Topic
Every decision we've filed under Criminal.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Christopher Obaze for drug trafficking and tax fraud offenses. The court rejected Obaze's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and his assertion that his guilty plea was involuntary.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the Federal Public Defender's motion to withdraw from representing the defendant. The court dismissed the appeal after finding no nonfrivolous issues for review.
The Fifth Circuit vacated and remanded a district court order turning over bank accounts to the government to satisfy criminal restitution. The court found the district court violated due process by failing to notify the defendant's adult children who may have claims to the funds held in a custodial account.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a conviction for possessing a short-barreled rifle and receiving ammunition while under felony indictment. The court held that the district court properly struck closing arguments suggesting police return of firearms justified acquittal regardless of the defendant's knowledge.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a supervised release revocation sentence despite a district court error in considering retribution. The appellate court found the error did not affect the defendant's substantial rights given other valid reasons for the sentence.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a one hundred ninety month sentence for carjacking and firearm use. The court held the district court did not abuse its discretion in weighing mitigating factors against the defendant's violent history.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to suppress a firearm found during a traffic stop but vacated the defendant's sentence. The court held that the district court erred in applying the Armed Career Criminal Act enhancement because two of the four predicate convictions did not qualify as violent felonies.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal after appointed counsel filed a brief asserting no nonfrivolous issues existed. The court granted the motion to withdraw and excused counsel from further responsibilities.
The First Circuit vacated a defendant's enhanced sentence, ruling that his prior Massachusetts carjacking conviction did not qualify as a crime of violence under the federal sentencing guidelines.
The First Circuit affirmed the revocation of supervised release where the defendant received notice of the violations in the probation officer's motion, even though the motion did not explicitly list every specific instance of drug use.