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In Eaze Trial Guilty Verdicts for Weigand & Akhavan As Wirecard Cited Sentencing June 25

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast Order
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 24 – The trial of US v. Weigand and Akhavan began before Judge Jed S. Rakoff in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 1. Inner City Press, which has been covering the case including its Wirecard aspects, live tweeted Day 1, here and below.

  On March 23, the jury  left at 3 pm without yet deciding. But they asked for an exhibit in which Wirecard was discussed, now on Patreon here. Podcast with dramatic reading including green tea fake company website favored by "Jan," here. Inner City Press live tweeted the jury notes session here.

And now, on March 24 before now, the jury has returned with two guilty verdicts. Inner City Press live tweeted it here (and podcast here)

Eaze  / Wirecard jury deliberations Day 2. Now Weigand is his defense chair, but detained Akhavan not yet brought in.

Judge Rakoff just spoke to the lawyer about rules involving speaking to jurors after the case is over. Voice: The public dial-in is silent. Jury is coming in, filing in front of the prosecutors' table.

Judge Rakoff: Please be seated. In a moment we will read out your verdict. I will not comment on it. You have been a terrific jury. Opening of verdict form. Judge Rakoff: It appears to be in proper form.

Judge Rakoff: On Mr. Akhavan, how do you find?

Foreman: Guilty.

Judge Rakoff: And Mr. Weigand?

Foreman: Guilty.

Judge Rakoff (after excusing jury) - Sentencing will be July 26, one at 4 and one at 5. Request is made for expedited sentencing. Dispute if that means 3 months or 2 months. So: June 25 at 11 am and noon.

Judge Rakoff: I think it makes sense to have Mr Akhavan be sentenced first. So he is 11 am and Mr. Weigand noon. Request for more time to file motions. So, April 21 for moving papers.

AUSA: We are seeking Mr. Weigand's detention.

 Defense: This trial has confirmed that this is a case involving no loss. We are aware your Honor does not follow the [Sentencing] Guidelines rigorously --

 Judge Rakoff: That's an understatement.

Weigand's lawyer: He's been out, paying his own guards, without issue. 

AUSA Folly: He is a German citizen and could flee there.

Defense: Mr. Weigand has letters --

Judge Rakoff: I'll cut you off because I'm going to rule in your favor. The calculus may be different on the day of sentencing. Let me say, this case was a pleasure. But I've got another proceeding...

 Back on March 2, evidence began - and witnesses with immunity deals. (Tassone's immunity deal is now on Patreon, here). Inner City Press tweeted in Day 2, here.

  Day Four began with news, tweeted by Inner City Press, that a juror had tested positive for COVID, and ended with cooperator Oliver Hargreaves on the stand.

  Day Five, things took off. The remaining 13 jurors all tested negative and when Hargreaves testified, first about fake website for golf equipment and facial cream, he soon turned to the meat: Wirecard and Jan Marsalek, live tweeted thread below. Inner City Press has asked the US Attorney's Office to make available the exhibits, as is done in other cases. So far, nothing. Some live tweets from the thread, here:

Hargreaves is reading out in court his message with Jan Marsalek of Wirecard.

Hargreaves quotes Marsalek saying, stop sending to this ProtonMail, send it to "EUprocessing."  Hargreaves wrote, EU [Processing] equals Ruben" [Weigand]

AUSA: Who is the deleted account?

Hargreaves: Can I see the page before? It's Ray's.

Assistant US Attorney: For which acquiring banks did you prepare fraudulent application packs?

Hargreaves: Wirecard... 

AUSA: Who responds to your chat?

Hargreaves: Ruben Weigand

Defense: Objection, to the extent that the document is cut off

Judge Rakoff: Overruled.

 AUSA: Where is Wirecard headquartered? Hargreaves: Munich, Germany...

AUSA: What is a "card not present transaction"? Hargreaves: A transaction not in a brick and mortar shop.

 AUSA: Was the fact that Eaze transactions were intended to be run through these Hot Robots accounts disclosed anywhere?

Hargreaves: No.
AUSA: In this Ali Baba chat, Ray says, So darling what will be submitted, right? Hargreaves: Yes. And Reuben says, it's fine


The case is US v. Weigand, 20-cr-188 (Rakoff).


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