| Woman Using
Bitcoin to Steal iPhones Got Deferred
Prosecution Co-D Wants Time Served
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Dec 4 – Joel Pena pled guilty
to identity theft in a
conspiracy involving buying
personal identifying
information over the Dark Web
with Bitcoin then using the
information get get iPhones
and resell them in The
Bronx. He was
sentenced to 24 months in
prison.
He contracted
COVID-19 is and asking U.S.
District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge Ronny Abrams to grant
him compassionate
release.
In a letter
filed on Christmas Eve, Pena's
once and again CJA lawyer
William J. Stampur tells Judge
Abrams that "two weeks ago,
Mr. Pena tested positive for
COVID-19... he was removed
from his unit to a 'quarantine
unit' with other inmates who
supposedly were infected. On
December 21, the last time
counsel had the opportunity to
talk with Mr. Pena, he was
once again in quarantine in
another 'quarantine unit'
without a functioning
toilet."
On January
18, more than three weeks
later, the US Attorney's
Office replied that "while
defendant tested positive for
COVID-19 in early December, he
did not experience any
symptoms and tested negative
on or about December 18, 2020,
prior to the filing of the
Motion."
They also
quote Pena, when arrested,
asking "Who give me up?
Bitc*es can't do their time."
On December 13,
2021 co-defendant Joandra
Tejada Gonzalez came before
Judge Abrams and got a
deferred prosecution
agreement: "after a thorough
investigation it has been
determined that the interests
of the US and your own
interest will best be served
by deferring prosecution." She
is jointly and severally
liable to AT&T, however,
for $27,539.68.
Jump cut to
October 9, 2024 when
Concepcion Aquino, still
detained, pled guilty: "Minute
Entry for proceedings held
before Judge Ronnie Abrams:
Change of Plea Hearing as to
Isaac Concepcion Aquino held
on 10/9/2024. Plea entered by
Isaac Concepcion Aquino (1)
Guilty as to Count 1.
Defendant pleads guilty to
Count One of the Indictment.
Sentencing is scheduled for
December 18, 2024 at 11:00
a.m. Defendant shall remain
detained pending sentencing."
On December 4
Concepcion Aquino's lawyer
wrote in asking for time
served on December 18.
The case is
US v. Concepcion Aquino, et
al., 18-cr-640 (Abrams)
***
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