Topic
Every decision we've filed under Drug Trafficking.
The Fourth Circuit vacated a defendant's sentence due to a material discrepancy between the court's oral pronouncement and the written judgment regarding a supervised release condition. The court held that the written judgment impermissibly broadened the scope of a warrantless search condition not announced at sentencing.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a conviction where a juror concealed a past federal investigation into his role in a local corruption scheme. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding the juror impartial despite his dishonesty during voir dire.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to suppress evidence found in a backpack, holding that the defendant abandoned the property during flight from law enforcement. The court ruled that the district court did not clearly err in finding abandonment based on the defendant's failed attempt to store the bag in a residence and subsequent flight, rendering the warrantless search valid.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the revocation of supervised release and a 12-month sentence, ruling that the district court did not clearly err in finding drug use and new law violations based on witness testimony. The court further held that the sentence was substantively reasonable given the defendant's refusal to take responsibility for his actions.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a drug trafficking conviction after determining that the defendant's appeal raised no non-frivolous issues. The panel upheld the district court's denial of a motion to suppress, finding the traffic stop was justified by observed violations and the dog sniff did not unlawfully extend the detention.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to dismiss an indictment against a defendant charged with unlawful firearm possession as a controlled substance user. The court held that the defendant's Second Amendment challenge is foreclosed by binding circuit precedent.
The First Circuit affirmed Michael Mao's 121-month sentence, rejecting his challenge that his prior Virginia firearm-robbery conviction did not constitute a crime of violence. The court also held that his argument regarding conspiracy as a controlled substance offense is foreclosed by binding circuit precedent.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Gary Duane Cool's conviction for methamphetamine trafficking, finding no plain error in the district court's acceptance of his guilty plea. The court held that the magistrate judge fully complied with Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, ensuring the plea was knowing, voluntary, and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Gary Duane Cool. The court found no plain error in the district court's acceptance of Cool's guilty plea to drug trafficking charges.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed an 18-month supervised release revocation sentence, applying a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard to the district court's decision. The court held that the sentence was procedurally and substantively reasonable given the defendant's repeated violations and the district court's adequate explanation of its reasoning.