Attorneys on both sides moving next hearing to November.
FALL RIVER — Federal prosecutors have handed Jasiel Correia II’s defense team over 18,000 pages of discovery related to its investigation and the eventual indictment of the second term mayor, according to federal court filings.
The joint memorandum signed by Correia’s defense attorney Kevin J. Reddington and federal assistant U.S. attorneys Zachary R. Hafer and David G. Tobin was filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Massachusetts Tuesday covering approximately 18,256.
Both the defense and the prosecutors have requested that a protective order be granted in the case for materials produced in discovery.
In a draft of the request for a protective order, defense counsel is able to question or “confront” potential witnesses.
Correia is currently facing nine counts of wire fraud and four counts of filing false tax returns in connection with his now defunct app company SnoOwl he founded before becoming a City Councilor and elected as mayor.
The government claims he defrauded investors and use more than a quarter million dollars to fund what U. S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling described as a lavish lifestyle, paying back college loans and purchasing a used Mercedes Benz sedan.
Last Thursday, Correia, his defense attorney Reddington and prosecutors were scheduled to appear at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse for a pre-trial hearing. However, Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley submitted a one-sentence order removing herself from the case shortly before the hearing was to begin. She did not provide a reason for the recusal.
Two days previously, Correia’s original and lead attorney, Mark Berthiaume of Greenberg Traurig filed notice that he had withdrawn as Correia's defense counsel. He did not provide a reason for withdrawing.
The hearing was postponed and Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell was reassigned to the case and the new hearing date was set for Dec. 18.
In Tuesday’s federal court filings, the defense and prosecutors indicated that a status hearing was not required and requested a court date be set for the week of Feb. 11.
Correia pleaded not guilty to all the federal counts after his arrest and during an arraignment on Oct. 11. He was released on unsecured $10,000 bond with conditions.
The mayor, who has repeatedly claimed he will not resign, is potentially facing a recall election. The election department is currently certifying signatures of registered voters. If the residents involved in the recall have successfully gathered 2,510 or more signatures of registered voters, a recall election will be set in motion.
Email Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com