Vapor Group Inc (VPOR)

[CashBowski]

There’s finally a trial date. Two of the six named defendants took a plea deal. We’ll find out in the next few weeks who’s cooperating and who’s going to trial.

11/21/2022 197 Minutes of proceedings [non-document] before Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. Pretrial Conference as to Charles Vaccaro (1), Dror Svorai (2), Dennis Ruggeri (3), Kevin Hagen (4), Gary Berlly (5), Yosef Biton (6) was held on 11/21/2022. During the conference, counsel for the Government indicated and counsel for the relevant Defendants agreed that the Government has reached terms on plea agreements with two Defendants, and will seek to schedule change-of-plea hearings with those Defendants in January. The Government expects to know in the coming weeks whether change-of-plea hearings can also be held with two other Defendants with whom plea negotiations are ongoing. The Government will also hold a reverse proffer with Defendant Dennis Ruggeri and his counsel on December 8, 2023. In light of these developments, and on joint motion of the Government and all Defendants, the court continued this matter for a period of 60 days. The court finds, under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A) and (B), that the ends of justice served by continuance of trial outweigh the best interests of the public and the Defendants in a speedy trial. Counsel for Defendant Charles Vaccaro, following up on his letter to the court dated November 17, 2022 (ECF No. 196), indicated that he would file by December 15, 2022, a motion for a pretrial hearing challenging the Governments restraint of allegedly forfeitable assets, so that Vaccaro may use those assets to pay for counsel. A Telephonic Pretrial Conference is set for 1/18/2023 at 10:30 AM. A Final Pretrial Conference is set for 3/2/2023 at 12:00 PM in Courtroom 19A before Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. Jury Trial set for 4/17/2023 at 09:00 AM in Courtroom 19A before Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. A separate trial order shall issue. (Court Reporter Lance Boardman) Time: 45 minutes. (R,Sh) (Entered: 11/21/2022)