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DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. PAUL GIRARD, SHAQUAN PRENTICE, ROBERT BROWN, WAHILLI JAMES, SHAQUIELLE CORREA, JAMES CRUZ, KAREEM HARRY, TYLER EUGENE, ETHERNEAL SIMON, SHERMYRA GUMBS, WAYNE BELLILLE, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) Criminal No. 2018-30 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ATTORNEYS: Gretchen C.F. Shappert, United States Attorney George A Massucco-LaTaif, AUSA Meredith Jean Edwards, AUSA Juan Albino, AUSA United States Attorney’s Office St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For the United States of America, Ryan W. Greene St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For Paul Girard, Adriane J. Dudley Malorie Diaz Dudley Rich Davis LLP St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For Shaquan Prentice, Renee Marie Andre Law Offices of Marjorie Rawls-Roberts PC St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For Robert Brown, Case: 3:18-cr-00030-TJS-RM Document #: 687 Filed: 01/23/20 Page 1 of 5 United States v. Girard, et al. Criminal No. 2018-30 Order Alex Omar Rosa-Ambert Rosa-Ambert Law Offices San Juan, PR For Wahilli James, Jason Gonzalez-Delgado Hato Rey, PR For Shaquielle Correa, Miguel Oppenheimer San Juan, PR For James Cruz, Kye Walker St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Frantz J. McLawrence The McLawrence Law Firm Fort Lauderdale, Fl For Kareem Harry, Richard F. Farrelly Law Offices of Birch DeJongh & Hindels PLLC St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For Tyler Eugene, Richard H. Dollison Michall Joseph LaRochell Law Offices of Richard H. Dollison PC St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For Etherneal Simon, Kendys Pimentel-Soto Kendys Pimentel-Soto Law Office LLC San Juan, PR For Shermyra Gumbs, Alexander Golubitsky Alex Golubitsky P.C. St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For Wayne Bellille. Case: 3:18-cr-00030-TJS-RM Document #: 687 Filed: 01/23/20 Page 2 of 5 United States v. Girard, et al. Criminal No. 2018-30 Order ORDER GÓMEZ, J. This case commenced on September 13, 2018, when the Grand Jury returned a seven-count indictment against three defendants. Since then, the Grand Jury has returned several superseding indictments that added additional defendants and charges. On January 17, 2019, the Grand Jury returned a Third Superseding Indictment charging eleven defendants with 47 counts. After each defendant had been arraigned, the trial in this matter was first set for April 29, 2019. Thereafter, on April 5, 2019, the Court entered an order granting the motion of the United States to extend the time within which the trial in this matter must be initiated. In that order, the Court set the trial for July 29, 2019. On April 25, 2019, the Grand Jury returned a Fourth Superseding Indictment. Subsequently, trial was set for September 23, 2019. On July 31, 2019, the Court entered an order extending the time within which the trial in this matter must be initiated. On the same date, the Court set the trial for December 3, 2019. Thereafter, the Court set several new dates. Ultimately, on December 4, 2019, the Court set the trial in this matter for February 18, 2020. In the same order, the Court set January 8, Case: 3:18-cr-00030-TJS-RM Document #: 687 Filed: 01/23/20 Page 3 of 5 United States v. Girard, et al. Criminal No. 2018-30 Order 2020, as the date by which motions must be filed. In that order, the Court also scheduled a motions hearing for February 3, 2020. Various Counsel in this case request continuances of the trial date and/or motions hearing date. In a case such as this, involving many defendants and covering many counts, the Court must be cognizant of the imperatives of the Speedy Trial Act and the rights of each defendant to a speedy trial. See, e.g., United States v. Rankin, 779 F.2d 956, 959-60 (3d Cir. 1986). The premises considered, it is hereby ORDERED that, by no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 27, 2020, each Counsel who has requested a continuance shall file a written document bearing the signature of each Counsel and such Counsel’s respective client certifying the following: (1) that each Counsel has informed his or her respective client that a continuance is being sought on the client’s behalf, which continuance, if granted, may be longer than what is requested; (2) that each Counsel’s respective client who is incarcerated has been informed that such Defendant will remain incarcerated for the duration of any continuance that may be granted; (3) that each affected Defendant has been informed that the current trial date will be delayed if a continuance is granted; and (4) that each affected Defendant indicated to his or her Counsel Case: 3:18-cr-00030-TJS-RM Document #: 687 Filed: 01/23/20 Page 4 of 5 United States v. Girard, et al. Criminal No. 2018-30 Order that the respective Defendant agrees with such Counsel’s efforts to seek a continuance; it is further ORDERED that a status conference in this matter is hereby SCHEDULED to commence promptly at 10:00 A.M. on February 4, 2020, in St. Thomas Courtroom 1 before District Judge Curtis V. Gomez; and it is further ORDERED that the omnibus hearing in this matter previously scheduled for February 3, 2020, is hereby RESCHEDULED to commence promptly at 9:00 A.M. on February 18, 2020. S\ Curtis V. Gómez District Judge Case: 3:18-cr-00030-TJS-RM Document #: 687 Filed: 01/23/20 Page 5 of 5