IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 
DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
Plaintiff, 
v. 
CARLOS ADRIAN VERDUGO-CASTRO,  
Defendant. 
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Case No. 3:24-cr-0030 
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ORDER 
 
BEFORE THE COURT is Defendant Carlos Adrian Verdugo-Castro’s (Verdugo-Castro) 
Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial Date. (ECF No. 18). For the reasons stated herein, the 
Court will continue the trial in this matter until March 3, 2025. The Court finds that the time 
beginning from the date of this Order through March 3, 2025, shall be excluded in computing 
the time within which the trial in this matter must be initiated. 
 
On October 28, 2024, the Government filed a Criminal Complaint charging Verdugo-
Castro with Re-Entry After Deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). On November 27, 
2024, the Government filed an Information charging Verdugo-Castro with Count One, 
Reentry of Removed Alien in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). Verdugo-Castro was arraigned 
on December 11, 2024.  
Verdugo-Castro seeks a 60-day continuance of the current trial date, January 13, 
2025, because the Government provided discovery on December 19, 2024, and he needs 
additional time to review discovery and discuss his case with his counsel, including any 
potential pretrial motions, engage in plea negotiations and prepare for trial.  
While the Speedy Trial Act (the “Act”) requires that defendants be tried within 
seventy days of indictment, the Act specifically excludes:  
[a]ny period of delay resulting from a continuance granted by any judge on his 
own motion or at the request of the defendant or his counsel or at the request 
of the attorney for the Government, if the judge granted such continuance on 
the basis of his findings that the ends of justice served by taking such action 
outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.  
 
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United States v. Verdugo-Castro 
Case No. 3:24-cr-0030 
Order 
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18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). 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,” including “to 
permit plea negotiations to continue.” United States v. Fields, 39 F.3d 439, 444-45 (3d Cir. 
1994). In determining whether to grant a continuance, courts must consider whether the 
failure to grant it “would deny counsel for the defendant . . . the reasonable time necessary 
for effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence.” 18 U.S.C. § 3161 
(h)(7)(B)(iv).  
 
The Court finds that the ends of justice served by extending the period in which the 
trial must begin in this matter outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in 
a speedy trial. Here, an extension of time is necessary to allow sufficient time for Verdugo-
Castro to review discovery and discuss his case with his counsel, including any potential 
pretrial motions, engage in plea negotiations and prepare for trial The premises considered, 
it is hereby 
ORDERED that the time beginning from the date of this order granting an extension 
through March 3, 2025, shall be excluded in computing the time within which the trial in this 
matter must be initiated pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161; it is further 
ORDERED that Verdugo-Castro’s Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial Date, ECF No. 
18, is GRANTED; it is further 
ORDERED that the parties SHALL file their respective notices of readiness for trial 
no later than February 21, 2025; it is further  
ORDERED that the parties SHALL file and serve a pre-trial brief no later than 
February 21, 2025, which shall include the following: (a) proposed list of witnesses; (b) 
proposed list of exhibits; (c) estimated length of case-in-chief and case-in-defense; (d) 
proposed non-standard voir dire questions; (e) proposed non-standard jury instructions 
related to the elements of the charges and defenses; and (f) whether there are any discovery 
issues outstanding; it is further 
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United States v. Verdugo-Castro 
Case No. 3:24-cr-0030 
Order 
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ORDERED that the parties SHALL provide the Clerk of Court with a USB Flash Drive 
containing electronic versions of exhibits no later than February 26, 2025;1 and it is further 
ORDERED that the Jury Selection and Trial in this matter previously scheduled for 
January 13, 2025, are CONTINUED to commence promptly at 9:00 A.M. on March 3, 2025, in 
St. Thomas Courtroom 1. 
 
Dated: January 2, 2025 
 
/s/ Robert A. Molloy  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
ROBERT A. MOLLOY 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Judge 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Counsel are advised to consult with Court technical staff to determine the proper format for saving electronic 
versions of exhibits. The Government’s trial exhibits shall be labelled sequentially beginning with Government’s 
Exhibit 1. Defense exhibits shall be labelled sequentially beginning with Defense Exhibit A. 
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