DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 
DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
Plaintiff, 
v. 
GILBERTO ARANA WENCE, 
Defendants. 
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Criminal No. 2020-27 
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ATTORNEYS: 
 
Gretchen C.F. Shappert, United States Attorney 
Alessandra Parisi Serano, AUSA 
United States Attorney’s Office 
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 
 
For the United States of America, 
 
Gabriel J. Villegas, AFPD 
Matthew A. Campbell, AFPD 
Federal Public Defender’s Office 
St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 
 
For Gilberto Arana Wence, 
 
ORDER 
 
 
Before the Court is the application of Gilberto Arana Wence (“Wence”) to waive his 
speedy trial. Wence also moves to continue the trial in this matter. For the reasons stated 
herein, the time to try this case is extended up to and including January 25, 2021. 
 
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. First, an extension of time is necessary to allow Wence time to explore 
plea options and adequately prepare for trial. Further, Wence made his request with the 
advice and consent of counsel.  
Case: 3:20-cr-00027-RAM-RM   Document #: 49   Filed: 10/01/20   Page 1 of 2
United States v. Wence 
Criminal No. 2020-27 
Order 
Page 2 
 
 
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, e.g., 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.”). 
 
The premises considered, it is hereby  
 
 
ORDERED that the time beginning from the date of this order granting an extension 
through January 25, 2021, shall be excluded in computing the time within which the trial for 
Gilberto Arana Wence Wence must be initiated pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161; it is further 
ORDERED that Wence’s motion to continue, ECF No. 45, is GRANTED; and it is 
further 
ORDERED that the jury trial in this matter previously scheduled for October 5, 2020, 
is hereby RESCHEDULED to commence promptly at 9:00 A.M. January 25, 2021, in Saint 
Thomas Courtroom 1 before District Judge Robert A. Molloy. 
 
DATED: October 1, 2020 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
/s/ Robert A. Molloy  
ROBERT A. MOLLOY 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
District Judge 
Case: 3:20-cr-00027-RAM-RM   Document #: 49   Filed: 10/01/20   Page 2 of 2