United States v. Huskey

90 F.4th 651 (4th Cir. 2024)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

United Blood Nations (UBN) members follow a code requiring them, among other things, to follow the chain of command, defend the gang's reputation, and pay dues. Members can pay dues by selling drugs, robbing, and stealing. They are also expected to 'put in work' for the gang-that is, engage in 'criminal activity' like assaults, robberies, shootings, or murder, and generally 'do what [they're] told'-as part of their membership and to elevate in rank. Ds were charged along with three others in a 23-count indictment for conspiring to violate RICO for their actions as UBN members. Ds were accused of 'agreeing that multiple acts of murder would be committed' as part of the RICO conspiracy. Ds were accused of killing Donnell Murray, Malik Brown, and Christopher Odoms. D pleaded not guilty and were tried together. They were tried. The district court sentenced Huskey to life imprisonment, Lewis to life in prison plus 20 years, Smith to 300 months of imprisonment, and Wray to life imprisonment. Huskey (D) appealed in part claiming the district court abused its discretion by refusing to admit statements by confidential FBI informants under Federal Rule of Evidence 807.