Topic
Every decision we've filed under Criminal.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a fraud conviction and sentence for a defendant who orchestrated a prison-based phone scam targeting medical professionals. The court rejected challenges to sentencing enhancements for sophisticated means and the defendant's leadership role in the conspiracy.
The First Circuit reversed a district court dismissal of an indictment against an unlawfully present alien charged with firearm possession, holding that the statute aligns with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion to withdraw counsel and dismissed an appeal filed by Luis Edward Castro. The court found that the appointed attorney's Anders brief correctly identified no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a 120-month mandatory minimum sentence imposed on Philip Anthony Maheia for a drug offense. The court held that the district court correctly applied a two-level aggravating-role enhancement, which precluded Maheia from receiving safety-valve relief.
The First Circuit affirmed a conviction for illegal firearm possession by an alien unlawfully in the United States. The court held that the statute is consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation under the second step of the Bruen framework.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by appointed counsel to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a criminal sentence imposed after the defendant pled guilty to a tax offense. The court concluded the district court did not impose a substantively unreasonable sentence.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a conviction for producing child pornography, ruling that evidence of prior acts was properly admitted under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). The court held that videos of the defendant recording adult women were relevant to prove her identity and the absence of mistake in the charged offense.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by the Federal Public Defender to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's revocation of supervised release and imposition of a ten-month prison sentence. The panel found no significant procedural error and determined the sentence was not substantively unreasonable.