Topic
Every decision we've filed under Drug Trafficking.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to impose consecutive sentences for drug distribution, money laundering, and a supervised release violation. The court held that the district court did not plainly err in considering the seriousness of the violation conduct or in explaining its rationale for running the terms consecutively.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment, rejecting Demetrius Catching's appeal regarding his sentences for new federal drug distribution and money laundering offenses committed while on supervised release. The court found no error in the imposition of consecutive within-Guidelines sentences totaling 93 months for the new crimes and 55 months for the supervised release violation.
The Tenth Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw and dismissed the appeal after a plenary review found the defendant's claims wholly frivolous. The court determined that the defendant's admission of drug use and his request for a specific sentence left no nonfrivolous basis for challenging the supervised release revocation.
The Third Circuit affirmed Deon Blair's criminal sentence, rejecting his pro se arguments regarding ineffective assistance of counsel, jury trial waiver, and sufficiency of evidence. The court held that Blair knowingly waived his constitutional rights and that the evidence sufficiently supported his conviction for fentanyl distribution resulting in death.
The First Circuit affirmed a 144-month sentence for a defendant convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and marijuana distribution. The court held that the district court properly weighed sentencing factors without needing to explicitly address every mitigating fact or explain why recommended sentences were rejected.
The Eleventh Circuit vacated Jimmy Ray Lightsey's sentence, holding that his prior conviction for attempted armed robbery under Florida law does not qualify as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The court determined that the elements of Florida's attempt statute do not always require proof of the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of David Taylor's motion for compassionate release, ruling that he failed to prove his medical care was inadequate or that his family circumstances constituted an extraordinary and compelling reason. The court also clarified that rehabilitation efforts alone cannot serve as the basis for early release under the federal statute.
The Fourth Circuit vacated the sentence of a defendant convicted of drug trafficking and firearm possession due to a 'Rogers error' involving ambiguous supervised release conditions. The court held that the district court failed to clearly incorporate the correct standing order, creating a material discrepancy between the oral pronouncement and the written judgment.
The Seventh Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw under Anders v. California, dismissing the appeal as frivolous. The court held that the defendant's broad plea agreement waiver barred his challenges and that no non-frivolous issues remained for review.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Monisha Rhodes's motion for compassionate release, ruling that statutory sentencing factors weighed against relief despite her caregiving circumstances. The court held that the district court properly considered her extensive criminal history and the need to protect the public from further crimes.