Thread by @innercitypress

OK - In US v. Larry Ray, Sarah Lawrence College sex cultist, at 10:30 am it's his bail application, after he gets (or doesn't get) free Federal Defender, in SDNY Magistrates Court Inner City Press covers daily patreon.com/posts/34366644 - now this live-tweeted thread

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer In the run-up to the 10:30 am (now delayed) Larry Ray proceeding, AUSA Danielle Sassoon and two others were summoned back into the Mag Judge's robing room. Meanwhile the two Federal Defenders were in the cell block talking with Ray. Perhaps it will be explained.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer OK, it's begun: Marni Lenox of Federal Defenders for the defendant, Larry Ray. She tells Mag Judge Fox it's also on for formal appointment of counsel. Judge Fox says he has the financial affidavit; shows it to Ray, who swears to it.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: It appears to me that you have the means to obtain counsel. But you have been able to obtain counsel. I will require you to pay for the services of the Federal Defender.

[Inner City Press asks and will ask: What are the Federal Defender's rates?]

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox tells Judge Fox Mr. Ray is having a hard time hearing, so he'll switch seats with the other FD, Ms. Cross-Goldenberg. FD Lenox says she will propose conditions of release, but it's the US' burden.
Judge Fox: It's your application. What's your proposal?

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: He'd be subject to home detention, computer but with restrictions: work related purposes and to review discovery. Phones only to counsel & those approved.
Judge Fox: Any more?
FD: Would you like to make my arguments now?
Judge Fox: That's why we're here.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox calls the NYMagazine story "salacious." Says, "The last thing Mr. Ray wants to do is run away from this. He has every intention of telling his side of the story. He sent letters to the US Attorney's Office asking that they investigate these allegations."

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: My understanding is that the government is going to argue risk of flight backed on a decade old divorce case that 'sprouted' many of these issues.
13 years ago the US Marshals broke Mr. Ray's wrist. Now you have this old "use of force" report.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: Mr. Ray's older daughter was a month shy of turning 18 years old. She was nearly a legal adult. The pre trial services report flagged his history of international travel. But he does not have a passport. His last trip was 20 years ago.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: He was born in NY, and currently lives in NJ. They say he does not have strong community ties. But he does. His birth mother and step father are in court today. His father was in court last week. I speak with him once a day.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: Pre Trial Services says he uses an alias, Grecco. That's his birth name. He changed it to step father's. They say he doesn't have verifiable work. But he buys and sells domain names.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: Is Mr. Ray a danger to the community? If so why did they wait so long to arrest him? The allegations came to light in April 2019, nearly a year ago. The allegations for sex trafficking and forced labor, they said they had support for them.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: But the government did not arrest him. They secretly applied for search warrants. They waited. For months. And now they claim that he is a danger. This case is about a handful of adults in their late 20s.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: No new conduct with individuals he met in the last 10 years. Female Victim-1, Mr. Ray has not had contact with her since April 2019. And Male Victim-1, no contact since 2013.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: The government has known of the others since July 2019, that Mr Ray lives with these supposed victims. If it is the case that your Honor is concerned with the well-being of these alleged victim, you can order no contact.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: I'll hear the government.
AUSA Sassoon: Will the defense clarify the location of the proposed home detention?
FD Lenox: He could live either with his birth father in NYC, or with a friend of his in NJ. Both are in court today.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: The birth father is in Staten Island. The friend is in Piscataway.
AUSA Sassoon: All factor favor detention.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer [Getting to decision time]...FD Lenox: Mr Ray has been losing money, as domain names escape him. He has to be there and do work. He has to be there to sell domain names. His portfolio seems valuable but it's not liquid.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: The government has not frozen his assets yet, but they likely would if he is released. The co-called admission the prosecution says Mr. Ray made in his post arrest statements. But they are not criminal unless you connect all of the dots.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: It doesn't sound as though Mr. Ray has tried to tamper with witnesses since this case began, by himself. If it's happened, it is not coming from Mr Ray. His EDNY conviction is 20 years old. The others at 10 years old, from a child custody dispute

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: Defense counsel received videos late in the afternoon on Friday. The MCC having been on lock down since Friday, no consultation has been possible.
Judge Fox: Would you like to suspend the proceedings so you can review those videos with him?

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer FD Lenox: No, your Honor. Given all of this, I believe we have rebutted the presumption and I ask you release him on the conditions we laid out at the start.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: You indicated he changed his birth name - was it a legal change, from Grecco to Ray?
FD Lenox: Yes, he's adopted.
AUSA Sassoon: Defense counsel has maligned some of the government's witnesses. The exhibits speak for themselves.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox (to Lenox) Orders of protection had to be issued against your client previously. What can you tell me about them?
FD Lenox: There was Mr. Ray's ex-wife. The orders of protection went both ways. There was another 1 involving a different woman. It's sealed

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer AUSA Sassoon: The defendant violated a New Jersey order when he abducted one of his daughters from a facility.
FD Lenox: She was 17 and refused to return to live with her mother.
AUSA Sassoon: in the context of Defendant convincing his daughter she'd been abused

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: Are the ledgers in handwriting?
AUSA Sassoon: The 2017 pick up and repair ledger is typed. The other is handwritten, but not his handwriting but of a woman directed to participate in the sex trafficking

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: Who typed the ledger?
AUSA Sassoon: It was in the home in which he was arrested.
FD Lenox: A home that belongs to another man
AUSA Sassoon: ... who is not involved in the sex trafficking

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer AUSA Sassoon: the Defendant operated primarily in cash and the domain name business to avoid detection.
Judge Fox: How do you link all these funds to Mr. Ray?
AUSA Sassoon: The victim would give him cash or wire to the female associate. Or to his Go Daddy business

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer AUSA Sassoon: We have call recordings of calls between these women and the bank, and it's clear he's in the background. He banked through these women. He'd go around with a backpack full of cash.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: The information proffered during this proceeding show family ties in New Jersey, and family and friends in court for you today. You have a prior criminal history. It is alleged you violated terms of release previously.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: You are self-employed, in domain names. The government says it has witnesses to your abusive conduct, including of those living with you at the time of your arrest..
.
I am not persuaded that that are conditions to release you.

@MatthewLeeICP @sdnylive @TomthunkitsMind @MyCentralJersey @intelligencer Judge Fox: Detention is warranted in this case. You will be detained without bail. Anything else?
FD Lenox: No.
Judge Fox: Good day.
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