THE federal court yesterday granted a request to waive speedy trial filed by Tomas B. Aldan and his co-defendants in the conspiracy case to defraud Bank of Saipan of $6.6 million.
U.S. District Court Judge Alex R. Munson ordered that the jury trial in the case begin on Oct. 21.
The court had previously set the trial on July 1.
Munson also ordered that pretrial motions should be filed in order that they will be heard no later than Sept. 14.
Aldan and co-defendants Bert Douglas Montgomery and Dusean Berkich, through their respective attorneys, moved to waive speedy trial, saying they need additional time to review evidence and effectively prepare.
At yesterday’s hearing, Berkich also waived reading of the indictment and pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Smith recommended that Berkich be released on a $250,000 secured property bond.
Munson ordered Berkich to be at liberty on a $100,000 property bond and allowed him to travel between CNMI and California and to any other cities within the U.S. pertaining to his work—but with the court’s written approval.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Berkich in California. The FBI apprehended Aldan along with Montgomery last month. FBI subsequently arrested co-defendant Michael T. Wilson in Plano, Texas.
All four defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
In addition, Aldan was charged with one count of wire fraud, Montgomery with four counts of wire fraud, Berkich with three counts of wire fraud, and Wilson with three counts of wire fraud.
Wilson had entered a guilty plea to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions in criminally derived property, securities fraud, and making false statements.
