Topic
Every decision we've filed under Drug Trafficking.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed Timothy Peoples' cocaine trafficking conviction, ruling that any error in excluding evidence of a police officer's misconduct was harmless given the overwhelming evidence of guilt. The court further held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury that the evidence was legally obtained.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Glen Ray Dowell while dismissing his constitutional challenge to his firearm offense. The court found Dowell's plea was voluntary and his appeal waiver valid, precluding review of the Second Amendment claim.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion for sentence reduction after determining the appeal raised no non-frivolous issues. The court granted counsel's motion to withdraw under Anders v. California, leaving the original 96-month sentence in effect.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a 10-month prison sentence imposed after the revocation of Edward Terrell Glaze's supervised release for multiple drug violations. The court found the district court's sentence procedurally and substantively reasonable, noting the mandatory nature of revocation under federal statute.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a 162-month prison sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting arguments regarding sentencing enhancements. Because the defendant failed to preserve his objections in the district court, the appellate court reviewed the case only for plain error and found no clear mistake.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Barry Morphew's civil rights lawsuit, ruling that he failed to plausibly allege a lack of probable cause for his arrest and prosecution. The court held that the arrest affidavit contained sufficient evidence of motive, means, and opportunity to support the murder charges, regardless of the alleged misconduct by investigators.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed Octavio Jimenez-Marquez's conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, finding the evidence sufficient under established factors. The court also rejected a constitutional vagueness challenge, clarifying that the 'in furtherance of' standard provides fair notice to defendants.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Tyreic Brewer's convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting his Second Amendment challenge under binding precedent. The court also upheld the 60-month sentence, finding it reasonable given Brewer's repeated offenses and history of obstructing justice.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed Tony Wilkinson's conviction for felon in possession of a firearm, ruling that his extensive criminal history establishes he is dangerous under the Second Amendment. The court held that no remand was necessary because the record evidence indisputably showed Wilkinson posed a threat to the community.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a compassionate release motion, ruling that a defendant's extensive criminal history and the need for public safety outweighed his rehabilitation efforts. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it found the statutory sentencing factors favored maintaining the original sentence.