Opinion
21 Cr. 656 (LGS)
10-27-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ENALD BEQIRAJ, a/k/a “Aldo Beqiraj,” Defendant.
ORDER
LORNA G. SCHOFIELD, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WHEREAS, defendant Enald Beqiraj, a/k/a “Aldo Beqiraj,” has stated an intent to enter a plea of guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in this case, and this Court has referred the plea proceedings to the duty Magistrate Judge;
WHEREAS the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic necessitates that the proceeding take place remotely, and the CARES Act and findings made by the Judicial Conference of the United States and Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York allow for guilty pleas to be taken by phone or videoconference, subject to certain findings made by the District Judge;
WHEREAS the Court understands that the duty Magistrate Judge shall conduct the defendant's plea proceeding by videoconference or by telephone if, due to scheduling limitations, videoconference is not reasonably available, and that the defendant has specifically requested that the proceeding occur remotely and consents to the same;
THE COURT HEREBY FINDS that the defendant's plea proceeding cannot be further delayed without serious harm to the interests of justice, because the case has been pending for j nearly a year, during which period the defendant has been detained; and because the parties' and the public's interest in finality, certainty, and the speedy disposition of criminal cases all require that the plea proceeding occur without further delay.
SO ORDERED.