Defendant Daniel Estrada Cassell might have dragged his dream of unshackling Liberians because if found guilty, his jail term could range between 3-5 years along with thousands of dollars in fines.
The Founder of the opposition People’s Liberation Party (PLP) has been detained in Georgia, the United States on a four-count indictment for fraud following a court-filed Warrantless Arrest Affidavit
However, the State of Georgia statute GA Code § 17-4-62 (2020) states that, “In every case of an arrest without a warrant, the person arresting shall, without delay, convey the offender before the most convenient judicial officer authorized to receive an affidavit and issue a warrant as provided for in Code Section 17-4-40. No such imprisonment shall be legal beyond a reasonable time allowed for this purpose; and any person who is not brought before such judicial officer within 48 hours of arrest shall be released.”
According to the investigation, Dr. Cassell who is charged as ‘Fugitive From Justice’ was indicted by New Providence Prosecutors in New Jersey for violating the State’s statutes on December 31, 2021 on four-count charges ranging from Health Care Fraud-Intentional Fraud by Non-Practitioner; Medical Assistant Program-Making or Causing False Statements; Medical Assistant Program-Obtaining Improper Benefits/Kickbacks and Theft by Deception-Value $75,000+/Extortion/Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Over 1 Kilogram.
When a drug is classified as a controlled substance or CDS, it cannot be possessed, sold, or distributed except as provided by law. Drugs are deemed CDS when they are susceptible to abuse, they warrant regulation by the State of New Jersey and law enforcement.
The Founder-president and Chief Executive Officer of Kwenyan and Associates Professional Health Services LLC which operated in New Jersey was picked up on March 17 and detained by the Clayton County Sheriff’s office but the defendant has not appeared to answer to the charges and the indictment in New Jersey as they were transferred to Georgia.
In compliance with law and according to the docket of the Magistrate Criminal Court in Georgia, defendant Cassell’s first appearance hearing was scheduled for March 18, 2022 but he could not be prosecuted in the State of Georgia.
The allegations levied against the defendant are for white-collar crimes which legal experts say some New Jersey doctors, chiropractors, pharmacists, and patients find themselves trapped.
Since the news broke last week of his arrest, the leadership of the PLP promised to dispatch a fact-finding delegation to the United States before disclosing its next move since it was apparent that their political leader might not be returning home anytime soon.
“The Liberian delegation will include legal experts to ascertain information and determine the party’s next course of action,” the PLP’s Chairperson Tapple Doe stated.
According to the report gathered, no defense attorney has filed a Notice of Appearance yet on behalf of the accused though based on his “Fugitive From Justice” arrest, it is unclear if the legal system in Georgia will look favorably on any petition for bail since the state may argue that he is a flight risk.
