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SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 23 – Just after the indictment of electric vehicle maker Nikola's founder Trevor Milton was unsealed on July 29, 2021 a press conference was held in the Southern District of New York prosecutors' office. Inner City Press went and asked about the SEC complaint's reference to Milton targeting "Robinhood investors." Video here.

  US Attorney Strauss and her SEC colleague (on the job for all of one week) both deferred comment on particular companies or phenomena like Robinhood, or Elon Musk, or SPACs. But it seems there will be more prosecutions coming - including in the crypto-currency space?

  On September 15, the assigned District Judge Edgardo Ramos held an oral argument. Milton wants to move the case to Utah or Arizona, with a sealed motion. (Manafort's lender Steve Calk asked the same, to move to Chicago, which was denied). On September 15 Inner City Press live tweeted here (and podcast here)

 In March 2022, Milton withdrew his Second Circuit appeal of venue. On March 22, the US Attorney's Office filed a joint schedule: "Dear Judge Ramos: The Government respectfully writes to advise the Court that the parties have, following the dismissal of the defendant’s interlocutory appeal, conferred and agreed to a revised schedule with respect to the exchange of certain material and information prior to and during trial pending confirmation of the currently scheduled trial of July 18, 2022, as a firm trial date by the committee of the Southern District of New York charged with assigning trial dates. 1 The schedule is as follows: June 6, 2022: The Government provides to the defendant material covered by 18 U.S.C. § 3500, including material pursuant to Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972). Full letter on Patreon here.

On June 20 - Juneteeth - Milton's lawyers filed their proposed voir dire questions for jurors, and their request to charge. They want jurors asked if any relative or close friend ever worked in the automotive or heavy trucking industry? Any experience in hydrogen fuel cell or battery technology? Are you a risk taker? Are you short seller? What platforms do you use to trade - E*Trade, TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, Robinhood..."

On June 22, the prosecutors informed Judge Ramos of a superseding indictment with a new charge: "The Government respectfully writes to advise the Court that the grand jury returned a superseding indictment earlier today in the above-referenced case, and to request that time be excluded under the Speedy Trial Act until the trial date of July 18, 2022. The revisions reflected in the S1 Indictment are, in sum: • A count charging wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 2, has been added (Count Four). This count concerns a scheme to defraud in connection with the defendant’s purchase of 4,678 acres of property in Utah in exchange for a combination of cash and Nikola stock options, based on misrepresentations similar and related to the misrepresentations charged in Counts One through Three. The proof underlying this charge substantially overlaps with the proof underlying the counts in the original indictment (and the other counts in the S1 Indictment), and all additional discovery relating to this charge has previously been disclosed to the defendant (including the Government’s intention to call witnesses and offer evidence specific to this intertwined conduct)." New indictment on Patreon here.

Then Milton asked for a 30 day adjournment and Judge Ramos set a hearing. The US responded that as a courtesy they would agree to a week, no more: "The Government writes in response to the defendant’s letter filed earlier today (Dkt. No. 125) requesting a 30-day adjournment of trial. The defendant’s request for an adjournment is predicated on a purported need to investigate the conduct underlying Count Four, which was added as part of the Superseding Indictment returned by the grand jury on June 22, 2022. But as explained below, the allegations in Count Four are no surprise to the defendant. To the contrary, he has been on notice of them since at least March, when the victims of the charged conduct filed suit against him. Moreover, the Government provided notice of the conduct and the evidence upon which it would rely to prove it—all of which would have been offered as proof of the crimes charged in the original Indictment—on the same schedule to which the parties agreed for all of the other allegations in this case. For these reasons, although, as courtesy to the defense, the Government would not object to a one-week adjournment of the trial, no delay is warranted and certainly an adjournment of greater than one week would be contrary to the 'ends of justice. Letter on Patreon here.

 Inner City Press will continue to cover the case.

Back on July 29 at 12:30 pm Milton was presented before SDNY Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, and freed on consent, on $100 million bond. Inner City Press was in the Magistrates Courtroom and live tweeted it, here: (and podcast here)

From July 29:    Lawyers whispering about a property in Utah. Seems he'll be freed on bond.

In the front: Milton and four defense lawyers. Three  @SDNYLIVE  prosecutors, including Jordan Estes and Nick Roos. Two Marshals. Awaiting Magistrate Judge Netburn.  All rise.

Milton surrendered at 8 am. Case is assigned to District Judge Edgardo Ramos (who's also in One Coin cases.)

Milton pleads not guilty. Freed on $100 million bond. Less than Tom Barrack's $250 million

Milton can travel Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Virginia and DC (for lobbying?) No contact with investors unless Milton has a relationship with them. Morgan, Utah property appraised over $30 million (contrary to the Pre Trial Services report)

Milton's lawyer says his income is down, no $50 million in bank. Judge Netburn approved free today on $100 million bond. Surrender guns.

 The case is US v. Milton, 21-cr-478 (Ramos)

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