Former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia’s trial set to begin on cannabis holiday, Andrade sentencing date announced

Former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia’s trial is set to begin in April.

Correia will face 24 federal counts of alleged fraud connected to the SnoOwl app in addition to allegedly taking bribes from marijuana vendors. In an interesting twist, the trial is scheduled to begin on the cannabis holiday of April 20th when jury selection will take place.

The final pre-trial conference is also scheduled for Monday April 19th.

The trial was first scheduled to take place in May of 2020, but was pushed to September, then January of 2021 and then again to February due to COVID-19.

U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock, who will be presiding for the trial, has been vocal about making sure the trial is safe for all participants while also getting the judicial wheel moving.

According to an October hearing, the court room will be limited to 26 people due to COVID-19 including a jury of 14, the judge, a clerk, and associated parties. Woodlock stated that overflow and zoom would be utilized to provide access to the court proceedings.

Woodlock also stated that masks will be mandatory for all in the courtroom.

Gen Andrade, who was initially going to trial with Correia, changed her plea to guilty in a virtual hearing in U.S. District Court in mid-December of 2020 and she is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10.

During Andrade’s court appearance where she pled guilty, the prosecution released evidence involving the case.