Former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia II's trial postponed again
Jo C. GoodeBOSTON — There is yet another delay in the 24-count federal trial of former mayor Jasiel Correia II, and as with a number of postponements before, the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame.
The notice that Correia’s trial was rescheduled to May 4, from the most recent date slated for March 16, appeared on the federal court docket on Friday.
“As a result of the ongoing Covid pandemic and in order to address the proper safety protocols, the Jury Trial as to Jasiel F. Correia, II is RESCHEDULED to begin jury empanelment and trial on 5/4/2021 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 1 before Judge Douglas P. Woodlock,”the docket entry stated.
An in-person pre-trial conference on Feb. 23 before Woodlock has also been canceled for a date closer to the May trial.
The latest COVID-19-related delay puts his trial exactly one year from the original trial date of May 4, 2020.
More:Former mayor Jasiel Correia II's criminal trial on track for March
More:Read the full indictment of Mayor Jasiel Correia
In October 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Correia on 11 federal criminal counts for allegedly defrauding more than $250,000 from investors in his now-defunct smartphone app company SnoOwl. He was arrested in Bridgewater after he had been reportedly partying in a night club in Boston the night before and arraigned pleading not guilty.
Correia was arrested for a second time, as was former chief of staff Andrade, on Sept. 6, 2018 to multiple federal charges for their alleged involvement in the extortion of money from local marijuana companies in exchange for letters of non-opposition and host agreements.
In Andrade’s deal with federal prosecutors, she pled guilty to all charges against her in exchange an agreement the government will not request she serve time in prison.
Three local men – Antone Costa, David Hebert and Hildegar Camara – pleaded guilty for their roles in the alleged extortion plot after signing plea agreements in exchange for their cooperation with the federal government less than two weeks after Correia’s September 2019 arrest. They are awaiting sentencing as well.