U.S. ends case against Jeffrey Epstein’s jail guards
DEC 30, 2021 | REPUBLISHED BY LINY : DEC 30, 2021
NEW YORK, Dec 30 – U.S. prosecutors decided to end their criminal case against two Manhattan jail guards who admitted to falsifying records on the night the financier Jeffrey Epstein killed himself on their watch.
In a Thursday filing in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss claims against Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, after both complied with the six-month deferred prosecution agreements they agreed to in May.
Epstein was found hanging in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on Aug. 10, 2019, while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, in what New York City’s medical examiner called a suicide.
Noel and Thomas were accused of falling asleep and surfing the internet that night rather than checking on Epstein every 30 minutes.
Both admitted to having “willfully and knowingly” falsified records to make it seem they were monitoring Epstein properly.
HILARIOUS: @DOJCrimDiv
U.S. authorities are ramping up their Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation of Toyota, with federal prosecutors impaneling a grand jury in Texas as they seek any evidence the carmaker bribed top Thai judges to overturn a $350 million tax judgment.— LawsInTexas (@lawsintexasusa) December 30, 2021
Their deferred prosecution agreements required that they each perform 100 hours of community service and cooperate with a federal probe arising from Epstein’s death.
William Barr, the U.S. attorney general at the time, had been angered that such a high-profile inmate was able to kill himself while in federal custody.
Epstein had been on suicide watch the month before died.
Thomas’ lawyer Montell Figgins said his client was happy with the dismissal and looked forward to putting the matter behind him. Noel’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Epstein’s longtime associate, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted on Wednesday of helping recruit and groom underage girls for Epstein to abuse over at least a decade.
Maxwell is expected to appeal her conviction.
The case is U.S. v. Noel et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 19-cr-00830.
Re: US v. Tova Noel, et al Docket # 19 cr. 830 (AT)
Order to Release Firearm and any other Property
JAN 5, 2022 | REPUBLISHED BY LINY : JAN 5, 2022
January 5, 2022
Honorable Analisa Torres
United States District Court Judge
Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street New York, NY 10007
Dear Judge Torres:
On January 3, 2022, the Court filed the fully executed Nolle Prosequi Order formally terminating the prosecution and dismissing all criminal charges in the above referenced criminal action.
In November of 2019, Ms. Tova Noel was released with conditions.
One of the conditions required the surrender of her firearm to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
As required, Ms. Noel promptly surrendered her firearm to the 44th Precinct of the NYPD in the Bronx.
On January 4, 2022, Ms. Noel went to the 44th Precinct to retrieve her firearm with a copy of the Nolle Prosequi Order. She was referred to the NYPD property clerk’s office located in the basement of the Bronx Criminal Court. The NYPD property clerk was presented with the Nolle Prosequi Order, however, the property clerk refused to release the firearm. The NYPD property clerk indicated that they would only release the firearm pursuant to a court order.
Attached is a proposed order mandating the release of Ms. Noel’s firearm and any other property that was surrendered as a condition of release. I have spoken with the Government regarding this application, and they have no objection. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Jason E. Foy
JASON E. FOY
jfoy@foyseplowitz.com
FOY & SEPLOWITZ LLC
30 Wall Street 8th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Tel: 212-709-8230