DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 
DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
Plaintiff, 
v. 
REYNALDO PIERRET LERBURDS, 
MICHAEL LEONARD, 
Defendants. 
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Criminal No. 2018-15 
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ATTORNEYS: 
 
Gretchen Shappert, United States Attorney 
Sigrid Tejo-Sprotte, AUSA 
United States Attorney’s Office 
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 
 
For the United States of America, 
 
Jason Gonzalez-Delgado  
Hato Rey, PR 
 
For Reynaldo Pierret Lerburds, 
 
David J. Cattie 
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoack & Stewart LLC  
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 
 
For Michael Leonard. 
 
 
 
ORDER 
 
GÓMEZ, J. 
 
Before the Court are the applications of Reynaldo Pierret 
Lerburds (“Lerburds”) and Michael Leonard (“Leonard”) to waive 
their speedy trials. For the reasons stated herein, the time to 
try this case is extended up to and including August 31, 2018. 
Case: 3:18-cr-00015-CVG-RM   Document #: 28   Filed: 06/25/18   Page 1 of 3
United States v. Lerburds, et al. 
Criminal No. 2018-15 
Order 
Page 2 
 
 
While the Speedy Trial Act requires that defendants be 
tried within seventy days of indictment, the Court specifically 
finds that extending this period would be in the best interest 
of justice for several reasons. First, an extension is necessary 
to allow Lerburds and Leonard time to review discovery and 
investigate the charges against them. Second, Lerburds and 
Leonard made their requests with the advice and consent of 
counsel. Third, without an extension, Lerburds and Leonard would 
be denied reasonable time necessary to explore plea options and 
prepare for trial. 
 
Consistent with these concerns, the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Third Circuit has recognized that "whether or 
not a case is 'unusual' or 'complex,' an ‘ends of justice’ 
continuance may in appropriate circumstances be granted."  
United States v. Fields, 39 F.3d 439, 444 (3d Cir. 1994); United 
States v. Dota, 33 F.3d 1179(9th Cir. 1994) ("An ends of justice 
continuance may be justified on grounds that one side needs more 
time to prepare for trial [even if the] case [i]s not 
‘complex.’"); see also United States v. Lattany, 982 F.2d 866, 
883 (3d Cir. 1992) ("[T]he district court did not abuse its 
discretion when it delayed the trial to give counsel . . . 
opportunity to . . . decid[e] upon and prepar[e] an appropriate 
defense."); United States v. Brooks, 697 F.2d 517, 522 (3d Cir. 
Case: 3:18-cr-00015-CVG-RM   Document #: 28   Filed: 06/25/18   Page 2 of 3
United States v. Lerburds, et al. 
Criminal No. 2018-15 
Order 
Page 3 
 
1982) (holding there was no abuse of discretion where district 
court found that  multiple count, multiple defendant "case was 
complex and required additional time for adequate 
preparation."). 
 
The premises considered; it is hereby   
 
 
ORDERED that the time beginning from the date of this order 
granting an extension through August 31, 2018, shall be excluded 
in computing the time within which the trial for Reynaldo 
Pierret Lerburds and Michael Leonard must be initiated pursuant 
to 18 U.S.C. § 3161.  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
S\ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Curtis V. Gómez 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
District Judge 
 
 
 
Case: 3:18-cr-00015-CVG-RM   Document #: 28   Filed: 06/25/18   Page 3 of 3