USA v. Blake et al.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
v. 	) 	No. 3:25-CR-136-KAC-DCP
)
OLAJUWON SHAKII BLAKE 	)
and MAKENNA FAYE PATTY, 	)
)
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 Olajuwon Shakii Blake’s Unopposed Motion to Continue Motion Deadline, Plea
Deadline, and Trial Date [Doc. 26], filed on January 5, 2026, and Codefendant Makenna Patty’s
Motion to Adopt Motion to Continue Trial and All Other Deadlines, filed on January 7, 2026
[Doc. 28].
Defendant Blake requests the Court to continue the motion deadline, set for January 5,
2026, the plea deadline, set for January 9, 2026, and the trial, set for February 10, 2026 [Doc. 26
¶ 1]. In support of his motion, Defendant states that his counsel requests the additional time to
allow for research and investigation to be completed to determine whether to file pretrial motions
[Id. ¶ 2]. Defendant had his initial appearance on December 18, 2025, and an initial discovery
disclosure was made shortly thereafter [Id.]. Defendant represents that discovery is voluminous,
as it appears the investigation has spanned multiple years [Id.]. Further, the Government has
indicated that a supplemental discovery disclosure is imminent [Id.]. Defendant avers the
additional time is required to continue receiving and reviewing the discovery, which contains
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multimedia items that must be reviewed with Defendant in-person using appropriate technology
[Id.]. The motion states that Defendant is currently in custody in Laurel County, Kentucky, which
necessitates additional time for travel and consultation to accomplish even the most basic
objectives for his case [Id.]. Furthermore, Defendant’s counsel needs additional time to review
potential sentencing guidelines with Defendant [Id.]. Defendant understands that the period of time
between the filing of his motion and a rescheduled court date will be fully excludable time for
speedy trial purposes [Id. ¶ 4]. Defendant’s motion reflects that the Government does not oppose
the continuance [Id. ¶ 5].
Codefendant Patty moves to adopt Defendant Blake’s motion to continue trial and all other
deadlines and represents that she is similarly situated [Doc. 28 p. 1]. Codefendant Patty
understands the period of time between the filing of the motion to continue and a rescheduled court
date will be fully excludable time for speedy trial purposes [Id.].
Based on the information in Defendant Blake’s and Defendant Patty’s motions and because
the Government does 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). In consideration of these factors, 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). Defendants need the additional time to
receive and review discovery, consider pretrial motions, and otherwise prepare for trial. The Court
finds that all of this cannot occur before the February 10, 2026 trial date.
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The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant Olajuwon Shakii Blake’s Unopposed Motion to
Continue Motion Deadline, Plea Deadline, and Trial Date [Doc. 26] and Codefendant Makenna
Patty’s Motion to Adopt Motion to Continue Trial and All Other Deadlines [Doc. 28]. The trial of
this case is reset to June 2, 2026. A new, comprehensive trial schedule is included below. Because
the Court finds that the ends of justice are 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, the Court ORDERS as follows:
(1) 	Defendant Olajuwon Shakii Blake’s Unopposed Motion to Continue
Motion Deadline, Plea Deadline, and Trial Date [Doc. 26] and
Codefendant Makenna Patty’s Motion to Adopt Motion to Continue
Trial and All Other Deadlines [Doc. 28] are GRANTED;
(2) 	the trial of this matter 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 March 31, 2026, is fully excludable time under
the Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
(4) 	the deadline for filing pretrial motions is February 5, 2026.
Responses to pretrial motions are due on or before February 19,
2026;
(5) 	the deadline for filing a plea agreement in the record and providing
reciprocal discovery is May 1, 2026;
(6) 	the deadline for filing motions in limine is May 18, 2026. Responses
to motions in limine are due on or before March 26, 2026;
(7) 	the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on May 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.; and
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(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:
_____________________________
Debra C. Poplin
United States Magistrate Judge
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