Order as to Gladys Harun. If Defendant intends to seek appointed — USA v. Harun (Dkt. 17, S.D. Ga.)

Record facts

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia · No. 3:23-cr-00003-DHB-BKE · Doc. 17 · 2023-08-25 · Docket on CourtListener

Full text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
 
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA 
 
DUBLIN DIVISION 
 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
) 
 
) 
 
v. 
) 
CR 323-003 
 
 
) 
GLADYS HARUN 
) 
_________ 
 
O R D E R 
_________ 
 
 
On July 13, 2022, a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia charged Defendant 
Gladys Harun with wire fraud, and on September 8, 2022, the grand jury returned a seven-
count, superseding indictment for the offenses of false declaration, wire fraud, and money 
laundering.  United States v. Harun, CR 322-009, doc. nos. 1, 38 (S.D. Ga. July 13, 2022).  
Defendant retained attorney Jimmy Thomas Howell, Jr., to represent her.  Id., doc. no. 5; see 
also United States v. Harun, MJ 122-051, doc. no. 21 (S.D. Ga. July 11, 2022) (Notice of 
Appearance of Counsel).  Retained attorney Dale Robert Busbee replaced Mr. Howell as 
Defendant’s counsel in September of 2022.  CR 322-009, doc. nos. 60, 61, 63.  Defendant 
retained a third set of attorneys, Teri L. Thompson and Mohammed S. Luwemba, to replace 
Mr. Busbee in February of 2023.  Id., doc. nos. 85, 86, 89.  Defendant pleaded guilty to an 
information on April 27, 2023.  (Doc. no. 6.)  
On July 7, 2023, Ms. Thompson filed a “Motion to Withdraw as Attorney of Record,” 
(doc. no. 10), and United States District Judge Dudley H. Bowen, Jr., denied that request, 
(doc. no. 11).  Upon receipt of a letter from Defendant following denial of the request to 
withdraw, Judge Bowen discharged attorneys Thompson and Luwemba from their 
Case 3:23-cr-00003-DHB-BKE     Document 17     Filed 08/25/23     Page 1 of 2

2 
 
representation of Defendant on July 31, 2023.  (Doc. no. 16.)  As with every change of 
counsel initiated by Defendant, the consequence of this discharge has resulted in the addition 
of time required to adjudicate this case.  The delay falls squarely on Defendant’s shoulders. 
Now, after Judge Bowen cautioned Defendant nearly one month ago she needed to 
retain counsel “with expedience,” Defendant left a voice mail for court personnel requesting 
appointed counsel.  If Defendant wants the Court to take any action, she must file a written 
motion.  She may not simply leave phone messages.  Thus, if Defendant intends to seek 
appointed counsel rather than retaining her own attorney, she must expeditiously file a 
written motion explaining the basis for her request and serve it upon the United States 
Attorney’s Office in accordance with Judge Bowen’s prior instructions:   
Moreover, Defendant has a duty to file any motion in the case through the 
Clerk’s Office in person or by United States mail, with the above-referenced 
case caption and case number, and a copy of any filed motion must be served 
upon the United States Attorney’s Office by United States mail.   
(Id. at 2.)  The Court will take no further action or otherwise excuse Defendant from her 
responsibilities as explained in Judge Bowen’s July 31st Order unless and until Defendant 
files a written motion.   
 
The Clerk is DIRECTED to serve this Order on Defendant by United States Mail and 
email a copy to Defendant’s custodian for immediate delivery to Defendant.         
SO ORDERED this 25th day of August, 2023, at Augusta, Georgia. 
 
 
 
Case 3:23-cr-00003-DHB-BKE     Document 17     Filed 08/25/23     Page 2 of 2

File and source

File

gov.uscourts.gasd.89545.17.0.pdf

Size

127,112 bytes

SHA-256

b0b9a08506bbc99e2f8fa7cfd1915966a59d159c763657dc70ba527e693495fc

Our copy

gov.uscourts.gasd.89545.17.0.pdf

Original

PACER (login required)