Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a prisoner's third motion for compassionate release. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding the defendant remained a danger to the community and that sentencing factors weighed against release.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the drug conspiracy and possession convictions of Philip Beck, Florence Beck, and Joshua Martinez, rejecting challenges to the admission of evidence and sentencing determinations. The court held that inconsistencies in Florence Beck's post-arrest statements were credibility issues for the jury, not grounds for reversal, and that the district court properly applied Rule 404(b) and safety-valve standards.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion for sentence reduction filed by a defendant convicted of armed bank robbery. The court held that the district court properly weighed sentencing factors and did not abuse its discretion in maintaining an upward variance based on the use of a weapon.
The Eleventh Circuit summarily affirmed a twenty-seven-month sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court held that prior Georgia methamphetamine convictions qualify as controlled substance offenses under the Sentencing Guidelines regardless of federal definitions.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion for sentence reduction, holding that Amendment 821 did not apply to a defendant whose original sentence included an upward departure based on specific conduct. The court found the district court properly weighed sentencing factors, concluding that the severity of the armed robbery and victim impact outweighed claims of rehabilitation.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of William Scott's lawsuit challenging the IRS's denial of a whistleblower award, holding that such decisions are committed to agency discretion by law. The court also rejected Scott's claim that the district judge should have recused herself, finding no evidence of personal bias.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed convictions under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act for drug trafficking on a vessel in a foreign exclusive economic zone. The court rejected arguments regarding jurisdiction, vagueness, and due process violations.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the convictions and sentences of Noel Alredo Garcia following an Anders brief filed by appointed appellate counsel. The court granted the motion to withdraw after an independent review found no arguable issues of merit in the appeal.
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed an appeal by a defendant who had signed a plea agreement containing a sentence appeal waiver. The court found the waiver enforceable because the defendant was specifically questioned about it during the plea colloquy and understood its terms.
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed Ana Romero's appeal of her wire fraud conspiracy sentence because she knowingly and voluntarily waived her right to appeal in her plea agreement. The court found the waiver enforceable under Bushert standards and determined that Romero's arguments did not fall within any of the waiver's narrow exceptions.