U.S. v. Schuster, 84-4705
| Citation | 778 F.2d 1132 |
| Decision Date | 23 December 1985 |
| Docket Number | No. 84-4705,84-4705 |
| Parties | UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Richard E. SCHUSTER, M.D., Defendant-Appellant. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit |
Johnston & Younger, Jerry T. Johnston, Michael P. Younger, Brandon, Miss., for defendant-appellant.
George Phillips, U.S. Atty., James B. Tucker, Asst. U.S. Atty., Jackson, Miss., for plaintiff-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Before GARZA, POLITZ and HILL, Circuit Judges.
Richard E. Schuster, M.D. was convicted of conspiracy and substantive counts involving the unlawful dispensing and distribution of controlled substances, 21 U.S.C. Secs. 846 and 841(a)(1). The sentence imposed included a period of confinement, probation, and a fine of $100,000. Schuster appealed. Acting pursuant to a motion under Rule 38(a)(3) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the district court entered an order directing Schuster, pending appeal, to deposit with the clerk of the district court, as assurance for the payment of the fine if the conviction were affirmed, the sum of $100,000 "to be held by the Clerk in an interest-bearing account pending final resolution of this matter." Schuster complied with this order and made the deposit.
On October 26, 1985, Richard E. Schuster died of injuries sustained two weeks earlier in an auto accident. Unaware of Schuster's death, on November 26, 1985, we filed our opinion, 777 F.2d 264, affirming the convictions. Our mandate has not yet issued. The executor of decedent's estate now seeks a dismissal of the appeal and a return of the monies deposited. The motion before us includes an official Certificate of Death issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records, attesting to Schuster's death.
Under the firmly established rule in this circuit, the death of a defendant pending conclusion of the direct criminal appeal abates, ab initio, not only the appeal, but the entire criminal proceeding. United States v. Pauline, 625 F.2d 684 (5th Cir.1980); United States v. Cammarata, 721 F.2d 134 (5th Cir.1983). Consistent therewith, we vacate our opinion on direct appeal, dismiss the appeal as moot, and remand to the district court with instructions to vacate the convictions and to dismiss the subject indictment. In addition, the district court is to direct the clerk of the district court to deliver over to the appropriate legal...
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U.S. v. Estate of Parsons
...294, 297 (3d Cir.2001) (fines and forfeitures); United States v. Asset, 990 F.2d 208, 211 (5th Cir.1993) (fines); United States v. Schuster, 778 F.2d 1132 (5th Cir.1985) (fines); Oberlin, 718 F.2d at 895-96 (fines and forfeitures); Pauline, 625 F.2d at 684 3. Congress did, however, provide ......
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U.S. v. Estate of Parsons, 01-50464.
...the death of a criminal defendant during the pendency of his appeal abates the entire proceeding ab initio."); United States v. Schuster, 778 F.2d 1132, 1133 (5th Cir.1985) ("Under the firmly established rule in this circuit, the death of a defendant pending conclusion of the direct crimina......
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