| Myers case again delayed The trial for Lenoir City resident Christina Erin Myers on charges of money laundering and wire fraud has again been delayed.
Myers was indicted in October by a federal grand jury on four counts
of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. She pleaded not
guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin in U.S. District
Court in Knoxville.
The case has been reset to 9 a.m. Nov. 5 after her legal counsel
Gregory P. Isaacs of the Isaacs Law Firm in Knoxville filed a third
motion for continuance July 22. Isaacs requested an additional 90
days.
“That Mrs. Myers is undergoing a forensic mental evaluation that
is relevant to issues regarding her mental responsibility
pursuant to the United States Sentencing Guidelines and
potential sentencing issues,” the motion reads. “The evaluation
has raised issues that the undersigned counsel needs additional
time to investigate.”
U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Phillips granted additional time.
“In view of the fact that the defense needs additional time to
evaluate the case, failure to grant the requested continuance
would unreasonably deny counsel for the defendant the reasonable
time necessary for effective preparation, taking into account
the exercise of due diligence,” the order reads. “In addition,
failure to grant the requested continuance would result in a
miscarriage of justice.”
Phillips noted “the ends of justice served by the granting of
such continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and
the defendant in a speedy trial.”
The indictment alleges from May 2014 to July 2018 that Myers
“engaged in a scheme to defraud elderly individuals under the
guise of selling them residential properties at Williams Ferry
Pointe,” a senior living community in Lenoir City, according to
a U.S.
Attorney’s Office release in October. Williams Ferry Pointe is operated by Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes which is a residential care provider for seniors and adults with exceptional needs.
The indictment notes Myers also solicited and accepted fake
investment opportunities through Certificates of Deposit
with SouthEast Bank.
“She allegedly implemented her scheme by diverting funds
that were for the purchase of the real estate to her own
personal use and marketing non-existent senior community
housing,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office October release says.
“The indictment further alleges that Myers promoted and sold
fictitious investment opportunities and diverted those funds
to her own personal use instead of investing them for the
victims.”
Myers fraudulently obtained $518,000, according to the U.S.
Attorney’s Office. Isaacs could not be reached for comment
by News-Herald presstime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does
not provide information on pending litigation.
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9/2/19