By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Worth St Video

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Aug 7 –  In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, an arraignment was held by Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave former FBI agent Charles McGonigal, for helping Russian oligarch Deripaska in violation of US sanctions, and money laundering.

 McGonigal, who’d hired former US Attorney for the Eastern District of NY Seth duCharme, pled not guilty and was given a $500,000 personal recognisance bond bail deal. Thread below. He has also been indicted in the District for the District of Colombia and should appear there on January 25. Inner City Press will cover both cases.

Inner City Press covers the SDNY Mag Court(s). Related Mag Court live-tweeted thread (more on Patreon here) vlog here

January 23 McGonigal thread here:

McGonigal’s lawyer, former EDNY US Attorney Seth deCharme asks clerk about starting “paperwork,” making it seem his client already has a bail deal.

 All rise!

Time of arrest? Saturday 3:15 pm.

 Russian interpreter will be presented separately.

Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave runs through the charges, citing Russian bank and Cyprus corporation.

McGonagal, through deCharme, pleads not guilty.

AUSA: We propose release on $500,000 personal recognisance bond with 2 co-signers.

DuCharme: Both are in court today. [Note, in light of Sam Bankman-Fried’s secrecy: they are not wearing masks, not even COVID masks]

DuCharme: Mr McGonigal sometimes needs to travel overseas. [You don’t say] He may apply for permission in the future.

On February 9, Judge Rearden held a conference. Inner City Press was there, tweets here. Then: “Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Jennifer H. Rearden: Status Conference as to Charles McGonigal, Sergey Shestakov held on 2/9/2023. Defendant Charles McGonigal present with Retained attorney Seth DuCharme and Meagan Maloney. Defendant Sergy Shestakov present with Retained attorney Rita Glavin and Katherine Petrino. AUSA Hagan Cordell Scotten, Rebecca Dell and Derek Wikstrom present for the government. Next conference is scheduled for Thursday, March 9, 2023.

On March 9, Inner City Press was there. Thread here:

OK – now again ex FBI McGonigal and co-defendant oligarch case in SDNY.

McGonigal’s lawyer Seth DuCharme: We look forward to our trial. In the short term we can make motions.

Co-D Shestakov‘s lawyer: We’ll say more in our conference this afternoon [Sealed CIPA confetence]

Now talks turns to taking Rule 15 depositions abroad. “There are foreign nationals with exculpatory information,” co-D’s lawyer says.

Judge: Letter update in 30 days on April 5  conference in 60 days on May 10 at 2 pm at which we’ll pick a trial date.

But on May 9, counsel to co-defendant Sergey Shestakov wrote to Judge Rearden asking that “the Court set this matter down for another status conference in September or October, rather than set a trial date at this time.”

At the May 10 conference, she asked for 2025.  Inner City Press was there, thread:

now in US v McGonigal, his lawyer DuCharme says he’s perplexed by the amount of discovery in DDC and why no CIPA

Shestakov’s lawyer complains that DuCharme met with AUSA Scotten today in the SCIF, but she couldn’t be there (she still can’t under CIPA, no clearance). Does not want to set a trial date.

DuCharme says – twice – that he has no other trials (for now – he’s ex  EDNY)

Judge asks about another Deripaska case here  in SDNY  (that Inner City Press is also covering).

Now AUSA saying how he prosecuted the Mafia, some trials are short.

 Now Shestakov’s lawyer says she wants the Deripaska discovery, as an unindicted co-conspirator as she gets in a drug case. She wants trial in… 2025.

Judge: So, conference in September. For trial, hold some dates between March 1 and June 30.

 Now Sheshtakov’s lawyer cites case against NYPD officer for spying on Tibetans, that EDNY dropped. Hoping that happens here?

Judge: Status reports by June 2 and July 10, not the 3rd… And August 11, with conference on Sept 14 at 11:30.

On May 30, Judge Rearden issued this schedule: “Trial will commence on June 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. 2. Defendants’ pretrial motions are due February 2, 2024, with the Government’s responses due February 16, 2024, and Defendants’ replies, if any, due February 23, 2024. 3. Any motions in limine or trial memoranda, as well as proposed voir dire, proposed jury instructions, and proposed verdict forms, shall be filed by May 10, 2024. Any oppositions to motions in limine or trial memoranda shall be filed by May 24, 2024. Any motions to sever are due May 10, 2024, with responses due May 24, 2024. 5. A final pretrial conference will be held on May 30, 2024. (Signed by Judge Jennifer H. Rearden on 05/30/2023).”

On August 7, this: “ORDER as to Charles McGonigal: The Court has been informed that Defendant Charles McGonigal may wish to enter a change of plea. Accordingly, on August 15, 2023 at 12:15 p.m., a plea proceeding will take place in Courtroom 12B, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007. (Change of Plea Hearing set for 8/15/2023 at 12:15 PM in Courtroom 12B, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007 before Judge Jennifer H. Rearden) (Signed by Judge Jennifer H. Rearden on 8/7/2023) (ap).”

More on Substack here

The case is US v. McGonigal, et al., 23-cr-16 (Rearden)

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