U.S. District Judge Thomas N. O'Neill Jr. today delayed the vote fraud trial of former City Councilman Leland M. Beloff and his wife, Diane.
In a four-page order, the judge said the vote fraud trial would be continued until 30 days after Beloff's appeal in his extortion case is resolved, expected to take months.
Beloff was convicted by a federal jury in July of conspiring with reputed mob boss Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo to extort more than $1 million from local develolpers.
O'Neill noted there had been "a considerable amount of publicity" surrounding Beloff's trials and conviction.
The judge also said it had been impossible to select a jury last month when the vote fraud trial was to scheduled to begin. He said moving the trial to another area "would create an inconvenience and expense for all parties."
Granting Beloff's request for a continuance, O'Neill said, outweighed the importance of granting the defendants a speedy trial.
"There remains the possibility that the passage of time would permit the selection of a fair and impartial jury in this district, the Beloffs' district of preference for trial."
O'Neill also suggested there could be a plea agreement in the vote fraud case if the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirms Beloff's conviction.
"There is also the distinct possibility that, should Mr. Beloff's conviction in the extortion case be affirmed on appeal, the government and the defendants may agree upon a pre-trial disposition of this case."
