Prosecutors confirmed they’ll search a superseding indictment within the case towards controversial Boston neighborhood activist Monica Cannon-Grant — who, alongside along with her husband, is charged with utilizing donations to her charity for her personal private profit — throughout a listening to that set a trial date subsequent March.
“We’re hoping to bring a superseding charging document before September, would be the goal,” Dustin Chao, one of many assistant U.S. attorneys prosecuting the case, mentioned in a Friday in-person listening to in federal courtroom in Boston.
The feds had filed a movement indicating their intention to hunt a superseding indictment — which may entail completely different or new expenses or add defendants — on May 20. Their affirmation in courtroom Friday made scheduling the case a bit troublesome for Senior U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf.
“I think it’s going to be in the government’s interest that if it’s going to bring a superseding indictment, that it’s filed as soon as possible,” Wolf mentioned, including that the legislation isn’t clear on if a recent indictment resets the clock for the required speedy trial, as a result of “I think the circuits are split on that issue.”
Chao mentioned the case within the March indictment hinges on three distinct conspiracy allegations. The first is the misuse of donations to the couple’s charity Violence in Boston for private use, together with that she allegedly took benefit of banking establishments and utilizing cash granted to the charity on private bills like a household trip.
The second is the misuse of public funds, together with the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which the federal government mentioned the couple utilized for and obtained regardless of Grant being employed full-time, based on Chao. The third tentpole allegation is fraud associated to the mortgage on the couple’s Taunton residence.
Regardless, Wolf set a jury trial begin date of March 7, 2023, at 9 a.m. But the concept of a brand new indictment wasn’t the one impediment to a clear-cut schedule for the case.
“There will be a significant and robust defense on these allegations,” mentioned Robert M. Goldstein, Cannon-Grant’s retained lawyer.
Goldstein mentioned the allegations aren’t clear simply on whom Cannon-Grant and her husband, Clark Grant, have allegedly defrauded within the administration of their charity Violence in Boston.
He mentioned he intends to file a movement for a “bill of particulars” from the federal government stating the main points of the victims of the alleged fraud. Wolf set a deadline of July 11 for that movement, and a authorities response deadline of July 26.
Goldstein additionally intimated that he could make a movement to sever Cannon-Grant’s case from Clark Grant’s case. Grant is represented by federal public defender Julie-Ann Olson.
All pretrial motions have to be filed by Oct. 14, with replies due by the tip of the next week.
The events will reconvene for a pretrial convention on Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”