Three judges in the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments Thursday in the appeal of the federal convictions of fraud and corruption of former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia.
Correia is currently serving a six-year sentence in federal prison in New Hampshire for defrauding investors of his SnoOwl app business and seeking payments from potential recreational marijuana vendors in exchange for a favorable recommendation from state regulators. He was convicted during a federal trial in May of 2021.
Attorney Steven Sabra of Sabra Law says the format of the oral arguments before judges Sandra L. Lynch, Bruce M. Selya and Jeffrey R. Howard is limited to each side having only 15 minutes to prove their cases.
Attorney Sabra says much of what the judges will consider lies in the pages of briefs submitted by the attorneys for Correia and prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s office.
In his court briefs, Correia’s attorneys are arguing that, among other issues, there should have been separate trials for both the SnoOwl and marijuana cases and that U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock provided conflicting instructions prior to jury deliberation.
Attorney Sabra says during the oral arguments it is rare for the judges to tip their hands on how they may rule.
Even though Thursday’s court appearance will be brief, when a judgment will be rendered is entirely within the purview of the three judges.
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