Topic
Every decision we've filed under Sentencing Guidelines.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a felon-in-possession sentence but vacated part of the judgment due to a discrepancy between the oral pronouncement and written judgment. The court held that the realistic probability test remains applicable to state drug convictions despite recent Supreme Court rulings.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Gary Duane Cool's conviction for methamphetamine trafficking, finding no plain error in the district court's acceptance of his guilty plea. The court held that the magistrate judge fully complied with Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, ensuring the plea was knowing, voluntary, and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a prisoner's third motion for compassionate release. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding the defendant remained a danger to the community and that sentencing factors weighed against release.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed Corey Deandra Thomas's substantive sentence, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion by imposing an upward variance. The appellate court found the judge properly weighed all statutory sentencing factors through an individualized assessment of the offense and the defendant's history.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion for sentence reduction filed by a defendant convicted of armed bank robbery. The court held that the district court properly weighed sentencing factors and did not abuse its discretion in maintaining an upward variance based on the use of a weapon.
The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Aaron Lyons's habeas petition, ruling that his claim based on the Supreme Court's Rehaif decision was procedurally defaulted. The court held that the legal argument regarding knowledge of conviction status was reasonably available when Lyons pleaded guilty, and he failed to demonstrate actual innocence to excuse the default.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a forty-eight-month prison sentence for a defendant convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion by imposing an upward variance based on the defendant's defiance of federal court orders and his central role in a large-scale tax fraud scheme.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a fifty-four-year prison sentence for a defendant convicted of producing and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in weighing the need to protect the public over the defendant's history of abuse.
The Eleventh Circuit summarily affirmed a twenty-seven-month sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court held that prior Georgia methamphetamine convictions qualify as controlled substance offenses under the Sentencing Guidelines regardless of federal definitions.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a substantive sentence imposed on a defendant who pleaded guilty to a firearm offense. The court found the district court did not abuse its discretion by imposing a sentence above the Guidelines range based on an individualized assessment.