Topic
Every decision we've filed under Criminal.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed Adam Power's conviction and sixty-year sentence for thirty-four counts of child pornography offenses. The court rejected claims that the district court lacked a factual basis for the pleas and found the sentence substantively reasonable given the heinous nature of the crimes.
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 Fifth Circuit affirmed the defendant's life sentence for drug trafficking and murder-for-hire, ruling that evidence of prior drug dealings was intrinsic to the charged conspiracy. The court further held that the district court did not commit plain error by omitting a jury instruction on the overt act element of the murder-for-hire conspiracy.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the revocation of Calvin Easley's supervised release, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding he violated a mandatory condition by assaulting a pregnant person. The court concluded that viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable trier of fact could find it more likely than not that Easley committed the assault under Texas law.
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 Eighth Circuit affirmed Oscar Navarro-Zepeda's conviction and 204-month sentence for drug trafficking and firearm possession. The court held that the defendant's waiver of Federal Rule of Evidence 410 allowed the government to use plea stipulations against him after he contradicted them during the change-of-plea hearing.
The Fifth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of an indictment charging a Roblox user with transmitting threats in interstate commerce. The appellate court held that determining whether online statements constitute unprotected true threats requires a trial to resolve disputed factual questions about context and intent.
The Federal Circuit summarily affirmed the dismissal of a pro se appeal challenging the United States Treasury's handling of a $36 million check. The court held that the Tucker Act does not grant jurisdiction over tort claims or most constitutional allegations, and found the appellant's arguments implausible and frivolous.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction and 144-month sentence of Andrew Golobic, an ICE agent who used his authority to coerce sexual encounters with immigrants under his supervision. The court rejected all challenges regarding jury management, multiplicity of charges, and sentencing enhancements, clarifying that obstruction enhancements apply to pre-investigation conduct.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction and 144-month sentence of Andrew Golobic, an ICE agent who coerced sexual acts from immigrants under his supervision and obstructed the subsequent investigation. The court rejected arguments regarding juror excusal, multiplicity of charges, and sentencing enhancements, clarifying that the obstruction enhancement applies to pre-investigation conduct.