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 Ke’Sean Gillis-Tate’s Motion to Continue Trial and Enlarge Relevant Deadlines
[Doc. 38], which he filed on April 30, 2026, and Defendant Shandasia Turner’s Motion to Continue
Trial and All Relevant Deadlines [Doc. 39], which she filed on May 1, 2026.
Defendant Gillis-Tate asks the Court to continue the trial date and all relevant deadlines
[Doc. 38 p. 1]. In support, Defendant Gillis-Tate states the parties are in active discussions
regarding a potential plea agreement, but an agreement has not yet been reached [Id. ¶ 1]. He states
he also needs additional time to prepare for trial [Id.]. Defendant Gillis-Tate submits the ends of
justice are served by allowing him time to prepare for trial and that they outweigh the interest of
the public and him in a speedy trial [Id. ¶ 3]. The Government does not oppose the requested
continuance [Id. ¶ 4].
Defendant Shandasia Turner also asks the Court to continue the trial date and all relevant
deadlines [Doc. 39 p. 1]. In support, she states her counsel has not been able to have complete and
meaningful discussions with her about her case because discovery has not been reviewed in full
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[Id. ¶ 1]. Defendant Shandasia Turner’s counsel is also still in the process of discussing all options
with her [Id. ¶ 2]. She acknowledges her speedy trial rights, and she reports that the Government
does not oppose the requested continuance. [Id. ¶¶ 3–4].
Defendant Emanuel Turner also filed a Notice of No Objection to Motion to Continue
[Doc. 41]. Defendant Emanuel Turner acknowledges his speedy trial rights and waives them for
purposes of the motion to continue [Id.].
Based upon the information in Defendants’ motions and because the Government and Co-
Defendant Emanuel Turner do not oppose the continuance, the Court finds the ends of justice
served by granting a continuance outweighs the interests of the 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 Defendants the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking into account the
exercise of due diligence. See id. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(i), (iv). Specifically, Defendants need additional
time to review discovery, engage in potential plea discussions, and, if necessary, prepare for trial.
The Court finds that this cannot occur before the June 2, 2026, trial date.
The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant Gillis-Tate’s Motion to Continue Trial and
Enlarge Relevant Deadlines [Doc. 38] and Defendant Shandasia Turner’s Motion to Continue Trial
and All Relevant Deadlines [Doc. 39]. The trial date is reset to August 11, 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 first motion on April 30, 2026, and the new
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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 Gillis Tate’s Motion to Continue Trial and Enlarge
Relevant Deadlines [Doc. 38] and Defendant Shandasia Turner’s
Motion to Continue Trial and All Relevant Deadlines [Doc. 39] are
GRANTED;
(2) 	the 	trial 	date 	is 	reset 	to 	commence 	on 	August 	11, 	2026,
at 	9:00 	a.m., 	before 	the 	Honorable 	Katherine 	A. 	Crytzer,
United States District Judge;
(3) 	all time between the filing of the first motion on April 30, 2026, and
the new trial date of August 11, 2026, is fully excludable time under
the Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
(4) 	the deadline for filing a plea agreement in the record and providing
reciprocal discovery is July 10, 2026;
(5) 	the deadline for filing motions in limine is July 27, 2026, and
responses to motions in limine are due on or before August 4, 2026;
(6) 	the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on July 28, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.; and
(7) 	requests for special jury instructions with appropriate citations to
authority pursuant to Local Rule 7.4 shall be filed on or before
July 31, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:
_________ __________________
Jill E. McCook
United States Magistrate Judge
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