Attorneys for the seven defendants in a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance fraud case told a federal judge Tuesday that a June deadline to determine whether they will use expert witnesses is not feasible as they continue to sift through nearly 1 million pages of documents.
Some attorneys suggested even the proposed Sept. 22 trial start date is not realistic as they struggle to review all the evidence.
Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo held a status hearing to hear from attorneys as they work toward a September trial and several deadlines in June and July.
Bordallo set a June 12 deadline for the government and a June 18 deadline for defendants to file whether they will use expert witnesses.
Federal prosecutors allege the seven defendants, along with unnamed co-conspirators, participated in a scheme that filed about $1.9 million in fraudulent PUA claims.
The defendants are Lt. Gov. Josh…
These frauds exploit emotional vulnerability and trust rather than technical weaknesses.
- Romance Scams: Scammers build long-term online relationships with victims, eventually fabricating a “crisis” (medical emergency, legal trouble, or travel costs) that requires the victim to send money.
- Pig Butchering: A hybrid scam where the criminal builds a romantic or platonic relationship to eventually “tutor” the victim in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment.