Order Denying Motions as Related to Adrienne Ponzo and James Wessels — United States v. Adrienne Ponzo

Summary

An order denying motions as related to Adrienne Ponzo and James Wessels in United States v. Eric Rivera, Adrienne Ponzo, and James Wessels, No. 1:24-cr-00267-KMW, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, filed May 20, 2025 as Doc. 76, following a March 12, 2025 hearing. Ponzo's first motion for release of Brady materials (ECF No. 50) is denied as moot pending further production, and Ponzo's motion to sever (ECF No. 51) is denied as moot in light of a plea of guilty entered April 9, 2025. Wessels's motion to sever (ECF No. 53) is denied as withdrawn, subject to the Government's representation that it will only seek to prove money laundering as to Wessels as it pertains to the PPP loans. The order directs that trial as to Wessels proceed solely on bank fraud (PPP) allegations, and carries the signature block of Judge Karen M. Williams.

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Case 1:24-cr-00267-KMW Document 76 Filed 05/20/25 Page 1 of 2 PagelD: 494

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
CAMDEN VICINAGE

Hon. Karen M. Williams
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ERIC RIVERA, ADRIENNE PONZO, and

i
i]
v. Crim. No. 24-267 (KMW)
I
JAMES WESSELS

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J

ORDER DENYING MOTIONS AS RELATED

TO ADRIENNE PONZO and JAMES WESSELS

This matter having come before the Court by way of FIRST MOTION FOR RELEASE
OF BRADY MATERIALS filed by defendant Adrienne Ponzo (ECF No. 50); FIRST OMNIBUS
MOTIONS under Fed. R. Crim. P. 8 and Fed. R. Crim. P. 14 filed by defendant Adrienne Ponzo
(ECF No. 51) and defendant James Wessels (ECF. No. 53); the Government’s opposition thereto
(ECF No. 54); the Letter filed on behalf of the Government (ECF. No. 72) and the Letter filed on
behalf of defendant Wessels (ECF. No. 73); and the Court having read the submissions and heard
the arguments of counsel during the hearing held on the Motions on March 12, 2025; and the Court
noting the appearances of counsel: Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman, appearing on
behalf of the Government; Troy A. Archie, Esquire, appearing on behalf of defendant Adrienne
Ponzo; and Mark W. Catanzaro, Esquire, appearing on behalf of defendant James Wessels; and
for the reasons set forth on the record;

IT IS on this 20th day of May 2025, ORDERED that the FIRST MOTION FOR RELEASE
OF BRADY MATERIALS filed by defendant Adrienne Ponzo (ECF No. 50) is DENIED as moot

pending further production of materials; and
Case 1:24-cr-00267-KMW Document 76 Filed 05/20/25 Page 2 of 2 PagelD: 495

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in light of defendant Adrienne Ponzo’s entry of a Plea
of Guilty on April 9, 2025, the Motion to Sever (ECF No. 51) filed on behalf of Defendant Ponzo
is DENIED as moot; and

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in light of the Letter filed on behalf of the Government
(ECF. No. 72) and the response thereto filed on behalf of Defendant Wessels (ECF. No. 73),
wherein Defendant Wessels withdraws his application to sever pursuant to Rule 8; and withdraws
his application to sever pursuant to Rule 14 subject to the Government’s representation that it will
only seek to prove money laundering as to defendant Wessels as it pertains to the PPP loans, the
Motion to Sever (ECF No. 53) is DENIED as withdrawn; and

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the trial as to defendant Wessels shall proceed solely
based on bank fraud (PPP) allegations in accordance with the dates and transactions related to

Same,

KAREN M. WILLIAMS
U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

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