US v. Mosley: Mosley was “friends and drug-trafficking partners” with Carter and Hightower. After Hightower was indicted for healthcare fraud and extortion, he singled out the complaining witness as a woman named Edmonds. The three worked together (while Hightower was detained) to kill Edmonds, but instead succeeded in Carter shooting and killer her neighbor. Mosley was charged with numerous counts arising not just from the murder of Edmonds’ neighbor, but the marijuana operation. He was convicted on all counts (in a joint trial with Carter) and sentenced to life in prison.
On appeal, the Fourth Circuit affirmed Mosley’s convictions. Primarily, Mosley argued that the district court erred by not severing his trial from Carter’s (who was not part of this appeal) and the murder charges from the marijuana charges. The court concluded, reviewing de novo, that the charges were properly joined at the outset and that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying motions to sever. The court concluded that the “allegations connect Carter and Mosley to the same conspiracy” and that the “underlying marijuana offenses are essential to establishing the connection between” the three men. Even if there was an error, it was harmless. The court also rejected Mosley’s argument that the district court erred by denying Carter’s motion to suppress, as Mosley had no standing in the places searched.
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