Senior United States Court Judge Malcolm Howard wrote in his order granting the continuance, “The court, having considered this matter carefully, hereby continues the sentencing hearings of all the … defendants, specifically noting the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct."
He continued the sentencing until the court’s November 8 term.
The continuation of the sentencing is tied to the upcoming trial of Antonio Tillmon, the only defendant in the case who has not agreed to take a plea in the case.
Tillmon’s attorney, Jason Brenner, requested the continuance for the sentencing of the 14 who have taken plea deals in the case.
Among the reasons for asking for the continuance for his client’s trial and the sentencing of the others is volume of evidence in the case.
motion notes there were more than 2,500 individual audio or visual files provided to counsel in discovery. “The format of these files has been challenging and has involved several case managers, a forensic expert, transcription, and the assistance of others.”
Tillmon’s trial is expected to begin on October 24.
Those awaiting sentencing are Lann Clanton; Ikeisha Jacobs; Jason Boone; Wardie Vincent Jr.; Adrienne Moody; Cory Jackson; Jimmy Pair Jr.; Curtis Boone; Alaina Sue-Kam-Ling; Kavon Phillips; Crystal Pierce; Alphonso Ponton; Thomas Jefferson Allen II and Tosha Rochelle Dailey.