Topic
Every decision we've filed under Sentencing Guidelines.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a thirty-year sentence imposed on a defendant convicted of child pornography offenses. The panel rejected arguments that the sentence was substantively unreasonable due to the consideration of pending state charges and the defendant's age and health.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the sentence of a drug trafficker who argued for a reduced sentencing range. The court held that the district court properly applied the preponderance of the evidence standard and correctly denied a zero-point-offender reduction.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed an eighty-four-month sentence for a defendant who assaulted two crew members on a commercial fishing vessel while under the influence of methamphetamine. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance due to the egregious nature of the conduct.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a within-Guidelines sentence for a felon who possessed a firearm with a large capacity magazine without knowing its specific features. The court held that the sentencing enhancement applies regardless of the defendant's knowledge of the magazine's capacity.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the imposition of restitution on resentencing but vacated and remanded the specific amount for further proceedings.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed an above-guidelines sentence for illegal reentry, rejecting the defendant's claim that the district court relied on an unreliable police report. The court held that the district court properly used the report for undisputed facts and provided sufficient reasoning for the upward variance.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a within-Guidelines sentence imposed on a defendant who pleaded guilty to drug-distribution and firearm offenses. The court found no substantive unreasonableness in the sentence and granted counsel leave to withdraw under Anders v. California.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court order denying a motion for compassionate release. The panel concluded the defendant failed to prove he was the only available caregiver for his ailing mother and that his criminal history posed a risk to society.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to revoke supervised release and impose consecutive sentences for a defendant who absconded from a halfway house. The court held that the district court did not plainly err by considering the seriousness of the violation conduct as a breach of trust, even though it used language referencing punitive goals.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a motion for early termination of supervised release. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion despite the defendant's stable employment and housing.