USA v. Turner, et al.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
v. 	) 	No. 3:25-CR-138-KAC-JEM
)
EMANUEL TURNER, 	)
SHANDASIA TURNER, and 	)
KE’SEAN GILLIS-TATE, 	)
)
Defendants. 	)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
All pretrial motions in this case have been referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b) for disposition or recommendation as appropriate. This case is before the Court on
Defendant Shandasia Turner’s Motion to Continue Trial and All Relevant Deadlines [Doc. 36],
which was filed on January 5, 2026.
Defendant Shandasia Turner asks the Court to continue the trial and all relevant deadlines,
including the deadline for filing pretrial motions [Id. at 1]. In support of her motion, Defendant
asserts her counsel has not yet been able to review all of the discovery in her case and, therefore,
has not been able to complete a meaningful investigation or to have meaningful discussions with
Defendant regarding the prosecution’s case against her or her potential defenses [Id. ¶ 1].
Additionally, Defendant states her counsel is not yet able to determine what pretrial motions may
be appropriate to file [Id.]. Defendant Turner further states her counsel has been unable to discuss
trial preparation with Defendant as a result of his continued investigation into her case. [Id. ¶ 2].
Defendant Turner’s motion reflects that counsel for the Government, Defendant Gillis-
Tate, and Defendant Emanuel Turner have been made aware of the continuance request and have
no opposition to the requested continuance [Id. ¶ 3]. Defendant Shandasia Turner has discussed
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her Speedy Trial Act rights with her counsel and does not oppose the continuance of the trial and
all relevant deadlines [Id. ¶ 4]. Counsel for Defendant Gillis-Tate and Defendant Emanuel Turner
confirmed by email to Chambers that their clients are aware of their rights to a speedy trial and
waive those rights for purposes of this motion.
Based upon the information in Defendant’s motion and because the Government and
Codefendants Gillis-Tate and Emanuel Turner do not oppose the continuance, the Court finds the
ends of justice served by granting a continuance outweigh the interests of Defendants and the
public in a speedy trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). In making this determination, the Court
has considered the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B). Specifically, the Court concludes
that failing to grant a continuance would both result in a miscarriage of justice and deny counsel
for Defendant Shandasia Turner the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking
into account the exercise of due diligence. See id. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(i), (iv). Specifically, counsel
for 	Defendant 	Shandasia 	Turner 	needs 	additional 	time 	to 	review 	discovery, 	conduct 	an
investigation, confer with Defendant, prepare and file potential pretrial motions, and otherwise
prepare for trial. The Court finds that this cannot occur before the February 10, 2026 trial date.
The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant Turner’s Unopposed Motion to Continue Plea
Deadline and Trial [Doc. 36]. The trial date is reset to June 2, 2026. A new, comprehensive trial
schedule is included below. Because the Court has found that the ends of justice served by granting
a continuance outweigh the interests of Defendants and the public in a speedy trial, all of the time
between the filing of the motion on January 5, 2026, and the new trial date is fully excludable time
under the Speedy Trial Act. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(D), (h)(7)(A)–(B).
Accordingly, it is ORDERED as follows:
(1) 	Defendant Shandasia Turner’s Motion to Continue Trial and All
Relevant Deadlines [Doc. 36] is GRANTED;
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(2) 	the 	trial 	date 	is 	reset 	to 	commence 	on 	June 	2, 	2026,
at 	9:00 	a.m., 	before 	the 	Honorable 	Katherine 	A. 	Crytzer,
United States District Judge;
(3) 	all time between the filing of the motion on January 5, 2026, and
the new trial date of June 2, 2026, is fully excludable time under the
Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
(4) 	the deadline for filing pretrial motions is extended to February 4,
2026, and responses to pretrial motions are due on or before
February 18, 2026;
(5) 	the deadline for filing a plea agreement in the record and providing
reciprocal discovery is May 4, 2026;
(6) 	the deadline for filing motions in limine is May 18, 2026, and
responses to motions in limine are due on or before May 26, 2026;
(7) 	the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on May 19, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.; and
(8) 	requests for special jury instructions with appropriate citations to
authority pursuant to Local Rule 7.4 shall be filed on or before
May 22, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:
____________________________
Jill E. McCook
United States Magistrate Judge
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