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Kenyan Narco Baktash Akasha Abdalla Got 25 Years now Pakistani Hafeez Has Glasses in MDC

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, May 26 – Kenya drug trafficker Baktash Akasha Abdalla faced a life sentence including for the use of machine guns, but got 25 years in jail on August 16, 2019 from U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Victor Marrero.

Judge Marrero emphasized that the US Drug Enforcement Agency had played an entrapping or suggesting role. He likened it to attempted murder, and contrasted it to a Bronx gang leader to be sentenced later in the day who really killed someone, but faces a guideline sentence of 27 years. Citing the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities he imposed 25 years and a fine of $100,000. More on Patreon, here.

  Back on July 26, 2019 murder in Amsterdam and the possibility of execution in India all came up in an ill-attended Fatico hearing before Judge Marrero, including questions about the credibility of government witness Mr. Vicky Goswami, whom the government describes as "the Akashas' trusted co-conspirator [who] after he was released from a long prison sentence in Dubai moved to Kenya and worked in partnership with Baktash, Ibrahmi and others on their drugs and violence."

  Baktash's lawyer George Robert Goltzer on July 26 mocked the government's reliance on Goswami, pointing at inconsistencies in the 3500 material turned over.

 But Judge Marrero, after praising Golzer and Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla's lawyer Dawn Cardi for their professional presentation, took the government's side. He said that multi-day proffers like Goswami's can result in seeming inconsistencies. But he found no inconsistency on the issues before him: the murder of "Pinky" and Ibrahim's use of a firearm.

Jump cut to May 26, 2023, when co-defendant extradited in from the UK appealed: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Victor Marrero: Pretrial Conference as to Muhammad Asif Hafeez held on 5/26/2023. The Court scheduled an initial appearance in this matter. AUSA Michael Lockard present on behalf of the Government. Defense counsel Anthony Cecutti, Kestine Thiele present with Defendant. Urdu interpreter and court reporter present. The Court gave an oral Rule 5(f) order and advised the Government of its obligations under Brady v. Maryland, and the Government confirmed it understands those obligations. The Government indicated that it would produce discovery within two weeks, and defense counsel would need 90 days to review discovery.The Court also addressed defense counsel's letter emailed to the Court on May 26, 2023. The Court directed the Government to provide a status update within one week, reporting on the issues that defense counsel raised in his letter on behalf of Defendant. The Court scheduled a status conference for August 18, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. "  Afterwards, Hafeez got reading glasses.

The case is USA v. Abdalla, et al., 14-cr-00716 (Marrero).

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