United States of America v. Gerardo Morales-Ramirez
April 17, 2026·25-3233·Panel Decision·By James Taylor
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the sentence imposed on Gerardo Morales-Ramirez for illegal reentry as a felon. The court found no abuse of discretion in the district court's sentencing decision.
Gerardo Morales-Ramirez appealed his sentence after pleading guilty to being a felon found after illegal reentry. His counsel filed a brief under Anders v. California challenging the substantive reasonableness of the sentence.
The court’s reasoning
The court concluded the district court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Morales-Ramirez. Upon independent review under Penson v. Ohio, the court found no non-frivolous issues for appeal.
What it means going forward
The judgment is affirmed and the motion to withdraw counsel is granted.
