Josepha Tshbangu Kasai appeals his convictions, following a bench trial, for arson
affecting interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i) (2012); and possession
of an unregistered destructive device, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d) (2012). Kasai
argues that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions—specifically, that the
Government failed to produc... More...    $0 (09-09-2018 - VA)

Abingdon, VA - Tazewell Woman Sentenced On Federal Firearms Charges - Glenna Elswick Admitted to Purchasing Firearms for her Son; Lying about Purchases

A Tazewell woman, who illegally purchased and provided firearms to her son was sentenced.

Glenna Elswick, 50, was sentenced to six months in prison. Previously, Elswick pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement in c... More...    $0 (10-30-2017 - VA)

Martinsville, VA - Jury Convicts Man of First-Degree Murder

The Commonwealth of Virginia charged James Moore with first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit murder for killing Noel Navarro-Pena, age 33, and Alfonso Navarro-Pena, age 40, in June of 2014. Noel was found dead lying near a pickup in a parking lot near the main gate to the Smith River Sports Complex. Alfonso was found ... More...    $0 (12-08-2016 - VA)

Norfolk, VA - Jury Rejects Self-Defense and Convicts Man of Murder

The Commonwealth of Virginia charged Ulysses Jay James, age 52, with first-degree murder for stabbing 45-year-old Lean "Elaine" Smith to death.

Defendant claimed self-defense.

Ms. Smith was a schizophrenic cocaine addict who had previously stabbed James.


Virginia criminal code section 18.2.3... More...    $0 (08-21-2016 - VA)

We consider the evidence on appeal “in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, as
we must since it was the prevailing party” in the trial court. So viewed, the evidence at trial was that the Check Country Store in Floyd County is owned by Wayne Lamay. On May 28, 2014, appellant was involved in
an incident at the store. As a result of that incident, Mr. Lamay told appellant, in “... More...    $0 (03-28-2016 - VA)

In 2012, while seventeen years old, appellant was adjudicated delinquent for two instances
of violating Code § 18.2-248(G), possession with intent to distribute imitation cocaine. The
violations of Code § 18.2-248(G) would have been non-violent felonies if appellant had been an
adult when he committed the offenses. Appellant does not dispute that he was over the age of
fiftee... More...    $0 (03-28-2016 - VA)

Alexandria, VA - Former Business Owner and Son Sentenced for Arson and Insurance Fraud

Va. – Lawrence Wayne Reese, 56, and his son, Lance Terrell Reese, 28, both from Fort Belvoir, were sentenced today for their roles in burning down the Sub Shop, a business Lawrence Reese owned in Lorton.

Lawrence Reese was sentenced to 15 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and o... More...    $0 (09-30-2015 - VA)

Richmond, VA - The Commonwealth of Virginia charged Logan Demetrius Miles, age 20, with second-degree murder for killing Lorenzo Dominique Harris, age 30, in August of 2014.

The Commonwealth claimed that Miles went with Harris to his apartment and shot him a number of times.

Much of the Commonwealth's case was based on testimony of jailhouse informants and his legal guardian.... More...    $0 (09-24-2015 - VA)

In January 2014, Frazier was approached by police in a housing project in Richmond, Virginia. He began to run, but he slipped and fell. As Frazier lay on the ground, officers observed a black semi-automatic Ruger 9mm handgun in his hand. Frazier was arrested. A search of his person revealed a clear, plastic sandwich bag that contained seven individually wrapped plastic bag corners, which Frazi... More...    $0 (08-30-2015 - VA)

Sergeant J. A. Wood appeals the district court’s denial of qualified immunity in this civil suit arising out of Wood’s warrantless entry into the plaintiffs’ home. Because the objective circumstances confronted by defendant on the night in question suggested that plaintiffs’ home was being vandalized and that a missing teenage girl was in the house and in need of assistance, the search was... More...    $0 (06-29-2009 - VA)

First degree murder and arson. Defendant killed two co-workers for beaming high frequency radio waves at him. ... More...    $0 (12-18-1996 - VA)

Conspiracy to commit arson. Plot to burn two women's clinics in December, 1994.... More...    $0 (02-12-1997 - VA)