Thread by @innercitypress

OK - Larry Ray trial in last day of evidence has IRS agent crossed, after Italy/LES painter's name drops patreon.com/posts/64553962 #JohnListGone (blues below). Inner City Press is covering the case & will live tweet, thread below

https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1507740632315482130

AUSA: Money doesn't have to go through a bank accountable to be taxable, does it?
IRS Agent: It does not.
AUSA: No further questions. Our next witness is Maritza Rosario, who requires an interpreter.
Judge Liman: Let's take a stretch break.

AUSA: Mrs. Rosario, why did Santos Jr. say he needed money?
Mrs. Rosario: He said he had broken Mr. Larry Ray's refrigerator... I gave him over $150,000.
AUSA: What did you understand it was for?
Federal Defender: Objection! Hearsay!
Judge: I'll permit it.

Now cross-examination.
Federal Defender: You didn't really believe Santos had broken those things at Mr. Ray's, right?
Mrs. Rosario: What was I to do? He said he owed the money.

Re-direct.
AUSA: You called 911 about Santos Jr., right?
Mrs. Rosario: Yes. I also called the police other times.
AUSA: Why did you give your children more than $150,000?
Mrs. Rosario: I didn't know what else to do. I was worried about my children.

OK, jury is back from break and now the US is about to play the Larry Ray recorded prison calls they've been arguing about.
[Ring. Ring.]
"This call is from...'Ray' ... from a federal prison. It is being recorded."
Larry Ray: Do you have something to write with?

Larry Ray: We need an index of the evidence... There's are ones from Claudia about setting me up...
AUSA: Play 701B.
Larry Ray: Find an email that Raven sent to Claudia about Dan, saying things that were not good about Dan. Anything negative about Dan

Larry Ray: We need to list when when was Claudia at the apartment... Claudia said she wanted to stab people like 50 times... Keep the more violent ones from Claudia. What did Felicia tell you?
AUSA: 701F.
Voice (Pappy?) "And you will have my love forever."

Larry Ray: We need to track down where Dan talked about killing birds, and cats, and all that.
AUSA: June 19, 2020, the call, play it, 702A.
Larry Ray: The portfolio is worth $34 million.
Larry Ray: We need to locate video of Santos saying he poisoned me

AUSA: The government rests its case.
Judge Liman: Jurors, we're going to let you go for the weekend. Be here Monday morning.
For now, more #JohnListGone patreon.com/posts/64553962

With jury gone:
Federal Defender: We move to dismiss under Rule 29.
Judge Liman: I'm going to reserve on that. Please set up Mr. Ripa as a witness.
It's Larry Ray's lawyer Glenn Ripa, for arguments about "advice of counsel."

Federal Defender: What do you do?
Glenn Ripa: I'm an attorney, sole practitioner. I went to Fordham University School of Law. Before that I worked as a supervisory agent at the IRS. After, I went to Brooklyn DA from 1985 to 1988, private practice since

Federal Defender: Do you have recollection of who Ms. Drury said directed her to poison Mr. Ray?
Ripa: Her mother.
Federal Defender: Was the housing court matter the only time you heard about poisoning?
Ripa: No. I had an ongoing relationship with these people.

Federal Defender: How did you think Ms. Drury made money?
Ripa: I understood she was a prostitute.
Federal Defender: Did you provide legal advice to Mr. Ray?
Ripa: Yes, that she was paying him for poisoning him, so it was restitution. I told him no need to pay tax

Ripa: I wrote to the AUSA who had prosecuted Bernard Kerik. My understanding was the poisoning of Larry Ray was directed by Bernard Kerik.
Cross examination:
AUSA: Did you know that AUSA Carbone did not prosecute a trial against Mr Kerik?
Ripa: I thought he did.

AUSA: Did AUSA Carbone call you and tell you that Mr. Ray was, colloquially, "nuts"?
Ripa: I don't remember.
AUSA: How much would you think Claudia Drury would owe Larry Ray if she poisoned him?
Ripa: I don't know.

Judge Liman: You don't have phone records?
[Former IRS agent now lawyer] Ripa: No.
Judge Liman: How much did you charge Larry Ray?
Ripa: Like 10 grand.
Judge Liman: You have no bank records?
Ripa: Not back that far.

Judge Liman: When were you retained?
Ripa: I'm not really sure.
Judge Liman: Do you prepare engagement letters?
Ripa: Sometimes not.
Judge Liman: Did you consider yourself hired by Mr. Ray about taxes?
Ripa: [long pause] No.

Judge Liman: Mr. Ripa, you may leave.
[Once he's gone:]
Judge Liman: Will the AUSA proffer what AUSA Carbone would say?
AUSA: That Larry Ray is not a reliable narrator of facts...

Judge Liman: It might be relevant if Mr. Ray had hired a lawyer to go to the US Attorney's Office with evidence he said shows he was poisoned. But I'm not sure that's what we have here. If it came in, I think AUSA Carbone could take the stand in rebuttal

Judge Liman: We'll take a break for the parties to consider my draft jury charge.
Stories coming on InnerCityPress.com and patreon.com/posts/64553962

They're back. Judge Liman says Larry Ray is NOT entitled to an advice of counsel defense, but he will allow some limited testimony by Glenn Ripa. Written decision to follow. Off the record, Judge Liman says the case has been well argued.

In other (sexual abuse) news, Larry Ray trial charging conference just ended at 6:28 pm on Friday. Ray's lawyers are to say by Sat 5 pm if he'll testify. If not, Monday 2 short witnesses then closing arguments. We'll be here #johnListGone patreon.com/posts/64500720