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Description: Greensboro, North Carolina criminal law lawyer represented Defendant charged with involuntary manslaughter in violaiton of 18 U.S.C 1112 and 18 U.S.C. 3261(a)(1).
On Nov. 27, 2020, Ari Taylor, 32, of Roxboro, North Carolina, was operating a forklift to deliver pallets of water on Al Dhafra Airbase in his role as a civilian employed by a U.S. military contractor. He drove the forklift through a space shared by vehicles and pedestrians, between a medical clinic and living quarters. Taylor acknowledged that pedestrians were frequently present in this area.
At the time of the fatal collision, Taylor was distracted while using his cell phone and never saw Captain Kelliann Leli. A crash reconstruction expert concluded that Taylor had almost nine seconds to prevent the crash, but Taylor admitted that he did not see Capt. Leli and failed to take any steps to avoid striking her with the forklift.
Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina, and Brigadier General Terry L. Bullard of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations made the announcement.
The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI.
Senior Trial Attorney Frank G. Rangoussis and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry Meinecke for the Middle District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case
18 U.S.C. 1112 provides:
(a) Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. It is of two kinds:
Voluntary—Upon a sudden quarrel or heat of passion.
Involuntary—In the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, or in the commission in an unlawful manner, or without due caution and circumspection, of a lawful act which might produce death.
(b) Within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States,
Whoever is guilty of voluntary manslaughter, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both;
Whoever is guilty of involuntary manslaughter, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
18 U.S.C. 3161(a)(1) provides:
Criminal offenses committed by certain members of the Armed Forces and by persons employed by or accompanying the Armed Forces outside the United States
(a) Whoever engages in conduct outside the United States that would constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year if the conduct had been engaged in within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States—
(1) while employed by or accompanying the Armed Forces outside the United States; or
(2) while a member of the Armed Forces subject to chapter 47 of title 10 (the Uniform Code of Military Justice),
shall be punished as provided for that offense.
(b) No prosecution may be commenced against a person under this section if a foreign government, in accordance with jurisdiction recognized by the United States, has prosecuted or is prosecuting such person for the conduct constituting such offense, except upon the approval of the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General (or a person acting in either such capacity), which function of approval may not be delegated.
(c) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to deprive a court-martial, military commission, provost court, or other military tribunal of concurrent jurisdiction with respect to offenders or offenses that by statute or by the law of war may be tried by a court-martial, military commission, provost court, or other military tribunal.
(d) No prosecution may be commenced against a member of the Armed Forces subject to chapter 47 of title 10 (the Uniform Code of Military Justice) under this section unless—
(1) such member ceases to be subject to such chapter; or
(2) an indictment or information charges that the member committed the offense with one or more other defendants, at least one of whom is not subject to such chapter.
Outcome: 11/08/2022 3 ORDER appointing AFPD KATHLEEN A. GLEASON for ARI TAYLOR. Signed by MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE on 11/8/22. (Garrett, Kim) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 4 PLEA AGREEMENT as to ARI TAYLOR (Blay, Debbie) (Blay, Debbie). (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 5 WAIVER OF INDICTMENT by ARI TAYLOR (Blay, Debbie) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 Minute Entry for proceedings held before JUDGE LORETTA C. BIGGS:ARRAIGNMENT as to ARI TAYLOR as to the Information held on 11/8/2022. Defendant enters plea of GUILTY to the Information. AUSA Terry Meinecke, Elizabeth Nielsen DOJ-CRM, and Frank Rangoussis DOJ-CRM present on behalf of the Government. AFPD Kathleen Gleason present on behalf of the Defendant. Defendant present pursuant to a summons. (Court Reporter Lori Russell.) (Blay, Debbie) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 Minute Entry for proceedings held before JUDGE LORETTA C. BIGGS:GUILTY PLEA AT ARRAIGNMENT HEARING held on 11/8/2022. Defendant present pursuant to a summons. Defendant placed under oath and advised of rights/charges/penalties; Defendant waives indictment by the Grand Jury; Oral Notice given of the Due Process Protections Act 2020. Court reviews the plea agreement and factual basis; ARI TAYLOR enters Plea of guilty to the Information. Court finds the Defendant is competent to enter a guilty plea; plea accepted and Defendant adjudged GUITY. Court orders the preparation of a Presentence Report. Sentencing set for 4/25/2023 at 02:00 PM in Winston-Salem Courtroom #4 before JUDGE LORETTA C. BIGGS. The Defendant shall report immediately to Mag. Judge Peake for a bond hearing. AUSA Terry Meinecke, Elizabeth Nielsen DOJ-CRM, and Frank Rangoussis DOJ-CRM present on behalf of the Government. AFPD Kathleen Gleason present on behalf of the Defendant.(Court Reporter Lori Russell.) (Blay, Debbie) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 Defendant ARI TAYLOR reassigned to Judge JUDGE LORETTA C. BIGGS. Judge UNASSIGNED no longer assigned to the case. (Blay, Debbie) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 Minute Entry for proceedings held before MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE:Initial Appearance/Release Hearing as to ARI TAYLOR held on 11/8/2022. AUSA Terry Meinecke. AFPD Kathleen Gleason appointed and present with defendant. Government not requesting detention and agreed with release conditions. Defendant released (see order). Oral Notice given of the Due Process Protections Act 2020. Proceedings Recorded. (Garrett, Kim) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 6 SEALED FINANCIAL AFFIDAVIT by ARI TAYLOR. (Garrett, Kim) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 7 ORDER Setting Conditions of Release for ARI TAYLOR. Signed by MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE on 11/8/22. (Garrett, Kim) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
11/08/2022 8 Appearance Bond Entered as to ARI TAYLOR (cc: PTS) (Garrett, Kim) (Entered: 11/08/2022)
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Defendant's Experts:
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