The U.S. District Court for the NMI has scheduled the jury trial of Franz B. Reksid, 60, for Jan. 18, 2011.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. O’Malley told the court that the prosecution is still in the process of compiling materials to supplement its disclosure to the defense.
“Accordingly, in order to allow the government sufficient time to produce additional discovery, and then to allow [Reksid] sufficient time to review the supplement discovery and to prepare any appropriate pre-trial motions, the parties hereby stipulate to request that the court extend the presently scheduled cut-off date,” stated the stipulation signed by O’Malley and attorney Mark B. Hanson, who is representing Reksid.
Currently out on a $25,000 unsecured bond, Reksid has denied the charge of soliciting bribe money in the “Brownsfield” program which receives federal funds.
Indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 23, Reksid was arrested by federal agents at the end of last month.
In or about Feb. 2009, Reksid, “acting as agent of a state government, did corruptly solicit a thing of value intending to be influenced and rewarded,” the indictment added.
It said Reksid solicited $3,000 from the owner of a business seeking to obtain a contract with DPL. The contract was funded by an EPA Brownsfield grant.
The investigation was conducted by federal agents from the EPA’s Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The CNMI’s Office of the Public Auditor also assisted in the investigation.
