Thread by @innercitypress

OK - now in North Korea crypto case, Ethereum's Virgil Griffith is present, US wants to revoke bail @SDNYLIVE innercitypress.com/sdnysealed35nk… Inner City Press will live tweet, thread below

Judge Castel has entered: All rise.
Two prosecutors, 1 pre-trial services officer. Griffith and 2 lawyers.
AUSA: The defendant tried to access his crypto accounts, using a 3d party, evading computer monitoring condition.

AUSA: His mother impersonated him. The defense counsel's involvement does not mitigate the risk of flight. "He's a millionaire with ties abroad."

Judge Castel: How much time might he face?
AUSA: 20 years.
Judge Castel: Were the funds frozen?
AUSA: Coinbase said they would not release them... He was thrown out of hotel in LA, after bragging about North Korea and crypto, he told staff, Read about me.

AUSA: The defendant has violated his bail conditions.
Judge Castel: Mr Klein?
Ms Axel: It's a misunderstanding. He's only banned from cold wallets.
His father is here.
[True: here in courtroom gallery with Inmer City Press]

Judge Castel hands out law of 2d Circuit on advice of counsel as a defense.
[Note: There are no US Marshals in the courtroom now.]

Ms Axel seems to acknowledge that Mrs Griffith made it appear to Coinbase that she was her son.
Judge Castel: Did he email Coinbase?
Seems so.
Judge Castel reads Judge Broderick's Jan 2, 2020 bond order.
Axel: You modified it.
Judge Castel: So it's my fault...

Axel cites Docket 92, allowing emails with non attorneys.
Judge Castel: The no-crypto provision was not modified. You have a problem here, Ms. Axel.

Judge Castel: His mother's Internet use was on hid behalf, and in his name.
Axel: His father put Virgil's name in his phone to get in today.
Judge Castel: Is Ethereum paying for any of his defense?
Klein: Not in public.
[Sidebar with white noise]

Klein comes into gallery and whispers with Virgil's father, returns to sidebar with Judge Castel and prosecutors.

Axel: We spoke with pre-trial services officer Carl in Alabama... Virgil's parents are upstanding members of the Tuscaloosa community.
Judge Castel: Pre-Trial works for the Court.

Two US Marshals have come into the courtroom. One goes forward and sits directly behind Griffith. Axel is still talking.

Judge Castel: Last word to the government.
AUSA: They knew accessing crypto currency accounts was forbidden. These are just post hoc justifications.

AUSA: He's told No, then tries to circumvent. He's an expert in the Dark Web, and searching it. On Aug 7, 2019 he said, The Americans let you get away with it once.

Judge Castel: I don't have to find a violation. This is a bail review.
Axel: Dissidents use the Dark Web. He has PhD, he could do this. Doctor Evil does this with a burner from Starbucks, not through his mother.

Judge Castel: He's charged in a single IEEPA count. Trial is near. The circumstances have changed. Ether has gone up by ten times. It changes the calculus. Bond Paragraph 14 was violated.

Judge Castel: My concern is risk of flight. The defendant is remanded.