In Other Media-eg NYLJ Fortune 2023, CJR, NY Mag, AJE, Georgia, CSM Click here to contact us     .

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 11 – After a circus-like civil case involving Guo Wengui in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which Inner City Press closely covered, here, March 15, 2023 saw the unsealing of a twelve-count Indictment of Miles Guo onvarious wire fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering charges.

On May 22, Inner City Press live tweeted jury selection, here.

   Many were excused from the jury pool.

More detail / some analysis on X for Subscribers here & Substack here

At the end of May 23, Judge Torres told the remaining jurors that the trial would start Friday. Thread.

More details on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

And it did. Inner City Press live tweeted the opening and first two witnesses, an FBI agent about the Greenwich search, and a Dallas based Lamborghini dealer, thread here.

Jump cut to June 24, when in an order on reconsideration it was ordered that "Guo’s motion to permit the testimony of Paul Doran, his expert on the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”), is GRANTED only as to Doran’s testimony on (1) the CCP’s opposition to specific political causes for which Guo has publicly advocated; and (2) the “secret, extra-legal Chinese police station” identified in New York City, and is otherwise DENIED"- full 17 page order on Patreon here.

On July 1, when the trial did not meet, Guo's lawyer wrote in that "the defense reiterates that it does not intend to argue to the jury that the prosecution team in this case or the U.S. Attorney’s Office in general are acting as agents of a foreign power. But that is entirely different from arguing that the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to silence Mr. Guo through a number of different methods, including by forcing investors to complain falsely to U.S. courts and regulators about Mr. Guo’s conduct" - full 8 page letter on Patreon here.

On July 2, after the government completed its case and rested, the defense put on the stand a valuation expert - and then Maggie Sklar as a crypto expert, previously with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, charging $1450 an hour.

On July 3, as the defense put on its Fox Hunt expert, Paul Doran, questions were asked about Broidy and, yes, the expensive mattresses (and COVID masks), thread

On July 8 the defense put on a real estate helper who accompanied Guo to a property in Arizona and then Mahwah, thread

On July 11, defense summation and US rebuttal - then a jury note at 5 pm. From the thread:

OK - now Miles Guo closing argument in SDNY, Inner City Press has been covering the case, for FoxhUNt Guo and will live tweet, thread below 

Guo's lawyer: Maybe you're active in politics because you're interested in it, even if others aren't. The way it makes us feel? That's priceless, as MasterCard used to say. You heard Ms. Reyes - she traveled to Europe to see, there were things they could offer 

Guo's lawyer: Ms. Reyes scored that Formula 1 opportunity. Pretty cool, right? They bought a Lamborghini. It was bought in G Club's name. It was intended to be leased to G Club members, so they could get that thrill. That's what the records show 

Guo's lawyer: OK, the car was in Mr. Guo's garage. Mr. Finkel called that "devastating evidence." But let's check it out. Dec 10, 2021 there's a video, H Coin to the Moon, Mr. Guo drives it about ten feet. In 2022, Ms. Reyes says she sees Mr. Guo showcase it. 

Guo's lawyer: Of course Ms. Reyes was not tracking the investments of the hedge fund. The G Club members? They are in New York, including because it has a large international airport. Mr. Guo was the company spokesperson, he knew the tastes of the members 

Guo's lawyer: Before they bought the Mahwah property, Guo was preparing a presentation to the members, before he was indicted. So we come to the Himalaya exchange - Mr. Guo was eager for things to happen for the movement. It was intend to move money away from CCP 

Guo's lawyer: You heard from our expert that crypto currency is used to keep money away from repressive regimes... She said it was a centralized crypto exchange. All of the trading was on an internal company ledger. There's nothing unusual about it. 

Guo's lawyer: Even if you find there was a misrepresentation, you'd have to find that a reasonable person would have relied on it. You have to consider the total mix of information. Mr. Guo also said it was risky. He was public about his bankruptcy. He had a video 

Guo's lawyer: When I sit down, Ms. Murray will have a chance to reply. But I predict even with that advance, they can't prove their case. Mr. Guo gets the presumption of innocence. Mr. Guo said, the US government never falsely charge you. His opinion has changed 

Guo's lawyer: The supposed criminal mastermind with a yacht and a jet. He could have fled. He moves his money because he was being hunted by the CCP. The CCP is chasing him. They went to great lengths. You heard from Mr. Doran that he advises multiple cell phones 

Guo's lawyer: They can't meet their burden. Review the evidence, ask, Does it make sense? If you do, there is only one verdict you can reach: not guilty. Thank you.

Now government rebuttal in US v. Miles Guo.

AUSA Murray: When the defense makes arguments, it's your duty to examine if they line up with the evidence. And they don't. Miles Guo is guilty. 

AUSA: Guo had bank accounts in the BVI, Abu Dhabi, and Kyrgyzstan. He spent hours broadcasting, promoting his enterprises, telling his followers who they could never lose money with him. The victims watched the videos. They trusted him. Miles Guo robbed them 

AUSA: If Miles Guo a real political activist or not? I don't know. And I don't care. Neither should you. Guo's true stance on the CCP is not a question that's being put to you. In a valiant effort to confuse things, they argue he was committee to "the movement" 

AUSA: You cannot ignore the NFSC, it's all over the case. Guo preyed on a community of people concerned about the CCP. He claims the NFSC had nothing to do with the G Series. He said do not link it.

AUSA: He doesn't have a job. He doesn't clock in and out. He does broadcasts. He repeats promises. He broadcast from places of wealth - a penthouse apartment, a yacht. You're seen the money movements. 

AUSA: Let's look at the protests. They didn't take place at the Chinese mission. They took place at the SEC, at the home of the bankruptcy trustee and his family. These are not activities of a political movement, these are activities of a fundster 

AUSA: The insider witnesses, they were used by Miles Guo... He is guilty. Judge: You are to deliberate now... If you have questions, send out notes

Update: in US v. Miles Guo, lawyers are summoned back into courtroom, 4:58 pm  Judge Torres: I have heard nothing from the jury. I propose to bring them in and dismiss them for the day. Guo's lawyer: No objection AUSA: Same.

Judge Torres: Bring them in.  Then: Judge Torres: I understand the jury foreperson has a note for me... It read, we want transcripts and the instruction. I'm going to make this Court Exhibit Number 1, we'll address it tomorrow morning.  Jurors leave - they'll get the responses tomorrow

More detail and analysis on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

The case is US v. Guo, et al., 23-cr-118 (Torres)

***

Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.

Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA

Mail: Box 20047, Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017

Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540

Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

 Copyright 2006-2024 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com