I love covering @SDNYLIVE and increasingly try not to complain, but... I'm here covering Magistrates Court at 7:30 pm. A defendant is presented, no docket number given. I go next door and ask for docket number; I'm told that after 5 pm, no info is given. Thread
I come back into courtroom and ask Judge's deputy. Still not given. AUSA says he's filling in, doesn't name for whom. A future court date is alluded to, but it's not in PACER. This defendant is charged with money laundering; untransparent. But wait, there's more
For last case of the day, Federal Defender and AUSA are summoned back into robing room, Press not allowed, no reason given. We'll have more on this.
Update: now a docket number is provided (not by either of those I asked). Cleary Gottlieb is arguing to get accused money launderer released, flashes a photo of a passport stamp he says supersedes expired residency card
Note that the US Attorney came in with a bail package; the judge questioned it based on risk of flight. Now stand-in AUSA is directed to tell actual AUSA (she/her) what came uo, to reconsider or appeal. At 8 pm, still 1 more case to come...
Now up: accused knifepoint and zip tie kismapper Owen Drain a/k/a White Boy. He works for the City of Yonkers. Gets free Federal Defender. Detective told Marshall, Whatdaya want me to do, a bloodtest? Reference was made to HIV. There is no one else in gallery.
Drain's Federal Defender asks for release on bail, despite possible life sentence applicable to this type of kidnapping. AUSA Ni Qian says he lured victim ("he") - whom he'd paid for sex - into his car. Pulled gun, demanded iCloud wiped of images of himself
Owen Drain was arrested Minday in Harrison NY with a gun, an "expandable baton and testisterone." The earlier outburst mentioning HIV now put into context. Judge called a Marshal into robing room, no Press - a pattern
AUSA Qian says Owen Drain told Marshals he takes methadone. No mention of the outburst about possible HIV. Now Federal Defender says release him on $75,000 bond
Eric Drain is 35, has worked for Parks Department in Westchester County for 4 years, is a Teamsters member, now lives with his wife in Tuchahoe, NY - address was given in open court (albeit with only Inner City Press here).
AUSA Ni Quan says Owen Drain bragged that he just had dinner with a judge Here, Judge Moses orders Drain detained. Story - & podcast then #Periscope - soon
