Appearance as to Daniel Silvu Camaras (30) held on 9/29/2021. AUSA Robert Sobelman. Defense Counsel Gary Becker (CJA). Proceeding: Rule 9. BAIL DISPOSITION: Detention on consent without prejudice. - Speedy Trial Time excluded under 18 U.S.C. Section 3161(h)(7) until 10/28/2021."

 Inner City Press will continue to cover this. The case is US v. Constantinescu, et al., 19-cr-651 (Swain). 

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