Case Explained: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ANTHONY ZIGLER ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Filed: 2026-07-17

The Sixth Circuit affirmed Anthony Zigler’s conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and his 108-month sentence. Regarding the sufficiency of the evidence claim, the court applied the standard that evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the government to determine if any rational trier of fact could find the elements proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The court held that sufficient evidence supported the fifth element of the VICAR statute (18 U.S.C. § 1959), specifically that Zigler committed the assault to maintain and increase his position within the Almighty Vice Lord Nation gang, based on testimony regarding gang codes, recorded conversations about “disrespect,” and the expectation that Zigler would punish Williams for stepping out of line. Regarding sentencing challenges, the court reviewed procedural and substantive unreasonableness for an abuse of discretion. The court found no clear error in the district court’s application of a cross-reference to assault with intent to commit murder (U.S.S.G. § 2A2.1), concluding that the record plausibly supported the finding that Zigler possessed the specific intent to kill given the brutality of stabbing the victim fifteen times. Furthermore, the court determined the sentence was substantively reasonable because it fell within the calculated Guidelines range and the district court properly weighed the factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including Zigler’s mental health, family circumstances, and systemic discrimination claims, while also considering the brutality of the offense and public safety risks. Consequently, Zigler’s conviction and sentence remain in effect with no relief granted.

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