Posted on 01/23/2009 7:46:28 AM PST by cll
SAN JUAN (AP)-Three co-defendants in the case against former Puerto Rico Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá pleaded guilty Thursday while a fourth co-defendant requested his trial be moved to Philadelphia, where he is expected to plead guilty as well.
Defense attorneys forJorge Velasco Mella, Ramón Velasco Escardille and Edwin Colón Rodríguez informed the court that they will plead guilty, which prompted federal Judge Paul Barbadoro to schedule three hearings on the matter consecutively at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.Friday at the Hato Rey federal court. Judge Bruce McGiverin will preside over the Friday hearings
Meanwhile, Candido Negrón Mella asked to move his trial to Philadelphia on the grounds of a federal criminal procedure rule that, according to press reports, is related to guilty plea petitions.
In July, Negrón stated that Acevedo Vilá did not know the details of the contributions raised in his name in Philadelphia. Negrón also denied businessman Robert Feldman knew about the contributions. Negrón Mella, 41, is accused of conspiracy and perjury. He was Acevedo Vilá’s campaign treasurer in the U.S. mainland.
Are those other co-defendants besides Coreano also cooperating with the feds? It sounds like the guilty pleas were leading to that.
It seems that way. Reliable sources say that only Acevedo an another close aide, Luis Inclán, will go to trial. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Acevedo pleads guilty before the February trial start date, especially after former Senator De Castro pleaded guilty in an as yet apparently unrelated case. As yet.
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