Topic
Every decision we've filed under Criminal.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed an above-guidelines sentence for a defendant convicted of conspiring to illegally purchase and transfer a firearm. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting the standard sentencing guideline for straw purchasers due to the unique and violent consequences of the defendant's actions.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed Michael Anthony Rangel's conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting his Second Amendment challenge. The court held that binding precedent remains unchanged following recent Supreme Court decisions, meaning the statute's constitutionality stands.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment revoking Cecil Edward Jackson's supervised release and imposing a time-served sentence followed by one year of supervision. The court held that the revocation was supported by Jackson's voluntary admission and the sentence was procedurally and substantively reasonable under applicable law.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Michael Anthony Rangel for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court held that existing precedent upholding the constitutionality of the federal statute remains binding despite recent Supreme Court guidance.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion by the Federal Public Defender to withdraw from representing Willie Ray Valentine. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for appellate review.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a thirty-two hundred and twenty-four month sentence for drug trafficking and reentry offenses. The court held that the defendant waived any challenge to the drug quantity finding by accepting the corresponding sentencing guideline level.
The Tenth Circuit reversed Thomas Petro's conviction because the prosecutor's closing argument improperly declared that the defendant's presumption of innocence had been removed before deliberations began. The court held that these remarks, combined with the presentation of a nude photo, unfairly shifted the burden of proof and prejudiced the jury's impartiality.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Tony Nico Clark's conviction while dismissing his sentencing appeal based on a valid appellate waiver. The court found no plain error in the district court's acceptance of Clark's guilty plea, upholding the sentence as a lawful downward variance.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence for drug trafficking offenses involving firearms and a premises used for distribution. The court held that the district court did not plainly err in applying sentencing enhancements for possessing a firearm and maintaining a premises for drug distribution.
The Fifth Circuit granted a motion to withdraw filed by appointed counsel who argued the appeal presented no non-frivolous issues. The court dismissed the appeal after reviewing the Anders brief and finding no meritorious grounds for review.