1st Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Feb 27 2026
25-1137 Panel Decision

ELAINE DA SILVA-QUEIROGA v. PAMELA J. BONDI Attorney General

The First Circuit denied a petition for review of an asylum claim because the petitioner failed to prove she suffered past persecution or had a well-founded fear of future persecution. The court affirmed the Immigration Judge and Board of Immigration Appeals' determination that the petitioner's experiences did not meet the statutory severity threshold required for asylum, withholding of removal, or Convention Against Torture protection.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 23 2026
22-1055 Panel Decision

ANTHONY M. SHEA v. UNITED STATES

The First Circuit affirmed the District Court's denial of Anthony Shea's request to vacate his federal firearms convictions, ruling that instructional errors regarding predicate crimes were harmless. The court also upheld the resentencing of Shea based on the erroneous application of the career offender guideline, which the government conceded no longer applied.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sentencing Guidelines
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Feb 20 2026
24-1520 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHANG GOO YOON

The First Circuit affirmed Chang Goo Yoon's conviction for health care fraud, rejecting his challenges to evidentiary rulings regarding prior insurance investigations and sentencing enhancements. The court held that evidence of Yoon's knowledge of past investigations was probative of his specific intent and that the district court properly calculated intended loss and applied sentencing enhancements.

Criminal Fraud Sentencing Guidelines
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Feb 19 2026
24-1773 Panel Decision

SEC v. Gasarch

The First Circuit affirmed a district court's ruling in a civil securities enforcement action against five defendants who participated in a decade-long pump-and-dump scheme. The court upheld the defendants' liability and disgorgement orders while vacating one specific injunction against defendant Paul Sexton for being overly vague.

Criminal Money Laundering Statute of Limitations
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Feb 19 2026
24-1770 Panel Decision

SEC v. Gasarch

The First Circuit affirmed a district court's judgment against five defendants who participated in a decade-long pump-and-dump scheme involving cheap stocks and misleading hype. The court upheld the SEC's civil enforcement action, finding the defendants liable for disgorging millions in ill-gotten gains while concealing their ownership and involvement.

Criminal Money Laundering
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Feb 19 2026
24-1772 Panel Decision

SEC v. Gasarch

The First Circuit affirmed a district court's judgment against five defendants who participated in a decade-long pump-and-dump scheme involving penny stocks and concealed ownership. The court upheld the defendants' liability for securities fraud and the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, while vacating one specific injunction against appellant Sexton for failing to provide adequate notice of the prohibited conduct.

Criminal Money Laundering
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Feb 19 2026
24-1774 Panel Decision

SEC v. Gasarch

The First Circuit affirmed a district court's judgment against five defendants who participated in a decade-long pump-and-dump scheme involving penny stocks and concealed ownership. The court upheld the SEC's civil enforcement action, finding the defendants liable for ill-gotten gains and imposing disgorgement and civil penalties, while vacating one specific injunction for lack of clarity.

Criminal Money Laundering
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Feb 19 2026
24-1771 Panel Decision

SEC v. Gasarch

The First Circuit affirmed a district court's judgment against five defendants who participated in a decade-long pump-and-dump scheme involving penny stocks and misleading promoters. The court upheld the SEC's civil enforcement action and the imposition of disgorgement liabilities for ill-gotten gains, while vacating one specific injunction against appellant Sexton for failing to describe the prohibited conduct with sufficient clarity.

Criminal Money Laundering Statute of Limitations
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