Recent Cases

• Court Rejects State’s Petition for Forfeiture of Home -Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland The Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, denied the State’s Attorney’s Petition for Forfeiture of Houlon Bermans’ client’s home even after he was convicted of a drug felony.  The felony case involved the execution of a search warrant at the client’s home and resulted in the recovery of a large quantity of cocaine, cash and evidence suggesting that the client garage was being used as a gathering place for the use of drugs and alcohol.  The Court denied the State’s Petition for Forfeiture based on Constitutional issues raised by counsel, in the end ruling that forfeiture would amount to a “Excessive Fine” under Maryland and Federal Constitutional Law. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Client Acquitted of Driving Under the Influence - Superior Court for the District of Columbia Houlon Berman’s client, charged with DUI in the District of Columbia, was acquitted after a Court trial lasting two days.  The client had been involved in an automobile accident, striking a parked vehicle and hitting his head on the steering wheel and windshield.  Officers arriving on the scene claimed an odor of alcohol and ether (suggesting presence or recent usage of PCP).  Client claimed that he was dizzy after the accident and may have suffered a concussion.  During a thorough cross-examination, it was shown that the officer had not been fully trained to differentiate types of eye nystagmus.  Since nystagmus is a known symptom of both head trauma and alcohol or controlled substance use, the Court could not find that Defendant had been under the influence beyond a reasonable doubt and the client was acquitted. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Honorably discharged Marine Acquitted of Conspiracy to Commit Credit Card Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft After Two Week Jury Trial - United States District Court for the District of Maryland- Greenbelt, Maryland In this extremely complex and lengthy trial, the Houlon Berman client was acquitted of all charges after a two-week trial in the United States District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland.  The conspiracy involved over $1M in credit card fraud losses and seven co-defendants.  All other defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.  After his acquittal, the Houlon Berman client returned to his government job with a clean record.  Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Houlon Berman Client Acquitted of Drug Felony Involving Sixty Grams of Crack Cocaine - Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland The Houlon Berman client in this case was charged with possession with intent to distribute over 60 grams of crack cocaine but was acquitted of that charge by a jury after a three-day trial.  The jury’s decision was largely a result of disbelief of the charging officer’s testimony concerning the basis for the stop and search of defendant’s vehicle.  The search was found to be legal at a suppression hearing but an inconsistency in the officer’s testimony was demonstrated to the jury and the jurors unanimously voted for an acquittal on the felony charges. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Charges Dismissed Against Houlon Berman Client Charged With Felony Possession With Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine After Court Grants Motion to Suppress for 4th Amendment Violation - Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland Houlon Berman’s client was charged in this case with possession with intent to distribute crack  cocaine.  The cocaine was discovered after a traffic stop on defendant’s vehicle for alleged excessive window tint violations.  Partial video and complete audio of the traffic stop was captured on police cruiser video camera and was obtained by Houlon Berman by subpoena without advanced knowledge to the Assistant State’s attorney.  When the arresting Officers was confronted with the video, he was unprepared and therefore unable to explain why he had arrested and searched the defendant during this routine traffic stop prior to the recovery of any drug evidence.  Moreover, the traffic stop for excessive tint violation could not be justified under Maryland Case Law. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• First Degree Murder Charges Dismissed After New DNA Evidence is Uncovered - Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland Houlon Berman’s client was indicted on first degree murder charges.  Approximately one month prior to trial, Attorney Richard Finci was finally able to convince the Assistant State’s Attorney that DNA evidence he had uncovered showed that the client was not the person who had committed the murder and that an unknown individual was involved.  The day after the meeting, all charges against the client were dismissed and he was released from custody after having been held for nine months pending trial. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Automobile Successfully Recovered in Drug Forfeiture Case - Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland Houlon Berman clients Cadillac Escalade was seized after a large quantity of drugs was found inside the vehicle as a result of an investigation.  Detectives seized the vehicle for forfeiture and Montgomery County filed a Petition for Forfeiture of Motor Vehicle.  Houlon Berman was retained to fight the forfeiture case and recover the vehicle.  A motion was filed, argued and granted by a Circuit Court Judge allowing a $1,300.00 bond to be posted for the vehicle.  The bond was posted, the vehicle was returned and one week later, the County agreed to accept the $1,300.00 in full settlement of the forfeiture case.  This amount was much less then the anticipated expense of fighting for the return of the vehicle at trial and resulted in the recovery of a customized vehicle and wheels worth far more then the settlement amount. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Currency and Vehicle Recovered in Federal Forfeiture Case) - United States District Court for the District of Maryland in Baltimore Houlon Berman’s client was the wife of a person convicted of a drug offense in Federal Court.  The Government sought forfeiture of numerous bank and investment accounts, vehicles and defendant’s marital home.  Houlon Berman successfully recovered currency and vehicles during the case and continues to work to recover the family home from the effects of the Federal Courts Criminal Forfeiture Order. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Client Charged in Nine Robberies Acquitted in Third Trial - Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland Houlon Berman client in this matter was charged in one indictment within nine separate robberies.  In order to assure a fair trial, the Houlon Berman attorney fought to separate or sever the case.  This Motion was granted and the trials were scheduled to take place one after the other.  In the third trial, the client was acquitted leading to the termination of all further trials.  The client received a five year sentence in the first two cases.  Those convictions are presently on appeal. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Client Acquitted of Attempted First Degree Murder - Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland The Houlon Berman client in this case was charged with attempted first degree murder for his aiding and abetting in a near fatal shooting.  The incident arose when the victim in the case was attempting to steal a quantity of drugs from a home at which defendant was a guest.  The client was accused of having ordered the victim to be “finished off” after which he was shot in the head.   After a three-day trial and approximately two hours of deliberations, the jury acquitted defendant of all charges. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Juvenile Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter Admits his Involvement to Second Degree Assault and is Placed on Probation. - Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland (Due to the facts, details and privacy concerns, no further details of this case can be provided.) Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci
• Former NBA Player Receives Short Sentences for Separate Firearms Convictions -In the United State District Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt, Maryland and the Superior Court for the District of Columbia The Houlon Berman client was accused of possessing and discharging a firearm near the White House and later of illegally mailing that firearm and others to Maryland from another state.  A very favorable plea arrangement was able to be negotiated which involved a short period of local incarceration followed by supervised release.  The terms of the supervised release allowed the client to accept employment overseas as a professional basketball player and thus continue his career relatively unimpeded. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci