Alex Murdaugh Appeals Federal Sentencing

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Disgraced and disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh continued his quest to have another day in court this month. Convicted of murder, fraud and theft, the once untouchable scion of one of South Carolina’s most prominent legal and political dynasties is pursuing an appeal against the federal sentence imposed on him for nearly two dozen financial crimes.

Murdaugh’s notice of appeal was lodged with the U.S. fourth circuit on April 15, 2024. At a federal court hearing on April 1, 2024, judge Richard Gergel sentenced Murdaugh to forty years in prison for nearly two dozen financial crimes – and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $8.8 million. This federal sentence will run concurrent with the life imprisonment Murdaugh received in March 2023 for the murders of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and their younger son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh. Additionally, he is serving a negotiated sentence of 27 years in the S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC) as part of a plea agreement involving financial crimes prosecuted by the state.

Murdaugh’s federal plea deal nearly collapsed after government prosecutors claim he failed to fully disclose “hidden assets” while under polygraph examination. As a result, the state moved to revoke the deal – which could have led to a harsher sentence.

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Simultaneously, in the S.C. court of appeals, Murdaugh and his legal team are contesting his murder convictions and challenging a controversial decision from former S.C. chief justice Jean Toal to reject his bid for a new trial following accusations of jury tampering against former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill.

Toal’s decision denying the motion for a new trial was finalized on April 3, 2024. Consequently, the appeal of Murdaugh’s murder conviction, which had been paused awaiting Toal’s ruling, is now progressing. The appeals court issued formal notice on April 12, 2024, setting deadlines for the initial briefing and matter designation within 30 days.

In a separate case before the state appeals court, concerning Toal’s denial of a new trial motion, Murdaugh’s legal team filed a notice of appeal on April 11, 2024. This case is awaiting transcripts from the January 29, 2024 evidentiary hearing on the jury tampering allegations.

Despite filing multiple appeal notices, Murdaugh has yet to articulate any reasons for the court to overturn his various sentences.

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THE NOTICES …

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Callie Lyons is a journalist, researcher and author. Her 2007 book ‘Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal’ was the first to cover forever chemicals and their impact on communities – a story later told in the movie ‘Dark Waters’. Her investigative work has been featured in media outlets, publications, and documentaries all over the world. Lyons also appears in ‘Citizen Sleuth’ – a 2023 documentary exploring the genre of true crime.

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