United States v. Bryson

105 F. App'x 470
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in United States v. Bryson. Read the opinion of the Court — 78 F. App'x 244
Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit·Decided July 23, 2004·No. Nos. 01-4836, 04-6010·Published

Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM:

Following a jury trial, William M. Bryson, Jr., was convicted of numerous charges arising out of a scheme to defraud Ethel Swink out of money and properties. These charges include conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 371 (2000), mail fraud, 18 U.S.C.A. § 1341 (West Supp.2004), making false statements, 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (2000), money laundering, 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 1956, 1957 (West 2000 & Supp.2004), and conspiracy to launder money in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 1956(h) (West Supp.2004). He was also convicted of threatening to assault a federal official, 18 U.S.C.A. § 115 (West 2000 & Supp.2004), and mailing a threatening communication, 18 U.S.C.A. § 876 (West Supp.2004). The district court sentenced Bryson to 188 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. The court also imposed a $6300 special assessment, ordered restitution in the amount of $1,348,491, and provided for forfeiture of Bryson’s interest in property in the amount of $800,000, as directed in the preliminary order of forfeiture.

Bryson noted these two appeals from the judgment. The second notice of appeal (No. 04-6010) was filed on December 29, 2003, seeking review of his sentence. A notice of appeal in a criminal case must be filed within ten days of the entry of judgment. Upon a finding of excusable neglect or good cause, the district court may extend the time to file a notice of appeal for a period not to exceed thirty days. Fed. R.App. P. 4(b)(4). These time limits are mandatory and jurisdictional. United States v. Raynor, 939 F.2d 191, 197 (4th Cir.1991); United States v. Schuchardt, 685 F.2d 901, 902 (4th Cir. 1982). Because Bryson’s second notice of appeal from his judgment and commitment order was filed well beyond both the appeal period and the time in which the district court could have granted an extension, this court is without jurisdiction over this appeal. Accordingly, appeal No. 04-6010 is dismissed.

In appeal No. 01-4836, Bryson’s attorney filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), representing that, in his view, there are no meritorious issues for appeal, but asserting that Bryson was denied timely access to some discovery materials and that the district court may have erred in admitting into evidence a statement made by Bryson. Bryson has filed a pro se supplemental brief raising a plethora of issues. After a thorough and painstaking review of this voluminous record, we have identified an error in the determination of the forfeiture amount with respect to district court case No. 01-712, and vacate in part and remand with instructions to conform the judgment to the evidence. In all other respects, Bryson’s convictions and sentences are affirmed.

We find no merit to Bryson’s claims that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated during the search of his residence and the seizure of his records. See United States v. Sprinkle, 106 F.3d 613, 616-17 (4th Cir.1997) (providing standard). We also find no merit to Bryson’s assignments of error with respect to the order directing a psychiatric examination and his claim that he was denied a speedy trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(A) (2000) (excluding any delay “resulting from any proceeding, including examinations, to determine the mental competency or physical [474]*474capacity of the defendant”); see United States v. West, 877 F.2d 281, 285 n. 1 (4th Cir.1989).

We have reviewed Bryson’s numerous challenges to the sufficiency of the indictment and the sufficiency of the evidence and find no error. See Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); United States v. Wicks, 187 F.3d 426, 427 (4th Cir.1999); United States v. Williams, 152 F.3d 294, 298 (4th Cir.1998).

Contrary to Bryson’s contention that he was forced to proceed pro se during his trial, we find that the court appropriately advised Bryson of the dangers of self-representation and conducted an adequate inquiry to assure that his waiver of counsel was: (1) clear and unequivocal; (2) knowing, intelligent, and voluntary; and (3) timely. We conclude that the district court appropriately allowed Bryson to proceed pro se. See Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 835, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975); United States v. Frazier-El, 204 F.3d 553, 558 (4th Cir.2000). Additionally, the court required Bryson to proceed with hybrid representation — appointing a lawyer to serve as Bryson’s standby counsel. Such a decision was within the district court’s discretion. McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 176, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122 (1984).

Counsel asserted that Bryson was denied access to some of the discovery materials in sufficient time to prepare for trial. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a)(1)(E). While Bryson did not receive records in one of the eleven boxes of documents and records in a timely manner, once the oversight was discovered, the government made every effort to assure that Bryson had sufficient time and opportunity to review these records. We find no abuse of discretion by the district court in allowing the use of these records, given that Bryson was provided access to them and he asserts no prejudice from the delayed access. See United States v. Beras, 183 F.3d 22, 27 (1st Cir.1999); United States v. Ford, 986 F.2d 57, 59 (4th Cir.1993).

The other issue raised by counsel in the Anders brief is that the district court erred in allowing the jury to hear evidence that, shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing incident, Bryson remarked to Ethel Swink’s nephew that he, Bryson, would be capable of such a thing. The government asserted that the evidence was relevant to present a chronology and an explanation for the origin of the proceedings that led to the discovery of Bryson’s misdeeds with respect to Swink’s assets.

Even if the evidence is relevant under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b), it must be more probative than prejudicial in order to be admissible. See Fed.R.Evid.

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United States v. Bryson, 105 F. App'x 470 (4th Cir. 2004).

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