BOSTON After months of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 24-count trial of former Mayor Jasiel Correia II appears on track for a March 16 start date, according to a federal online docket.
Another virtual “in-chambers” meeting was held on Thursday between U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock and attorneys involved in the case to discuss “confidentiality and personal privacy issues affecting trial participants,” read a court entry.
A similar hearing was held on Jan. 29.
An in-person pre-trial conference is set for Feb. 23.
Correia and his top aide and campaign manager, Gen Andrade, were set for trial on the government corruption side of the case for allegedly scheming to gain $600,000 in bribes for the non-opposition letters needed for any marijuana company to seek state licensing for medical and recreational marijuana last May.
Courtesy of WCPO
Attorneys for suspended Cincinnati Councilmember P.G. Sittenfeld alleged in a filing Wednesday that federal agents engaged in misconduct while conducting an investigation that led to corruption charges against him.
Most of the specific allegations of misconduct are redacted in the filing, which asks U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole to order the release of significant quantities of purposely withheld evidence Sittenfeld attorney Charlie Rittgers alleges federal authorities have not yet turned over.
One allegation is spelled out in the filing, however: a claim that the FBI informant in the case attended a party at a penthouse rented by undercover agents with young women who appeared to be drinking underage.
Jo C. Goode
BOSTON Former Mayor Jasiel Correia II has been given a new trial date again.
Correia, facing 24 counts in a case of alleged political corruption of bribery and extortion and defrauding investors and the IRS connected to his now defuncted company, SnoOwl, is set to go to trial on March 16.
Due to court scheduling complications because of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock changed the date of the start of trial from Feb. 22, according to a court website on Friday.
The website notification does not give a specific reason for the change, nor whether the defense or prosecution requested the nearly one-month delay.