USA v. Murali Venkata — D.C. Cir. (Sep 25, 2026)
The D.C. Circuit hears Murali Venkata's appeal. Venkata worked in the Homeland Security inspector general's IT office. Prosecutors said he helped take government software and databases to build a private product they hoped to sell to another federal inspector general. A jury convicted him, and he appealed. The court must decide whether those convictions should stand.
USA v. Murali Venkata (No. 24-3021) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 25, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/24-3021.mp3
Argument listing and counsel — D.C. Circuit:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9
Pretrial opinion and case background — U.S. District Court:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-dcd-1_20-cr-00066/pdf/USCOURTS-dcd-1_20-cr-00066-0.pdf
Jury verdict — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/former-department-homeland-security-employee-convicted-scheme-defraud-united-states
Original allegations and proposed purchaser — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/former-acting-inspector-general-us-department-homeland-security-indicted-theft-governmnet
Appeal docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/24-3021
Matthew Farley — Federal Public Defender:https://dc.fd.org/staffdirectory.htm
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b):https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcrmp/rule_52
Plain-error standard — D.C. Circuit opinion:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2024/07/21-3081-2065499.pdf
Plain-error discretion — United States v. Olano:https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USREPORTS-507/USREPORTS-507-725
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:42Advocate — Matthew Farley
- 11:51Advocate — Celia Choy
- 22:38Plain-error review