Case docket
USA v. Merritts — U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
USA v. MERRITTS — 82 court filings in the archive from U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, filed between March 20, 2025 and January 27, 2026. Among them: 29 exhibits, 15 motions and 8 responses or replies.
Case facts
| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Filings | 82 public filings |
| Filed | 2025-03-20 – 2026-01-27 |
| Document types | exhibits (29), motions (15), responses or replies (8), memoranda or briefs (7), orders (3), notices (3) |
| Original PDFs | 82 of 82 |
Case summary
Cortney Merritts was charged in an indictment returned March 20, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:25-cr-00076, with two counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, together with a forfeiture allegation. The government's filings state the charges concern loan applications to the Small Business Administration under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and the Paycheck Protection Program; a defense filing puts the loss amount alleged in the indictment at approximately $20,832. Merritts pleaded not guilty to each count and denied the forfeiture allegation. The docket on this page runs to jury notes dated January 22 and 23, 2026; no verdict or judgment is on this page. The case is pending as of January 27, 2026; the charges are allegations.
Case at a glance
| Defendant(s) | Cortney Merritts |
|---|---|
| Court and docket | U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:25-cr-00076-JMC |
| Program | Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) |
| Charges | Two counts of wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, plus a forfeiture allegation (indictment of March 20, 2025) |
| Outcome and sentence | No verdict or judgment on this page. Plea of not guilty to each count; the last filings are jury notes of January 22 and 23, 2026 |
| Status checked | 2026-09-23 · against DOJ press releases through 2026-09-22; court docket not yet read |
What does the government say the applications contained?
The government's motion in limine of October 31, 2025 states that in both applications the defendant overstated the revenue of his moving business, and that a PPP loan of $20,832, the maximum available to a sole proprietor with no employees, was approved and disbursed to his account on May 12, 2021.
What is the loss amount alleged?
Approximately $20,832, according to a defense filing of October 10, 2025 describing the indictment. The government describes a separate, earlier EIDL application on which the Treasury loaned $8,500 on July 7, 2020 plus a $6,000 advance, totalling $14,500, and states the defendant is not charged in connection with that first application.
What was the defense position on the indictment?
That the two wire fraud counts are impermissibly duplicitous and lack specificity under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, because the indictment charges two counts but lists eleven separate wire transmissions in the charging language.
Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.
Filings
82 public filings from this case, in filing-date order.
- Indictment as to Cortney Merritts (1) count(s) 1-2. (Notice of Forfeiture Allegation) — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 1, D.D.C.)Indictment · PDF
- Order Setting Conditions of Release as to Cortney Merritts (1) Personal Recognizance — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 7, D.D.C.)Order · PDF
- Unopposed Motion for Protective Order by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 8, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Text of Proposed OrderProposed order · Dkt. 8.1 · PDF
- Order granting 8 Unopposed Motion for Protective Order as to Cortney Merritts (1) — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 9, D.D.C.)Order · PDF
- Pretrial Order as to Cortney Merritts: See document for details — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 11, D.D.C.)PDF
- Motion to Dismiss Case Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12 by Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 13, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Motion to Dismiss Case for Selective Prosecution by Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 14, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 16, D.D.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
- Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 17, D.D.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
- Reply in Support by Cortney Merritts re 14 Motion to Dismiss Case for Selective Prosecution — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 18, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- Reply in Support by Cortney Merritts re 13 Motion to Dismiss — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 19, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- Notice of Intent to Introduce Other Acts Evidence under Fed — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 20, D.D.C.)Notice · PDF
- MOTION in Limine by CORTNEY MERRITTSMotion · Dkt. 21 · PDF
- MOTION in Limine by CORTNEY MERRITTSMotion · Dkt. 22 · PDF
- Motion in Limine to Admit Certain Evidence by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 23, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Motion in Limine to Exclude Certain Evidence and Argument by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 24, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Joint Motion to Continue Certain Pretrial Deadlines by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 27, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Submit Certain Pretrial Filings by Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 28, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 30, D.D.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
- Exhibit AExhibit · Dkt. 30.1 · PDF
- Exhibit BExhibit · Dkt. 30.2 · PDF
- Response by Cortney Merritts re 24 Motion in Limine to Exclude — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 32, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- Response by Cortney Merritts re 23 Motion in Limine to Admit Certain Evidence — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 33, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- Joint Pretrial Statement by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 34, D.D.C.)PDF
- Exhibit Gov Voir DireExhibit · Dkt. 34.1 · PDF
- Exhibit Def Voir DireExhibit · Dkt. 34.2 · PDF
- Exhibit Jury InstructionsExhibit · Dkt. 34.3 · PDF
- Exhibit Gov Exhibit ListExhibit · Dkt. 34.4 · PDF
- Exhibit Def Exhibit ListExhibit · Dkt. 34.5 · PDF
- Exhibit Verdict FormExhibit · Dkt. 34.6 · PDF
- Exhibit Gov Witness ListExhibit · Dkt. 34.7 · PDF
- Exhibit Def Witness ListExhibit · Dkt. 34.8 · PDF
- Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 35, D.D.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
- Exhibit A (Vetted subpoena)Exhibit · Dkt. 35.1 · PDF
- Exhibit K (Defendant-produced text)Exhibit · PDF
- Exhibit L1 (Defendant-produced text)Exhibit · PDF
- Exhibit L2 (Defendant-produced text)Exhibit · PDF
- Exhibit L3 (Defendant-produced text)Exhibit · PDF
- Exhibit B (Defendant subpoena)Exhibit · Dkt. 35.2 · PDF
- Exhibit C (Defendant cover letter)Exhibit · Dkt. 35.3 · PDF
- Exhibit E (EIDL application 2020.04.03)Exhibit · PDF
- Exhibit F (EIDL application 2020.07.08)Exhibit · PDF
- Exhibit G (PPP application 2021.04.22)Exhibit · PDF
- Exhibit H (Draft Schedule C)Exhibit · Dkt. 35.7 · PDF
- Exhibit I (MO Sec of State)Exhibit · Dkt. 35.8 · PDF
- Exhibit J (IL DES)Exhibit · Dkt. 35.9 · PDF
- Motion for Disclosure of Tax Return and Tax Return Information Nunc Pro Tunc — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 37, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Text of Proposed Order Proposed OrderProposed order · PDF
- Notice of Withdrawal of Appearance by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 38, D.D.C.)Notice · PDF
- Transcript of Motion Hearing Proceedings in case as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 40, D.D.C.)Transcript · PDF
- Response to Order of the Court by Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 41, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- NOTICE of related case by CORTNEY MERRITTSNotice · PDF
- Response by Cortney Merritts re 37 Motion for Disclosure of Tax Return — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 44, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- Unopposed Motion to Continue Filing Deadline by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 45, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- Transcript of Pretrial Conference Proceedings in the case — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 46, D.D.C.)Transcript · PDF
- Motion to Permit Law Enforcement Agent to Be Present at Counsel Table During Trial — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 47, D.D.C.)Motion · PDF
- MOTION for Reconsideration by CORTNEY MERRITTSMotion · PDF
- MOTION to Disqualify Counsel DEFENDANTS MOTION TO DISQUALIFY…Motion · PDF
- Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 51, D.D.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
- Exhibit BExhibit · Dkt. 51.1 · PDF
- Reply to Opposition to Motion by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 53, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- Reply in Support by Cortney Merritts re 48 Motion for Reconsideration — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 54, D.D.C.)Response or reply · PDF
- MOTION to Continue Trial by CORTNEY MERRITTSMotion · PDF
- Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 57, D.D.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
- ExhibitExhibit · Dkt. 57.1 · PDF
- ExhibitExhibit · Dkt. 57.2 · PDF
- ExhibitExhibit · Dkt. 57.3 · PDF
- ExhibitExhibit · Dkt. 57.4 · PDF
- ExhibitExhibit · Dkt. 57.5 · PDF
- Memorandum in Opposition by USA as to Cortney Merritts re 56 Motion to Continue Trial — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 59, D.D.C.)Memorandum or brief · PDF
- Transcript of Proceedings in case as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 61, D.D.C.)Transcript · PDF
- Order granting 37 Motion for Disclosure; denying 48 Motion — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 64, D.D.C.)Order · PDF
- Attorneys' Acknowledgment of Trial Exhibits as to Cortney Merritts — USA v. Merritts (Dkt. 66, D.D.C.)PDF
- GOVERNMENT EXHIBIT LIST by USA as to CORTNEY MERRITTSPDF
- DEFENSE EXHIBIT LIST by CORTNEY MERRITTSPDF
- Jury Note (1) as to CORTNEY MERRITTSDkt. 69 · PDF
- Jury Note (2) as to CORTNEY MERRITTSDkt. 71 · PDF
- Jury Note (3) as to CORTNEY MERRITTSDkt. 73 · PDF
- Jury Note (4) as to CORTNEY MERRITTSDkt. 75 · PDF
- Jury Note (1) as to CORTNEY MERRITTS (1)PDF
- ENTERED IN ERROR.....NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE by USA…PDF
Court, dates and docket numbers are as recorded on the filings.