May 2024 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

Memo #3 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement
by Gunnar Larson 29 Nov '24

29 Nov '24

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QFZ2sFXx1cSYRcZTOGdPelZbVtuhpHuCKk011Uz… February 21, 2022 BY ELECTRONIC MAIL Mr. John Marzulli United States Department of Justice Eastern District of New York 271 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn New York, 11201 John.Marzulli(a)usdoj.gov Re: Memo #3 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement <https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/file/1329926/download> Dear Mr. Marzulli: The Department of Justice has yet to respond to Memo #1 <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OsxfjN3TUepftKklopkQDSMwFWstWozuku4IPPu…> and Memo #2 <https://docs.google.com/document/d/10BYgCtCf9F7A4YnhN792cTBU6P-pfdaOg0UTRbt…> with our recent inquiry to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad Deferred Agreement. Goldman Sachs' Deferred Prosecution Agreement <https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/goldman-sachs-resolves-foreign-bribery…> with the United States of America is in potential breach, with ethical enforcement being concerned. Memo #3 <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QFZ2sFXx1cSYRcZTOGdPelZbVtuhpHuCKk011Uz…> aims to associate malfeasance with Marketplace Manipulation. The 2021 Apple Card Investigation What would Steve Jobs say? xNY.io - Bank.org feels this is one part of a broader discussion we must have about equal credit access. Corruption occurs when the private search for economic advantage and personal advancement clashes with laws and norms that condemn such behavior. Further complicating the picture, some illegal corrupt transactions drain public resources away from education, health care, and effective infrastructure—the kinds of investments that can improve economic performance and raise living standards for all. The cost of corruption is greater than the sum of lost money. Distortions in spending priorities undermine the ability of the state to promote sustainable and inclusive growth. This is possible in a framework already characterized by weak law that creates both a certain alteration of the rules of the market and perverse dynamics distorting the economy and inhibiting free competition. - Goldman Sachs has a history of poor ethical stewardship, at the global level. Similarly, New York's former Governor Andrew Cuomo and NY-DFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell are now world famous for women's rights. - On March 23, 2021, Lacewell published NY-DFS' Findings on Apple Card and its Underwriter Goldman Sachs Bank. Former Superintendent of NY-DFS, Ms. Linda Lacewell's stone faced propaganda assured that Apple Card did not discriminate against women, while under Goldman Sachs management. - The red flags started to appear when an authorized user drew attention to the following: A person who relies on a spouse's access to credit, and only accesses those accounts as an authorized user, may incorrectly believe they have the same credit profile as the spouse. - xNY.io - Bank.org recently collated 61 highlights <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xH16OKyuXzB-MVqIznMWDE9w8RRdmZCw/view> to the Report on Apple Card Investigation from March 2021. Mr. Marzulli, the Apple Card investigation was to assess women's access to equitable finance. March 2021 also saw New York State Attorney General Letitia James' formal green light to launch an independent investigation <https://nypost.com/2021/02/27/second-woman-accuses-gov-andrew-cuomo-of-sexu…> into sexual harassment allegations Lodged against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Lacewell's legacy is authoring reports disparaging women. The integrity of the Apple Card investigation must be rationally considered as flawed. Likewise, Goldman Sach has a history of unethical posturing on matters specific to women and girls (via global regulatory arbitrage structures). 1. Mr. Marzulli, Peter Oppenheimer is Apple's former CFO and in 2014 joined Goldman Sachs' board of directors and serves on key committees such as Audit (Chair), Governance, Risk. 2. There is no logical reason for Apple to trust the Apple Card Report and Apple’s former CFO is well aware of the legacy of Goldman's unethical antics and regulatory arbitrage frameworks that take advantage of the world's most vulnerable populations. 3. Mr Marzulli, at the very least, it is now clear that New York’s former Superintendent is famous for publishing reports that disperage women. Given the obvious logical factors at play, it may appear that elements of the Deferred Agreement may have been ignored in the facts, figures and assessment of impact on women and girls concerning the Apple Card Report under the former Superintendent. We seek DOJ guidance on the Apple Card Report as a marketplace manipulation instrument. Next, Memo #3, will explore our organization’s management analysis of marketplace manipulation partnering with MoneyGram and Ripple. United States and Africa Marketplace Manipulation Instruments xNY.io - Bank.org feels this is one part of a broader discussion of marketplace manipulation architectures operating from lower Manhattan that potentially function as a cross-border regulatory arbitrage banking operation in the United States and Africa. - MoneyGram, which has about 227,000 global money transfer agent locations in 191 countries and territories, was recapitalized in 2008 (same year as Bitcoin's whitepaper <https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/training/annual-national-train…> ). - Walmart is the only MoneyGram agent, for both the Global Funds Transfer and Financial Paper Products segments, that accounts for more than 10% of revenue. In 2020, Walmart accounted for 13% of total MoneyGram’s revenue and 16% in 2019 and 2018. - Goldman Sachs acquired an equity interest of 63 percent in MoneyGram for about $710 million. Per the 2008 agreement, MoneyGram also received $500 million in debt financing from Goldman Sachs (Cordeiro 2011) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10952410&pre=&suf=&sa=0>. - Goldman Sachs as a MoneyGram investor has a Participation Agreement with Walmart Inc. under which the Investor is obligated to pay Walmart certain percentages of any accumulated cash payments received by the Investor in excess of the Investor's original investment in the Company (MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC 2021) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10952491&pre=&suf=&sa=0>. - In 2016, Ripple received New York’s First NY-DFS BitLicense for an Institutional Use Case of Digital Assets (Larsen 2016) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10953308&pre=&suf=&sa=0>. Shortly after being NY-DFS accredited, Ripple announced it was teaming up with MoneyGram to test payments using Ripple’s xRP virtual currency. During this time, Ripple was making headlines as the xRP digital currency had surged — and fallen — dramatically (Browne 2018) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10953324&pre=&suf=&sa=0>. Soon after, Ripple announced a $50 million investment in MoneyGram snagging a 10% equity stake in the firm. Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, added that his firm would support MoneyGram’s “further expansion” into the European and Australian payment corridors (De 2019) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10953333&pre=&suf=&sa=0>. Connecting the dots, MoneyGram is now one of the most expensive transfer providers (Tierney 2019) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10953437&pre=&suf=&sa=0> on planet Earth. Customers incur fees for postal mail, telephone calls, electronic mail, and other computerized messaging services. - Computer crimes as a threat is no less a threat because it is contingent, because the speaker does not intend or is unable to carry it out when the threat was not directly communicated to the MoneyGram customer as a target, or because the language used might be considered cryptic or ambiguously not part of the current New York BitLicense mandate. - Ripple simply made MoneyGram’s business more efficient, thus accruing more profits for Goldman Sachs directed out of Manhattan. - From 2019 - 2020, MoneyGram received more than $40 million in market development fees from Ripple Labs in return for providing liquidity to its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) network. It can be calculated that 10%-15% of the proceeds came from Walmart customers, who are some of the most disenfranchised Americans financially. Over the last five years, through conscious organizational HR management, Goldman Sachs created layer upon layer of New York BitLicense-related disguises and cross-border systems under potential conspiracy and plausible deniability to computer crimes and marketplace manipulation. Goldman Sachs' various direct and/or indirect BitLicensee connections profit daily from virtual currency market manipulation computer crimes with cross-border reach, operating as a large syndicate group from lower Manhattan. New York banks have a long and profitable history of exploiting regulatory arbitrage. Similar to the MoneyGram instance, some evidence shows that Goldman Sachs also seems to have entered Africa. - What is astonishing is that Ripple is powering some of www.JUMO.World’s <http://www.jumo.world> bank customers (Ripple 2020) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10959408&pre=&suf=&sa=0>, in a troublesome manner similar to MoneyGram. - Given that several enforcement actions and lawsuits in the United States specifically targeted banks’ treatment of minority borrowers (Taibbi 2014 ) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10961062&pre=&suf=&sa=0>, it may not be surprising to learn of www.Jumo.World or “JUMO” (Buchak et al. 2017) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10956108&pre=&suf=&sa=0> - A domain extension, in this case “.World” domain, is the targeted subject area of a computer program. It is a term used in software engineering (Wikipedia 2021) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10968017&pre=&suf=&sa=0>: During the fourth quarter of 2018, JUMO successfully finalized a $65 million capital raise that was led by Goldman Sachs in New York. JUMO is a full technology software stack for building and running financial services, targeted at the world’s most disadvantaged populations. Today, JUMO operates across numerous African markets including Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and most recently in Pakistan, with plans to expand further across the sub-continent. 1. Since its launch in 2014, more than 15 million people have saved or borrowed on the JUMO platform, with over $1.6 billion in funds disbursed to customers. Nearly 70% of JUMO’s customers are micro and small business owners. 2. JUMO targets the unbanked population across several emerging and developing markets. A variety of JUMO’s partnerships with leading banks and mobile network operators creates a marketplace where consumers can access financial services and banks can access a new pool of mobile money customers (Vostok Emerging Finance Ltd 2020) <https://sciwheel.com/work/citation?ids=10955874&pre=&suf=&sa=0>. 3. Given the regulatory environment in Africa, it could be suggested that from New York, Goldman Sachs and Ripple’s organizational HR management structures once again aim to profit from some of the most vulnerable of the human population. Memo #1 <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OsxfjN3TUepftKklopkQDSMwFWstWozuku4IPPu…>, Memo #2 <https://docs.google.com/document/d/10BYgCtCf9F7A4YnhN792cTBU6P-pfdaOg0UTRbt…> and Memo #3 <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QFZ2sFXx1cSYRcZTOGdPelZbVtuhpHuCKk011Uz…> profile instances that correspond with potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement that are impacting our global enterprise. Finally, we have made 28 highlights to Deferred Agreement <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yx88RMoeLyyfbNK0RtPl4r-m8N21_1Sp/view?usp=…> as a reference resource tool. We are looking forward to learning more about the DOJ’s approach to assessing any potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement’s mandates. Respectfully yours with anticipation, Gunnar Larson - xNY.io <http://www.xny.io> | Bank.org <http://bank.org>MSc <https://www.unic.ac.cy/blockchain/msc-digital-currency/?utm_source=Google&u…> - Digital Currency MBA <https://www.unic.ac.cy/business-administration-entrepreneurship-and-innovat…> - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-646-454-9107

1 10

xNY.io - Bank.org | DOJ Memo #2 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement
by Gunnar Larson 29 Nov '24

29 Nov '24

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10BYgCtCf9F7A4YnhN792cTBU6P-pfdaOg0UTRbt… February 1, 2022 BY ELECTRONIC MAIL Mr. John Marzulli United States Department of Justice Eastern District of New York 271 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn New York, 11201 John.Marzulli(a)usdoj.gov Re: Memo #2 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement <https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/file/1329926/download> Dear Mr. Marzulli: The Department of Justice has yet to respond to Memo #1 with our recent inquiry <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OsxfjN3TUepftKklopkQDSMwFWstWozuku4IPPu…> to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad Deferred Agreement. Goldman Sachs' Deferred Prosecution Agreement <https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/goldman-sachs-resolves-foreign-bribery…> with the United States of America is in potential breach, with ethical enforcement being concerned. Memo #2 aims to associate the malfeasance in Malaysia with the Middle East. The Bank of London vs. The Bank of London and the Middle East - November 30, 2021 two New York based firms lead investment in The Bank of London based in the United Kingdom. - July 1, 2007 The Bank of London and the Middle East opened in the United Kingdom. - The Bank of London and the Middle East confirms they have no association with The Bank of London (correspondence referenced here <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZLYO6qxOX5TIn0kPd69SQbvG-mn0I5R_/view?usp=…> ). The Bank of London seemingly has been funded from New York to irritate the Middle East. Recently, we made 91 highlights of research <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O2piNMJ3CI0wbfaFW33to3KhgOgZ8-dl/view?usp=…> associated with The Bank of London and the Middle East's recent sale to a firm in Kuwait. Harvey Schwartz is the Chairperson at The Bank of London, after spending over 20 years at Goldman Sachs Group, where he oversaw sales and trading, finance, technology, and operations. He completed his tenure as the firm’s President and Co-Chief Operating Officer. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1997 and subsequently held numerous senior leadership positions including Chief Financial Officer, Global Co-Head of the Securities Division, amongst other positions. He additionally served as a member of the firm’s Management Committee and co-headed its Risk Committee, Steering Committee on Regulatory Reform and Finance Committee. Mr. Schwartz established the firm’s Investment Policy Committee on which he also served as a member. It would appear that Mr. Schwartz has no friendly diplomatic agenda in London banking, potentially looking to profit off of The Bank of London and the Middle East. Furthermore, Goldman Sachs seemingly has a part in the scheme from New York. Bank of London and the Middle East is listed on the NASDAQ, Dubai. - Mr. Marzulli, during a recent telephone discussion together it was your general assessment that the Deferred Agreement in question was self policing. Can you kindly advise at your earliest convenience what (if any) DOJ systems, processes and control mechanisms are in place to monitor the purity of the Deferred Agreement? - Furthermore, if the Deferred Agreement is self-policing, can the DOJ kindly share any and all supporting material information that would prevent the agreement from being violated without the DOJ's general oversight? - Finally, we have made 28 highlights to Deferred Agreement <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yx88RMoeLyyfbNK0RtPl4r-m8N21_1Sp/view?usp=…> as a reference resource tool. Memo #1 and Memo #2 both outline instances that correspond with the associated highlight references. We are concerned that potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement are impacting our global enterprise. We are looking forward to learning more about the DOJ’s approach to assessing any potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement’s mandates. Respectfully yours with anticipation, Gunnar Larson - xNY.io <http://www.xny.io> | Bank.org <http://bank.org>MSc <https://www.unic.ac.cy/blockchain/msc-digital-currency/?utm_source=Google&u…> - Digital Currency MBA <https://www.unic.ac.cy/business-administration-entrepreneurship-and-innovat…> - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-646-454-9107

1 53

Does Short-selling Discipline Earnings Manipulation? Disciplined Short Sellers Handbook (W/58 Highlights Attached)
by Gunnar Larson 26 Nov '24

26 Nov '24

Does Short-selling Discipline Earnings Manipulation? xNY.io - Bank.org recently collated international graduate scholar working notes coining the "Crypto Computer Crimes Manual <https://drive.google.com/file/d/11tbgHgDg8qagomO-NBffvIFpxXKmBC3g/view?usp=…>" as per best disclosure practices to illustrate various potential scenarios when market conditions are met and a Board of Directors potentially exploits blockchain technological software innovation with forecastable reckless consequences. The Disciplined Short Sellers Handbook serves as a Manual supplement ... Detailing the hypothesis that short-selling has a disciplining role vis-à-vis the managers forcing them to reduce earning manipulation. Across 33 countries, the Handbook documents a significantly negative relationship between lending supply and activism in the short sell market and earnings manipulation. Collectively, findings suggest that short selling provides an external governance mechanism to discipline managerial incentives. xNY.io highlights that the authors of the faculty and research study confirm the main hypotheses and provide evidence of a beneficial effect of the short-selling market on the corporate market. In other words, short-selling generates a disciplining effect similar to the effect produced by the contestability of the firm in the context of M&As. In this regard, short selling contributes not only to the information environment of the market but also to the contracting institutions of the real economy. Suggesting that in general the disciplining role of short-selling is the strongest for firms with weak internal governance or less transparent information environments. We share 58 highlights to the Handbook <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aLcmN5c2PJiqHYR5dy8C8qMNVyclw8lu/view?usp=…> as a disclosure technique, foreshadowing xNY.io's disciplined approach to trading in the near term (subject to regulatory scrutiny).

1 9

Video: Put the puck in the back of the net, Gunnar
by Gunnar Larson 25 Nov '24

25 Nov '24

Video: Put the puck in the back of the net, Gunnar https://www.instagram.com/p/C3VWQBasHan/?igsh=MXg0aTlseHN4b2UxNQ==

1 2

Adrienne Harris Is Crypto’s Most Powerful Regulator
by Gunnar Larson 24 Nov '24

24 Nov '24

THE MONEY GAME MAR. 30, 2022 Crypto’s Most Powerful Regulator Is Here Adrienne Harris, New York’s financial watchdog, has enormous sway over the industry’s future. By Kevin T. Dugan, staff writer at Intelligencer, who covers money and business Photo: Victor Llorente Thirteen years after the birth of cryptocurrency, it was supposed to be time for Washington to rein it in. Instead, the White House punted, and the Securities and Exchange Commission is still hashing out how it’s going to oversee the $2 trillion industry. State watchdogs have filled that vacuum, making Adrienne Harris, the head of the New York State Department of Financial Services, by default the most powerful crypto regulator in the country. While states such as Florida and Wyoming have adopted a laissez-faire approach to regulation, attracting a sizable chunk of the booming industry, more money and jobs are still flowing into New York than any other city, making it the de facto crypto capital of the U.S. “There’s a misconception that having rigorous regulation turns off innovative companies,” Harris tells me during an hour-long interview at her office looking out onto the Statue of Liberty last month. “That hasn’t been our experience here.” Sign up for Dinner Party A lively evening newsletter about everything that just happened. SIGN UP Harris was tapped as the first Black woman to lead DFS last year. She came into her position after a turn working in Silicon Valley and representing Wall Street banks, a résumé that critics have used to paint her as too close to the industries she is regulating. She’s eager to dispel any criticism that she’s soft as a regulator, especially when it comes to crypto. Harris says she’s looking to expand the agency’s remit, hire new regulators, and possibly watch over lending and asset management in decentralized finance, a.k.a. DeFi, one of the fastest-growing crypto industries, which has been prone to very large hacks. The agency’s power over the industry lies mostly with the BitLicense, a required if unloved permit for crypto exchanges to operate within state lines. When it was first introduced in 2014, it was meant to be a model for the country, but the crypto industry has attacked the license for being too strict, limiting what people can trade, and requiring expensive anti-money-laundering operations, which, it should be noted, most traditional financial institutions are required to maintain. For Harris, the problem isn’t that it’s too restrictive — it’s that the process of getting one, which has stretched years for some companies, is too slow. “If you think about the companies that are BitLicensees, and even the companies in the queue, having the imprimatur of ‘Have you passed regulatory muster with a stringent regulatory regime?’ — I think the good actors see that as a good thing,” she says. Created in 2011, DFS has been a regulator feared more than any of its counterparts in other states for the power it has over banks, insurance companies, and a host of other financial institutions. It brought ambitious money-laundering cases against banks like BNP Paribas (a settlement that resulted in several bankers losing their jobs), fined Deutsche Bank for its relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and levied a $2.5 million fine on the National Rifle Association for selling its so-called murder insurance in the state. “DFS has a lot of teeth, and the sky’s the limit if the agency is exercised properly,” says state Sen. John Liu of Queens, a member of the state finance committee. “DFS compelled multinational banks to cough up $15 billion. We were able to build a couple bridges with that money. We still have much infrastructure in the state of New York that might benefit from DFS’s vigorous functions.” But part of DFS’s mandate is to keep the state’s economy healthy, a balancing act when it means protecting consumers from predatory, but also lucrative, companies. “For me, it’s an opportunity to bring my lived experience as a woman of color,” Harris says. So far, she has established the agency’s first climate division, frozen fees for check-cashing businesses that target the poor, and looked into non-bank lenders for evidence of redlining. “It’s important to me that those voices are at the table and being heard,” she says. “I bring a sort of pragmatism. It’s one thing to sit in our offices with nice views and make policy, but it’s another thing, in my mind, to really run the water through the pipes.” In 2008, Harris joined Sullivan & Cromwell, a law firm so close with Goldman Sachs that it has long sent its lawyers to work in-house at the investment bank. It was there that she worked for H. Rodgin “Rodge” Cohen, then the law firm’s chairman and the so-called trauma surgeon of Wall Street. Cohen remembers Harris working late into the night writing near-flawless memorandums so they’d be ready on his desk in the morning. “She just brought what I’d call a penetrating intelligence to the problems that were at hand,” Cohen tells me. “Many of the problems we get, you cannot just look up the answer in a book. It’s a question of judgment and trying to apply rules written often for other circumstances.” Still, it was clear that corporate law wasn’t for her. “Her heart was really in public service,” he says. From there, she went on to work for the Treasury Department, then the Obama White House, where she focused on policies around the then-upstart fintech industry. After the administration turned over, Harris took a spin through the revolving door between government and business. Her New York financial-disclosure forms show a superabundance of work with the tech and finance industries: She sat on the boards of six companies and nonprofits, including LendingClub, which had recently settled with the Federal Trade Commission over claims it had misled users on fees. She also advised 11 companies, owned two, and invested in or on behalf of two others. “I just thought, well, if you’re going to make policy about it, you should do the thing — run the company, build the company,” she says. “At the time, I felt very comfortable going to a start-up because I thought, well, coming out of government, you’re not making a ton of money. And if this start-up blows up, I’ll probably be no worse off, financially speaking.” It seems Harris did well enough. One real-estate tech company at which she worked went public last summer, and Harris appears to have cashed out. Since the disclosures were for 2020, they didn’t include her stake in Forethought, a private A.I.-based customer-service company that announced in December that it had attracted such investors as Harris, Ashton Kutcher, and Gwenyth Paltrow. When I asked her about Forethought, Harris said her investment in the company predated her time at DFS, that all her investments are now in a blind trust, and that she would recuse herself from any dealings with companies she has conflicts with. So when Hochul appointed Harris to lead DFS, she was attacked by the left. Zephyr Teachout and Cynthia Nixon both criticized Harris as being insufficiently independent, thanks to her connections in tech and finance. The American Prospect dug up a speech in which she characterized regulators as looking for “no-nos” and “icky things.” Harris has also advised the cash-advance companies Earnin, Brigit, and SmartWage (based in South Africa), according to her disclosures. In 2019, DFS led a multi-state investigation into the cash-advance industry over whether they created debt traps and state banking and anti-usury laws, since equivalent interest rates for the fees they charged would reach as high as 469 percent. A person directly familiar with the investigation told me that Harris’s predecessor was presented with multiple options for furthering the investigation, including reaching a settlement, but ultimately never made a decision. DFS wouldn’t comment. So, of all the companies to work for, why them? “My role, when I was working with those companies, was not to dictate price pricing or business model. It was more to say: Here’s how regulators would view this. Here’s why you should engage with them. Let me help you engage with them and figure out these issues and how you can also serve customers. Less pricing and business model, but, as an adviser who’s not in the day-to-day, helping to sort of guide a culture and mentality,” she says. Did she disagree with those arguing that these companies created debt traps for consumers? “I think it’s hard to paint with a broad brush,” she says. “I think we should always always be careful with any new products and services, that they are affordable and non-predatory, not creating debt traps, and that they’re solving a real problem for consumers. And I think some do that and some don’t.” Last summer, after Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor, many of his appointees went with him, including then-superintendent of DFS, Linda Lacewell. Soon Harris’s old boss, Cohen, had recommended her to Kathryn Wylde, the president and CEO of the Partnership for New York, a business-advocacy group that has advised DFS. “The folks at Sullivan & Cromwell thought that Adrienne would be a terrific candidate to field for that job given her eight years of experience in the Obama administration and the fact that she was somebody who understood industry,” Wylde says. “On the theory that a regulator should know something about the industries they’re regulating — which may be a novel concept but struck me as a valid one — I thought she sounded like a terrific candidate.” Harris sailed through her confirmation, with 63 senators voting for her and nine against. “When the regulated are complaining that the regulator is being too aggressive, that generally means the regulator is doing their job.” said Michael Gianaris, the state senator from Queens who voted against Harris’s nomination and, in 2019, tanked Amazon’s proposed HQ2 in New York. “Cuomo was a prick, and the people he appointed tended to share his bare-knuckles approach to the world. In some cases, that’s actually not a bad thing.” While the crypto industry doesn’t appear to be getting the reprieve it had been hoping for, other industries will surely lobby Harris to make similar gestures toward the business community. For instance, Wylde says that insurance companies are hoping that Harris will lower the reserves they are required to have on hold, which they claim are higher than what’s required by other states. “There are some long-standing issues that the industry has that they feel that they’ve got a fresh start on with Adrienne’s leadership,” she says. Still, crypto is going to play a major part in how Harris’s tenure is defined. “It’s clear that New York is doing well now and the companies that came and started here five to ten years ago are doing well,” says Matt Homer, a former deputy superintendent at DFS and the current executive-in-residence at the venture-capital fund NYCA Partners. “It’s not totally clear what the future will look like five to ten years from now.” New York is the home base for major exchanges such as Coinbase and Gemini, and it’s also home to shady NFT front-running scandals and alleged rapping billionaire money launderers. That such a volatile industry could implode and damage New York’s economy is apparent. “I understand that other states may have gone the opposite way of the BitLicense, but there are things we can do here in New York that will hopefully inform the federal regulators as they continue to think about this space,” Harris said. “It’s a new world with crypto, with DeFi, with NFTs.” SIGN UP FOR THE INTELLIGENCER NEWSLETTER Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email SIGN UP TAGS: THE MONEY GAME CRYPTOCURRENCY LEAVE A COMMENT 12/12/2022 CRIME Sam Bankman-Fried Has Been Arrested in the Bahamas By Kevin T. Dugan The disgraced FTX founder is facing charges from both the Justice Department and the S.E.C. 12/12/2022 POLITICS Twitter’s Former Safety Head Forced From Home After Being Smeared by Elon Musk By Chas Danner Former Twitter executive Yoel Roth and his family have reportedly faced a torrent of harassment and threats after Elon Musk’s false claims. 12/12/2022 WHAT WE KNOW How Big Is the U.S. Fusion Breakthrough? By Chas Danner The Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has reportedly achieved a historic milestone in nuclear fusion. MOST POPULAR The ‘Twitter Files’ Is What It Claims to Expose By ERIC LEVITZ Twitter’s Former Safety Head Forced From Home After Being Smeared by Elon Musk By CHAS DANNER How Big Is the U.S. Fusion Breakthrough? By CHAS DANNER Red-Pilled Elon Musk Still Loves the Chinese Communist Party By JONATHAN CHAIT Elon Musk Gets Loudly Booed at Chappelle Comedy Show By BENJAMIN HART 12/12/2022 EARLY AND OFTEN Here Come the Trump 2024 Alternatives By Ed Kilgore A crop of presidential hopefuls represent Republican fantasies of something better for them than a Trump-Biden rematch. 12/12/2022 POLITICS Scott Stringer Files Defamation Suit Against Harassment Accuser By Nia Prater The former comptroller is suing lobbyist Jean Kim, alleging that her accusations against him were defamatory. 12/12/2022 LOS ANGELES L.A. Councilman Calls Guy He Fought Last Week ‘Hostile Individual’ By Matt Stieb Kevin de León, who was caught making racist remarks on a recording earlier this year, did not apologize after a scuffle with a protester on Friday. 12/12/2022 THE MONEY GAME Now That FTX Is Toast, Is Binance Too Big To Fail? By Kevin T. Dugan The Justice Department is weighing criminal charges against the world’s biggest crypto exchange. 12/12/2022 THE NATIONAL INTEREST Red-Pilled Elon Musk Still Loves the Chinese Communist Party By Jonathan Chait The Twitter owner may hate the left, but he does admire Leninism. 12/12/2022 ELON MUSK Elon Musk Gets Loudly Booed at Chappelle Comedy Show By Benjamin Hart “It sounds like some of the people you fired are in the audience.” 12/12/2022 POLITICS Jay Jacobs Has Few Regrets and No Apologies By Nia Prater Despite a bruising midterm, the Democratic boss isn’t going anywhere, to the frustration of critics. 12/10/2022 THE MEDIA The ‘Twitter Files’ Is What It Claims to Expose By Eric Levitz The purported exposé of Twitter’s political bias is itself an attempt to weaponize control of Twitter for political purposes. 12/9/2022 BRITTNEY GRINER What’s Next for Viktor Bout, According to His Lawyer By Amos Barshad Steve Zissou predicts the notorious arms dealer will now lead a “quiet existence.” 12/9/2022 WORLD CUP The Best Team in the World Is Out of the World Cup By Benjamin Hart Another devastating quarterfinals defeat for Brazil. 12/9/2022 POLITICS What Happens to Paul Whelan Now? By Nia Prater President Biden said his administration is not giving up on securing the former marine’s release from Russia. 12/9/2022 JUST ASKING QUESTIONS A Crisis-PR Veteran on Sam Bankman-Fried’s Odd Media Strategy By Benjamin Hart Eric Dezenhall thinks the explanation for SBF’s behavior is pretty straightforward. 12/9/2022 WORLD CUP Goalkeepers Gone Wild By David Gendelman At the World Cup, netminders are increasingly going on offense. The consequences can be miraculous or disastrous. 12/9/2022 THE NATIONAL INTEREST Kyrsten Sinema Is Playing Chicken By Jonathan Chait Declaring herself an independent is a way to force the Democratic Party into embracing her. 12/9/2022 FINDINGS Why Spending Time With Kids Might Actually Help Protect You From COVID By David Zweig Two studies find an immunological downside for adults who stay away from children. 12/9/2022 FIRST PERSON I Lost My Brother Twice By Alex Brook Lynn First to schizophrenia, then forever to the city. 12/8/2022 SPORTS Brittney Griner Is Coming Home From a Russian Prison By Margaret Hartmann And Nia Prater The WNBA star is headed home after being released in a prisoner swap for the notorious international arms dealer. 12/8/2022 STOP THE PRESSES Just What Did the Times Walkout Change? By Shawn McCreesh Some employees have said they are ready to vote on a strike authorization as soon as tomorrow. Others worry this has all gone too far. 12/8/2022 TREMENDOUS CONTENT Do the Trumps Want to Crop Kimberly Guilfoyle Out of the Family? By Margaret Hartmann Eric Trump felt compelled to announce that, despite the rumors, he doesn’t hate his brother’s fiancée. Ivanka Trump’s silence may say more. 12/8/2022 SAM BANKMAN-FRIED Sam Bankman-Fried’s Parents Are No Longer Teaching Law at Stanford By Kevin T. Dugan His mother says her sudden decision to retire now has “nothing to do with anything else going on.” 12/8/2022 TREMENDOUS CONTENT Donald Trump Cost Lara Trump Her Fox News Gig By Margaret Hartmann Nepotism giveth, and nepotism taketh away. 12/8/2022 And now the House 258-169-1, House passes bill to protect same sex marriages. 39 Rs vote for it. Bill heads to Biden —@mkraju 12/8/2022 BRITTNEY GRINER The 7 Craziest Facts About Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout’s Career By Matt Stieb Getting to know the “merchant of death” the U.S. just sent to Russia in a prisoner swap for basketball star Brittney Griner. SIGN IN TO COMMENT Like Us Follow Us ABOUT INTELLIGENCER ABOUT NEW YORK MAGAZINE NEWSLETTERS HELP CONTACT PRESS MEDIA KIT WE’RE HIRING PRIVACY TERMS AD CHOICES DO NOT SELL MY INFO ACCESSIBILITY INTELLIGENCER IS A VOX MEDIA NETWORK. © 2022 VOX MEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Holiday Sale: Save up to 70% and get two exclusive gifts with any annual plan. SUBSCRIBE NOW " https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/03/adrienne-harris-is-cryptos-most-pow…

1 4

The Silk Road Investigation: A 'Pattern of Bad Behavior and Double Agents' ? Bitcoin News
by Gunnar Larson 21 Nov '24

21 Nov '24

Whete is Kathryn Haun when you need her on NYCCoin? ..... https://news.bitcoin.com/the-silk-road-investigation-a-pattern-of-bad-behav… by Jamie Redman Oct 22, 2019 The Silk Road Investigation: A 'Pattern of Bad Behavior and Double Agents' The Silk Road Investigation: A 'Pattern of Bad Behavior and Double Agents' Kathryn Haun, a general partner at U.S. venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, has revealed in recent interviews how she helped take down the Silk Road when she was working for the Attorney General’s office. According to her accounts, the U.S. government agency also asked her to help “start shutting down technology before it’s built.” Haun’s story also highlights how the U.S. government’s evidence against the Silk Road transpired because of double agents. Also read: FBI Agent Admits to Stealing Silk Road Bitcoins Seized by U.S. Marshals Kathryn Haun Was Asked to Disrupt Bitcoin in 2012 During the last few years, governments worldwide have been cracking down on digital assets like on and off-ramps that are tied to fiat. Regulations are far stricter than they were in the early days, when governments first heard about cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Andreessen Horowitz general partner Kathryn Haun has a lot of experience working with government agencies when it comes to the cryptocurrency economy. She witnessed the takedown of the Silk Road darknet marketplace and before she started she was even asked to help dismantle the Bitcoin network. During an interview with CNBC, Haun revealed how a colleague mentioned the up and coming technology to her in 2012. “‘We have this perfect assignment for you – there’s this thing called Bitcoin and we need to investigate it,'” Haun told the news outlet on October 6. “That was the first time I’d ever heard of bitcoin,” she added. The Silk Road Investigation: A 'Pattern of Bad Behavior and Double Agents' Former Silk Road investigator Kathryn Haun. Attempts to shut down Bitcoin by agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice were fruitless ventures, Haun detailed. “It would have been akin to saying ‘let’s go prosecute cash,'” the former prosecutor said. “What we heard with Libra were the same criticisms [about Bitcoin],” Haun remarked. While discussing the similarities between her early days with Bitcoin in contrast to Libra, she continued: They got more attention because of the high-profile nature of the project and the fact that Facebook was involved. I think it would be a really dangerous thing, and frankly a dangerous precedent to start shutting down technology before it’s built. Uncovering the Silk Road and Parallel Investigations During another recently published interview with Haun, the Andreesen Horowitz partner spoke with Hayman Capital founder Kyle Bass about her role during the prosecution of the Silk Road marketplace. “The Silk Road was making millions of dollars a month and they were generating a lot of revenue,” Haun stressed. She doesn’t remember exactly how the Silk Road case got opened in New York, but she recalls Senator Chuck Schumer read a Wired article that prompted him to wonder why the marketplace was allowed to exist. “So the Southern District of New York, which is another Attorney General’s office – I was in the U.S. Attorney General’s office in San Francisco – SDNY opened the case and was trying to figure out who was behind the Silk Road. At this same time, a D.C. office was also trying to figure out who was running the Silk Road — And there were parallel investigations going.” The Silk Road Investigation: A 'Pattern of Bad Behavior and Double Agents' Haun discusses the Silk Road investigation with Hayman Capital founder Kyle Bass. Haun explained that the government had task forces comprised of many alphabet soup agencies: “We’re talking the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, DEA, ATF, and the U.S. Marshals,” she underlined. “One task force, the one out of Washington D.C., they had an undercover agent. That undercover agent was able to befriend the person running the Silk Road. All the government knew at the time was that the person running the Silk Road went by the nickname ‘DPR’ for ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’ from the movie ‘The Princess Bride.’ So they didn’t know who DPR was, but the undercover agent actually set up an attempt to buy the Silk Road.” The Foundation of Evidence from the Silk Road Case Stemmed from Double Agents According to the former prosecutor, the undercover agent struck many online conversations with DPR and proceeded for the next two years to engage and message with the moniker. “A lot of things went wrong on both sides — From the Silk Road side, 2013 was a really bad year for the Silk Road because what you had was a person who had an online persona called ‘Death from Above,’” Haun said. “Death from Above starting extorting DPR and saying ‘if you don’t pay me hundreds of thousands of dollars in bitcoin I’m going to reveal your identity to law enforcement.’ Meanwhile, there was another online persona who went by the moniker ‘French Maid.’ French Maid was selling DPR information about the government’s investigation. French Maid told DPR the Feds are closing in and the end is near and you are about to be had.” Haun added: The government didn’t know any of this then and it all came out after the fact. In the midst of this, something else really bad happened in 2013 — About 21,000 bitcoins, which is today in excess of roughly $150 million dollars, went missing overnight from the Silk Road. From Silk Road vendor accounts and from what you might consider the petty cash account — Although there’s nothing petty about 21,000 bitcoins. The Silk Road Investigation: A 'Pattern of Bad Behavior and Double Agents' Haun’s story begs the question: How much evidence would the government have without the use of double agents and rogue officers manipulating the investigation? During the remainder of the interview, Haun discussed Curtis Green’s role with the Silk Road and said Green showed the Feds “how the Silk Road worked, how to log into it, how to reset vendor PINs and passwords, and of course [Green] had that access because he was the key administrator.” Haun also said Green even gave his laptop to the Feds to keep as evidence. The discussion with Kyle Bass shows how government agents claim to have dismantled the Silk Road from the words of a former Federal prosecutor. However, Haun wasn’t involved with the DPR takedown first hand, but she was very much involved with investigating rogue agents. At first, when she heard about the first rogue agent she took it with “a grain of salt” and actually said it was a shame the tipster was smearing a Federal agent’s good name. But the tipster was insistent and she decided to look into it. “We saw that this agent who we got the tip for was liquidating hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions a month, in cryptocurrency. So I thought it’s probably another undercover operation and there’s probably a legitimate explanation,” Haun explained. The Silk Road Investigation: A 'Pattern of Bad Behavior and Double Agents' >From left to right — Carl Mark Force, Shaun Bridges, and Curtis Green all played a ‘double agent’ role in the Silk Road investigation. Curtis Green was a Silk Road moderator who was told by the U.S. government to fake his own death. Haun concluded that the rogue agent was caught telling exchanges to destroy transaction histories. Because undercover agents who are running undercover operations shouldn’t be asking for evidence to be destroyed, it raised a red flag Haun said. Her team found a “pattern of really bad behavior to put it mildly” and in the end, it turned out the rogue agent was both online personas: French Maid and Death from Above. Essentially, the interview with Haun shows that Curtis Green, Shaun Bridges, and Carl Mark Force were acting as double agents during the entire investigation. The discussion with Haun further highlights how the Silk Road case was quite messy and many constitutional laws were broken by rogue agents in order to disrupt the site. Still, the U.S. government, with no thought toward constitutional law and a complete disregard for true justice, based all their Silk Road evidence on the shameful ethics of Curtis Green and two rogue cops — Carl Mark Force and Shaun Bridges. It goes to show that the many unanswered questions surrounding the case, like how government agents found the Silk Road’s IP address, which wasn’t due to a faulty ‘captcha’ screen as claimed, were likely due to perfidious agents gone rogue.

1 1

Re: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-056-15960 Acknowledged NYPD body cam footage, for NYCCoin Touting.)
by Gunnar Larson 19 Nov '24

19 Nov '24

Hello: Thank you for your Jul 16, 2023 response. xNY.io - Bank.org did not hear from you on November 29, 2023 as promised. Can xNY.io - Bank.org please receive the NYPD body cam footage for NYCCoin Touting by December 31, 2023? Warm regards, Gunnar Gunnar Larson -- Gunnar Larson - xNY.io - Bank.org MSc - Digital Currency MBA - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-917-580-8053 New York, New York 10001 On Wed, Dec 6, 2023, 11:11 AM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: > Hello: > > Any updates on the body camera footage mentioned below? > > Gunnar > > Gunnar Larson > xNY.io - Bank.org > 917-580-8093 > > On Thu, Nov 16, 2023, 7:10 AM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: > >> Dear Madam or Sir: >> >> I am just confirming that the NYCCoin body camera footage is still on >> track for November 29, 2023 delivery. Can you confirm as such please? >> >> The matter was recorded late March 2023. And xNY.io - Bank.org must close >> our EOY-23 books. >> >> Any further delay of the body camera footage could be a challenge to N.Y. >> Executive Law, Article 15 >> Human Rights Law, § 296. Unlawful discriminatory practices: >> >> 14. ... whether or not accompanied by the >> person for whom the dog is being trained. >> >> 16. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless specifically >> required or permitted by statute, for any person, agency, bureau, >> corporation or association, including the state and any political >> subdivision thereof, to make any inquiry about, whether in any form of >> application or >> otherwise, or to act upon adversely to the individual involved, any >> arrest or criminal accusation of such individual not then pending against >> that individual which was followed by a termination of that criminal action >> or proceeding in favor of such individual, as defined in subdivision two of >> section 160.50 of the criminal procedure law, or by an order adjourning >> the criminal action in contemplation of dismissal, pursuant to section >> 170.55, 170.56, 210.46, 210.47, or 215.10 of the criminal procedure law, or >> by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivision one of >> section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction for a >> violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the criminal procedure law >> or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to section 160.59 or 160.58 of >> the criminal procedure law, in connection with the licensing, housing, >> employment, including volunteer positions, or providing of credit or >> insurance to such individual; provided, further, that no person shall be >> required to divulge information pertaining to any arrest or criminal >> accusation of such individual not then pending against that individual >> which was followed by a termination of that criminal action or proceeding >> in favor of such individual, as defined in subdivision two of section >> 160.50 of the criminal procedure law, or by an order adjourning the >> criminal action in contemplation of dismissal, pursuant to section 170.55, >> 170.56, 210.46, 210.47, or 215.10 of the criminal procedure law, or by a >> youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivision one of section >> 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by >> a conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the >> criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to >> section 160.58 or 160.59 of the criminal procedure law. An individual >> required or requested to provide information in violation of this >> subdivision >> may respond as if the arrest, criminal accusation, or disposition of such >> arrest or criminal accusation did not occur. The provisions of this >> subdivision shall not apply to the licensing activities of governmental >> bodies in relation to the regulation of guns, firearms and other deadly >> weapons or in relation to an application for employment as a police officer >> or peace officer as those terms are defined in subdivisions thirty-three >> and thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal >> procedure law; provided further that the provisions of this subdivision >> shall not apply to an application for employment or membership in any law >> enforcement agency with respect to any arrest or criminal accusation which >> was followed by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined >> in subdivision one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by >> a conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the >> criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to >> section 160.58 or 160.59 of the criminal procedure law. For purposes of >> this subdivision, an action which has been adjourned in contemplation of >> dismissal, pursuant to section 170.55 or 170.56, 210.46, 210.47 or 215.10 >> of the criminal procedure law, shall not be >> considered a pending action, unless the order to adjourn in contemplation >> of dismissal is revoked and the case is restored to the calendar for >> further prosecution. >> >> Thank you, >> >> Gunnar >> >> Gunnar Larson >> xNY.io - Bank.org >> 917-580-8053 >> >> n, Jul 16, 2023, 11:03 AM IABCMDCNTR <IABCMDCNTR(a)nypd.org> wrote: >> >>> Mr. Larson, >>> >>> The FOIL request you requested was acknowledged and a response will be on >>> or about Wednesday, November 29, 2023. They will follow-up with your >>> request. If the request is denied, and you would like to file a complaint, >>> we will assist you. Have a good day. >>> >>> >>> >>> *COMMAND CENTER, INTERNAL AFFAIRS BUREAU * >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> This e-mail message and any attachment(s) is intended only for the >>> person and/or entity to which it is addressed and may contain CONFIDENTIAL >>> or PRIVILEGED material. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or >>> distribution is strictly prohibited and may violate applicable laws >>> including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the >>> intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >>> delete/destroy all copies of the original message. If you are the intended >>> recipient but do not wish to receive communications through this medium, >>> please so advise the sender immediately. Please treat this and all other >>> communications from the New York City Police Department as LAW ENFORCEMENT >>> SENSITIVE / FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. NO REPORT OR SEGMENT THEREOF MAY BE >>> RELEASED TO ANY MEDIA SOURCES. >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> >>> *Sent:* Sunday, July 16, 2023 10:56 AM >>> *To:* FDSHelpDesk(a)ethics.ny.gov <FDSHelpDesk(a)ethics.ny.gov>; >>> ethel(a)jcrope.ny.gov <ethel(a)jcrope.ny.gov>; IABCMDCNTR < >>> IABCMDCNTR(a)nypd.org> >>> *Cc:* letitia.james(a)ag.ny.gov <letitia.james(a)ag.ny.gov>; >>> cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org <cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org>; Harris, Adrienne A >>> (DFS) <Adrienne.Harris(a)dfs.ny.gov> >>> *Subject:* Fwd: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-056-15960 Acknowledged >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> *CAUTION! EXTERNAL SENDER* >>> >>> *STOP WHEN UNSURE.* Never click on links or open attachments if sender >>> is unknown, and never provide user ID or password. *Suspicious?* >>> Please report to this email address: reportphishing(a)nypd.org >>> >>> Dear New York Ethics Team: >>> >>> I am concerned that the FOIL below is subject to obstruction of justice. >>> >>> The FOIL request is for access to NYPD body cam footage, for NYCCoin >>> Touting. >>> >>> Ethics Team, I am concerned that the Chief of your office is also the >>> Chief of the City Mayor's office. >>> >>> The body cam footage should have an agreeable time for delivery. I am >>> concerned that the Mayor is retaliating against NYCoin and the NYPD may be >>> aware of this. >>> >>> The video would or would not delineate any form of unnecessary force. >>> The NYPD may be aware of this. >>> >>> Obviously, xNY is very protective of digital asset innovation. Ethics is >>> a serious matter and the body cam footage would be helpful concerning >>> NYCCoin. >>> >>> Sincerely yours, >>> >>> Gunnar >>> >>> Gunnar Larson >>> xNY.io - Bank.org >>> 917-580-8053 >>> >>> >>> ---------- Forwarded message --------- >>> From: <donotreply(a)records.nyc.gov> >>> Date: Fri, Jul 14, 2023, 12:25 PM >>> Subject: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-056-15960 Acknowledged >>> To: <g(a)xny.io> >>> >>> >>> The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has *acknowledged* your FOIL >>> request FOIL-2023-056-15960 >>> <https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2023-056-15960>. >>> >>> You can expect a response on or about Wednesday, November 29, 2023. >>> Additional Information: >>> >>> Your request has been assigned to PAA Quagliano (646-610-5296) >>> >>> >>> Please visit FOIL-2023-056-15960 >>> <https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2023-056-15960> to >>> view additional information and take any necessary action. >>> >>

1 6

Fwd: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-056-15960 Acknowledged NYPD body cam footage, for NYCCoin Touting.)
by Gunnar Larson 19 Nov '24

19 Nov '24

Dear Honorable Senator Gillibrand: My name is Gunnar Larson and I am a co-founder at xNY.io - Bank.org. Today I contact your esteemed office seeking assistance with retrieving the NYPD body camera footage mentioned below. The FOIL request was filed with the NYPD on July 14, 2023. The NYPD responded on July 16, 2023, noting a potential delivery date of the body camera footage by end of November 2023. As of today, January 12, 2024 xNY.io - Bank.org has not heard from the NYPD on receiving the body camera footage. Senator Gillibrand, I am concerned delay in receiving this body camera footage may disrespect your #MeToo zero tolerance policy. Humbly, the FBI should be able to confirm with your office if this is a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" matter. Ultimately, I am concerned this matter should not impact the pure interests of your Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act. The FBI should be able to be honest with your office concerning your Bloomberg Crypto Summit interview with Senator Lummis on the Responsible Financial Innovation Act. It is my understanding that the NYPD body camera footage could have been staged politically, given xNY's approach to NYCCoin. Senator Gillibrand, your office could offer anyone the opportunity to engage the new SDNY program here to protect honest integrity of the NYPD: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-attorney-in-manhattan-launches-program-to-… . Thank you Senator Gillibrand. Sending you the very best regards, Gunnar -- Gunnar Larson xNY.io | Bank.org MSc - Digital Currency MBA - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-917-580-8053 New York, New York 10001 ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> Date: Wed, Jan 10, 2024, 5:36 AM Subject: Re: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-056-15960 Acknowledged NYPD body cam footage, for NYCCoin Touting.) To: IABCMDCNTR <IABCMDCNTR(a)nypd.org> Cc: <cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org>, ethics.sm.records <records(a)ethics.ny.gov>, < ethel(a)jcrope.ny.gov>, <letitia.james(a)ag.ny.gov>, Harris, Adrienne A (DFS) < Adrienne.Harris(a)dfs.ny.gov>, <PressOffice(a)cityhall.nyc.gov>, Reader, Shaun < sreader(a)curtis.com>, <district3(a)council.nyc.gov> Good morning NYPD: Thank you for your Jul 16, 2023 response. xNY.io - Bank.org did not hear from you on November 29, 2023 as promised. Given the emerging situation in USA cryptocurrency markets, we are going to need to follow up with the NYPD every 10 days until we receive the NYCCoin touting body camera footage. Can you please update xNY.io - Bank.org on the status of the footage? We have received various replies from the City of New York on Mayor Adams' 'first checks in Bitcoin' mentioned here: https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/041-22/mayor-adams-receive-fir… . Have a good day. Thank you, Gunnar -- Gunnar Larson xNY.io | Bank.org MSc - Digital Currency MBA - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-917-580-8053 New York, New York 10001 On Mon, Jan 1, 2024, 6:41 AM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: > Good morning: > > Happy New Year 2024 to you. > > Can we please have an update on this matter? > > Thank you, > > Gunnar > > -- > Gunnar Larson > xNY.io | Bank.org > MSc - Digital Currency > MBA - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) > > G(a)xNY.io > +1-917-580-8053 > New York, New York 10001 > > > On Fri, Dec 15, 2023, 3:51 PM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: > >> Hello: >> >> Thank you for your Jul 16, 2023 response. >> >> xNY.io - Bank.org did not hear from you on >> November 29, 2023 as promised. >> >> Can xNY.io - Bank.org please receive the >> NYPD body cam footage for NYCCoin Touting by December 31, 2023? >> >> Warm regards, >> >> Gunnar >> >> Gunnar Larson >> -- >> Gunnar Larson - xNY.io - Bank.org >> MSc - Digital Currency >> MBA - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) >> >> G(a)xNY.io >> +1-917-580-8053 >> New York, New York 10001 >> >> On Wed, Dec 6, 2023, 11:11 AM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: >> >>> Hello: >>> >>> Any updates on the body camera footage mentioned below? >>> >>> Gunnar >>> >>> Gunnar Larson >>> xNY.io - Bank.org >>> 917-580-8093 >>> >>> On Thu, Nov 16, 2023, 7:10 AM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: >>> >>>> Dear Madam or Sir: >>>> >>>> I am just confirming that the NYCCoin body camera footage is still on >>>> track for November 29, 2023 delivery. Can you confirm as such please? >>>> >>>> The matter was recorded late March 2023. And xNY.io - Bank.org must >>>> close our EOY-23 books. >>>> >>>> Any further delay of the body camera footage could be a challenge to >>>> N.Y. Executive Law, Article 15 >>>> Human Rights Law, § 296. Unlawful discriminatory practices: >>>> >>>> 14. ... whether or not accompanied by the >>>> person for whom the dog is being trained. >>>> >>>> 16. It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless >>>> specifically required or permitted by statute, for any person, agency, >>>> bureau, corporation or association, including the state and any political >>>> subdivision thereof, to make any inquiry about, whether in any form of >>>> application or >>>> otherwise, or to act upon adversely to the individual involved, any >>>> arrest or criminal accusation of such individual not then pending against >>>> that individual which was followed by a termination of that criminal action >>>> or proceeding in favor of such individual, as defined in subdivision two of >>>> section 160.50 of the criminal procedure law, or by an order adjourning >>>> the criminal action in contemplation of dismissal, pursuant to section >>>> 170.55, 170.56, 210.46, 210.47, or 215.10 of the criminal procedure law, or >>>> by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivision one of >>>> section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by a conviction for a >>>> violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the criminal procedure law >>>> or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to section 160.59 or 160.58 of >>>> the criminal procedure law, in connection with the licensing, housing, >>>> employment, including volunteer positions, or providing of credit or >>>> insurance to such individual; provided, further, that no person shall be >>>> required to divulge information pertaining to any arrest or criminal >>>> accusation of such individual not then pending against that individual >>>> which was followed by a termination of that criminal action or proceeding >>>> in favor of such individual, as defined in subdivision two of section >>>> 160.50 of the criminal procedure law, or by an order adjourning the >>>> criminal action in contemplation of dismissal, pursuant to section 170.55, >>>> 170.56, 210.46, 210.47, or 215.10 of the criminal procedure law, or by a >>>> youthful offender adjudication, as defined in subdivision one of section >>>> 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or by >>>> a conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the >>>> criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to >>>> section 160.58 or 160.59 of the criminal procedure law. An individual >>>> required or requested to provide information in violation of this >>>> subdivision >>>> may respond as if the arrest, criminal accusation, or disposition of >>>> such arrest or criminal accusation did not occur. The provisions of this >>>> subdivision shall not apply to the licensing activities of governmental >>>> bodies in relation to the regulation of guns, firearms and other deadly >>>> weapons or in relation to an application for employment as a police officer >>>> or peace officer as those terms are defined in subdivisions thirty-three >>>> and thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal >>>> procedure law; provided further that the provisions of this subdivision >>>> shall not apply to an application for employment or membership in any law >>>> enforcement agency with respect to any arrest or criminal accusation which >>>> was followed by a youthful offender adjudication, as defined >>>> in subdivision one of section 720.35 of the criminal procedure law, or >>>> by a conviction for a violation sealed pursuant to section 160.55 of the >>>> criminal procedure law, or by a conviction which is sealed pursuant to >>>> section 160.58 or 160.59 of the criminal procedure law. For purposes of >>>> this subdivision, an action which has been adjourned in contemplation of >>>> dismissal, pursuant to section 170.55 or 170.56, 210.46, 210.47 or 215.10 >>>> of the criminal procedure law, shall not be >>>> considered a pending action, unless the order to adjourn in >>>> contemplation of dismissal is revoked and the case is restored to the >>>> calendar for further prosecution. >>>> >>>> Thank you, >>>> >>>> Gunnar >>>> >>>> Gunnar Larson >>>> xNY.io - Bank.org >>>> 917-580-8053 >>>> >>>> n, Jul 16, 2023, 11:03 AM IABCMDCNTR <IABCMDCNTR(a)nypd.org> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Mr. Larson, >>>>> >>>>> The FOIL request you requested was acknowledged and a response will be on >>>>> or about Wednesday, November 29, 2023. They will follow-up with your >>>>> request. If the request is denied, and you would like to file a complaint, >>>>> we will assist you. Have a good day. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *COMMAND CENTER, INTERNAL AFFAIRS BUREAU * >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> This e-mail message and any attachment(s) is intended only for the >>>>> person and/or entity to which it is addressed and may contain CONFIDENTIAL >>>>> or PRIVILEGED material. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or >>>>> distribution is strictly prohibited and may violate applicable laws >>>>> including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the >>>>> intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >>>>> delete/destroy all copies of the original message. If you are the intended >>>>> recipient but do not wish to receive communications through this medium, >>>>> please so advise the sender immediately. Please treat this and all other >>>>> communications from the New York City Police Department as LAW ENFORCEMENT >>>>> SENSITIVE / FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. NO REPORT OR SEGMENT THEREOF MAY BE >>>>> RELEASED TO ANY MEDIA SOURCES. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>> *From:* Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> >>>>> *Sent:* Sunday, July 16, 2023 10:56 AM >>>>> *To:* FDSHelpDesk(a)ethics.ny.gov <FDSHelpDesk(a)ethics.ny.gov>; >>>>> ethel(a)jcrope.ny.gov <ethel(a)jcrope.ny.gov>; IABCMDCNTR < >>>>> IABCMDCNTR(a)nypd.org> >>>>> *Cc:* letitia.james(a)ag.ny.gov <letitia.james(a)ag.ny.gov>; >>>>> cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org <cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org>; Harris, Adrienne A >>>>> (DFS) <Adrienne.Harris(a)dfs.ny.gov> >>>>> *Subject:* Fwd: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-056-15960 Acknowledged >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *CAUTION! EXTERNAL SENDER* >>>>> >>>>> *STOP WHEN UNSURE.* Never click on links or open attachments if >>>>> sender is unknown, and never provide user ID or password. >>>>> *Suspicious?* Please report to this email address: >>>>> reportphishing(a)nypd.org >>>>> >>>>> Dear New York Ethics Team: >>>>> >>>>> I am concerned that the FOIL below is subject to obstruction of >>>>> justice. >>>>> >>>>> The FOIL request is for access to NYPD body cam footage, for NYCCoin >>>>> Touting. >>>>> >>>>> Ethics Team, I am concerned that the Chief of your office is also the >>>>> Chief of the City Mayor's office. >>>>> >>>>> The body cam footage should have an agreeable time for delivery. I am >>>>> concerned that the Mayor is retaliating against NYCoin and the NYPD may be >>>>> aware of this. >>>>> >>>>> The video would or would not delineate any form of unnecessary force. >>>>> The NYPD may be aware of this. >>>>> >>>>> Obviously, xNY is very protective of digital asset innovation. Ethics >>>>> is a serious matter and the body cam footage would be helpful concerning >>>>> NYCCoin. >>>>> >>>>> Sincerely yours, >>>>> >>>>> Gunnar >>>>> >>>>> Gunnar Larson >>>>> xNY.io - Bank.org >>>>> 917-580-8053 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------- Forwarded message --------- >>>>> From: <donotreply(a)records.nyc.gov> >>>>> Date: Fri, Jul 14, 2023, 12:25 PM >>>>> Subject: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-056-15960 Acknowledged >>>>> To: <g(a)xny.io> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has *acknowledged* your >>>>> FOIL request FOIL-2023-056-15960 >>>>> <https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2023-056-15960>. >>>>> >>>>> You can expect a response on or about Wednesday, November 29, 2023. >>>>> Additional Information: >>>>> >>>>> Your request has been assigned to PAA Quagliano (646-610-5296) >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Please visit FOIL-2023-056-15960 >>>>> <https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2023-056-15960> >>>>> to view additional information and take any necessary action. >>>>> >>>>

1 12

Breaking News: Robinhood Rebrands as 'Libra'
by Gunnar Larson 17 Nov '24

17 Nov '24

With the news this week, from the archive: https://thecapital.io/article/breaking-news-robinhood-rebrands-as-libra---M… *Breaking News: Robinhood Rebrands as 'Libra'* SILICON VALLEY - Embroiled in the naturally malevolent evolutionary controversy of brand fakery <https://thecapital.io/article/robinhoods-brand-fake-vs-paypals-crypto-corru…> in the name of manipulating humanity, Robinhood Markets (a financial services company) rocked the brand marketing world by finally coming to its senses while vindicating Mr. Hood’s legacy. The company has distanced itself from the old Robinhood firm image of “we take advantage of our customers” with a fresh rebrand as ‘Libra.’ Celebrated humanitarian Richard Simmons applauded the name change. “Mr. Hood’s story of altruism is loved by young and old alike world-wide. Today Mr. Hood is vindicated from association to the former Robinhood’s tricky company shenanigans. The new ‘Libra’ image is a super smart act of serving our country well... I hope the all-stars at Bear Stearns will join me in congratulating the new ‘Libra’ brand,” Simmons said. *The nature and timing of the brand change raised eyebrows in New York, a recent familiar reaction to news from our pals <https://thecapital.io/article/robinhoods-brand-fake-vs-paypals-crypto-corru…> from the Valley.Gleefully contemplating the long term impact on society, this reporter touts the courage of the real Mr. Hood for opposing forces similar to that of the former Robinhood.* History will celebrate the newly minted Libra, which will be hailed for its valor in rebranding, even though it did so to escape the regulatory cloud that has hung over the Robinhood project since it first came into the public domain. (A Satirical Monograph on the News)

1 11

Women Today vs. Apartheid timeline | Africa – Gulf News
by Gunnar Larson 07 Nov '24

07 Nov '24

The UN Secretary-General recently said it would take 300 more years (to year 2323) for Women to reach full rights globally. 300 years sounds like the UN will not meet any of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, look at Apartheid... https://gulfnews.com/world/africa/apartheid-timeline-1.1994303 Apartheid timeline A look at the rise and fall of the racial segregation system in South Africa Published: March 15, 2017 21:13 Compiled by Aishwarya Shukla, Special to Gulf News 1948 — Policy of apartheid (segregation on a racial basis) implemented when National Party (NP) comes to power. 1949- Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act passed. 1950 — The Population Registration Act demands all South Africans be registered according to their racial group: White, Black or Coloured. (According to this act, Indians fell under the Coloured category). Group Areas Act passed to residentially segregate blacks and whites. Communist Party banned. African National Congress (ANC) protests with campaign of civil disobedience, led by Nelson Mandela. 1960 — Sharpeville massacre: Police shooting at peaceful demonstrators, against laws for Africans, in Sharpeville: 69 men, women and children were killed and about 200 wounded. ANC is banned. 1961 — South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth and proclaims itself a Republic. 1963- Mandela leads ANC’s new military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, which launches sabotage campaign against government. 1960s — International pressure against government intensifies. United Nations (UN) calls on nations to stop sale and shipment of arms and equipment until apartheid is abolished. South Africa excluded from Olympic Games. 1964 — Rivonia trial- Mandela and other ANC members sentenced to life imprisonment. 1966 — Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd assassinated. 1970s — Bantu Homeland Citizenship Act (1970) passed. More than 3 million people forcibly resettled in black ‘homelands’. 1974- South Africa expelled from the UN because of apartheid. 1976 — More than 600 killed in violent clashes between black protesters and security forces during uprising which starts in Soweto. Head of Soweto Student Representative Council (SSRC) and Black consciousness leader Steve Biko killed in police custody. 1978 — P.W. Botha, outspoken apartheid supporter, replaces John Vorster as Prime Minister. 1984-89 — Township uprising (1984-5), state of emergency. 1989 — F.W. de Klerk replaces PW Botha as president, meets Mandela. Public facilities desegregated. Many ANC activists freed. 1990 — ANC ban is lifted. Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent. 1991 — Multi party talks begin. De Klerk repeals remaining apartheid laws, international sanctions lifted. Major fighting between ANC and Zulu Inkatha movement. 1992- A referendum on ending apartheid held in South Africa on March 17, 1992. The referendum is limited to white South African voters. 1993 — New interim constitution establishing a democratic system of one person one vote. F.W. de Klerk and his successor, Mandela, win the Nobel Peace Prize for peaceful dialogue, negotiation and their joint effort to bring an end to the policy of racial segregation. 1994 — ANC wins first democratic elections. Mandela becomes president, Government of National Unity formed, Commonwealth membership restored, remaining international sanctions lifted. South Africa returns to UN General Assembly after 20 years. 1996 — Truth and Reconciliation Commission chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu begins hearings on human rights abuses committed during the apartheid era by former government and liberation movements. Quotes: Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia trial (April 20, 1964): “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Nelson Mandela in June 1980: “Between the anvil of united mass action and the hammer of the armed struggle we shall crush apartheid and white minority racist rule.” Steve Biko: “The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” “Apartheid- both petty and grand- is obviously evil. Nothing can justify the arrogant assumption that a clique of foreigners has the right to decide on the lives of a majority.” Bishop Desmond Tutu, speech 1985. “We don’t want apartheid liberalised. We want it dismantled. You can’t improve something that is intrinsically evil. F.W. Klerk: “The question that we must ask is whether we are making progress toward the goal of universal peace. Or are we caught up on the treadmill of history, turning forever on the axle of mindless aggression and self-destruction.” —

1 3