Wes’ criminal practice runs the gamut. He not only represents clients under investigation or charged, but he also provides zealous advocacy for clients on appeal and post-conviction.  With respect to his appellate practice, Wes has litigated appeals in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. As well, Wes has successfully petitioned for allowance of appeal in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and has petitioned for certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.

Prior to joining the firm, Wes served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia.  In that role, Wes handled direct appeals in non-death penalty murder cases and post-conviction proceedings for a variety of crimes.  As well, Wes previously served as a Law Clerk for the following Judges on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania:

• United States Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab (2013–2015)
• United States Senior District Judge William W. Caldwell (2015–2016)
• United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson (2020)

During his time as a Law Clerk, in addition to gaining familiarity with the Middle District’s practice preferences and Local Rules, Wes developed a strong working knowledge of the Federal Rules of Procedure, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and the federal-sentencing process.

Wes is currently a member of the CJA Panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the CJA Panel for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

• Counsel in United States v. Baskerville, holding that Pennsylvania’s definition of cocaine sweeps broader than federal definition for purposes of Armed Career Criminal Act and U.S.S.G. 4B1.2.
• Worked with the successful appellate team for an international celebrity, in a case before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
• Obtained the dismissal of fraud charges due to a violation of the Interstate Agreement on Detainers and the applicable statute of limitations.
• Negotiated a substantial reduction in a seven-figure, criminal-restitution award imposed on a former public official.
• Assisted in obtaining a sentence of time served for a federal defendant facing career-offender penalties.
• Obtained reversal on post-sentence motions of client’s designation as a “Sexually Violent Predator”.

Publications

• Beidel, et al., Business Applicants for COVID-19 Funding Must Exercise Caution, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP (Apr. 2020)
• Dixon, et al., Pennsylvania Open Government Guide, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Oct. 2019)
• Beidel & W. Mishoe, Alert: DOJ’s Criminal Division Updates Guidance for Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP (July 2019)
• Danilewitz, et al., Professional Perspective: Lessons on FARA Compliance in a New Age of Enforcement, Bloomberg Law (June 2019)