Attorney Steven Pixley, who is representing Mohammad Jahangir Miah, told the federal court that he has been representing Derek Robert Duenas, who was charged with conspiracy and bribery in connection with the driver’s license case in Superior Court.
Duenas’ jury trial is scheduled for June 13, 2011.
“There exists a risk that the representation of Mr. Miah may be materially limited by [this] counsel’s responsibilities to Mr. Duenas,” Pixley said.
He added that Duenas had been contacted by law enforcement officials regarding information pertaining to alleged misconduct at the CNMI Bureau of Motor Vehicles which may relate to the pending charges against Miah.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Schuler, who is prosecuting the case, did not object to Pixley’s motion to withdraw as counsel.
Pixley said his withdrawal “will not result in unfairness or hardship” to the defendant since the jury trial for Miah is scheduled for June 20, 2011.
Miah, who has been in detention since Dec. 12, 2010, has denied the charges.
Miah’s co-defendants — his wife Tahira Dolores Miah; William A. Hocog, also known as Bill; Hongmei Sun, also known as Hongmei; and Hui Qiang Yang, also known as Hui Chang — have also denied the charges.
The grand jury indicted the five defendants on one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and transfer identification cards and eight counts of unlawful production of identification document that involved the CNMI driver’s license.
The conspiracy occurred from on or about April 16, 2010 to on or about June 18, 2010, according to the indictment.
