In a hearing on Friday, U.S. District Court for the NMI Presiding Judge Alex R. Munson granted to set the new trial for the defendants on March 30, 2009 at 9 a.m. The jury trial was earlier set for March 23, 2009.
The three filed a motion to waive their speedy trial for them to have more time to study the new charges of bribery and prepare for their defense. The court ordered that the defendants remain at liberty under all the previous terms and conditions set by the court.
Munson ordered that all motions should be filed in court not later than one week before the trial.
At the same hearing, the three defendants entered a not guilty plea to the superseding charges of bribery and other charges involving receiving federal funds, conspiracy to defraud and to commit offenses against the U.S. government, wire fraud and theft.
Villagomez was represented by attorney Delia Lujan of Guam while the Santos couple appeared with their lawyers Ramon Quichocho and Victorino Torres.
According to the superseding indictment, Villagomez accepted $15,000 from the Santos couple as bribe to approve the purchase of Rydlyme for the Commonwealth Utilities Corportation.
The indictment stated that Mr. Santos signed a $15,000 check on Dec. 7, 2007 payable to Villagomez to be drawn from his and his wife’s account. The indictment further stated that Villagomez deposited the check into his personal account on the same day.
The indictment stated that Mrs. Santos, the lt. governor’s sister, deposited a $50,000 check as payment for Rydlyme on Dec. 6, 2007 and another check on Jan. 16, 2008 from CUC’s operations fund into an account belonging to Blue Pacific.
