O’Malley, the lead prosecutor, also agreed to the defense’s request to submit pretrial motions on Sept. 22 instead of yesterday.
Villagomez, 45, his sister Joaquina, 50, and her husband, former Commerce Secretary James Santos, 47, are scheduled to face a jury trial on Oct. 6 in federal court.
All three, who are out on a $50,000 unsecured bond, pleaded not guilty on Aug. 11 to conspiracy to defraud the federal government, wire fraud and theft of federal funds.
Villagomez has vowed to fight the charges.
According to the prosecution, Villagomez coerced then-CUC Executive Director Anthony Guerrero to give the lt. governor’s sister’s company a contract to sell CUC a chemical known as Rydlyme, which was not needed by the agency.
The chemical sold to CUC was about four times its original value, the prosecution stated.
Change of counsels
David Lujan, Guam’s most famous attorney, will remain Villagomez’s lead counsel. Attorney Joey San Nicolas will assist him.
Brien Sers Nicholas, a former CUC private counsel, withdrew as Villagomez’s counsel because he has to be constantly traveling to Palau, where he is running for senator.
The Santos couple will have different counsels.
Colin Thompson will be substituted by Ramon Quichocho in representing Mrs. Santos.
Richard W. Pierce is no longer Mr. Santos’s counsel. Victorino DLG. Torres has replaced him.
Robert T. Torres remains the counsel for Guerrero, 38, who entered a plea agreement with the prosecutors in exchange for a more lenient sentence.
Guerrero’s presentence investigation report is due on Oct. 8 and his sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 12.
Fraud carries a penalty of more than five years in prison.
