Topic
Every decision we've filed under Sentencing Guidelines.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the dismissal of ERISA claims alleging that pension plans used outdated mortality data to calculate benefits for married participants. The court held that the statutory requirement for actuarial equivalence prohibits the use of unreasonable, inapplicable actuarial assumptions that fail to reflect modern life expectancies.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the revocation of Terrell Williams's supervised release and his 30-month prison sentence after he committed fraud, faked drug tests, and drove with a suspended license. The court held that the district court properly considered Williams's breach of trust and the need for public protection when imposing the enhanced penalty.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the convictions and sentences of Dayton Peterson and John Lohden for kidnapping, robbery, and impersonating a federal officer. The court rejected challenges regarding the admission of text messages, the scope of the search, and the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the defendants' violent scheme.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the convictions and sentences of Dayton Peterson and John Lohden, Jr., for kidnapping, robbery, and impersonating an officer. The court rejected the defendants' challenges to the admission of text messages, the sufficiency of evidence, and the propriety of their joint trial.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 60-month prison sentence imposed on Damon Eugene Houston for violating conditions of supervised release in two prior federal cases. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion by ordering consecutive sentences and by properly weighing the mitigating evidence presented by the defendant.
The Third Circuit affirmed a 219-month prison sentence for federal carjacking and firearm charges, rejecting the appellant's challenges based on a binding appellate waiver. The court held that while an ineffective assistance of counsel claim was not barred by the waiver, it could not be adjudicated on direct appeal and must be pursued in a collateral proceeding.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed Elijah Chappell's conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, rejecting five challenges to his trial and sentence. The court found no error in the admission of 911 calls and body-camera footage, the sufficiency of the evidence, or the application of sentencing enhancements.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's motion for compassionate release, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion. The appellate court held that even if extraordinary and compelling reasons existed, the district court properly weighed the seriousness of the offenses against public safety concerns.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a federal sentence, holding that Louisiana's armed robbery statute qualifies as a crime of violence under the Sentencing Guidelines. The court rejected the argument that the state law allows for reckless conduct, finding that the statutory elements inherently require the intentional use of force.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a mandatory minimum sentence for a drug conspirator, ruling that joint occupancy of a residence where a firearm was found constitutes constructive possession. This finding rendered the defendant ineligible for the statutory safety valve that would have otherwise allowed the court to disregard the mandatory minimum.