United States Fourth Circuit

Convictions for involvement with a cockfighting operation are affirmed in part, where the government did not need to prove that Defendant personally sold the cockfighting paraphernalia at issue to show his participation in a conspiracy; but vacated in part, where the indictment failed to allege an essential element under 18 U.S.C. section 2156(a)(1) of sponsoring or exhibiting "an animal in" an animal fighting event.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/28/2009
• Published 05/28/2009

Judges

• Before WILLIAMS, Chief Judge, and SHEDD and AGEE, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Paul Graham Beers, Glenn, Feldmann, Darby & Goodlatte, Roanoke, Virginia, for Appellant.  Anthony Paul Giorno, Office of the United States Attorney, Roanoke, Virginia, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  Julia C. Dudley, United States Attorney, Ashley B. Neese, Assistant United States Attorney, Office of the United States Attorney, Roanoke, Virginia, for Appellee.