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Click here for Inner City Press' weekday news reports, from the United Nations and elsewhere. Click here for a recent BBC piece on Inner City Press' reporting from the United Nations Search This Site Click for March 1, 2011 BloggingHeads.tv re Libya, Sri Lanka, UN Corruption by Inner City Press. Click here for Inner City Press front page
ICP has published a (double) book about
a variety of Bronx-relevant topics -- a review in
Commonweal magazine of Dec. 5, 2003, opines that
"Predatory Bender... is as vivid an account of life in
the Bronx as you are likely to read" -- click here for
sample chapters, here for
an interactive map,
here
for fast ordering
and
delivery, and here for
other ordering
information. See
also, "City
Lit: Roman a Klepto [Review of ‘Predatory Bender’],"
by Matt Pacenza, City Limits, Sept.-Oct. 2004. CBS
MarketWatch of April 23, 2004, says the
the novel has "some very funny moments," and that the
non-fiction mixes "global statistics and first-person accounts."
The Washington
Post
of March 15, 2004, calls Predatory Bender: America in
the Aughts "the first novel about predatory lending;" the
London
Times of April 15, 2004, "A Novel Approach," said it "has
a cast of colorful characters." The Pittsburgh
City Paper of Dec. 11, 2003, wrote that it "may, in fact,
be the first great American lending malfeasance novel" including
"low-level loan sharks, class-action lawyers, corporate bigwigs,
hired muscle, corrupt politicians, Iraq War veterans, Wall
Street analysts, reporters and one watchdog with a Web
site." And all in The Bronx! Click
here
for that
review; for more information, contact us.
2014: MRL on
Beacon Reader
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTROOM Exclusive, Sept 9 – In the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York on September 9, a detention hearing was
held by Magistrate Judge Steward D. Aaron on a
former Bronx school teacher charges with sexual
abusing girls from ten to thirteen years old.
Jesus Concepcion was arrested on August 7 in the
Western District of North Carolina on a
then-sealed indictment. In the month since,
Concepcion has retained his own New York defense
lawyer, affiliated at least in the docket with a
private investigation firm.
The
indictment says Concepcion "a/k/a Mr. C singled
out the Minor Victims for personal attention, he
gave them money, clothing, jewelry and other
gifts, and he provided them with alcohol...
inducing several of the Minor Victims to engage
in sexual activity with him."
But
no press release was put out about this case.
Judge
Aaron returned from a session with Pre Trial
Services and said he would release Conception on
a $1,000,000 bond, with travel restricted to
SDNY, EDNY and Carolina.
This case is US v. Concepcion, 21-cr-479 (Preska / Aaron).
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, September 1 – Eliezer Lopez sued
NYPD officers of the 42nd Precinct in The Bronx
for excessive force.
He
was chased, he says, by police who did not show
badges in Crotona Park North and Arthur Avenue.
He was pushed after being told, "this is what
happens when you run from the
cops."
On September 1 U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York Judge Loretta A.
Preska held a final pre-trial conference. Inner
City Press covered it.
Judge
Preska described how trial work during the time
of COVID, saying that this one will be in large
Courtroom 26B. She was asked, Is that where you
did the Donziger trial?
The
municipal defendants asked questions like, Can
we leave the drugs seized from plaintiff with
the Marshals overnight during the trial? It is
said the trial will begin on September 15.
The case is Laureano v. City of New York et al., 17-cv-181 (Preska)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, August 24 – Nicholas Joseph is
charged with narcotics conspiracy in The Bronx,
with a jury trial set for September 7.
U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York Judge P. Kevin Castel is managing the
proceeding, which Inner City Press is
covering.
The
US Attorney's Office on July 23 filed a motion
in limine seeking to show the jury some of
Joseph's rap videos including "gang signs, gang
colors and firearms" - and his lyrics.
Given
the First Amendment, is this really necessary?
On
August 24 a proceeding was held and Inner City
Press covered it. Joseph wants a 2 to 3 week
delay, citing the difficulty of access at Essex.
The US Attorney's Office opposed, and Judge
Castel told the parties that he has presided
over five jury trials since September 2020. (In
that he's neck and neck with Judge Jed Rakoff;
Judge Caproni is holding another jury trial,
this week).
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, August 17 – In the ongoing NYC
homeless class action Butler v. City of New
York, the plaintiffs have moved for a
preliminary injunctions against the involuntary
movement of any class member from a
de-densification hotel until notice and meetings
and reasonable
accommodations.
On August 17, U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York Judge Valerie E.
Caproni held a proceeding. Inner City Press
covered it.
In
the plaintiffs' papers, they give the example of
"AG" and say "he was scheduled to transfer to
Queens despite an RA request for a facility
closer to his medical providers in The Bronx,
but was told by shelter staff he would have to
appeal once he arrived at the new
shelter."
In
person, the plaintiffs' counsel gave more
examples of a lack continuity in communication
from social workers.
Judge Caproni remarked, I'm sorry to say but
that's below my paygrade... Nothing in the
settlement requires this level of hand-holding.
But
still she inquired, into what percentage of
shelter residents show up for the offered
meetings (over 70%).
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- The
Source
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, August 12 – Edward Rosado was
standing in front of a Footlocker on Fordham
Road in The Bronx when he was grabbed by the
throat by an officer of the NYPD and arrested.
The Bronx DA declined to prosecute.
Jump
Cut 1 to June 26, 2020 when U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of New York Judge
Ronnie Abrams held a proceeding. Inner City
Press covered it.
Judge Abrams granted the defendants summary
judgment on municipal liability / qualified
immunity and false arrest - but not on excessive
force.
Whereupon
Rosado's lawyer said it was time to go to a
jury, given he said the "George Floyd jury
effect."
He
also said he might ask for reconsideration on
the judicially created doctrine of qualified
immunity - he cited Clarence Thomas.
Judge
Abrams said the issue is settled in the Second
Circuit, perhaps one for appeal but not one to
further delay trial in this matter.
Jump
Cut 2 to August 10, 2021 when Judge Abrams held
another conference on the eve of trial. Inner
City Press covered it again. Rosado's lawyer
said he has a witness flying in from Florida; he
asked if he could email case law.
Judge
Abrams to her credit said she aims to have a
transparent docket, so to file all submissions
there.
On
August 12 Rosado was on the witness stand, and
Inner City Press covered it. Rosado described
being in a bus stop, then having his head
slammed against a metal machine, and being
choked with two hands. To assess the size of the
bus shelter, his lawyer compared it to the jury
box, drawing an election what was sustained. But
the point was made.
The case is Rosado v. Soriano et al., 16-cv-3310 (Abrams).
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Song
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- The
Source
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, August 6 – Defendant Sidney Scales
has been on trial this month, now resulting in a
jury verdict of guilty on five counts. He was
charged on seven counts. His former co-defendant
Ernest Horge back on February 27, 2020 said in
open court that it is unfair he is in the same
case as Scales, charged with conspiracy to
commit murder for hire.
On
November 11, 2020, Veterans Day, the US
Attorney's Office announced a superseding
indictment that formally charges Scales with
murder, and keeps Horge linked to him: "In the
Superseding Indictment, SCALES is charged with
causing another person to shoot at rival drug
dealers on June 9, 2017, in the vicinity of 1135
East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx, New York,
causing the death of Joshua Lopez. SCALES
and HORGE are also charged in the Superseding
Indictment with engaging in multiple specific
drug sales between November 2018 and February
2019, in addition to the narcotics conspiracy
charged in the initial indictment." The case was
reassigned to Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
Now:
"SYDNEY SCALES, a/k/a “Moe Black,” a/k/a “Sid,”
has been found guilty on five counts in a
Superseding Indictment, including charges of
murder-for-hire conspiracy, narcotics
conspiracy, a firearms offense, and two counts
of distributing crack cocaine."
Note:
the jury found Scales not guilty of murder while
engaged in a narcotics conspiracy, and murder
through use of a firearm.
SCALES is scheduled to be sentenced on November
18, 2021... Between in or about 2016 and in or
about 2019, SCALES participated in a conspiracy
to distribute crack cocaine, powder cocaine,
heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana in the Bronx and
elsewhere. SCALES also used, carried, and
possessed firearms, which were brandished and
discharged, in connection with the narcotics
conspiracy, and aided and abetted such firearms
offenses. For example, the Government
offered evidence that on December 1, 2016,
SCALES caused a shooting at rival drug dealers
standing in front of a convenience store located
next to the entrance of the West Farms subway
station. In addition, in
or about June 2017, SCALES conspired to commit
murder for hire, agreeing to compensate another
individual in return for locating and killing at
least one rival drug dealer." There were seven
counts in the superseding indictment.
The
process: July 20, Judge Rakoff held a proceeding
and ruled on a series of motions in limine. He
also endorsed the defense's request that John
Doe who had proffered with the government but
now cites the Fifth Amendment be deemed
unavailable for trial.
Judge
Rakoff told the lawyers to appeal on July 22 at
9 am in Courtroom 24B, with the jury to arrive
at 9:45 for opening statements.
On
July 22, the defense told the jury that while
Scales did sell some crack that they will see,
he did not order or commit a murder. Then the
evidence began, with a crime scene unit police
officer, describing beach chairs and blood on
East Tremont Avenue.
On
July 23, the prosecution put on the stand a
transit police officer who covered the 2 and 5
line, from Intervale Avenue to 180th Street. He
described hearing gun shots and coming down, and
a chase down 178th Street. A cooperator
described going to Hunts Point with a gun to
collect money.
Another cooperator, a woman, acknowledged that
in connection with her testimony, the US
Attorney's Office paid for her and her child's
travel. Judge Rakoff inquired into whether the
victim's text messages are hearsay; he asked
counsel to answer his questions and not
volunteer information.
On
July 26, a cooperator testified at length, about
losing confidences in Sid, after starting
dealing drugs at the age of 10, joining Nine
Trey and going to GEO (trajectory of Tekashi
#6ix9ine who is already out), then to Putnam. In
the beween, Hoffman between 189 and Fordham Road
in The Bronx. There were multiple objections,
most of them overruled by Judge Rakoff.
On
July 27, the defense cross-examined this
witness, at length. He was asked about a written
history of the gang, and the name of his
Instagram account, now and then. Judge Rakoff,
during a break, told defense counsel this was
straining relevance. But as always he closely
considered the proffered exhibits. But might the
exhibits, at least those admitted into evidence,
be placed on a publicly available platform or be
otherwise made available, as ordered
in the Weigand trial?
On
July 28, the witness (Santiago) was still being
cross examined, culminating in the defense
getting admitted, over the government's
objection, a recorded jail call of him saying
he'd need a gun when he got out. There followed
some re-direct, showing that Santiago was
nonetheless sometimes broke, and helped out by a
former girlfriend's mother who would bring
groceries to Hoffman Avenue in The Bronx when
she got off work at JFK.
On
July 29, the prosecution apologized for errors
in the binders and was told that coming up with
a new chart of phone calls and introducing it
without enough notice to the defense is not the
way to proceed. There's also this: ORDER as to
Sydney Scales: The C.J.A. attorney assigned to
receive cases on this day, Bennett Epstein, is
hereby ordered to assume representation of the
witness Antanaron Demery in the above captioned
matter. (Signed by Judge Jed S. Rakoff). Watch
this site.
On
Friday July 30 the defense on cross-examination
asked the witness about lapses in memory, after
all this time, and about how he was recruited as
a cooperator. Then the defense asked for the
weekend to make a written submission.
On
Monday August 2, yet another cooperator was
cross examined about how much time he spent with
Sidney Scales, and how much with "Ern." The AUSA
objected. The day ended with the charging
conference, broken up by two unrelated bond
hearings by Judge Rakoff, which Inner City Press
also covered, here.
On the morning of August 3, the US questioned a
witness who used Google Earth and StreetView to
describe the cell phone towers of West Farms,
then captured calling patterns.
On
August 4, the government described Scales using
an innocent women to drive his shooters to
Kingsbrige from West Farms via the Cross Bronx,
and said he is responsible for the death of
Joshua Lopez [DN,
News12].
The defense said Jose Santiago framed him. Next,
the instructions of law - then the verdict of
guilty on five counts. Watch this site.
The case is US v. Scales, 19-cr-96 (Rakoff).
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 25 – Nicholas Joseph is charged
with narcotics conspiracy in The Bronx, with a
jury trial set for September 7.
U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York Judge P. Kevin Castel is managing the
proceeding, which Inner City Press is
covering.
The
US Attorney's Office on July 23 filed a motion
in limine seeking to show the jury some of
Joseph's rap videos including "gang signs, gang
colors and firearms" - and his lyrics.
Given
the First Amendment, is this really necessary?
The case is US v. Joseph, 20-cr-603 (Castel)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 22 – Parrilla Latina restaurant
at 2501 Webster Avenue in The Bronx has been
sued for not paying
overtime.
On July 22, U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York Magistrate Judge Kevin N.
Fox held proceeding. Inner City Press covered
it.
A
previous conference on July 20 had been
adjourned for failure to attend. This time all
counsel were present.
Judge
Fox said if they wanted another conference it
would have to wait to September as he is fully
booked.
Back
in March it was said that discovery would be
complete by August 23.
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Story
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
FEDERAL
COURT / S Bronx, July 24 – Whether or not the
U.S. Community Reinvestment Act will be again
enforced until the new Administration and its
regulators is an open question. And the proposed
acquisition by disparate lending Valley National
Bank of The Westchester Bank in New York will be
a litmus test, for the Office of the Comptroller
of the Currency.
On
July 24, Fair Finance Watch (with Inner City
Press on the FOIA) filed the below with the OCC:
This
is a timely first comment opposing and
requesting an extension of the OCC's public
comment period on the Applications by Valley
National Bank to acquire The Westchester
Bank.
The
applicant Valley National Bank in 2020 in New
York State based on its disparate marketing made
1080 mortgage loans to whites, with 83 denials
to whites -- while making only 51 loans to
African Americans, with seven denials. This is
far out of keeping with the demographics, and
others lenders, in NYS - this is outrageous.
This
is a pattern. The applicant Valley National Bank
in 2020 in Florida based on its disparate
marketing made 859 mortgage loans to whites,
with 119 denials to whites -- while making only
45 loans to African Americans, with eight
denials. This is far out of keeping with the
demographics, and others lenders, Florida - this
is outrageous.
Beyond
its lending disparities, Valley National Bank is
being sued for mis-categorizing and underpaying
those who work for it. See, e.g., PALERMO v.
VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP (D.N.J. 2020) -
submitted for the record, and in light of the
new merger review Executive Order.
There is no public benefit to this
proposal.
Valley
National Bank should be precluded from acquiring
these branches: Yonkers 1900 Central Park
Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710 Corporate
Headquarters 12 Water Street, White Plains,
NY Mamaroneck Store Front Mamaroneck
305 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY
10543 Mount Kisco storefront Mount
Kisco 51 South Moger Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY
10549 Ossining, 240 S.
Highland Avenue Ossining 240 S. Highland Avenue,
Ossining, NY Brook Storefront Rye
Brook 800 Westchester Ave, Rye Brook, NY
10573 Thornwood storefront Thornwood
994 Broadway, Thornwood, NY 10594
White Plains storefront White Plains 464
Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY
10605
FFW and Inner City Press have been deeply
concerned about the rush by the OCC's penchant
to rubberstamp mergers by redliners,
particularly during the pandemic. We timely
request public hearings.
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY
COURTHOUSE, July 5 – Michael Castillo is accused
of murder for hire, of Hector Arias in 712 East
Gun Hill Road on March 10, 2011.
The
complaint says Castillo and Arias were rivals
selling marijuana around 193rd Street and
Broadway. The government argues that his
conviction for marijuana possession is
admissible as 404(b) evidence.
On
July 5, 2021, Inner City Press reported
that a trial
approaches on July 19 before
U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
Judge John G. Koeltl. Inner
City Press is following the
case.
Now
on July 9, ten days before trial, MICHAEL
CASTILLO, a/k/a “Squirrel,” pled guilty today in
Manhattan federal court in connection with the
March 10, 2011, murder of Hector Arias in the
Bronx, New York. U.S. District Judge John
G. Koeltl accepted the defendant’s guilty
plea. CASTILLO is scheduled to be
sentenced before Judge Koeltl on October 15,
2021, at 10:00 am.
The case is US v. Torres, 19-cr-428 (Koeltl)
***
By
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
-