Saturday, December 13, 2025
Friday, December 12, 2025
In Luigi Mangione Hearing Day 7 PO Heuston On Gun Inner City Press First Opposed Sealing
by Matthew Russell Lee, Substack Book Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 12 – Luigi Mangione was presented in Federal court on December 19 on four charges, one of them death penalty eligible, for the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Inner City Press was there, covering the case toward a book.
On April 1 DOJ announced it will seek the death penalty against Mangione.
In the interim, after some push back, Inner City Press published a book Luigi Mangione Lone Wolf here, now Amazon here
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
Late on December 2 Inner City Press emailed, then on December 3 faxed and hand-delivered, a letter asking to be heard and for unsealing, here.
After handing in the letter and getting it stamped at 10 am, Inner City Press stayed in and covered Justice Carro's courtroom past 5 pm. Then:
Justice Carro said, "Mr. Lee? Come up to the rail." I did. He said, I've read your letter. I intend tomorrow to decide what part of what is being presented came be made public to the Press. And on December 4 he said it would happened (we continue to await past 5 pm, but believe). On the stand December 4 was Officer Frye, jousting with Jacob Kaplan. How many more days?
On that, Dec 4 extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
On December 8, there were things said about sealing that made little sense - extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
On December 9 Officer Fox was crossed about handcuffing Mangione ten second after he declined to speak. Fox cited the knife
extra on X for Subscribers here & Substack here
On December 11, there were Hanley and Burns; on December 12 there was Officer McCoy, who used to deliver pizzas, and Detective Heuston who came dressed in a suit
Dec 11 extra on X for Subscriber here and Substack here
On unsealing bid, more / extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
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At UNCA Ball Guterres a No Show But Woody Allen Defender Feted Amid Undisclosed Costs
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, Dec 12 – In the UN bar now on December 12 there is an overpriced tuxedo event which was billed as featuring UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Expensive tickets were sold - previous guests have included the indicted and imprisoned UN briber Ng Lap Seng and others. Then, no Guterres. Instead, PGA Annalena Baerbock, the subject of detailed complaints of corruption.
Also celebrated is Javier Bardem, who famously defended Woody Allen (whose photos with Jeffrey Epstein were released in DC today).
In the morning Inner City Press asked dozens of UN officials in writing to "immediately disclose the financial and other relationships and payments between the UN and UNCA for use of the Delegates Lounge and any other facility for tonight's "gala" with the PGA, and how it relates to the stated policy (including on paper towels and Cafe) of saving money." No answer. Just UNITAR patting itself on the back.
The UN Correspondents Association will be giving a "Gold" award to two of its own board members. The membership includes Iranian state media known to feature "interviews" of tortured guests. Javier Bardem is another honoree.
The UNCA group targeted Inner City Press, ultimately working with Guterres to have it banned from the UN, after it reported that UNCA President Gianpaolo Piolo gave an UNCA event to Sri Lankan ambassador Palitha Kohona after engaging in a financial transaction with his. Pioli is still on the board, having handed over the presidency to a friendly fellow Italian. Whistleblowers be damned - and ousted.
This is today's UN - and we will have more on it.
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OCC Rubber Stamps Crypto Banks Sans CRA As Solowin Brags Can Buy a US Bank Charter
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY/CHINATOWN, Dec 12 – The dubious nature of cross-border banking and crypto regulation is highlighted by Hong Kong-based Solowin Holdings bragging it is near buying a US bank charter - with nothing in it. See below.
Fair Finance Watch has filed detailed comments with the OCC including about the lack of Community Reinvestment Act and other safeguards (this the day after it live tweeted the sentencing of Terra Labs / LUNA's Do Kwon) but on December 12 Comptroller Gould bragged
- OCC Decision to Conditionally Approve First National Digital Currency Bank, National Association (PDF)
- OCC Decision to Conditionally Approve Ripple National Trust Bank (PDF)
- OCC Decision to Conditionally Approve BitGo Bank & Trust, National Association (PDF)
- OCC Decision to Conditionally Approve Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association (PDF)
- OCC Decision to Conditionally Approve Paxos Trust Company, National Association (PDF)
We'll have more on this. On September 8, the Office of the Comptroller cryptically announced via Bulletin that "whether a bank has engaged in politicized or unlawful debanking is a factor the OCC may consider, on a case by case basis, in determining the bank’s CRA rating." So will the banks that turned away - or bad mouthed - crypto firms now be downgraded under CRA?
On Solowin, chair Peter Lok said "this clean-charter opportunity would provide us with the ultimate strategic flexibility to innovate, scale our fiat-based services." That it, directly into FDIC-insured banking with little review, by buying an empty shell. This should and will be questioned.
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Fed Rubber Stamps PNC Reciting Fair Finance Watch Comments But No Rebuttal So AI Next
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, Dec 11 – As PNC Bank has grown it has become more disparate in its lending. After its CEO Bill Demchak announced a $4.1 billion proposal to buy FirstBank and bragged, "We just effectively bought Colorado," Fair Finance Watch prepared an early filing to the regulators demanding scrutiny and hearings. While preparing for PNC's sure to be coming next bank-grab as PNC expands in AI and crypto, FFW commented twice, as noted by the Fed:
"The Board received two timely adverse comments on the proposal, both from the same commenter.32 The commenter objected to the proposal, alleging that, based on data reported under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (“HMDA”), 33 PNC Bank made fewer home loans to African American individuals as compared to white individuals nationwide, including in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Alabama, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, California, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Delaware, Massachusetts, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Wisconsin in 2024. The commenter also alleged that PNC Bank denied home loan applications of African American individuals at a higher rate than those of white individuals. 34 The commenter requested that the Board consider and hold hearings regarding a consumer complaint submitted by an unknown customer of PNC Bank to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) regarding an allegation that the consumer’s account was frozen by the bank without explanation, which was published on the CFPB’s consumer complaint database (“CFPB database”). The commenter also more generally requested that the Board review consumer complaints in the CFPB’s database regarding PNC Bank."
But there is no rebuttal. Game on - as PNC promotes crypto trading, orders staff back to the office only to fire then for AI - and to outsource decisions to AI. It will all be opposed.
On October 15 the OCC provided some responsive documents - but withheld in full 435 pages, while providing suborned letters from supportive commenters who have PNC on their Board of Directors (can you say, conflict of interest) or who name support. OCC responsive documents in Inner City Press' CloudDocument here.
In state after state, PNC for African Americans has (many) more denials than originations, while the opposite is true for white borrows. The pattern is striking:
In New York, where PNC recently and unceremoniously closed a deposit facility, PNC in 2024 denied 52 applications from African Americans while making fewer, only 28 loans - while it made fully 289 loans to whites and denied only 252 applications. This follows the same PNC pattern and is disparate.
In Colorado, which PNC CEO's says the bank has now "effectively bought," PNC in 2024 denied 12 applications from African Americans while making only 17 loans - while it made fully 422 loans to whites and denied only 244 applications. This is disparate.
In Arizona, where PNC lists 60 branches and now proposes to further expand, PNC in 2024 denied 15 applications from African Americans while making only 22 loans - while it made fully 796 loans to whites and denied only 466 applications. This is disparate. There are more states.
Watch this site.
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Do Kwon Pled Guilty Now Gets 15 Years Says Will Try to South Korea at Half Way Point
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 11 – After the collapse of the crypto firm Terraform Labs, Inner City Press covered the SEC's trial against it and Do Kwon - except that Kwon was in Montenegro. Now, Do Kwon book here
Early on January 2, 2025 Inner City Press learned and vlogged that Kwon would be presented later in the day before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
The case was reassigned to Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to whom the US Attorney's Office on January 6 directed a victims' notice motion, on Patreon here
On August 11, 2025 Judge Engelmayer docketed an order that Do Kwon was a change of plea - to guilty - on August 12 at 10:30 am. Order on Patreon here.
On August 12 Inner City Press live tweeted the guilty plea, including AUSA saying her Office will advocate for a 12 year sentence if Do Kwon commits no new crimes. Thread.
On November 26 Do Kwon's lawyer wrote in a heavily redacted submission that he should be sentenced to no more than five years, not the 12 years cited in his plea agreement - and the 12 years imposed on Mashinsky. 23 page filing on Patreon here
More on Substack here
On December 11, starting at 11 am and ending at 5 pm, Judge Engelmayer sentenced Do Kwon to 15 years. Inner City Press thread here
More / extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here.
Patreon (with earlier US case status summary) here
Inner City Press published a book: "Crypto Death Spiral: Could a Luna Rise Again?" by Matthew Russell Lee, ebook here, audiobook here.
Watch this site
The case is USA v. Kwon, 1:23-cr-151 (Engelmayer)
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Ex DEA Campo Charged with Laundering for Mexican Cartel Has 17 Phones Seized so Feb 6
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 11 – An former DEA official charged with conspiracy to laundering money for a Mexican drug cartel argued to be released on bail on December 5 - and lost. Inner City Press at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York live tweeted:
OK now at bail hearing on Paul Campo, a former high-ranking DEA official charged with conspiring to launder $12 million to support Mexican drug cartel.
Federal Defender for Campo: This is perposterous. Why would they be paid $1.5 million to convert into cryptocurrency? He should be released. AUSA: Pre-Trial Services also recommends detention
FD: His bank account has less then $500,000, he makes $200,000 a year. AUSA: He could flee Judge Lehrberger: This is a presumption case.
Judge: I order defendant detained
On December 8, the assigned District Judge set a conference for December 11: "as to Paul Campo, Robert Sensi: A conference will take place in this matter on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
Inner City Press went, and live tweeted here
All rise! Arthur Aidala for Mr Campo [in custody] Ms Kramer for co-D [not in custody] Judge Gardephe: Narco terrorism and money laundering are alleged
AUSA: Our seizures include 17 phones Kramer for Sensi [actually, he is detained - he's shorter and slumped in chair, couldn't see his MDC uniform] first week in February Judge: Feb 6, 12:30
The case is USA v. Campo, et al., 1:25-cr-663 (Gardephe)
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UN Volker Turk Collaborated in Banning Press Now Staff Cite Wasteful Hub, Meditation Room
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, Dec 10 – How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Today's example is again from the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, to which Guterres appointed his unqualified crony Volker Turk more than two years ago.
From OHCHR staff: "Dear Mr. Lee
Things keep getting worse in Volker Turk’s corruption riddled OHCHR. Today marked the most pathetic UN Human Rights Day ever. Our jobs are at risk by incompetent Turk. After another pathetic year Türk has fired 300 staff (mainly women) in 2025, doubled OHCHR debt from 45 to 97 US million while he has kept soulless deputy Nada Al Nashif, promoted corrupt Kim Taylor, promoted Maarit Kohonen who favored her husband from P1 to P4, promote his favorites like Scott Campbell to get a D1 (sent to Colombia although he does not speak Spanish and at the time when 40% of the posts are cut), hired Michael Camillieri who got a D1 without UN or human rights experience, Francesco Motta, sent to a new pointless office in Vienna, Turk promised a D1 post to lazy and invisible acquaintance Matthias Behnke and supports toxic Peggy Hicks as his new deputy.
Turk allows threats to forcibly transfer staff and retaliates against whistleblowers. He does not care about OHCHR nor about the staff. He is vain an narcissist. Volker Turk bemoans about the lack of funding from member states while wastes the money. Member states, US and EU, should carefully watch Volker Turk’s misuse of funds and hold him accountable.
Volker Turk brags about opening a “Meditation Room” while OHCHR staff have to work from home because of lack of office space. Turk’s Knowledge Hub is a sad and pointless 12 million dollars waste. OHCHR has become a pathetic joke.
There is no accountability and Volker Turk feels he is untouchable because his relation with corrupt SG Guterres. How many more will be fire in 2026? How many more field offices will be closed so that Volker Turk’s friends get fat contracts? Staff are no longer afraid to speak up! OHCHR needs a new High Commissioner urgently.
Inner City Press re-applied to re-enter the UN on June 19, 2025 - no answer at all from Melissa Fleming, Tel Mekel, Stephane Dujarric. Today's UN is corrupt.
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As Prosperity Bids for Southwest Challenged on Disparities It Belatedly Unseals Exhibits
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SOUTH BRONX/SDNY, Dec 9 – Amid the Federal Reserve's proposal to cut 30% of its regulatory staff, Prosperity Bank has applied to the Fed to buy San Antonio-based Southwest Bank for $269 million.
Fair Finance Watch on November 7 commented to the Federal Reserve:
This is a timely first comment on the application by Prosperity Bancshares, Inc., to merge with Southwest Bancshares, Inc., and indirectly acquire Texas Partners Bank.
Fair Finance Watch has reviewed the just-released 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of Prosperity Bank, not reviewed in any Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation. In the state of Texas in 2024, Prosperity Bank denied 109 applications from African Americans while making fewer than half that, 40 loans - while it made fully 1502 loans to whites and denied only 904 applications. This is disparate.
In Oklahoma in 2024, Prosperity Bank denied three applications from African Americans while making only four loans - while it made fully 84 loans to whites and denied only 22 applications. Though lesser volume, this too is disparate.
Also for now consider: "Does anyone else find Prosperity Bank terrible? Should I go shopping for another bank. I don't know if this is the place to vent about this, but it seems that Prosperity Bank is constantly triggering fraud alerts and then it's extremely long waits on customer service calls to get them restored, and twice I have had all my cards canceled" and "I was with them since they were Legacy Texas and then Viewpoint and once Prosperity took over service completely tanked." Would that happen to Southwest?
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas responded that "please be advised that the Board will not consider the part of the comment that pertains to a proposal by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) regarding the FDIC’s procedures for insured nonmember bank branch applications. This part of the comment is considered non-substantive, and it does not relate to the statutory factors the Board considers in acting on an application under the Bank Holding Company Act."
Inner City Press filed a second comment:
Earlier this evening Fair Finance Watch received from the FRB of Dallas a portion of the application, noting that a FOIA request was required for the rest. We have FOIA-ed, including communications: This is also a request of all records reflecting this delegated approval, including why it is listed as "addition" in the H2: Prosperity Bancshares, Inc., Houston, Texas—to acquire by merger American Bank Holding Corporation and thereby indirectly acquire American Bank, National Association, both of Corpus Christi, Texas.* Approved: October 28, 2025 *Addition We have courteously been told "This is a 'Reg Y request fulfillment' as delineated in the e-mail – and the Reserve Bank wished to fulfill this request as expeditiously as possible." But still do not understand it. The FRB of Dallas also ruled, in advance, that the Governors will not consider the portion of our first comment about the federal regulators' reduction of public notice. FFW believes that is a determination that must be made by the Board, not a Reserve Bank on a delegated basis. Fair Finance Watch has reviewed the just-released 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data of Texas Partners Bank, not reviewed in any Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation - Surprisingly, Texas Partners lists only a loan to a white borrower. We are inquiring into this, as well as into what the FRB will do with the CFPB telling DDC it will receiving no more funds from the FRB and foreseeably close, along with the HMDA portal, at the end of 2025. FFW has petitioned the FRB on that - but that is apparently beyond the scope of this comment (to be determined by the Governors). In the portion of the Application provided, Prosperity gushes about its CRA and fair lending record without mentioning a 2023 condition imposed by the FDIC after comments by FFW. For the record on this application, this
How has Prosperity complied - given that Prosperity is not even disclosing the condition to the Federal Reserve, including on the record application approved under delegated and apparently expedited authority?
On December 9, Prosperity belatedly removed its specious claim to confidential treatment for exhibits - "The Applicant provided the Board with an updated public exhibits section of the application, which includes exhibits previously designated as confidential. Accordingly, we are providing you with the updated public exhibits volume of the application pursuant to Regulation Y." But this is long after the Fed says its comment period is closed. So what's the point?
FFW and Inner City Press have been deeply concerned about the rush by the Federal Reserve to rubber-stamp mergers by redliners, money launderers and predatory lenders. This has been killing the Community Reinvestment Act --
We note the FRS proposal to cut 30% of supervisory staff. Really?
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NYC Is Sued For List of Non Citizens in Bronx Shelter with Rap Sheets so Jan Briefs or Change
by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY EXCLUSIVE, Dec 9 – US Homeland Security Investigations has asked the City of New York of a list of those in the homeless shelter at 825 East 141st Street in the South Bronx who are not citizens or nationals of the US and retain criminal histories for crimes ranging from murder and rape to burglary and assault of a law enforcement officer.
The Adams administration, described as previously working cooperatively, has deemed this subpoena too broad, triggering a lawsuit filed on December 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where Inner City Press found it.
The US Attorney's Office, proposing a briefing schedule of January 2 and January 9, notes that "the parties have conferred cooperatively."
There is a new NYC Administration taking office on January 1. Watch this site.
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