Alex Murdaugh in Federal Court
RICHMOND, VA — The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted the government’s motion to dismiss convicted killer Alex Murdaugh and his appeal of his federal sentence for financial crimes.
In their decision, the three-judge panel found that Murdaugh knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to appeal after reviewing the case record and submissions from both sides.
On April 1, U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Murdaugh to 40 years in prison for his financial crimes at a courthouse in Charleston. Murdaugh’s legal team had filed the appeal shortly after the disgraced attorney’s sentencing.
In addition to the prison sentence, Murdaugh was ordered to pay $8,762,731.88 in restitution and $10,034,377.95 in forfeiture.
The United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Adair Boroughs, filed a motion on August 8 to dismiss the appeal, which the court has now granted.
In the federal prison system, inmates typically serve a percentage of their sentence, with the possibility of reducing time served for good behavior. Here’s how the calculation generally works:
Federal Sentencing Guidelines:
- Good Conduct Time: Under federal law, inmates can earn up to 54 days per year of good conduct time if they exhibit good behavior throughout their sentence. This can reduce their total sentence by about 15%.
Applying to Alex Murdaugh’s Case:
If Alex Murdaugh were sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, and he qualifies for the full 54 days per year of good behavior credit, here’s how it would break down:
- 40 years sentence:
- 40 years equals 480 months.
- Good Conduct Time Calculation:
- If Murdaugh earns 54 days off per year for good behavior, the total good conduct time he can earn is:
- 2,160 days is approximately 5.9 years.
- If Murdaugh earns 54 days off per year for good behavior, the total good conduct time he can earn is:
- Actual Time Served:
- 40 years minus 5.9 years would leave him with 34.1 years to serve.
- This means that, under ideal circumstances, Murdaugh could serve about 34 years of his 40-year federal sentence.
Parole Considerations:
- No Parole in Federal System: It’s important to note that federal prisoners are not eligible for parole, unlike in some state prison systems. This means Murdaugh would have to serve at least 85% of his sentence, assuming good behavior, with no opportunity for early release through parole.
In conclusion, if Murdaugh receives the full good behavior credit, he would serve approximately 34 years in federal prison out of his 40-year sentence. Murdaugh would be around 90 years old upon release if he serves the full reduced sentence with good behavior.
What’s next for Murdaugh?
Despite the dismissal of his federal appeal, Murdaugh still has several legal battles ahead in South Carolina. His defense team could file a petition for a rehearing or potentially escalate the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, Murdaugh is at the center of multiple state charges and lawsuits.

Jury Tampering Allegations
One of the most serious recent developments in the Murdaugh saga involves allegations of jury tampering during his murder trial. Murdaugh’s legal team has filed a motion for a new trial, citing accusations that Colleton County Clerk of Court, Becky Hill, improperly influenced jurors during deliberations. Murdaugh’s attorneys, Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, claim that Hill had private conversations with jurors, pressured them for a quick verdict, and even lied to the judge to have one juror dismissed.
These allegations have drawn significant attention, as they could potentially overturn Murdaugh’s conviction for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and his son, Paul Murdaugh, which led to his life sentences. The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office has requested that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigate the claims of jury tampering. If the allegations are proven, Murdaugh could be granted a new trial.
Background on the Jury Tampering Allegations
The allegations against Becky Hill stem from reports that she sought to rush a verdict in the high-profile trial. One juror, referred to as Juror 785, was allegedly removed from the jury under false pretenses. Murdaugh’s defense claims Hill manipulated this removal, suggesting it was part of an effort to sway the jury toward conviction. Juror 785 released a tell-all book, further detailing these alleged events called Because Enough is Enough.
The investigation into these claims could lead to serious legal consequences for Hill and may have a profound impact on the outcome of Murdaugh’s conviction. Murdaugh’s legal team has also requested the FBI be involved in the investigation, expressing concerns about SLED’s role in the original trial investigation.
These ongoing legal battles, combined with the new allegations of jury tampering, ensure that Murdaugh will remain deeply entrenched in legal turmoil for the foreseeable future.
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