Rowland Marcus Andrade Files Motion for Informant Disclosure in AML Bitcoin Fraud Case
On Friday, November 1, 2024, Rowland Marcus Andrade filed a motion in the US District Court for the Northern District of California seeking the disclosure of the identities of seven informants involved in his case. The motion was submitted ahead of a scheduled hearing on November 21, 2024, in San Francisco, where Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler will preside.
Andrade’s motion argues that the government’s use of various informants, including undercover employees and confidential sources, is central to the fraud prosecution against him. The defense contends that these informants hold valuable information that could assist in Andrade’s defense strategies. The motion cites the case of Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53 (1957), asserting that the disclosure of informants is warranted when their identities and communications are relevant to the defense.
The motion highlights that the government has utilized a range of informants throughout the investigation, which also involved Andrade’s alleged co-conspirators, including Jack Abramoff and others. Andrade’s legal team posits that revealing the identities of these informants is crucial for preparing a robust defense, particularly in light of the informants’ firsthand knowledge of the events surrounding the allegations.
In detailing the requested disclosures, the motion identifies seven specific informants, each associated with different aspects of the case involving AML Bitcoin:
- UCE-8026 (Mason Wong): Andrade’s legal team claims that Wong had a significant conversation with Andrade during a public sale of AML Tokens. The defense argues that Wong’s testimony could clarify misconceptions about the nature of the AML Token sale, as no recording of this conversation exists.
- UCE-7410 (Bryant Lee): Lee, who purchased AML Tokens through Andrade’s public sale, reportedly had multiple conversations with Andrade that discussed the terms of sale and other relevant issues. The defense asserts that Lee’s insights may reveal inconsistencies in the search warrant affidavits related to the case.
- OCE-8149 (James P. Woods): Woods participated in a video conference with Andrade and Lee, and if Lee is unavailable, He could provide testimony about their interactions. His knowledge is also pertinent to the ongoing discussions regarding the search warrants.
- UCE-4473 (Ravi Gupta): Gupta was allegedly involved in communications between Andrade and Abramoff. The defense claims Gupta possesses knowledge that could provide context to the motivations behind the AML Token sales, which could benefit Andrade’s defense.
- UCE-7780 – This informant is noted for recording conversations involving Gupta and Abramoff, which may contribute to understanding the context of the allegations against Andrade.
- UCE-7180 (Leena Ahmed) – Ahmed’s discussions with personnel linked to Andrade’s technology could offer insights into the nature of Andrade’s business dealings and relevant conversations that were not accurately represented in the search warrants.
- CHS-21879 (Brad Morgan) – Morgan is described as a technology consultant who interacted with Ahmed and could authenticate recordings and provide details about technical specifications relevant to the case.
The motion emphasizes that identity disclosures are necessary for Andrade to prepare adequately for trial and to challenge the credibility of the government’s evidence. In particular, the defense is focused on the possibility of a Franks hearing, which would address claims of misleading statements or omissions in the affidavits used to obtain search warrants against Andrade.
Andrade’s legal team asserts that the government must demonstrate why these informants’ identities should remain undisclosed, especially when the defense has laid out a strong case for the relevance of this information. They argue that it is essential for a fair trial and that failure to disclose the informants could infringe on Andrade’s rights.
The motion concludes with a request for the court to compel the government to disclose the identities, locations, and other pertinent information about the informants mentioned. Andrade’s attorneys maintain that this information is vital for developing a comprehensive defense strategy as the case progresses.
Please contact BlockTribune for access to a copy of this filing.
