Topic
Every decision we've filed under Drug Trafficking.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Denzil Stewart's motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. The court held that the evidence merely constituted cumulative impeachment of a cooperating witness and was insufficient to likely change the trial's outcome given the overwhelming proof of guilt.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed Kenric W. Young's conviction and 322-month sentence, finding no plain error in the district court's denial of his suppression motion or its career offender classification. The court held that the officer's reasonable suspicion to conduct a pat-down was supported by the totality of circumstances, including flight and a visible bulge, and that Young failed to prove a realistic probability that his prior state conviction would not qualify as a predicate offense.
The Third Circuit vacated a two-week sentence for a felon-in-possession of a firearm, ruling it procedurally and substantively unreasonable. The court held that the District Court failed to adequately address sentencing guidelines and the need for deterrence given the defendant's extensive drug violations during pretrial release.
The First Circuit affirmed a defendant's supervised release revocation sentence but vacated his new firearm conviction sentence due to a legally invalid sentencing rationale. The court ordered a resentencing before a different judge because the district court relied on non-record facts regarding ammunition type.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Jeffery Lewis's motions to withdraw his guilty plea, ruling that the district court did not plainly err in accepting it. The court held that Lewis was competent to plead guilty and fully understood the consequences, including the potential for a consecutive sentence based on methamphetamine involvement.
The Fifth Circuit reversed Elijah Martin's convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), holding the statute unconstitutional as applied to him because his predicate offenses were simple drug possession. The court found the government failed to demonstrate a sufficient historical tradition for disarming individuals based on non-violent drug possession under the Bruen test.
The Fourth Circuit vacated Joseph David Sirak's sentence because the written judgment contained a warrantless search condition that was materially broader than the condition announced orally at sentencing. This discrepancy violated the rule established in United States v. Rogers, requiring the case to be remanded for resentencing to align the final order with the court's oral pronouncement.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a drug trafficking conviction after finding no abuse of discretion in the district court's denial of a new trial motion. The court held that a juror's dishonesty during voir dire regarding a prior federal investigation did not violate the defendant's right to an impartial jury.
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.