United States v. Darrin Merritt ( 2023 )

USCA4 Appeal: 22-6094 Doc: 6 Filed: 07/12/2023 Pg: 1 of 2
UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 22-6094
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
DARRIN HOWARD MERRITT,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at
Raleigh. Louise W. Flanagan, District Judge. (5:12-cr-00209-FL-1)
Submitted: June 14, 2023 Decided: July 12, 2023
Before AGEE and WYNN, Circuit Judges, and FLOYD, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Darrin Howard Merritt, Appellant Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
USCA4 Appeal: 22-6094 Doc: 6 Filed: 07/12/2023 Pg: 2 of 2
PER CURIAM:
Darrin Howard Merritt appeals the district court’s order dismissing his motion for
an award of $500 in “gate money” on his release from prison without prejudice for lack of
jurisdiction. The district court determined the Director of the Bureau of Prisons has the
exclusive authority to determine the discretionary gratuity up to $500 that may be provided
under the statute. We have reviewed the record and find no reversible error. See 18 U.S.C.
§ 3624(d)(2); 28 C.F.R. § 571.20; cf. Murray Energy Corp. v. Adm’r of EPA, 861 F.3d 529,
537 & n.4 (4th Cir. 2017). Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s order. See United
States v. Merritt, No. 5:12-cr-00209-FL-1 (E.D.N.C. Dec. 22, 2021). 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
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