United States v. Lopez-Martinez, No. 17-1924 (1st Cir. 2021)
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The First Circuit vacated Defendant's convictions on six counts relating to public corruption in the Commonwealth, holding that the district court's refusal to sever Defendant's trial from that of one of her codefendants was an abuse of discretion.
Defendant worked as the administrator of the Puerto Rico Workforce Development Administration (ADL) for two years before she was charged with various federal offenses relating to public corruption. Defendant was tried jointly with three other individuals who were also charged in the indictment and convicted of all six counts that she faced. The First Circuit vacated the convictions, holding (1) there was sufficient evidence in the record supporting the convictions; but (2) the district court abused its discretion in declining to sever Defendant's trial from that of her codefendant, and the resulting prejudice was such that the matter must be remanded for a new trial.
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