Topic

Criminal

Every decision we've filed under Criminal.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DICKENSON ELAN

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Dickenson Elan's RICO conspiracy conviction and 135-month sentence, rejecting challenges to evidence admission and sufficiency of proof. The court held that the district court properly applied sentencing enhancements based on the total economic loss of the tax fraud scheme and did not abuse its discretion in imposing the sentence despite Elan's claims of hardship from future removal to Haiti.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Guidelines Departure Plain Error Review

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Mar 6 2026

10th Cir. 2:24-CR-00070-SWS-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BRIAN NEIL WIGGINS

The Tenth Circuit affirmed Brian Neil Wiggins's 192-month sentence, rejecting his claim that his prior Oregon second-degree assault conviction did not qualify as a crime of violence. The court held that Oregon law did not permit accomplice liability for negligence at the time of his 2008 conviction, ensuring the offense met the federal definition.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

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Mar 6 2026

10th Cir. 2:14-CR-00058-ABJ-1 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSEPH COLVIN

The Tenth Circuit affirmed a three-year prison sentence for a supervised release violation, ruling that a police report detailing firearm possession was admissible evidence. The court held that the report met the minimal reliability standard required for sentencing and that the defendant waived his right to object to the timing of its disclosure.

Criminal Drug Trafficking

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Mar 6 2026

3rd Cir. 26-1084 Panel Decision

In re JOBADIAH SINCLAIR WEEKS

The Third Circuit dismissed a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by Jobadiah Weeks because the District Court subsequently ruled on the underlying motions. The appellate court found that the lower court's actions resolved the specific relief sought, eliminating the live controversy required for judicial intervention.

Criminal Fraud

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Mar 6 2026

9th Cir. 1:22-cr-00062-JLT-SKO-4 Unpublished

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ALMA GARZA

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Alma Garza's conviction for drug conspiracy and possession, ruling that a less-than-three-day warrantless detention of a mailed package was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. The court held that investigators acted diligently and that an evidentiary hearing was unnecessary given the lack of specific factual allegations from the defense.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines

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Mar 6 2026

3rd Cir. 23-3184 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JEROME BROWN

The Third Circuit affirmed Jerome Brown's conviction and sentence, ruling that while the District Court improperly participated in plea negotiations, the error was harmless. Brown failed to demonstrate that the judicial interference violated his substantial rights or resulted in a heavier sentence than he would have otherwise accepted.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Guidelines

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Mar 6 2026

Fed. Cir. 24-2266 Panel Decision

JOHN DOE v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 2024-2266

The Federal Circuit affirmed the Merit Systems Protection Board's decision to sustain the removal of a DEA Special Agent for taking nude photographs of a minor on a government-issued phone. The court held that the agency was not required to prove criminal intent to sustain a charge of conduct unbecoming a federal law enforcement officer.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal

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Mar 5 2026

3rd Cir. 25-1242 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. QUAHEEM BETHEA

The Third Circuit affirmed Quaheem Bethea's 70-month sentence for felon-in-possession of a firearm, rejecting claims that the District Court failed to adequately consider his youth and impulse control. The court held that the sentencing judge's detailed discussion of Bethea's persistent criminal history satisfied the requirement to consider all relevant factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

Criminal Drug Trafficking Firearms

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Mar 5 2026

9th Cir. 4:22-cr-01545-RM-EJM-1 Unpublished

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. AARON THOMAS MITCHELL

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Aaron Thomas Mitchell's convictions for kidnapping a minor and deprivation of bodily rights under color of law. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying motions for mistrial or continuance, finding no prosecutorial misconduct or trial error prejudiced the defendant.

Criminal Other Criminal

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Mar 5 2026

7th Cir. 22-2838 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ATORIS JAQUEZ SLATER

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence after he failed to object to a revised sentencing guideline calculation that applied a higher drug conversion ratio to THC-infused edibles. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion to permit a late government objection to the presentence report and that the defendant waived his substantive argument regarding the conversion ratio by agreeing to the revised calculation.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Sentencing Guidelines

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