EFTA00612557.pdf

1 Dc5Whofl 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. STEVEN HOFFENBERG , Before: Defendant. x -x 94 CR 213 (RWS) New York, N.Y. December 5, 2013 2:05 p.m. HON. ROBERT W. SWEET, District Judge APPEARANCES PREET BHARARA United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York RICHARD COOPER Assistant United States Attorney GARY H. BAISE Attorney for Defendant SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612557 2 Dc5Whof1 1 2 ' 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 .16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 (Case called) THE COURT: Please be seated. MR. COOPER: Good morning, your Honor. Richard Cooper, for the government. With me at counsel table is U.S. Probation Officer Michael Cox and supervising U.S. Probation Officer Paul Wodeshick. MR. BAISE: Your Honor, Gary Baise, Olsson Frank, Washington, D.C., for Mr. Steven Hoffenberg. I'm accompanied by Mr. Hoffenberg and counsel for Towers Investors and one of the investors, Mr. Ed Kramer, from Mintz & Fraade. THE COURT: Let me just be sure that we're all on the same page as to where we are and what's happening. The judgment in this case, and the sentence, was entered on March 7, 1997. Mr. Hoffenberg was released from federal custody on October 11, this year. The probation officer sought to conduct a home visit in connection with the supervised release, three years' supervised release. The terms and conditions with respect to that supervised release were contained in the judgment. There were some difficulties, question of counsel, the involvement of counsel, and whatever. The probation officer informed me of that, sent me a report, which was dated on the 15th of November, and, as a result of that report, I asked that we all get together and deal with these issues. I think the problem that we face is the conditions are SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C- (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612558 3 Dc5Whofl 1 a matter of judgment, so to speak, and laid out in the 2 judgment. There are some, I gather, from the materials I've 3 gotten from the defendant, that there may be some requests with 4 respect to certain matters relating to those conditions, and 5 the probation officer has also asked that there be some 6 additional conditions under the conditions of supervision. So 7 that's where we are, I think. 8 Parenthetically, I've been familiar with this case 9 since 1994, and I recognize that its history has been extremely 10 difficult right from the get-go, and there's no sense 11 rehearsing any of the procedural problems, of which there were 12 many. However, what I hope we can do is to work this out in a 13 fashion that will be clear and we won't have any difficulties. 14 Having said that, 'I think what I would suggest, unless 15 somebody's got a better way of going about this, is to find out 16 what the defense thinks, what modification in the standard 17 conditions of supervision the defense wants, see what the 18 government thinks about that, and then what the government 19 wants and see what the defense thinks about that. That's the 20 way I would suggest we go forward, unless somebody has a 21 different idea. 22 MR. BAISE: Your Honor, Gary Baise, for 23 Mr. Hoffenberg. 24 I was just presented, although Mr. Cooper advises me 25 he sent this document by e-mail yesterday to me, I was SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612559 4 Dc5Whofl 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 traveling yesterday and did not see it until just about ten minutes ago, which is the document that was placed under seal, and I guess I'm a little puzzled now, after reviewing this document, as to why it was placed under seal and why the defendant and his counsel are at a bit of disadvantage. THE COURT: What would you like to do as a result of that? MR. BAISE: As a result of that, I would like to, after consulting with my client here, have an opportunity to review exactly what it is the government is seeking in terms of the new conditions to the standard 13 conditions that your Honor has imposed. THE COURT: I think we can find that out quite easily. I guess the government can tell us. In the report, the requests which they gave me -- MR. RAISE: Is there still something under seal, your Honor? THE COURT: Who knows? I don't know. MR. BAISE: Is this now out from under seal, Mr. Cooper, since you e-mailed it to me? THE COURT: I haven't -- MR. BAISE: Or Mr. Chan? I'd asked both your deputy and Mr. Cooper for a copy of this and they said at the time it was under seal, but Mr. Cooper didn't have a copy of it. THE COURT: Let's back up a little bit. SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612560 5 1 2 • 3 Dc5whof1 MR. BAISE: Yes. THE COURT: Why was this sealed? MR. COOPER: Your Honor, it's my understanding that 4 when either violation reports or other reports related to 5 supervision are submitted to the Court by the probation office, 6 they are, as a matter of course, placed under seal until 7 judicial action is taken. 8 THE COURT: As a result of the conference. yes. 9 The action I took, based on what -- it is, 10 parenthetically, to protect the defendant, that's the point the 11 whole thing. But never mind. 12 MR. BAISE: Okay. 13 THE COURT: Never mind. That's the explanation. 14 MR. RAISE: In terms of protecting him, I clearly 15 would have waived, and I'm sure Mr. Hoffenberg would have 16 waived, because there's nothing in here that's embarrassing to 17 him, at least that I have read to date. 18 THE COURT: "For these reasons stated above, we're 19 also requesting the Court modify the conditions of supervision 20 to include both the financial disclosure special condition and 21 a search special condition. We're also requesting the Court to 22 enter order a mental health assessment and evaluation to 2.3 determine the defendant's current mental state." Okay? 24 MR. BAISE: And-Mr. Hoffenberg would waive that. The 25 only thing I would say, Mr. Cooper and I have not talked about SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. • (212) 805--0300 EFTA00612561 6 Dc5Whofl 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 this, but it seemed to me any of these suggested additions, I don't know if they're restrictions, go that far just yet, as your Honor knows, have to be put in such a way as there's a reasonably direct relationship between what they're asking for and the crime that he was convicted of, and it would seem to me what we were going to talk about today were some of these restrictions, and I haven't had a chance to fully read it. THE COURT: What do you want to do about that? Do you want to put this over until tomorrow? Do you want to put it over until two? What do you want to do about it? MR. RAISE: I think putting it over until 2:00 will be an excellent idea, your Honor. THE COURT: Done. MR. RAISE: Done. (Luncheon recess) SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612562 7 Dc5Whof1 1 AFTERNOON SESSION 2 2:00 p.m. 3 THE COURT: I hope you all had a. pleasant luncheon. 4 what would the defense like to accomplish this 5 afternoon? 6 MR. BAISE: Three items, your Honor. 7 First, your Honor, I have had an opportunity to read 8 what was purportedly the sealed document, and I have some 9 comments on it. 10 Secondly, there are some travel restriction issues 11 that I would like to talk about, and, thirdly, talk about some 12 mechanics as it relates to the restitution issue and the 13 individual or individuals Mr. Hoffenberg can discuss. 14 THE COURT: Okay. 15 MR. BAISE: And a fourth point; that is, with regard 16 to procedure and this Court's schedule, depending on 17 Mr. Cooper's schedule, of course, I would like to respond to 18 this sealed document formally rather than just off-the-cuff 19 comments, since this is a status hearing today, not a 20 full-blown hearing. 21 THE COURT: We'll wait and see how this all 22 materializes as to that. 23 MR. BAISE: Sure. 24 THE COURT: Yes, I think you're correct. The 25 probation officer did not ask for a hearing on what might have SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-03O0 EFTA00612563 8 Dc5Whofl 1 2 • 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 been charges but were not set down as charges. We're at a preliminary stage, I agree. Okay. Tell me what you would like to tell me. MR. RAISE: What I'd like to address initially is the visitation issue because I think, in part, I generated this issue in my conversations with Mr. Cox. In the sealed document -- is the document now unsealed? THE COURT: I don't care. MR. RAISE: You don't care? THE COURT: You don't care. You've got it. What's the government's view? MR. COOPER: I don't know whether it's sealed or not, but everybody, I think, has the document. THE COURT: Everybody that needs it has got it. MR. RAISE: I now have it, so as long as it's public, that's fine. THE COURT: Sure. MR. RAISE: That document includes a letter written by one of my associates, after I had left to go overseas, and I'd like to make two points clear with regard to that letter. One, I am not saying Mr. Hoffenberg has any right to counsel at these visits. I understand what the law says and what the Second Circuit has ruled. So he does not have a right to counsel at these visits. This says we're demanding a right to SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS; P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612564 9 Dc5Whofl 1 2 ' 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 counsel. I'm not. THE COURT: I understand. MR. BAISE: Okay. THE COURT: That's helpful. MR. BAISE: That takes care of that issue and takes it off the table. THE COURT: Yes. MR. BAISE: There's a subsidiary issue. I had said to Mr. Cox that I would like to have a person there when the supervised release officers protect Mr. Hoffenberg from he probably shouldn't say. came by to see him mainly to himself, from saying something that But there's nothing in these supervised release 13 provisions that you set forth that said he could not have someone there. So my first request, and I can put this in a memorandum to you or we can do an order to show cause as to why they believe no one should be there. Now, the argument Mr. Cox and Mr. Wodeshick and counsel make, it is for the safety of the officers that there not be someone there. That strikes me as counterintuitive, your Honor. The whole reason we cars is to protect the officers. colleague suggest maybe we would have videotaping in police Only in the letter did my consider videotaping just to protect both parties. So that is an issue I'd like to bring before the Court today. May he have a person, next-door neighbor, and it does appear from what these papers say, to me, SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612565 10 Dc5Whofl 1 2 ' 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 they want to come at any hour of the day or night. Well, most of the cases deal with sex offenders, people using computers for computer crimes, be able to drop in on the defendant. it strikes me Mr. Hoffenberg was convicted of securities fraud. I don't understand why you'd have to just be able to drop in any time. I'm not asking you to make a decision on that today. We will address that in formal papers, if that is acceptable to you. But it just struck me as a bit odd for the government to say they don't want anyone there for their own safety. Here's a fellow 69 years of age. I don't think that he constitutes much of a physical entity of safety to a fellow like Mr. Wodeshick or Mr. Cox because he realizes what you'd have the power to do; I'm sure you'd do something untoward as to that. So that issue I wanted to address. Secondly, travel. THE COURT: I'm sorry? MR. BAISE: Secondly, travel. THE COURT: Oh, yes. MR. BAISE: The travel restriction. The way this is written and it's just the common term and just a form, I am told that he can't -- well, actually, the document says you can't travel outside the judicial district. As we have reported to the Court, he has a wife that is in very serious condition with regard to cancer down in Philadelphia. SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612566 11 Dc5Whofl 1 2 • 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 He has been told, I'm told, verbally that he can go. He would like to have that in writing. So I'd like to have today a change on the travel restriction, and that would include, I'm told, he could even go over to -- Where is it, Ed? Queens? MR. KRAMER: That would be Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Fort Lee, New Jersey, anywhere very close. THE COURT: Let's be specific about it. MR. BAISE: Yes. THE COURT: I understand Philadelphia. Are there other places? I don't think you have this problem in Washington, but, you see, we do. We have this across-the-river problem, so if there's some reason to go to a particular place in the Eastern District, fine, I'm pleased to hear it. But just to open it up to another judicial district, let's be precise. MR. BAISE: Precisely would be Philadelphia any time he wants to go to Philadelphia. THE COURT: We'll have to work that out, but probably. MR. BAISE: On something like that, would you prefer that I propose to Mr. Cooper a written amendment to the travel item? THE COURT: I think we can work these things out. MR. BAISE: Okay. THE COURT: What we can't work out, then we'll have to SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612567 12 Dc5Whofl 1 2 ' 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 struggle with. But let me just suggest, I make no secret of it, I have great respect for our probation officers and the work they do. Mr. Hoffenberg may not believe it, but they're trying to help, and that is their purpose. They also want to be sure that all the conditions are fulfilled, and so on. I think as a general rule, it's very useful if you can work with the probation officer and work out these things consensually, if that can be done. If it can't be done, of course, I'm here. MR. BAISE: And I would agree with your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. MR. BAISE: In fact, I was pretty surprised. I had to go to Rome and I thought Mr. Cox and I agreed that we were going to attempt to do exactly what your Honor outlined. THE COURT: Maybe we can work it all out. MR. BAISE: Okay. THE COURT: What else? MR. RAISE: We can work out -- THE COURT: Do you want to take a moment and tell me where? I won't say why would anybody want to go to Staten Island, that would be inappropriate. But where do you want to go? MR. BAISE: There was one other item that I mentioned in my letter, that he wanted to travel to China. THE COURT: That's a horse of a different color. MR. BAISE: A horse of a different color, I SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612568 Dc5Whofl 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 understand. But I would raise that when you say be sp I have been specific. THE COURT: Philadelphia, I understand. The other places in New York, do you want to tell me what that's all about? MR. RAISE: I do not think we're prepared to provide all of the areas. Just limiting to this district, I thought, was, and he thought -- THE COURT: China, I understand. Anything else? MR. RAISE: Yes. For example, and this is just a practical problem, your Honor, he feels he cannot go out to JFK to pick up his daughter, something silly like that. So it's household type issues that he has brought up to me. I remember the airport issue, but it's common sense, I guess, exemptions, if you will, from just the judicial district. THE COURT: Okay. Anything else? MR. RAISE: Yes. Let's talk about the restitution issue. It has been represented to me by Mr. Hoffenberg that he feels, in his discussions with Mr. Wodeshick and Mr. Cox, he is unable to talk to any victims. That's No. 1. No. 2, Mr. Kramer is here representing victims. No. 3, it seems given his requirement for restitution, $475 million, that he needs to have considerable latitude in obtaining restitution for those individuals. Part of that SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612569 Dc5Whof1 1 involves a personality I'm sure your Honor is familiar wit 2 Mr. Jeffrey Epstein. 3 THE COURT: I'm not. 4 MR. BAISE: You're not? S THE COURT: That's because -- you're a young fellow -- 6 I'm old and I'm not hip. 7 MR. BAISE: Well, I'm not hip either. In fact, I was 8 just talking to Mr. Hoffenberg last night. He couldn't believe 9 I'm 72, so I may look young, I guess I do. But I'm not far 10 behind you. 11 THE COURT: I think it's your necktie. 12 MR. BAISE: It's got a little white on it. 13 Anyway, what we would like today to have from your 14 Honor is a direction on the record that he can deal with the 15 appropriate individuals with regard to obtaining the 16 restitution of this 475 million of which Mr. Epstein, I'm told, 17 and Mr. Kramer may want to address this in more specifics, but 18 Mr. Epstein is a critical player here. So, yes, I would like a 19 direction from his Honor that we can deal with Mr. Epstein. I 20 make the representation that he feels that he can't deal with 21 him, we obviously have not put anybody on the witness stand to 22 see what Mr. Hoffenberg believes is correct with Mr. Wodeshick 23 or Mr. Cox, but certainly I would like to have that direction 24 from the Court today. 25 THE COURT: Anything else? SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212).805-0300. EFTA00612570 15 Dc5Whofl 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RAISE: With regard to coming into the house at any hour. THE COURT: Yes. MR. RAISE: I had mentioned that. THE COURT: You did. And you mentioned that you'd like to have somebody there. MR. RAISE: That's part of it. That's half of the argument. And as your Honor knows better than I, coming in at any time and certainly when you have, as I said, a sex offender or computer crime guy, absolutely, but it would seem to me, and I've requested this in my letter to his Honor, or Mr. Chan, that during normal working hours could we just have sort of that limitation on it, not just any time, any hour? He is trying to get back into normal life, and, again, the whole purpose of the Sentencing Reform Act of '94, I guess it was, is to see how we can rehabilitate and get these folks back into the community, at the same time protecting the interests of the community. So it seems to me that a limitation, reasonable one, make it from six to six, but just sort of reasonable business hours, and again, they don't have to notify him, that that is clear. But, yes, I guess I would like, not guess, I would like to have that as a direction from your Honor today. Finally, between Mr. Cooper and me, I would like X number of days, not many, a week or eight or nine days, because we obviously know we're getting into the holiday period, to SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (2121 805-0300 EFTA00612571 Dc5Whofl 1 have at least a written response to all that is asser 2 this paper, because while we don't think he's any thx. ' 3 society, secondly, we do not believe these travel restrictio. 4 should be quite as stringent as they are, as we've talked 5 about, and this idea, your Honor, of bringing up some of these 6 items in the document, which I'll address if you permit me to 7 file a response here, going back and dredging up incidents that 8 occurred when this gentleman was 22 years old strikes me as a 9 bit over the top. The theft issue of the diamond ring when he 10 was a youngster, causing problems in the prison system tells me 11 that that was about ten years ago, these are not reasonable 12 grounds for seeking some of the restrictions Mr. Cox and 13 Mr. Wodeshick are seeking here. 14 We're trying to, at the end of the day, at the end of 15 the day, obtain, through him and his resources, 475 million for 16 the victims, and I think anything, in fact, there is a comment, 17 I think at the bottom of page five, top of page six, that 18 suggests to me that the U.S. Department of Justice's victim 19 witness coordinator, communication information regarding the 20 offender's status, says that, relative to the repayment of 21 restitution should only be conducted through their office. 22 That seems to me and seems to Mr. Hoffenberg to be a quite 23 limiting factor in terms of restitution, and maybe there's case 24 law for that, but there is certainly nothing in the 13 25 requirements that you signed off on, and he agreed to, that SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 N EFTA00612572 17 Dc5Whofl 1 would seem to suggest that he run everything through the office 2 on what he's attempting to do. ' 3 At the end of the day, it seems to me that the 4 public's interest is best served here by him obtaining the 5 money through the sources he thinks still owe him funds, and 6 that's why I bring up this Mr. Epstein's name in seeking your 7 permission today for him to be able to have contact with 8 Mr. Epstein. As we know and what got him into difficulty was 9 his expertise in collection work, but that was a securities 10 violation. There is no problem with his actual collection 11 work. It was the securities side that brought him into 12 disrepute and caused him to be punished to the extent he has 13 been punished. 14 So, Mr. Epstein, travel, and some reasonableness with 15 regard to coming to his place, could there be someone there. 16 Sometimes if they come unannounced he probably wouldn't be able 17 to have someone there. But again, I feel, as I started this 18 argument out here, this conversation with you, I may have 19 started this in my conversation with Mr. Cox in suggesting I'd 20 like to have someone present when Mr. Wodeshick and Mr. Cox are 21 there, and they've taken that as a threat, I don't know why, 22 because a second person there helps ensure their safety as far 23 as I'm concerned. 24 THE COURT: That's it? 25 MR. BAISE: Mr. Kramer, do you have anything that you SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612573 18 Dc5Whofl 1 would like to say with regard to the victims? 2 THE COURT: No, no, no. ' 3 MR. BAISE: You don't want to hear from him? 4 THE COURT: Thanks. I'm delighted to have you, sir, a 5 great pleasure, but you're not a party to this proceeding. 6 MR. BAISE: But this is just a status conference. We 7 understand that. And fourthly, may we set some date by which 8 we'll respond. 9 THE COURT: We'll see. We'll see. 10 MR. BAISE: Again, on a quick turnaround. 11 THE COURT: Just a second. 12 MR. BAISE: You bet. 13 THE COURT: Anything else? 14 MR. BAISE: I think that's all I ought to comment on 15 today, to the extent we're at a status conference. 16 THE COURT: Appreciate it. 17 What's the government's reaction to this? 18 MR. COOPER: Your Honor, the government will take each 19 of those points in turn. 20 THE COURT: Yes. 21 MR. COOPER: First, with respect to the request that 22 somebody be present during home visits, and Officer Cox, I'm 23 sure, has a view on this and can speak to it as well, the 24 government believes that that is impractical in the context of 25 the goals of supervised release where the ability not to have SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612574 19 Dc5Whof1 1 advance notification of the time of a visit is very important 2 to the officers, the ability to have direct contact and 3 flexible contact with the releasee, to see what's going on in 4 the releasee's life, whether they remain a danger to the 5 community, whether there are other conditions that are required 6 and, frankly, how to respond to requests like the ones that 7 defense counsel's making now, for all those reasons, it's very 8 important for a probation officer to have direct, unmitigated 9 contact with .a releasee. 10 One comment with respect to the safety issue, it's my 11 understanding that the primary reason to have that direct 12 contact is not for safety reasons, although I would note in the 13 defendant's Bureau of Prisons file, there is a write-up with 14 respect to an assault that occurred on corrections staff.. So 15 there are potential safety concerns, but really our core 16 position on that is that it's just inconsistent with the 17 purposes and with the methods of supervision. 18 On travel, your Honor, the defendant was given oral 19 permission to travel to Pennsylvania, and I believe we would be 20 fine with advance notification and approval of the probation 21 department with that type of travel. 22 With respect to other locations, as your Honor already 23 said, it's a fact-specific issue that the defendant can 24 certainly raise with the probation officer, to the extent 25 there's any disagreement, that could be elevated to the Court, SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612575 20 Dc5Whofl 1 but I don't know that we need a direction now with respect to 2 other locations. ' 3 On restitution, the probation office has asked the 4 Court to direct the defendant not to have any contact with the victims, and the government believes that that is appropriate 6 under the circumstances. As your Honor, I'm sure, is much more 7 familiar with the facts of this case than I am, this was a half 8 billion dollar Ponzi scheme, thousands upon thousands of 9 victims, and it's unclear why contact with those victims would 10 further the gathering of restitution over and above merely 11 re-victimizing those same victims in the process. Without a 12 particular showing of why the defendant would need to have 13 contact with those victims and what could be done to mitigate 14 the risks, we oppose that request. 15 With respect to the specific requests for this 16 Mr. Epstein, it's unclear why the defendant needs that contact 17 or who this Mr. Epstein is, but I presume that that also can be 18 worked out between the probation office and the defendant, and 19 to the extent that it can't be worked out, it can be brought 20 before your Honor. 21 On the repayment of restitution, it's my understanding 22 that restitution payments are made through the clerk of the 23 court here and not through the U.S. Attorney's office or the 24 probation officer. 25 THE COURT: Yes. By the way, I take it it's not SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612576 Dc5Whof1 1 necessary for us to worry about this today, but w' 2 understanding of the normal procedure, or if you 3 on it -- I have never, oddly enough, gotten int 4 about restitution because, I guess, it happens relatx.. 5 rarely. But what's your understanding? Let's assume that 6 Mr. Hoffenberg can accomplish this and finds $100 million 7 wherever he finds it and wants to provide that in restitution. 8 What is your view? 9 MR. COOPER: I believe, and I can confirm this for 10 your Honor, the process would be for the defendant to write a 11 check essentially or make payment to the clerk of the court 12 here and then the clerk of court, once the money goes above a. 13 certain threshold, distributes that to the victims. 14 THE COURT: Thank you. 15 MR. COOPER: Last, on time limitations -- 16 THE COURT: I'm sorry? 17 MR. COOPER: On the defense's request that your Honor 18 impose limitations on the times and days that the officer can 19 conduct home visits. 20 THE COURT: Oh, yes. Working hours. 21 MR. COOPER: Exactly. A few points on that. That, 22 too, is inconsistent with the need to be flexible and to visit 23 the defendant at times when he's home, when there might be 24 things that the probation officer needs to observe in the home. 25 It's inconsistent with the flexibility that the probation SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612577 Dc5Whofl 1 office requires. To restrict it to working hours in a 2 situation where the defendant is intending to go back to work ' 3 would also seem to be unreasonable, given that those would be 4 the hours that he would be out of the house, so home visits 5 would place an undue burden on the probation office because the 6 defendant just wouldn't be home. 7 I believe I've addressed all the defense's issues. As 8 your Honor is aware, there are other additional conditions that 9 the probation office had wanted to add. I can address those 10 separately, if your Honor would like. 11 THE COURT: Tell the defense what you want. 12 MR. COOPER: As laid out in the probation office's 13 request for conference, a financial disclosure special 14 condition, a search special condition. 15 THE COURT: When you say financial disclosure, what 16 practically does that mean? 17 MR. COOPER: One moment, please, your Honor. 18 Your Honor, it's my understanding, based on the 19 officer, that the probation office provides the defendant with 20 certain forms to complete about assets, things like that. 21 THE COURT: There are, I take it, like every good 22 government agency, standard forms. 23 MR. COOPER: I believe there are standard forms. 24 THE COURT: And that's what you're talking about? 25 MR. COOPER: To be supported by underlying documents, SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) -805-0300 EFTA00612578 23 Dc5Whofl 1 like bank statements and otherwise. 2 THE COURT: That's one. 3 MR. COOPER: No. 2 is a search special condition with 4 respect to the search of the premises. 5 THE COURT: What's that? 6 MR. COOPER: It's the ability for the probation office 7 to go into the premises at a reasonable time and at a B reasonable hour to ensure that there is no illegal conduct, no 9 contraband, no issues: 10 THE COURT: Okay. 11 MR. COOPER: There's no contact with victims. We've 12 already addressed that. 13 THE COURT: Yes. 14 MR. COOPER: A request that the Court direct the 15 defendant not to seek employment at his previous company, 16 Towers. It's our understanding, based on what the defendant 17 has told the probation office, that the defendant intends to 18 resume a position at Towers, and we believe that poses a risk 19 to the community. 20 THE COURT: Anything else? 21 MR. COOPER: The probation office has requested that 22 the defendant be directed to do community service of a hundred 23 hours or more. 24 THE COURT: Okay. 25 MR. COOPER: Mental health assessment. SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612579 24 Dc5Whofl 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 THE COURT: Okay. MR. COOPER: And, lastly, that the Court direct the defendant, or presumably his agents, not to videotape or record probation home visits. THE COURT: Right. MR. COOPER: That's all. Unless your Honor has any questions, that's all we have. THE COURT: No. That's fine. MR. COOPER: Thank you. THE COURT: Does the defense want to be heard any further on those matters or any of the others? MR. BAISE: Yes, your Honor. With regard to what counsel referred to as an assault, the rest of the story, as they would say, the assault was on Mr. Hoffenberg. It was 14 years ago. I don't think he is much of a threat in terms of safety to these officers, and to use that as your pretext strikes me as a tad weak. No. 2, with regard to the travel to Philadelphia, Mr. Hoffenberg asked for written authority, in part, because I ask him to always get things in writing, the authority allegedly for that trip was oral. THE COURT: Was what? MR. BAISE: Oral. THE COURT: Yes, okay. MR. BAISE: That, frankly, was not sufficient, and so SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612580 25 Dc5Whofl 1 it strikes me as a situation where it would have been very easy 2 for the probation officer or supervised release officer to 3 provide written confirmation. Why not? So that's why I asked 4 for a little bit more leniency with regard to the travel. 5 Regarding restitution, the victims, in part, I am 6 advised, call him wanting to know what he's doing. And it is 7 his responsibility, as ordered by this Court, to go about 8 collecting money owed to him by third parties. And so that's 9 why I made the request' with regard to this Mr. Epstein in 10 particular because there are business arrangements, which I am 11 unaware of and this Court presumably is unaware of, that lead 12 him to believe that he can, in part, fulfill the obligation 13 imposed by this Court on him with regard to the 475 million. 14 With regard to the mental health examination, I'm 15 jumping ahead just a tad, we find that a bit amusing, your 16 Honor. Here's a fellow who's been in jail 18 years and never 17 had a mental health examination. No one apparently thought it 18 was sufficient or required to have a mental health evaluation 19 for 18 years in a federal penitentiary. That strikes us as 20 maybe a bit of retaliation for my simply requesting that 21 someone accompany him when the supervisory officers came by. 22 Maybe it's not, but that one strikes me as very odd. 23 With regard to the employment, what counsel apparently 24 is referring to is Towers Financial. 25 THE COURT: Is what? SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612581 26 Dc5Whof1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. BAISE: Towers Financial. There is no such thing as Towers Financial now. I mean, Mr. Hoffenberg is devoting his time and effort, as I understand it from him and his colleagues, full time attempting to seek restitution of a partial amount or all of the amount of this 475 million. Now, again, the supervisory release is to help integrate this fellow back into society and there's a concomitant requirement, obviously, looking out for the protection of the public. Strikes me he has learned his lesson, that the danger that he would pose to the public which is an issue that I've raised in my letter, didn't bring up today because I think it's better dealt with in written papers to your Honor, and that's what I call the scarlet letter, and that is and what I couldn't figure out, nor other counsel, with all the phone calls that he is making, presumably letters that he's writing, it would appear to me that the supervised release officers are wanting him to report every one of those to their office. And not only do you report, they have the opportunity to call up the person he is talking to and say, Hey, do you know this guy's a crook, do you know what he did? I think most people who operate in this area know what Mr. Hoffenberg did, and he's very up front. In fact, he'tells those who are unaware, and I think I proposed maybe written confirmation that the person sign, but it strikes me as I look at the case law in this area, this trying to keep tabs of him SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612582 27 Dc5Whof1 1 as he's trying to reintegrate himself back into the community, 2 trying to collect this money is a bit of, as I said, a scarlet 3 letter and the court cases, as you know, talk about this a 4 great deal, particularly in the Second Circuit. 5 The financial disclosure forms, again, strikes me that 6 that is a little uncertain. He's certainly willing to fill out 7 financial disclosure forms. He has an account at Chase 8 Manhattan. If they want to see that, fine. This is not as if 9 he's stealing from Chase Manhattan, but it involves all the 10 efforts that he is attempting to undertake with regard to 11 obtaining restitution. That does strike us as not assisting 12 him in reintegrating himself, paying his debt to society, which 13 he's already paid in large portion, but he's committed to 14 restitution of a large sum of money as well. 15 But going back and saying that he is a danger because 16 he assaulted someone, I'm not sure where that came from. I 17 certainly don't blame counsel for bringing that up, but I do 18 find it puzzling that it's turned against him and these 19 officers are suggesting mentally and through an incident that 20 occurred 14 years ago upon him, utilized to protect them, it 21 strikes me that is a bit disingenuous, your Honor. 22 If counsel wishes to respond, if I'm incorrect on my 23 facts, I'll stand corrected. 24 THE COURT: That's all right. Anything else you want 25 to tell me? SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612583 28 Dc5Whofl 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RAISE: No. Thank you. THE COURT: Anything from the government with respect to your requests? MR. COOPER: Yes, your Honor, briefly, just to clarify a few things. One, with respect to the mental health evaluation, the presentence report refers to various issues that give rise to that request. So that's the source of that. Second, just to clarify the record, the government is not using the assault in the BOP as a pretense for getting this condition or for opposing the request that somebody always be present. It's primarily a matter of flexibility and the need not to preschedule the home visits that gives rise to that position. On financial disclosure forms, it's my understanding from the officers that nowadays with respect to financial crimes that special condition is somewhat routinely imposed. It was not in this case because the judgment was imposed in 1997, when it wasn't as frequent a condition. With respect to the third-party risk and the probation office notifying third parties of the defendant's status, again, it's my understanding from the officer that in the normal course, the probation officer discusses with the defendant what the defendant is doing with respect to business, to try to get back into the working world and then makes a SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612584 Dc5Whof1 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 determination, based on those conversations, whether the potential risk. This is not the situation where on rece list of people that the defendant is working with the probation office in a blunderbuss fashion contacts everybody to announce the releasee's status as someone who's been convicted of a crime. I believe that's all, your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. MR. COOPER: Thank you. THE COURT: Thank you all very much. I think this has been fruitful and I hope we can work out a supervised release for Mr. Hoffenberg that is going to benefit him and ensure that the process is an appropriate one. With respect to the issue of time of the inspections, it's standard in the district, it's standard in the office, not to announce the time of the visits, and there will be no requirement of any announcement. That obviously will not prevent the defense, if at any time they feel that this has been abused, from bringing it to my attention, but I don't expect that that will be the case. As far as who is in the house, anybody can be in the house at any time. I certainly am not going to take any position on that at all, and if there's somebody there, fine. If there isn't somebody there, that's fine, too. With respect to travel, Mr. Hoffenberg is permitted to SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212).8O5-0300 EFTA00612585 30 Dc5Whofl 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 travel to Philadelphia on any occasion that he deems appropriate to visit his wife, and the only condition there will be that he notify the probation office in advance that he wants to go. That is also true with respect to any travel within the City of New York that is related to meeting somebody at the airport or something of that kind. On the other hand, an airport's an airport, and so the probation office should also be notified of those visits. MR. BAISE: In writing, your Honor, or orally? THE COURT: No. Telephone calls. MR. BAISE: Just telephone call? THE COURT: Sure. That's fine. There's no serious request at the moment concerning China, so we won't even worry about that for now. The question of restitution and the past history is a sensitive issue, and I recognize that, because of the nature of the crime and the present circumstance, so there will be no ..+•••-•r • direct contact with any of the virtimo„. If Mr. Hoffenberg wants to talk to Jamie Dimon or Jeremy Epstein or Volker or anybody else about getting some money back, that's fine. Obviously, he can do that. Here's the point. If this is going to be a satisfactory supervised release, Mr. Hoffenberg has to work with the probation office and indicate to them what he intends to do about employment and the restitution. He's got to be SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612586 Dc5Whof1 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 candid about that. And as far as the employment is cone( if the company is defunct, which I assume it is, whatever employment he gets into, he must be candid and forthright with the probation department for the obvious reason that he has a history, and that depends on what the proposed employment is. I think that takes care of those matters. For the moment, I think we'll pass the community • service. Perhaps at a later stage, that might be something appropriate, but if in good faith Mr. Hoffenberg seriously wants to devote himself to trying to work to be in a position to make restitution, that certainly should be encouraged, and we'll see how that works out. At the moment, I think, community service, at this early stage in the supervised release -- it may be appropriate later -- at this point I would say it's not necessary. The mental health assessment will be done. There is a history. There will be no recording of the probation officer's statements or videotaping or anything of that kind. I think that covers everything. Procedurally, hopefully, this will all work itself out, the conditions, mandatory conditions of the sentence, the standard conditions. I didn't do the financial. Yes, financial disclosure, standard financial disclosure. SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612587 32 Dc5Whofl 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 The way in which any changes in the situation will result will come, I guess, one of two ways. One, the probation officer, if it's necessary, will advise me if he thinks a hearing is necessary, with respect to a violation of any of the provisions of supervised release. Alternatively, if the defense wants to raise any issue with me of some change that seems to be appropriate, I certainly am -- you may not recognize this possibility, but I intend to be Santa Claus and I'm going to be Santa Claus from December 12 to January 12. Other than that, I'm available to hear anything, and if anything is critical during that period, which I certainly hope will not be the case, but if it is, it is, I can always be reached and deal with whatever it is in some appropriate fashion. Is there anything else that we can profitably do today? Yes, sir. I'll defer to the defense. MR. BAISE: Thank you, your Honor. THE COURT: Only because of your age. MR. BAISE: Yes, of course. Of course. O Inat t_I necoim ou keep referring to, your Honor, probation. THE COURT: I say probation office. MR. BAISE: Supervised release and you know as well as I do, there's a clear differentiation there, so that's just one SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612588 33 Dc5Whoil 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 comment. Secondly, with regard to the mental health issue, Mr. Hoffenberg would prefer hiring his own person to do that. THE COURT: That's something that might work out. Depends on who it is and how it's done. That's something that could be discussed. But there will be an assessment. MR. BAISE: Okay. THE COURT: And one that seems appropriate to the probation officer MR. RAISE: And he will pay for it. He's volunteered to do that. 'TEE COURT: Who will pay for it? MR. BAISE: Mr. Hoffenberg will pay for it. THE COURT: I don't know, .1 guess. Who pays? MR. BAISE: Obviously, Mr. Hoffenberg would like to have flexibility, if that is indeed .755...SQURT: If he comes up with somebody that's satisfactory, I take it that that would be okay. MR. COOPER: I believe, if the individual is satisfactory to the probation office, then it's satisfactory. THE COURT: You're from Washington, but you don't understand we have psychiatrists in New. York around every corner. MR. BAISE: We have them in Washington, too. We need SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212).805-0300 EFTA00612589 34 Dc5Whofl 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 them down there. THE COURT: And some of them are very good. MR. RAISE: Let's hope they are. THE COURT: If he finds such a person, I'm sure it will work out. MR. COX: Your Honor. THE. COURT: Excuse me. Anything else? MR. RAISE: The only item, when you said, no contact with the victims THE COU'l l 4 MR. BAISE: -- we have counsel here. , THE COURT: Obviously, he cannot prevent somebody from calling him up. MR. RAISE: Calling him, okay, fine THE COURT: Obviously, he can't prevent that, and any such contacts would be appropriate to report to the probation officer. But, again, as I say, there's got to be full disclosure of what this effort for restitution is all about. MR. BAISE: And we do not have any problem with that, although that's not an area that I am covering at this point. THE COURT: Okay. MR. BAISE: He has counsel for that, but I just want the record to show that during his incarceration, he advises me that a number of people called him saying, How are you going to SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612590 35 Dc5Whofl 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 help repay our funds, which is only a natural reaction from the person who, I want to be able to respond. THE COURT: He's in a position to say I cannot discuss that with you because I have been told not to contact any of the victims. MR. BAISE: He wouldn't be contacting them, they would be contacting him. THE COURT: Yes. I'm saying, but he doesn't_c_j_ c. I hope that's clear. MR. BAISE: It is, and particularly in dealing with one of the third parties, Mr. Epstein, and he's not a victim, so I just want to make that clear to the probation officer or the supervised release officer, he could not cut off any contact. Thank you very much, your Honor. THE COURT: Anything further from the government? MR. COOPER: There was one request for a search special condition. THE COURT: I don't think that's necessary. I mean, I think the probation officer as a matter of law is entitled to search. But, if there is any question about it, the answer is yes, he may. MR. BAISE: There's some law that goes both ways on that. You have to have a mere suspicion, according to the Supreme Court, in a 1996 case, mere suspicion, but we'll bring SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612591 36 Dc5Whof1 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 that up in a memorandum that we will address to the Court. MR. COOPER: Lastly, your Honor, I'm advised that the probation office would like a release to speak with whatever mental health provider does the evaluation after that provider is approved by the office. THE COURT: Sure. Of course. MR. COOPER: With that, nothing else from the government. Thank you, your Honor. MR. BAISE: The defense agrees with that. THE COURT: That's fine. Good luck. I hope it works out and that we never have to meet again on this subject. Is there anything else? Thank you, all. MR. BAISE: Not from the defense. Thank you, your Honor. THE COURT: By the way, written record, it's here. We have the best court reporter in the business. All you have to do is pay her. MR. KRAMER: Your Honor, I noticed the portrait in the back of Judge Thomas. THE COURT: It's my father. MR. KRAMER: That's what I wanted to know. THE COURT: You can tell, there is a reason for those two gentlemen being there. Never trust a man with a moustache. Thank you. (Adjourned) SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORTERS, P.C. (212) 805-0300 EFTA00612592