Opinion
Case No. 2:14-cr-74
06-03-2019
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. FATMA H. ALI, Defendant.
ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on the United States's Motion to Dismiss Indictment. (ECF No. 78). The prosecution explains that the defendant has been a fugitive since May 2, 2014 and has never been located; further, even if the defendant were found, locating witnesses to prosecute the case would likely be difficult. Accordingly, the United States moves, pursuant to Rule 48(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure for leave of court to dismiss the indictment.
Rule 48(a) provides, in relevant part, that "[t]he government may, with leave of court, dismiss an indictment, information, or complaint." Fed. R. Crim. P. 48(a). Courts construing this rule have held that trial courts have limited discretion to deny a Rule 48(a) motion absent bad faith or indications of bad faith on the part of the prosecution. See United States v. Smith, 55 F.3d 157, 159 (4th Cir. 1995) (holding trial courts have little discretion); United States v. Palomares, 119 F.3d 556, 558 (7th Cir. 1997) (a presumption that the prosecutor acts in good faith when seeking a dismissal without prejudice); United States v. HSBC Bank USA, N.A., 863 F.3d 125, 141 (2d Cir. 2017) (Rule 48 motions not made in bad faith and not contrary to public interest must be granted). The requirement to seek leave of court is "apparently to protect a defendant against prosecutorial harassment, e.g. charging, dismissing, and recharging, when the Government moves to dismiss an indictment over the defendant's objection." Rinaldi v. United States, 434 U.S. 22, n. 15 (1977). When a trial court grants the prosecution's Rule 48(a) motion, such a dismissal is ordinarily "without prejudice to the government's right to reindict for the same offense, unless the contrary is expressly stated." United States v. Ortega-Alvarez, 506 F.2d 455, 458 (2d Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 910 (collecting cases). See also United States v. Clay, 481 F.2d 133 (7th Cir. 1973), cert. denied 414 U.S. 1009.
This Court finds that this Rule 48(a) motion does not rest on Constitutional grounds and that there is no indication the motion is contrary to the public interest or made in bad faith. Accordingly, the United States's Motion is GRANTED. This case is hereby DISMISSED for want of prosecution. This dismissal is without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Algenon L. Marbley
ALGENON L. MARBLEY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE DATED: June 3, 2019