Feb 19 2026
1st Cir. 24-1774 Panel Decision

SEC v. Gasarch

The First Circuit affirmed a district court's judgment against five defendants who participated in a decade-long pump-and-dump scheme involving penny stocks and concealed ownership. The court upheld the SEC's civil enforcement action, finding the defendants liable for ill-gotten gains and imposing disgorgement and civil penalties, while vacating one specific injunction for lack of clarity.

Feb 19 2026
1st Cir. 24-1771 Panel Decision

SEC v. Gasarch

The First Circuit affirmed a district court's judgment against five defendants who participated in a decade-long pump-and-dump scheme involving penny stocks and misleading promoters. The court upheld the SEC's civil enforcement action and the imposition of disgorgement liabilities for ill-gotten gains, while vacating one specific injunction against appellant Sexton for failing to describe the prohibited conduct with sufficient clarity.

Feb 19 2026
11th Cir. 1:22-cr-20557-BB-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JAVIER HERNANDEZ

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Javier Hernandez's convictions for migrant smuggling, transporting stolen vessels, and money laundering. The court held that the government's extraction of cell phone data after a warrant's expiration date was lawful under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41 and that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's verdict.

Feb 10 2026
11th Cir. 1:22-cr-00060-MLB-RGV-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MALACHI MULLINGS

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Malachi Mullings's motion to withdraw his guilty plea, rejecting his claim that his attorney coerced him into pleading. The court also upheld his 120-month sentence, finding no procedural or substantive unreasonableness in the district court's application of sentencing enhancements.