Opinion
20 Cr. 513 (AT)
03-01-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SERGIO LORENZO RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Sergio Lawrence, ” a/k/a “Michael Lara, ” Defendant.
ORDER
THE HONORABLE ANALISA TORRES, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WHEREAS, the defendant Sergio Lorenzo Rodriguez and the Government request that the Court authorize a plea proceeding by video teleconference under Section 15002(b) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), which allows for felony plea proceedings to be held via video teleconference when the district judge “in a particular case finds for specific reasons that the plea or sentencing in that case cannot be further delayed without serious harm to the interests of justice”;
WHEREAS, the Chief Judge in this District has authorized the use of video conferencing for felony pleas. See In re Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic, Seventh Amended Standing Order, 20 Misc. 176 (CM) (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 22, 2021);
WHEREAS, the defendant is not located within this judicial district and requiring him to travel to this district might increase the risk of his exposure to coronavirus;
WHEREAS, further delay of the defendant's plea proceeding will prevent the parties from resolving this matter expeditiously;
WHEREAS, conducting the plea remotely promotes judicial economy, enables the government and the Court to allocate resources efficiently, and avoids adding to the existing backlog of cases in the federal court system; 1
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the plea in this case can be conducted remotely because it cannot be further delayed without serious harm to the interests of justice.
SO ORDERED. 2