May 18—Rueben Schwartz will not face a jury of his peers later this month, after the judge in his case granted a request to delay his May 28 trial on a variety of financial crimes.

On Thursday, Judge Donald Nugent approved an unopposed motion from Schwartz’s attorneys to delay the trial until July 29.

The motion to delay the trial states prosecutors and the defense have made “substantial progress toward a global resolution” in the case, and it would take no less than 60 to 90 days to resolve the outstanding issues.

The motion was not opposed by prosecutors.

Schwartz, a Conneaut businessman, was arrested in May 2022 and indicted on one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He was accused of conspiring with Marc Mahoney to conduct cash purchases of properties in Conneaut, using the proceeds from the distribution of controlled substances, according to the indictment.

In December 2022, Schwartz was indicted again, this time charged with a variety of crimes related to a fire that destroyed the former Golden Anchor building. The indictment claims that Schwartz prepared the building for the fire by covering the windows and stacking flammable materials against the walls, then had a conspirator use a directional heater to set fire to the building.

Schwartz allegedly then submitted insurance claims totaling $1.14 million for the construction of a new beverage drive-thru business.

The superseding indictment charged Schwartz with six counts of wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of use of fire in commission of a felony, one count of destroying or damaging property used in interstate commerce, one count of conspiracy to use fire in commission of a felony, one count of conspiracy to destroy or damage property used in interstate commerce, ten counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of $15,000 in cash seized from Schwartz’s home in February 2022, along with the three properties he is currently seeking to sell.

Earlier this month, Nugent approved a request by Schwartz to sell a trio of properties owned by Schwartz or entities he controls.

The three properties, a home and vacant property on Underridge Road and the Port District Beverage property, can be sold, but the court order requires the proceeds of the sales to be held in escrow by the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

Schwartz is currently in custody pending trial. Prosecutors successfully argued that he was a danger to the community, citing threats to witnesses and law enforcement.