NECC Judge Grants Motions

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

A federal judge has eased the restrictions on one of the defendants awaiting sentencing on charges stemming from a 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak.
In a brief order issued today U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns approved a motion easing the restriction on Alla Stepanets, a former employee of the New England Compounding Center, the company blamed for the deadly outbreak.
Stepanets had petitioned to ease travel restrictions so that she can travel anywhere in the continental United States.
Stepanets was one of five person connected to NECC who were convicted on charges ranging from racketeering to mail fraud in a trial that ended early last month.
Stearns also approved Stepanets request that she be allowed to be in contact with her fellow defendants. In her motion seeking the easements, Stepanets said that while a ban on contacts before the trial might be justified to avoid collusion between the defendants, that danger was no longer present since the trial is over.
"The prohibition on travel is also unnecessary," Stepanets' motion stated, " adding that there was "no risk of flight and no other reason to maintain the domestic travel ban."
Stepanets lawyer, John H. Cunha Jr. noted his client was convicted only of misdemeanors.
Stearns also granted a motion sought by federal prosecutors to delay an upcoming hearing in the case from Feb. 20 to Feb. 26.
The convicted defendants have filed motions asking Stearns to overturn the jury's guilty verdicts.
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