| On Taking $25M from
Ethereum Blockchain Peraire
Bueno Trial Looms Now
Exhibits
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
Oct 8 – James Peraire-Bueno
was indicted for "conspiracy
to commit wire fraud, wire
fraud, and conspiracy to
commit money laundering.
The charges in the Indictment
arise from an alleged novel
scheme by the defendants to
exploit the very integrity of
the Ethereum blockchain to
fraudulently obtain
approximately $25 million
worth of cryptocurrency within
approximately 12
seconds."
On May 15
James Peraire-Bueno was
brought in detention before
U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Magistrate Judge Valerie
Figueredo. Inner City Press
was there, the only media in
the SDNY Mag Court, thread
On May 23, Inner
City Press was again the only
media present for the
arraignment of Anton, and
status conference on both,
before Magistrate Judge
Jennifer E. Willis (to whom
Judge Clarke referred the
proceeding, and a script). Thread
On June 21 Judge
Clarke permitted the two
defendants to trade and
liquidate four accounts at
Chase and Fidelity to pay
counsel and for living
expenses.
On August 19 an
October 2025 trial date was
set.
On December 6,
the Peraire-Buenos filed a
slew of motions - to dismiss,
to suppress, to compel, for a
bill of particulars -
including some redacted, they
say, at the US Attorney's
Office's demand, including
about Victim-1.
On April 7 Inner
City Press attended the
hearing on the pending
motions. The duo's lawyers
sought information victims
(asking if they were bots) and
a Franks hearing to question
Agent Diaz.
Thread here;
more on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here.
On April 14 the
defendant filed seeking to
dismiss, saying of Count 4
that crypto is not "property"
under the National Stolen
Property Act and that the
prosecution is so novel it
violates due process.
On May 1 the US
Attorney's Office wrote in
asking for reconsideration of
the Franks hearing, saying "it
is unusual for our Office to
seek reconsideration of a
court order." But they do it
here, saying they have not
conceded any prong.
On May 12, the US
Attorney's Office wrote in
stating that "without
addressing application of the
[Blanche Memo] the Government
has determined not to proceed
on Count Four."
On May 15, the
defendants' lawyers wrote
reaffirming the need for a
Franks hearing about how
Special Agent Dias got the
warrant, and his state of
mind.
On August 22 the
US Attorney's Office filed a
motion in limine - with
information about CC-3
redacted; a cover letter
argues that the redactions
apply to details that, if not
redacted, may reveal the
identity of an unindicted
co-conspirator... These
redactions have been made at
the defendants' request." But
that's not the standard: the
public has a right to know /
right of access...
On September 30,
Inner City Press went to the
final pre-trial conference,
after which Judge Clarke
ordered that "the parties may
provide further argument with
respect to their positions
concerning the scheme to
defraud jury instruction. The
Court will email the parties
the current version of the
proposed instruction. Any
letter brief from the parties
with respect to this
instruction shall not exceed
three, single-spaced pages and
shall be due no later than
October 3, 2025. Additionally,
the Government shall, by
October 1, 2025, submit a
letter, not exceeding three,
single-spaced pages, detailing
its position with respect to
the clarification it seeks on
the Courts ruling at ECF No.
163 at 910, regarding evidence
or argument that the victims
engaged in certain trading
strategies. Defendants
response, subject to the same
page limit, shall be due by
October 3, 2025."
On October 8
Inner City Press went to the
fininal final pre trial
conference; afterward Judge
Clarke docketed that
"tomorrow, the Court intends
to rule on outstanding motions
in limine, rule with respect
to the exhibits for which the
Government seeks an advanced
ruling, rule on the parties'
Daubert briefing, provide a
response to the parties'
letters at ECF Nos. 165 and
170, discuss any stipulations,
allocute Defendants as to any
plea offers, and discuss the
trial schedule. Additionally,
the parties should be prepared
to discuss certain Government
Exhibits, including 30103,
501, 32183222, 3460-AF, 3608,
3620, 371516, 371920, 372226,
6701, and 670708. IT IS HEREBY
ORDERED that the conference in
this matter, previously
scheduled for October 9, 2025
at 2:30 p.m., is RESCHEDULED
for October 9, 2025 at 2:00
p.m.."
Inner City Press
is covering this case.
The case is USA
v. Peraire-Bueno, et al.,
1:24-cr-293 (Clarke)
***
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