| Defendant Charged With
Armed Robbery of Marijuana
Supplier & Instagram Boasts Is
Freed
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
SDNY
COURTHOUSE,
March 19 – Charged with
the armed robbery of a
marijuana supplier - in which
the supplier got shot - a
defendant was presented and
had a bond hearing on March 19
before U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York Magistrate Judge Gary
Stein. Inner City Press was
there, the only media in the
SDNY Mag Court, thread:
Defendant is
charged with armed robbery "of
an NYC marijuana business'
storage facility," using a
gun, trafficking drugs.
Judge: Mr. Ali,
how do you plead? Arian Ali:
Not guilty. AUSA: We are
seeking detention. Defense: We
are requesting release. I have
five suretors, and I propose a
bond of $200,000.
AUSA: The
defendant runs an illegal
narcotics distribution
business, with marijuana. They
ambushed the supplier at the
warehouse. They boxed his car
in & smashed his window.
They marched him back to the
marijuana warehouse and
assaulted him. They
pistol-whipped him
AUSA: The
supplier got shot. We do not
think the defendant was the
shooter, rather the organizer.
We have his text messages. He
texted, "It's going down
today." They wrote, "Act cool.
Don't sell it in New York." He
had a co-defendant posted up
by the warehouse Judge: Was he
present during the robbery?
AUSA: Around the
corner, directing the three
gun men. We have cell phone
location data. He is willing
to use extreme violence
against others. This is
profitable. If he is released,
he will continue to violate
the law.
AUSA: He posted
on Instagram that he intends
to return to drug trafficking,
"moving smarter and safer." He
said he'll still, after jail,
be the youngest and wittest-
Judge: The what? AUSA: The
wittest. Wit. The kids, your
Honor.
AUSA:
There's clear aiding and
abetting liability. He put the
shooters in motion. In the
last week, he turned his phone
off to evade arrest. Now he
wants credit for turning
himself in. Defense: He
retained me but I was out of
town for the weekend. So today
Defense: I
have six suretors - his mother
in the second row, she can't
pick her head up, she's
crying. [Federal Defender
moves so Judge can see those
in the gallery] Judge: Any
security for the bond?
Defense: His mother makes
$80,000 a year- Judge: That's
later
Defense: My
client wasn't there, where the
robbery was occurring. I'm not
sure where these allegations
are coming from. No drugs were
stolen on June 22, 2023-
Judge: They allege a
conspiracy to steal.
Defense: Pre Trial Services
recommends release
Judge: What about
his continued involvement in
drug trafficking, and the
Instagram posts as recent as
this past weekend.
Defense: How does that prove
anything? Judge: If it says, I
am continuing to deal drugs
Defense: He said "I'm lit" or
something like that
Judge: Any
rebuttal? AUSA: No, Your
Honor. Judge: Let me speak
with Pre Trial. AUSA: They
don't have all the facts.
Break taken - thread will
continue
The Judge
is back. All rise! Judge: I've
discussed this further with
the Pre Trial Services
supervisor who is here. I do
not think this is a risk of
flight case. I would not order
the defendant detained on that
ground. There would be a
bond...
Judge: The real
issue is danger. I view this
as a close call. I find the
government has not met its
burden. Given that the drug
trafficking involved marijuana
- & that some of the
conduct now alleged is not in
the indictment - I will
release you on $200,000 bond
Judge: The
5 co-signers must be fulfilled
before he is released. No
contact with witnesses or
victims mean no contact, even
talking about the Yankees
game, no. Home incarceration
enforced by location
monitoring Defendant: Yes Your
Honor
Judge: His
mother will be a third party
custodian. He can't go out. No
additional crimes. If you
become aware of any you must
report them to Pre Trial
Services, or risk being held
in contempt of court.
Defense: He's lost his
passport. Defendant: It's
expired.
AUSA: We
cannot interview the
co-signers today.
The case is US v.
Ali, 24-cr-109 (Koeltl /
Stein)
***
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