Friday, July 21, 2023, 5:01 pm News Flash Archive

Earlier today, Express Grain's former president John Coleman's trial in federal court for fraud has been put off until November 27, 2023 by Federal District Court Judge Michael P. Mills.

Today's court order may be seen here: Order Continuing Trial to November 27, 2023

Express Grain collapsed in September 2021, and it filed for bankruptcy, leaving over 100 farmers and other creditors owed some $210 million. EG's president, John Coleman, also filed for bankruptcy at the same time. The company liquidated for around $85 million, meaning that most of the company's debt will never be paid. Farmers were left being owed around $40 million after the liquidation.

On December 6, 2022, John Coleman was arrested after both state and federal grand juries handed down indictments charging him with multiple counts of fraud in the EG collapse. He entered not guilty pleas to all the charges. See our previous reporting here:

Express Grain president John Coleman arrested by the FBI, indicted on multiple federal counts of wire fraud

John Coleman arrested, indicted by Leflore County Grand Jury in Express Grain collapse

John Coleman's original trial date in federal court was January 30, 2023, but as of today, it has been put off 3 times by the federal judge, at Mr. Coleman's request. He is represented by Jackson attorney John Colette.

First, the trial was delayed until May 8, 2023, then to August 14, 2023, and now to November 27.

In his most recent request to continue the trial, Mr. Colette stated:

Discovery has been received and it consists of hundreds of gigabytes/documents and files that have required a significant amount of time to review. In addition, information regarding potential loss has been requested from the Bankruptcy proceeding that has not been completed.

There is also a pending Leflore County Chancery [sic] Court action where the above defendant is listed as a defendant party; and the above defendant is involved with providing information.

Undersigned [Mr. Colette] submits after conference with the Government, there is no objection to this request, and counsel believes a trial may not be required.

As can be seen, once again Mr. Colette holds out the tantalizing possibility that "a trial may not be required," which usually means that the defendant may decide to change his plea to guilty or accept some other plea bargain agreement.

This latest motion to continue the trial, which was granted by the court today, may be seen here: Third Motion by John Coleman for Continuance of Trial

As of Friday afternoon, no motion has yet been made to continue the trial in state court, which is now set for August 9, 2023.

---

To read all our coverage of the Express Grain bankruptcy case, see here: Index of Express Grain articles

John Pittman Hey
The Taxpayers Channel

News Flash Archive