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Dr Cruciani Death on Riker's Island Noted by SDNY as Sealing Appeal in 2CIR Set To End

By Matthew Russell Lee, more on Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, August 23 – A former pain management doctor who was indicted for sexually abusing female patients in three states for fifteen years was offered bail conditions to be released on the evening of October 20, 2021. Inner City Press was there, and again on October 21 when he was arraigned in a yellow prison jumpsuit.

  Jump cut to July 2022, Cruciani found guilty in NYS court, and August 2022, Cruciani found dead in Riker's Island. On August 17, the US asked to drop the Federal case: "LETTER MOTION addressed to Judge John P. Cronan from AUSAs Jacqueline Kelly and Jane Kim dated August 17, 2022 re: Nolle Prosequi of Criminal Case . Document filed by USA as to Ricardo Cruciani." More (reflection) on Patreon here.

Judge Cronan ordered: "ENDORSED LETTER as to Ricardo Cruciani addressed to Judge John P. Cronan from AUSAs Jane Kim / Jacqueline C. Kelly, dated August 17, 2022 re: Nolle Prosequi of Criminal Case. ENDORSEMENT: In light of the Defendant's passing and the Government's filing of the proposed order of nolle prosequi, by August 24, 2022, the parties shall advise the Court, either jointly or separately, as to their views on how to proceed as to the Court's Order dated April 4, 2022, see Dkt. 47, which granted Defendant's request to file the Financial Affidavits with proposed redactions and stayed any public unsealing of the Financial Affidavits pending the decision on Defendant's appeal. SO ORDERED. ( Responses due by 8/24/2022).

On August 23 the Federal Defenders via Daniel Habib wrote in that "the parties have conferred and agree that, in light of his death, Dr. Cruciani's financial affidavits may be filed on the public docket, subject to the redactions approved in Dkt No. 47."  But why would those redactions stand, after his death? Watch this site.

  In the past, Cruciani and then his Federal Defenders repeatedly sought to keep sealed his financial filings to get publicly funded representation. Inner City Press filed two letters seeking to unseal, on January 10 and February 2, see below. In a February 15 hearing Judge John P. Cronan cited them and said they will be docketed, along with the transcript of his ruling: the financial information should be unsealed. But he gave the US and Federal Defenders four weeks to confer on redactions.

 On March 15 Federal Defender Daniel Habib submitted into the docket a letter, but not any of the affidavit. In the letter, he implies the government has agreed that "collateral" information should be withheld, and payees including investigators.

On April 4, this: "ORDER as to Ricardo Cruciani: It is hereby ORDERED that Defendant's request to file the Financial Affidavits with the proposed redactions is granted. The Court will stay any public unsealing of the Financial Affidavits pending the decision on Defendant's appeal. Within one week of the decision on Defendant's appeal, Defendant shall file a letter advising the Court as to the outcome of the appeal and, if appropriate based on the outcome of the appeal, file the redacted Financial Affidavits on the docket. (Signed by Judge John P. Cronan on 4/4/2022)." We will have more on this - watch this site.  

  This is the third such decision on Inner City Press' filings, in US v. Avenatti and US v. Correia (in both cases Inner City Press unsealing requested were more quickly filed, something we will also seek to address.)

On July 26, Inner City Press went to 100 Centre Street, Part 41 to hear Cruciani's closing, and live tweeted from Courtroom 1116, here:

Jury entering! Judge: Jurors, you will now hear closing arguments. Cruciani's lawyer: The magic of a criminal trial is we have people who don't want to be here, to hear accusations against a member of the community. [Note: Cruciani has 3 homes, in PA, NJ...]

 Cruciani's lawyer is turning to address jurors who are sitting in the gallery under COVID protocols. The lights hanging from the ceiling blocks the view of the "In God We Trust" behind the bench.

 Cruciani's lawyer: It's easy to imagine a drug dealer lying. But what is the liar is a woman talking about medical procedures, a patient ... who is lying. In this trial you can had six liars. When I and Elizabeth are cross examining, we try to show you the lies

 Note: Here in the gallery, there are a number of NY prosecutors, presumably to support or learn from the performance of their colleague. But did any  SDNY  prosecutor, in the US v. Cruciani case, come?

 Cruciani's lawyer shows the first witness, Ms. Tobin's, "five star review" of Doctor Cruciani on a web page with a "Pay as Little as $15" add still on the side.

Cruciani's lawyer: Supposed she was sexually assaulted two weeks before this five star review. It defies common sense. Then the bookend, Ms. Prince told you about the penultimate visit. [Letter on Mount Sinai letter head on screen]

On July 29, conviction on all counts: "conviction of neurologist RICARDO CRUCIANI, 68, for the sexual assault, abuse, and rape of six patients under his care at the Beth Israel Medical Center. The conviction follows a month-long trial that included testimony from the individuals assaulted by CRUCIANI, each of whom sought his medical expertise to treat chronic and debilitating pain disorders. As proven at trial, CRUCIANI not only forced his patients to have non-consensual sex, but overprescribed serious pain medication in order to keep them in his care. A New York State Supreme Court jury found CRUCIANI guilty of one count of Predatory Sexual Assault; one count of Attempted Rape in the first degree; one count of Sexual Abuse in the first degree; two counts of Rape in the third degree; and seven counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the third degree. He will be sentenced on September 14.   As proven at trial, CRUCIANI manipulated and abused six patients at Beth Israel Medical Center and later, at facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  RICARDO CRUCIANI Wynnewood, Pennsylvania   Convicted:  Predatory Sexual Assault, a class A felony, One Count Attempted Rape in the First Degree, One Count Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, One Count Rape in the Third Degree, Two Counts Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, Seven Counts."

Inner City Press will continue on the case(s)...

This case is US v. Cruciani, 21-cr-636 (Cronan) 

sdny

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