District Court Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo this morning has vacated the December trial date for seven defendants accused in a nearly $2 million Pandemic Unemployment Assistance fraud scheme. The judge cited the massive amount of evidence—about one million pages of documents—as the reason for the delay.

Defense attorneys argued there was no way to be ready by December, with one noting it would take over 1,700 hours just to skim the records.

The seven defendants—Charissa Tenorio, Matthew Topasna, Frankie Rosalin, Tina Sanchez, Kathleen Peredo, Winnie Jo Santos, and Marlene Pinaula—are accused of pocketing close to a half-million dollars in fraudulent claims filed between July 2020 and September 2021. All pleaded not guilty and remain out on conditions.

Bordallo ordered attorneys to meet within 30 days to propose a new trial date. Another hearing is set for October 31 to check on their progress.