A federal judge has delayed the sentencing of Cody Easterday for the fourth time as the bankruptcy case of Easterday Ranches Inc. and Easterday Farms inches toward a final resolution.
Judge Stanley A. Bastian of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington granted a motion by Easterday’s attorney, Carl J. Oreskovich, to delay sentencing until Sept. 19.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) did not object to the delay. Easterday was scheduled to be sentenced on June 13 and faces up to 20 years in prison for one count of wire fraud.
Oreskovich stated in court documents Easterday has been “significantly” involved in the bankruptcy proceedings, which have “been rapidly proceeding and nearing conclusion.”
Oreskovich contacted Easterday’s personal attorney in the bankruptcy proceedings, who advised that Easterday will be involved in litigating any challenges to the joint plan of liquidation of Easterday Ranches Inc. and Easterday Farms.
A third amended bankruptcy plan and disclosure statement were filed in bankruptcy court on May 11, and a hearing was held on May 25.
Richard M. Pachulski, the debtors’ lawyer, told Judge Whitman L. Holt of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington that the third plan is a matter of making distributions through the plan administrator after the proposed tentative effective date at the end of July. Pachulski said distribution could begin in August, with very little work after the effective date.
Pachulski said they are still waiting for the DOJ’s consent and do not know when that will occur.
The next bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for July 19. — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
