Prosecutors in Katrina Robinson case ask judge to move trial out of Memphis
State Sen. Katrina Robinson, seen here in July, was indicted in July 2020, accused of stealing more than $600,000 in federal grant money intended for her business, The Healthcare Institute. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Prosecutors in Sen. Katrina Robinson’s federal theft and wire fraud case filed a motion asking a judge to move the Sept. 13 trial from Memphis, alleging that recent media interviews and social media posts could taint the jury pool.
The motion was filed Thursday, Sept. 2, by Joseph Murphy, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and several assistant U.S. Attorneys on the case.
“The defendant has repeatedly accused the United States of racial animus in the investigation and prosecution of her case, advanced her version of the facts of the case, and sought to bolster her character and credibility,” the motion reads. “Specifically, the defendant has made inflammatory statements designed to evoke sympathy, try her case in the media, and influence the jury pool — particularly Memphis-area jurors.
“These accusations could inflame and taint the jury pool — particularly within Shelby County where the defendant has a significant political presence. The defendant also has encouraged supporters’ suggestions to ‘pack’ the courthouse and ‘shut the city down’ during her trial, neither of which would help this Court conduct an orderly trial with an impartial jury,” the motion states.
Prosecutors are asking U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl Lipman to try the case in the Eastern Division of the Western District of Tennessee at the courthouse in Jackson, Tennessee, or if the trial is not moved to exclude Shelby County residents from the jury pool.
Robinson was indicted in July 2020, accused of stealing more than $600,000 in federal grant money intended for her business, The Healthcare Institute. Robinson founded the school, which trains people for jobs in the health care industry, in 2015.
Robinson contends that she is not guilty of the theft, embezzlement and wire fraud charges brought against her.
In addition to these federal charges, Robinson and two co-defendants, Katie Ayers and Brooke Boudreaux, face separate wire fraud and money laundering charges, accused of swindling a man out of $14,470 to pay for Boudreaux’s tuition at The Healthcare Institute. A report hearing has been set for Oct. 14 in this case.
A remote hearing on the motion to move Robinson’s Sept. 13 trial has been scheduled for Friday, Sept. 3.
Topics
Sen. Katrina Robinson The Healthcare InstituteYolanda Jones
Yolanda Jones covers criminal justice issues and general assignment news for The Daily Memphian. She previously was a reporter at The Commercial Appeal.
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