⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context.

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United States v. Oniel Wilks — 2d Cir. (Sep 4, 2026)

No. 24-2287 Argued September 4, 2026 Published October 2, 2026

The Second Circuit hears Oniel Wilks's appeal from jury convictions for drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies. Trial evidence described Wilks sending drugs from California to Louie McDowell for distribution in Connecticut. McDowell was arrested in November twenty-eighteen, but investigators later found cocaine in Wilks's car and in a package he shipped to Connecticut. Wilks will argue that McDowell's arrest ended the charged conspiracy, making the later California conduct a separate operation. The government will argue that the trafficking continued, involving Wilks and other participants. The dispute concerns both the evidence supporting the convictions and whether the California evidence belonged in this trial. Rule four-oh-four bee bars using other acts just to suggest criminal character, but can permit them for purposes such as proving intent or identity. Danielle Muscatello, of Barket Epstein, will argue for Wilks.

United States v. Oniel Wilks (No. 24-2287) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 4, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/24-2287.mp3
Argument listing and date — Second Circuit:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/oral_arguments.html
Summary order, September 21, 2026 — Second Circuit, No. 24-2287:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/SUM/24-2287_so.pdf
Trial and sentencing background, August 15, 2024 — U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut:https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/jamaican-national-sentenced-32-years-prison-drug-trafficking-identity-fraud-and-money
Danielle Muscatello — Barket Epstein:https://www.barketepstein.com/our-team/danielle-muscatello/
Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) — rule text, Cornell Legal Information Institute:https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_404
United States v. Concepcion, 983 F.2d 369, other-acts discussion — Second Circuit opinion mirrored by OpenJurist:https://openjurist.org/983/f2d/369/united-states-v-concepcion

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