United States of America v. Vernell Collins

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 19-7789

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,

v.

VERNELL COLLINS,

Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at
Norfolk. Rebecca Beach Smith, Senior District Judge. (2:17-cr-00077-RBS-DEM-1)

Submitted: May 28, 2020 Decided: July 7, 2020

Before KEENAN, FLOYD, and RICHARDSON, Circuit Judges.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Vernell Collins, Appellant Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

2

PER CURIAM:
Vernell Collins appeals the district court’s order denying her motion pursuant to
18 U.S.C. § 983(g) (2018). The Government has moved to dismiss the appeal as untimely
filed. Because Collins is appealing from the district court’s November 22, 2019, order,
rather than the criminal judgment, we conclude that Collins timely noted this appeal.
On appeal, however, we confine our review to the issues raised in the informal brief.
See 4th Cir. R. 34(b). Because Collins’ informal brief does not challenge the basis for the
district court’s disposition, she has forfeited appellate review of the court’s order. See
Jackson v. Lightsey, 775 F.3d 170, 177 (4th Cir. 2014) (“The informal brief is an important
document; under Fourth Circuit rules, our review is limited to issues preserved in that
brief.”). Accordingly, we deny the Government’s motion to dismiss, grant leave to proceed
in forma pauperis, and affirm the district court’s judgment. We dispense with oral
argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials
before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED