A Los Angeles judge on Friday unexpectedly scheduled a Monday status conference in the federal corruption case of former state Sen. Ron Calderon and his brother.
The Montebello Democrat was indicted last year in Los Angeles on 24 charges including allegations that he accepted $80,000 in bribes. His brother, former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, is charged with money laundering.
A trial is set for Aug. 11, but could be delayed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas M. Miller indicated in a court filing Wednesday that a superseding indictment containing additional criminal charges could be forthcoming.
In Friday’s docket item, U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder set the Monday hearing and ordered the defendants to be present, “unless advised otherwise by their attorneys.” Topics to be discussed include a defense motion to postpone the start of trial, according to the judge’s calendar.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos did not immediately return a call for comment.
Prosecutors previously stated that the case involves 330,000 pages of evidence, including tapes and transcripts for about 2,200 meetings and phone calls.
The ex-senator has pleaded not guilty to accepting cash bribes, trips and dinners in exchange for pushing workers’ compensation legislation and a film industry tax credit scheme that was actually an FBI sting.
Thomas Calderon, 60, a former lawmaker-turned-lobbyist, has pleaded not guilty to laundering bribes through a tax-exempt group and consulting company he operates.
Ron Calderon, 57, was suspended from the Senate in March 2014, and his term in office ended in November.
— City News Service