USA v. Sowell

1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
CASE NO. 3:24-CR-00045-FDW-DCK
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant Jessica Bailey Sowell’s Motion to
Attend Memorial Service, (Doc. No. 23). Defendant, who is in custody pending sentencing,
requests a temporary release from custody to attend her grandmother’s memorial service on
October 19, 2024. (Id.) The Government opposes Defendant’s release without supervision due to
risk of flight and danger to the community,1 but it does not oppose her release into the custody of
a Deputy U.S. Marshal or Task Force Officer. (Doc. No. 25, p. 2.) However, the U.S. Marshals
Service has communicated to Defendant’s attorney and to the Court that due to the risk and
logistical hurdles involved, it cannot transport Defendant to the memorial service. Accordingly,
while the Court is sympathetic to Defendant’s loss, it cannot permit Defendant’s unsupervised
release from custody. Thus, for the reasons stated in the Government’s Response, (Doc. No. 25),
Defendant’s Motion is DENIED.
1 After her arrest, Defendant was detained in part because she “was arrested after being found in possession
with . . . multiple counterfeit identifications with her picture but several different aliases and equipment used to make
identification charges.” (Doc. No. 14, p. 3.) Defendant was later “found in another hotel room with . . . additional
counterfeit identifications, allegedly stolen Guatemalan and Honduran passports, and two U.S. passports.” (Id.)
Ultimately, Defendant pled guilty to three counts: bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2, aggravated
identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A and 2, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). (Doc. No. 18.) Defendant’s criminal history and conviction indicate that she remains a flight
risk.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA )
)
v. )
) ORDER
JESSICA BAILEY SOWELL, )
)
Defendant. )
)
Case 3:24-cr-00045-TTC-DCK Document 26 Filed 10/17/24 Page 1 of 2

2
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Attend Memorial Service,
(Doc. No. 23), is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Signed: October 17, 2024
Case 3:24-cr-00045-TTC-DCK Document 26 Filed 10/17/24 Page 2 of 2