Topic
Every decision we've filed under Drug Trafficking.
The Sixth Circuit vacated the district court's denial of early termination of supervised release, ruling that a rigid fifty-percent completion rule constitutes an abuse of discretion. The court held that 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(1) requires an individualized assessment of statutory factors rather than a mechanical time threshold.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed Christian Cole's 240-month prison sentence, rejecting his challenges to a sentencing enhancement and the reasonableness of the term. The court held that the district court properly applied the firearm enhancement and that the downward variance was justified by Cole's specific circumstances.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed Michael Williams's within-Guidelines sentence for violating his supervised release, rejecting his claim that the district court impermissibly relied on retributive factors. The court held that the district court properly considered the breach of trust and the need for deterrence when imposing consecutive sentences for the new offense and the revocation.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of a defendant who sought to withdraw his guilty plea on direct appeal. The court held that the defendant failed to demonstrate his plea was involuntary or unintelligent despite his complaints about time pressure and counsel.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Antonio Bell's 165-month sentence, ruling that the district court correctly applied a four-level sentencing enhancement for possessing a firearm in connection with methamphetamine distribution. The court further held that the sentence was substantively reasonable because the district court properly weighed the statutory factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
The Eleventh Circuit summarily affirmed Tavio McNeary's conviction for felon-in-possession, rejecting his challenge to the sentencing enhancement based on a prior marijuana conviction. The court held that binding precedent requires applying state law to define a controlled substance offense, even when the substance is no longer controlled under federal law.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Leoncio Perez's motion for compassionate release, ruling that his advanced age and medical conditions did not constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons for sentence reduction. The court held that the district court properly weighed the sentencing factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and found Perez's history and the nature of his offenses precluded leniency.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Christopher Stanton Jr.'s convictions for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and as a convicted felon. The court rejected Stanton's novel Second Amendment challenge, ruling that binding precedent forecloses the argument regarding felon possession while the drug trafficking enhancement argument failed to meet the plain error standard.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's motion for sentence reduction, ruling that time served and rehabilitation efforts do not constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons. The court granted the government's motion for summary affirmance, noting the appeal was frivolous given the defendant's prior unsuccessful attempts to raise these same claims.
The Eleventh Circuit granted the government's motion for summary affirmance, rejecting challenges to the defendants' convictions under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. The court held that the United States properly exercised jurisdiction over a vessel without nationality in international waters, even when located within another nation's exclusive economic zone.