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Judge delays trial in case against Tinian Dynasty owner
Citing that the case is unusual and complex, the federal court has delayed the jury trial in the criminal case against Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investments Ltd., which owns Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.
U. S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona on Tuesday vacated the Sept. 8, 2014, jury trial and set the trial for Oct. 27, 2014.
After hearing both the U.S. government and attorney Bruce Berline, counsel for Hong Kong Entertainment, Manglona ruled that this case involves voluminous discovery materials and more time is needed to mount an effective defense. The judge said the ends of justice would be served by resetting the trial date.
The indictment charged Hong Kong Entertainment, former Tinian Dynasty VIP services manager George Que, and Tinian Dynasty former casino manager Tim Blyth, with engaging in a conspiracy to allow gamblers to conduct transactions involving more than $10,000 without filing the required paperwork with the U.S. government.
Que and Blyth had entered into a settlement deal with the U.S. government in exchange for the dismissal of the criminal charges against them.
At a pre-trial conference on Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic David, who appeared via video teleconference, stated that both parties agreed to a short extension in order to open the motions’ deadline.
Berline disclosed that the parties were engaged in settlement negotiations, that’s why no motions were filed in the case. He asked the court for a short continuance of the trial.
David said it is a document intensive case with the amount of discovery materials being voluminous, and that Berline may still be reviewing the contents of these documents.
Berline agreed with David that both parties are working on trying to pare down the documents in order to make the case manageable. Berline said he needs additional time to review the documents.
David disclosed that the U.S. government had even provided Berline with a spreadsheet analysis and that it was still voluminous.
After hearing from both counsel, Manglona granted the motion to continue the trial date.
