Myers case pushed back

Jeremy Nash news-herald.net

A trial for Lenoir City resident Christina Erin Myers on charges of wire fraud and money laundering has been pushed back a few months.

Myers, 36, 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 to the charges in the indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

On Nov. 14, Myers’ legal counsel Gregory P. Isaacs of the Isaacs Law Firm in Knoxville submitted a motion for continuance of trial date and extension of deadlines. The motion was granted, resulting in the case receiving a new trial date of 9 a.m. April 16, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan.

“That the discovery provided by the United States is voluminous and complex and it is anticipated will take significant time to review the numerous financial records, photographs and audio files,” the motion for continuance reads. “Further the undersigned counsel needs additional time to formulate pretrial strategy, conduct pretrial investigations and potentially consult with financial experts within the current scheduling deadlines and trial date.”

Per a memorandum and order entered Dec. 17 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin, she echoed the motion’s statement that discovery in the defendant’s case is “voluminous.”

“Based upon the representations of counsel, the court finds that the defendant’s trial preparation cannot be completed by Dec. 18, 2018, trial date or in less than five months,” the memorandum and order reads. “Thus, without a continuance, counsel would not have the reasonable time necessary to prepare for trial, despite counsel’s exercise of due diligence.”

The indictment alleges from May 2014 to July 2018, 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.

According to the indictment, 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 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 and a representative from U.S. Attorney’s Office in Knoxville did not return request for comment by News-Herald presstime.