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By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Patreon
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SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 23 –  As Inner City Press covered the OneCoin trial in late 2019, a number of names of indicted co-conspirators emerged on which we continue to follow up.

  One of them was Amer Abdulaziz Salman. As Inner City Press exclusively reported on November 6, surprise cooperating witness Konstantin Ignatov brought up Amer Abdulaziz as a money launderer in Dubai and the UK during his testimony, live-tweeted @InnerCityPress, and see here. Also raised at trial: HSBC.

  Now, with Mark Scott scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, his lawyers have asked to be given accept to his passport to review the stamps in it. For a sentencing submission or appeal? From the request: "We write on behalf of our client, Mark Scott, who was convicted on November 21, 2019 in the above-referenced matter on two counts, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Mr. Scott is currently scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2020.   In connection with our defense of Mr. Scott, we seek to review and obtain copies of entries in his United States passport, currently being held by Pretrial Services. Pretrial Services has indicated that it can make the passport available only pursuant to the Court’s order. Counsel would either rely on Pretrial Services to provide copies of the passport directly, or would take it to copy and then promptly return it thereafter.  The Government has no objection to this request."

And Judge Ramos granting it: "ENDORSED LETTER as to Mark S. Scott addressed to Judge Edgardo Ramos from Arlo Devlin-Brown dated 1/22/2020 re: We seek to review and obtain copies of entries in his US passport, currently being held by Pretrial Services... ENDORSEMENT: The application is granted. (Signed by Judge Edgardo Ramos on 1/22/20)(jw)."

   The US Attorney's Office still inexplicably withholding even the exhibits it showed the jurors - from whom Inner City Press has unilaterally received contact expressing outrage at where things stand. Despite even Inner City Press' Freedom of Information Act request, nothing. We are asking more politely in 2020. But we are still asking, and will not cease.

 The US Attorney's Office did not oppose giving Mark Scott, living the high life in Florida including being spotted out to dinner with body guards, yet more time to prepare motions to try to avoid ever going to jail. At the time, Inner City Press wrote that "by consenting, the US Attorney's Office may be setting up a situation where Mark Scott's sentencing gets pushed back and he remains free."

And on January 14, from Scott's lawyers, this: "Re: United States v. Mark S. Scott, S10 17 Cr. 630(ER) Dear Judge Ramos:  We write on behalf of our client, Mark Scott, who was convicted on November 21, 2019 in the above-referenced matter on two counts, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. At the conclusion of trial, sentencing for Mr. Scott was scheduled for February 21, 2020. However, the current deadline for Mr. Scott to file any Rule 29 and Rule 33 motions is February 3, 2020, and the Government has been given until February 24, 2020 to respond.  In light of these upcoming deadlines, we respectfully request that the Court adjourn the sentencing date until April 21, 2020 or such date thereafter that is convenient for the Court. This will grant time to complete briefing on post-trial motions and provide the Court with an opportunity for review. In addition, this additional time will permit counsel to prepare for sentencing, including allowing for Mr. Scott to undertake further testing and treatments for longstanding medical issues.  The Government has no objection to this schedule." Yes, "the government has no objection." It's good to be money launderer.

    Meanwhile Gilbert Armenta, fellow money launderer, is out and registering even more companies, the same as he did for his OneCoin money laundering bank in Georgia. We'll have more on this.

Here's the letter from Scott's lawyer, who previously worked in the US Attorney for the SDNY's office: "Dear Judge Ramos:  We write on behalf of our client, Mark Scott, who was convicted on November 21, 2019 in the above-referenced matter on two counts, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Following the verdict, the Court set a deadline of December 20, 2019 for Mr. Scott to file Rule 29 and Rule 33 motions. We respectfully request that the Court extend this deadline by one month, to January 20, 2020. This will allow Mr. Scott and counsel sufficient time to review the factual and legal issues that may be relevant to such motions.

The Government has no objection to this request and proposes to submit any opposition by February 10, 2020 or make a subsequent application for an extension.   Respectfully Submitted,  /s Arlo Devlin-Brown."

  More delay?

  On November 24 Inner City Press' exclusive live-tweets were used without any credit in a derivative article by the Racing Post's Peter Scargill - apparently dodginess pervades this part of the industry.

  Inner City Press has been contacted from Dubai of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, from Amer Abdulaziz's native Bahrain and elsewhere by whistleblowers in the horse racing industry, with extensive information about Amer Abdulaziz's previous schemes and sudden windfall with OneCoin money. Inner City Press received another contact from OneCoin victims in Dubai on December 6. It will not rest - including on getting the exhibits released. It has submitted a FOIA request, acknowledged by DOJ in Washington. And still, nothing.

   While some say he is going into hiding, it would seem that the US FBI or its overseas partners could easily bring him in.   So why haven't they? This is an Inner City Press series. More on Patreon here.

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