Eastern District of California Blog

Guilty Verdicts in Pugent Sound Insurance Fraud Trial; Evidence Complete in Sekhon Asylum Fraud Trial

The two defendants in the Pugent Sound Insurance Fraud trial before Judge Karlton were found guilty Wednesday on all counts that went to the jury in U.S. v. Kalfsbeek, et. al.  Both defendants were permitted to remain released pending sentencing. 

Both sides rested yesterday in the Sekhon & Sekhon asylum fraud trial before Judge Damrell.  The government's closing argument begins Tuesday, June 16, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 1 on the 16th Floor.  Closings are expected to take three days to complete.

EDCA Jury Trials This Week

The lengthy Sekhon and Sekhon political asylum trial is expected to finish in the next couple of weeks as cross-examination of the defense's last witness, defendant Jagdip Sekhon, continues when trial day 40 starts up on Wed, June 10, at 9 a.m.  Closings likely next week.

The government's has one remaining expert witness to go in its case-in-chief when the Pugent Sound insurance fraud trial starts up again tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.

In Fresno, Judge Wanger begins a multi-defendant cocaine distribution jury trial on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. 

Sacramento Jury Trials This Week

Attorneys tell me that defendant Manjit Rai is expected to testify when the Sekhon & Sekhon political asylum fraud trial resumes today (Tue, 6/2) at 9 a.m. and the defense may finish its case by Thursday. 

The Pugent Sound trial is also going faster than expected with a chance the government will complete its case-in-chief this week.  Trial starts up again today at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Karlton.

June in the EDCA

Trials resume, Tuesday, June 2, in the Sekhon and Sekhom Political Asylum Fraud case before Judge Damrell (day 37) and the Pugent Sound Insurance Fraud Trial before Judge Karlton (day 5).  

Judge Mueller is the duty magistrate for June In Sacramento and Judge Austin handles June duty in Fresno.

Pugent Sound Christian Insurance Fraud Opening Statements Wednesday

Opening statements in the Kalsfbeek Pugent Sound "Christian Insurance Fraud" Jury Trial start Wednesday, May 27, at 10:30 am before Judge Karlton in Sacramento. The Sekhon & Sekhon trial is dark this week and resumes June 2.

Sekhon Trial Winding Down; Pugent Sound Fraud Trial Starting Up

The Sekhon & Sekhon political asylum trial enters the homestretch (day 35 today, starting at 9 a.m.) with the defense near the point on deciding whether to call their clients to testify.  After tomorrow's evidence, the trial breaks until June 2.  While that case winds down, jury selection begins today at 1:30 p.m. in the multi-week Pugent Sound Christian Insurance fraud trial before Judge Karlton.   Only two of the eight defendants left, represented by attorneys Scott Tedmon and Joe Wiseman.  After jury selection today, the trial breaks until prosecutors Steve Lapham and Russell Carlberg begin the government's case next week.