Will County judge shares frustration with pace of criminal case against New Lenox gun shop owner, business partner
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Will County Judge David Carlson expressed his frustration with prosecutors sharing records nearly 10 months after charges were filed against a New Lenox gun shop owner and his business partner.
Jeffery Regnier, the owner of Kee Firearms and Training in New Lenox, and Greta Keranen, with Kee Construction, face charges for various applications filed for Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program and unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defense attorney Jack Friedlander told the judge his team received 300 pages of discovery last week and the grand jury transcript an hour before a court proceeding Dec. 5. Friedlander asked for a continuance to review the material.
“We just need some time to do that,” Friedlander said.
Carlson asked Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Casson why there was a delay in delivering the materials, specifically the grand jury transcripts because they were prepared May 22.
“This evidence in this case, the electronic evidence, there are seven to eight terabytes,” Casson said.
Casson called the delay for grand jury transcripts an “oversight.”
Pointing to the two Secret Service agents in the courtroom, Carlson said he was ready to scold them for the delay in the case. In a previous hearing, Carlson said he understood the agents were not cooperating, but it turns out that wasn’t true.
“I feel a little bamboozled because it was presented that the Secret Service weren’t giving documents but, it turns out, you had them,” Carlson said.
Carlson continued the case until Jan. 8.
“Once again, we’ve accomplished nothing,” Carlson said.
Regnier, who ran unsuccessfully last year in the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District, faces 14 charges that include one charge each for loan fraud and money laundering and multiple charges of theft, state benefits fraud, wire fraud and filing a fraudulent Illinois sales and use tax return.
Keranen faces multiple charges of loan fraud and charges of wire fraud, and they both face additional charges for theft by deception, according to the criminal complaint filed Feb. 24.
The two posted $75,000 bond in April, according to Will County Circuit Court Clerk records.
