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US Used Visa To Lure Indian Money Launderer To NY For Arrest But Now Ordered Free on Bail

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - The Source

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 20 – In a court case that remains sealed but was witnessed by Inner City Press on December 20, either the US State Department or the US Attorney for the Souther District of New York - or both - have erred.

   The case concerns a businessman, an Indian citizen, alleged to have used his electronics company to launder money in Colombia. Cash from that country would be transferred to his company which would send electronics to Colombia where they would be re-converted into pesos, seemingly clean.

   The defendant came to the US on a student visa and stayed for more than a decade, with a home in Jersey, a wife and two children. He left the country and applied for a visa to return, which was denied.

    Meanwhile he had been the subject of a sealed indictment in the SDNY. So when he applied a second time for a visa, this time the US State Department approved it - to lure him back for arrest.

    Then, Assistant US Attorney Cecilia Vogel told SDNY Magistrate Judge Kevin N. Fox, in a December 21 proceeding at which Inner City Press was the only media, the State Department would cancel the visa, upon the defendants entry and arrest.

  The defendant entered, was arrested, and was presented before Judge Fox. He asked to be released on bail. AUSA Vogel said he would then be in the US illegally. But, Judge Fox pointed out, his visa on its face said it was valid until 2024.   But it is going to be canceled, AUSA Vogel said. But isn't that tying, or purporting to tie, Magistrate Judge Fox' hands?   

  Judge Fox ordered the defendant released on $500,000 bond, with two co-signers and $100,000 secured. This cannot be perfected immediately, and AUSA Vogel said for the record that US Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman may appeal. But the questions raised by this visa will continue. Inner City Press will remain on the case.  More on Patreon here.

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