Topic
Every decision we've filed under Criminal.
The Tenth Circuit reversed the conviction of Thomas Edward Petro due to prosecutorial misconduct during closing arguments that improperly suggested the presumption of innocence had been eliminated before jury deliberations.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed in part and dismissed in part the appeal of Nikonda Taye Ingram, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The court enforced Ingram's valid appeal waiver and found no meritorious grounds for appeal under Anders v. California.
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.
The Fifth Circuit granted an appointed attorney's motion to withdraw from representing a criminal defendant after reviewing the record and finding no non-frivolous issues for appeal. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal and excused counsel from further responsibilities.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a 324-month sentence for drug trafficking, ruling that defense counsel's explicit agreement with the Presentence Report's drug quantity constituted a deliberate waiver of any challenge to those facts. The court held that strategic choices made during sentencing cannot be undone on appeal simply because they later appear unwise.
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 Fourth Circuit affirmed in part and dismissed in part the appeal of a defendant convicted of Hobbs Act robbery and firearm offenses. The court held that the defendant's appellate waiver was valid and enforceable, barring review of the sentence, while finding no plain error in the acceptance of his guilty plea.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's 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 public despite his chronic kidney disease.
The Eleventh Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw from representation after an independent review found no arguable issues for appeal. The court affirmed the defendant's convictions and sentences, concluding the record revealed a complete lack of merit in his challenges.
The Fifth Circuit granted the Federal Public Defender's motion to withdraw from representing Willie Ray Valentine, finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review. The court dismissed the appeal pursuant to Fifth Circuit Rule 42.2 after a thorough examination of the record.