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Chuck Blazer's Court Transcript
Chuck Blazer's Court Transcript
Chuck Blazer's Court Transcript
13-CR-602 (R D)
13-MC-1011
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U.S
agal nst
Courthouse
SEALED PROCEEDING
November 25, 2013
10:00 a.m.
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BEFORE:
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APPEARANCES:
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LORETTA E. LYNCH
Un ted States Attorney
271 Cadman Plaza East
Brookl yn, New York l1201
BY: EVAN NORRIS
DARREN LaVERNE
AMANDA HECTOR
Assistant U.S Attorneys
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RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
Court Reporter:
CHARLES BLAZER
THE CLERK: We
government.
Can
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Hector
the
Amanda
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Good morni
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is Stuart
Friedman who
Losey
is with
us.
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THE C0URT:
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We
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all.
assume
he is with
us?
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Ms. Perez.
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THE COURT:
We1
U.S A
CHARLES BLAZER
have a seat
closer.
You can
at the table.
to
my
certainly
motion
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scheduled
entitled.
does the
apparent
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apathy.
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Is there
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often.
anythi ng
Maybe
that
anybody wants
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Mr. Corngol d --
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MR. C0RNG0LD:
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THE C0URT:
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wishes
to
the
often, nor
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to
add
to this
join in it?
Is there
anythi ng
that the
government
add?
OFFTCTAI CO RT RFPORTFR
U.S A
v. CHARLES BLAZER
of today's hearing.
i nformat i on
Subsequently,
same
clerk,
0fficer,
, pretrial
my 1aw
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cou
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and
representatives
rt
room
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
here
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OFFTCTAI CO RT RFPORTFR
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
findings. In this
particular case I make without hesitation, and I wi1I sign
order accordi
made,
I believe,
ngl y.
THE CLERK:
Certainly.
Do you have
COURT SECURITY
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fi
COURT SECURITY
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THE COURT:
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C0URT SECURITY
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THE C0URT:
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OFFICER:
It is
it locked before I
OFFICER:
Just
Is
I did,
everybody sat'isfied?
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think
we
C0URT SECURITY
at
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after
10 you would
Honor.
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Your Honor.
C0URT SECURITY
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made the
now?
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]ocked.
ndi ngs?
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the
courtroom
is
lways
seal ed?
C0URT SECURITY
OFFICER: Yes
it is.
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
THE COURT:
(Whereupon
you, Your
That brings us
the courtroom.
Mr.
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Honor.
to Mr. Blazer.
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sir.
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THE CLERK:
me
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don't
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have a copy
for
one second. I
copy.
The
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THE CLERK:
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THE
am
sorry.
the defendant.
right right-hand.
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
(Defendant sworn
to
answer
THE WITNESS:
THE C0URT:
that I
truthfully.)
do.
you
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assume
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have
are
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agent s?
you, gentlemen.
awyers,
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THE COURT: We
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an important proceeding
you
to you. I
that.
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
I do.
In that spirit
THE DEFENDANT:
THE COURT:
p1
ease
don't hesitate to
counsel
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I do, sir.
THE COURT: Let me begin first of
asking you to state your full name.
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THE DEFENDANT:
al
1, sir,
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THE DEFENDANT:
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by
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you had?
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being the
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
know you
are wheelchai
Tell
THE DEFENDANT: My
ly I
bound.
me
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rectal cancer. I
bejng
treated. I
Personal
good
prognoses i s good.
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have
for that. I
of
am now
chemotherapy, and
in the
process
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THE COURT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
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your
am
have
looking pretty
of radiation,
and the
luck.
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am
do.
your med'ication
ability to concentrate
on what
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE C0URT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
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No,
it
in
am sayi ng?
does not.
now?
am.
and
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mat t
er?
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE C0URT:
Yes,
sir.
U S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
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their representation?
THE DEFENDANT: I am.
THE C0URT: Counsel , are you satisfied that l,lr.
Blazer's fu11y understands the rights he wjll be waiving by
waiving .indictment and pleading guilty, and he is fu1ly
competent to proceed?
sati sfi ed wjth
MR. CORNGOLD: We
are, Your
Mr.
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Honor.
azer, again, as I
am
sure you
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Meani
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were
ng
them a
potential sentence in
excess
U S A. v
determine,
probable cause
among
CHARLES BLAZER
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felony
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of a maximum of 23 people
drawn from the community, more or less like any other jury.
There must be 16 grand j urors present to constitute a lawful
quorum for hearing business, and 12 of those grand jurors must
agree that there is probable cause before they could charge
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vi
ol
ati on.
A grand
jury is
composed
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THE DEFENDANT:
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guess
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Do you understand?
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE COURT:
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dO.
do.
as
I said before, the United States Attorney could not charge you
with a felony. They could re-present the case to a grand
jury, to the same grand jury, to another grand jury, they
could supplement their presentation of evidence before the
grand jury. They couid do a number of things in an attempt to
RONALD E. TOLKIN, RPR, RMR, CRR
OFFTCTAI COuRT RFPORTFR
u S A
v. CHARLES BLAZER
THE DEFENDANT:
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waiver
of
i ndi ctment?
THE DEFENDANT:
have.
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THE DEFENDANT:
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waive your
right to
THE DEFENDANT:
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THE CoURT:
that right
do.
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could
dO.
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Yes,
am.
for
me
about it?
U S A
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THE DEFENDANT:
CHARLES BLAZER
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That is correct.
Accordingly then
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE COURT:
Yes,
do.
Having said
we
will
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RONALD E
OFFTCTAI CO RT RFPORTFR
U.S.A.
v.
THE DEFENDANT:
THE C0URT:
real
ize that
THE DEFENDANT:
may
intention but you have a right to call it all off as you sit
here ri ght now.
Do you understand what
'1
do.
BLAZER
CHARLES
Yes,
am saying?
do.
If
you were
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U.S.
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I dO.
THE COURT: At trial you would be presumed innocent
of all charges. The government would have to overcome or try
to overcome this presumption of innocence and prove you guilty
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THE DEFENDANT:
You,
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sit
sir,
to prove a thing.
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You could
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j ury
of your gui1t.
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THE DEFENDANT:
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do.
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
gui'l ty.
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C0URT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
Yes,
do.
u S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
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THE DEFENDANT:
Yes,
do.
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to avail
yourself of that right I would instruct the jury if requested
by counsel , and he 1ikely would, in the strongest possib1 e
terms that under no circumstances could they the jury ho1 d
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THE C0URT:
As
I said, if
I do.
THE COURT: A1 1 right. Now having said that if you
p1 ead guilty and I accept your plea, you will be giving up
these rights. There will be no trial wjth the possible
exception of a sentence, which I will get to momentari 1y.
There is no right to appeal . I will simply enter a judgment
of guilty based upon what you te1 I me, based upon your p1 eas
of guilty.
THE DEFENDANT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE CoURT:
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you chose
do.
Fina11y, before
am
required
RONALD E
to satisfy
mysel
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
going
THE DEFENDANT:
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do.
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about any
THE COURT:
Are you
THE C0URT:
of the material
we covered so far?
THE DEFENDANT:
No,
I don't.
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I have before me a
document that bears the caption of this case. I guess I
a draft of the original that is in the government's
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possessi on .
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THE C0URT:
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MR. N0RRIS:
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gave
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THE COURT:
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MR. NoRRIS:
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I will
have
hand
that
MR. NoRRIS:
Exhibit 1.)
1.
Your
u S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
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1 right.
The first question, did you read it?
THE DEFENDANT:
THE C0URT:
THE DEFENDANT:
THE C0URT:
Yes,
have.
it carefully?
I did.
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A1
life right
that this is
now?
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THE C0URT:
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it with that
Yes,
THE DEFENDANT:
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THE COURT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
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I did.
it with
your q uest i on s?
THE DEFENDANT: They have.
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to put to
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sir.
THE COURT: Do you feel that
everything -i n this document?
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counsel?
I did.
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degree of
care?
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an
me?
THE DEFENDANT:
No,
you understand
like
U S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
THE DEFENDANT:
Yes,
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do.
THE C0URT:
agreements
thi s
that
document?
No,
sir.
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE COURT: We
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Now
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assistance
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verbati
will
confirm
that,
come back
counselor?
to that
momentari 1y.
of counsel I will
summarize
m.
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Is there
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE C0URT:
any objection
Yes,
Yes,
With the
to that?
read
have.
read
this Information?
it careful1y?
have.
same degree
of care that
you
U.S A
brought
CHARLES BLAZER
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to the Agreement?
I did.
THE DEFENDANT:
Yes,
I hAVE,
THE COURT: Do you feel that
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nature
of
charges?
THE DEFENDANT:
questions
dO,
THE DEFENDANT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE C0URT:
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total
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your
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to a1i of
am not
--
That is correct.
it,
FIFA.
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THE C0URT:
Then
it
FIFA, and
charges a number
RONALD E
note.
of things including
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
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or objective.
THE COURT: That is a B-Plus. It is a specific
criminal aim or objective. Okay?
THE DEFENDANT: Aim
THE DEFENDANT:
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THE C0URT:
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conspi
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CHARLES BLAZER
That is corrected.
RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
THE C0URT:
to
we agreed
conspiracy
sel
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t.
We committed
t^Je
were
go1
ng to
the cri me of
THE DEFENDANT:
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THE COURT:
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evasion, violation
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well.
No,
sir.
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all of this?
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charges?
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Blazer, to discuss
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sentenci
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chapters.
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some
you
wi1l, in three
The
RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U. S.
A. v.
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CHARLES BLAZER
sentenced
forth
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which
and so on.
Paragraph one
is the racketeering
THE COURT:
if I
Two,
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period of what
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Count
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am
maximum term
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Do you fo low?
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THE DEFENDANT:
RONALD E
I do
OFFTCTAI CO RT RFPORTFR
U S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
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penal
ti
es.
1 right.
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THE DEFENDANT:
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A1
except the
fine
here
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forfe i ture.
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tax evasion.
Each
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have noted.
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carri es a
maximum
term
RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
is a $100 special
assessment. There are other penalties, according to your
agreement, a ci vj l money penal ty of $487,875.74 as descri bed
in Paragraph 3(g) of your agreement.
Have I mi ssed something?
know
There
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Now we
go
to
to run consecutively.
Chapter Two. Chapter Two involves what
we
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follow but I
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am
am
and
am obl
igated
U S A
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CHARLES BLAZER
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if
You
see
do.
to voice objections,
to Probation. The document
be given an opportunity
You wil
comments, and
wi I
will
come
to
give suggestions
me.
disagreement
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wai ver?
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with
some
aspect
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THE
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C0URT:
If
you
think I
have imposed an
to the
higher court. If you are not at that time able to afford the
fees and counsel , counsel will be furni shed at the expense of
the Court. The Unjted States Attorney you should understand,
Mr. Blazer, has a comparable right of appeal should they feel
that I have been unreasonably lenient. They may seek
unreasonable sentence, you may appeal my sentence
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
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2
3
THE COURT:
10
THE C0URT:
I ike
to put to
me?
sir.
Counsel , is there anything that I left
THE DEFENDANT:
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THE C0URT:
No,
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THE C0URT:
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your
take
pl ea?
No,
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE COURT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
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this information
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before.
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I trust
10 inclusjve,
si
r.
to
p1
ead?
AM.
is your plea to
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THE DEFENDANT:
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THE COURT:
RONALD E
Guilty.
guilty
OFFTCTAI CO RT RFPORTFR
vo1
untarily?
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
Yes,
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THE DEFENDANT:
THE C0URT:
am.
to what I will
do when
it
comes
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THE DEFENDANT:
12
THE COURT: We
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ead guilty?
to
NO,
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Has an
11 go from there.
it count by count.
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better.
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me
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From
in
to
December 2011,
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as
sentence?
wi
p1
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16
to
agreement?
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forced you
RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U.S.A.
v.
CHARLES
BLAZER
30
their
organization.
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C0NCACAF,
and
During
Among
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headquarters
13
in
activit'ies.
C0NCACAF
New York.
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of
my
responsibil
rights.
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would commit
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C0NCACAF, among
co-consp"i
rator
u S A
CHARLES BLAZER
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2010 World
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Beginning
Cup.
Among
is with regard to
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That
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Go ahead.
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ri ght
Count One.
Number
three.
RONALD E
OFFTCTAI CO RT RFPORTFR
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
32
to
three.
, I
and others
agreed
to places in the
Caribbean, and from places in the Caribbean to places in the
United States. I agreed to and took these actions to, among
other things, promote and conceal my receipt of bribes and
kickbacks. I knew that the funds involved were the proceeds
of an unlawful bribe, and I and others used wires, e-mails,
and te1 ephone to effectuate payment of and conceal the nature
of the bribe. Funds procured through these improper payments
passed through JFK Airport in the form of a check.
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while a resident of
New York,
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New
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were wrong
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at the
time.
C0URT: Repeat
that again.
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THE
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while
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resident of
New
York,
RONALD [
New
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
33
knew
that
my
owed.
MR. CORNG0LD:
these.
THE DEFENDANT:
Yes,
do.
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14
Federal Tax
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Law.
1 right.
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THE COURT:
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THE C0URT:
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With respect
A1
it
before?
in the Caribbean
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W-ith respect
to
to
add?
the
aces
you want
Count
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p1
RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
case were
to go to trial
Anything
se, Mr.
THE COURT:
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34
v. CHARLES BLAZER
e1
have a copy
Corngold?
of that, if
you have
no obj ect i on .
MR. C0RNG0LD: We have no
objection.
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THE
C0URT:
in their preparation
of the presentence report consistent, of course, with the
advice of counsel
Let's take up the subject of forfeiture. You will
cooperate with the Probation Department
RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
recal
SUMS.
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5
of forfeiture which I
THE COURT:
triplicate?
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13
THE C0URT:
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if I could, could I
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take
MR. C0RNG0LD:
up
understandi ngs,
to forfejture of certain
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35
forfei ture.
Is there
anythi ng else?
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THE COURT:
We
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
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3
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THE COURT:
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THE C0URT:
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to
your time.
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Wi
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THE COURT:
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MR
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confer?
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just
final
matters.
th respect to bai].
NORRIS:
RONALD E
OFFTCTA1 00 RT RFPORTFR
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
37
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THE COURT:
have no objection
THE C0URT:
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THE DEFENDANT:
I
THE COURT: Well, fair
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Yes,
now?
am.
enough.
Good I uck
with your
heal th
MR. CORNGOLD:
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24
have one
thought that
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to that. I
record.
We
looked
and there
U S A
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8
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CHARLES BLAZER
38
just
one second
p1
ease.
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Yes,
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si
r?
yes
to the last
Yes, you
document, correct.
U S A
CHARLES BLAZER
39
MR. N0RRIS:
my
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3
4
5
6
understanding
MR. NORRIS:
9
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in the United States. Again, the IRS and the FBI and
the government are aware of thjs.
THE COURT: Now, is there anything e1 se?
account
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much'
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ri ght here
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16
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THE
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THE CLERK:
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control date of
November
RONALD E
'1
OFFTCTAI CO RT RFPORTFR
U S A
THE
CLERK:
everythi ng here
wi I
CHARLES BLAZER
I be under seal
THE
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this
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very
much
want
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'l
'l
a. m.
the courtroom.
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