Judge Kathleen M. Williams acceded to the Defence’s request and signed an order yesterday, December 6, granting the motion filed by Van Vliet, allowing for an additional month past the date which was noted in the defence filing.

The accused trio is now expected to face trial on July 17, 2023, before Judge Williams on charges of conspiracy to import a controlled substance; conspiracy to engage in money laundering; attempted money laundering; and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering.

The racketeering charge was brought in a superseding indictment in recent weeks and the defence argued that more time was needed to prepare for those new charges as well as to properly assess material which has still not been disclosed by the prosecution.

Fahie’s attorney told a Miami court in a filing for continuance (extension) of the January 2023 trial date last week, that among other things, prosecutors have still not disclosed pages of transcripts taken from ‘voluminous recordings’ of Fahie’s electronic devices seized months ago during his arrest.

Van Vliet also contended that the prosecution had not revealed information about the confidential source allegedly used in the case and planned to contest this issue in court ahead of the trial.

According to the order signed by Judge Williams yesterday: “The Court finds that the ends of justice served by granting this continuance outweigh the interests of the defendant and the public in a speedy trial.”

The order further noted that, “For the reasons stated on the record, the time from [yesterday] up through the rescheduled trial date is excluded from the deadline for trial as computed under the Speedy Trial Act.”