Topic

Sentencing Guidelines

Every decision we've filed under Sentencing Guidelines.

Related topics

Civil 3399 Criminal 1956 Summary Judgment 806 Civil Rights - Section 1983 647 Immigration (Civil) 646 Constitutional 536 Supervised Release 473 Drug Trafficking 443 Civil Rights - Employment 367 Firearms 319 Qualified Immunity 251 Anders Brief 242
Dec 19 2025
1st Cir. 24-1541 Panel Decision

United States v. Robertson

The First Circuit affirmed the convictions of two Massachusetts State Police officers for defrauding federal highway safety grants but vacated a forfeiture order against one defendant. The court held that the government failed to prove which portion of the financial aid received by the defendant was directly traceable to the fraud rather than what he would have received anyway.

Criminal Forfeiture / Penalty Fraud Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Dec 3 2025
11th Cir. 24-10001 Published

Cecil Dante Buckner v. United States of America

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Cecil Buckner's § 2255 motion alleging ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to object to his career-offender classification. The court held that Buckner failed to show prejudice because his actual sentence was below the guideline range he would have received without the classification.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sentencing Guidelines Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Read summary →
Nov 14 2025
1st Cir. 22-1735 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CARLOS MALDONADO-VARGAS

The First Circuit affirmed Carlos Maldonado-Vargas's securities fraud conviction and sentence, rejecting claims that bank record summaries were inadmissible and that the evidence was insufficient to prove a Ponzi scheme. The court also upheld the restitution order, ruling that the district court could calculate losses and identify victims based on a broader scheme than those explicitly named in the indictment.

Criminal Fraud Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Oct 17 2025
11th Cir. 1:22-cr-20137-JEM-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EDUARDO ULISES MARTINEZ

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Eduardo Martinez's convictions for smuggling ivory and obstructing justice, rejecting arguments that antique exceptions excused his failure to declare the goods. The court upheld a 51-month sentence, ruling that an art dealer's own listing prices provided a reliable basis for valuing unsold ivory statues under the Sentencing Guidelines.

Criminal Environmental & Wildlife Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Jun 24 2025
9th Cir. 23-55617 Published

HECTOR MANUEL CERVANTES- TORRES v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a writ of error coram nobis for a petitioner convicted of possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully present. The court held that the failure to give a Rehaif instruction was not fundamental error because the evidence of the petitioner's knowledge of his status was overwhelming.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Feb 20 2025
9th Cir. 6:23-cr-00001- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BRANDON WADE KURNS

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Brandon Wade Kurns's conviction and sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The panel held that photographic evidence and ATF transfer forms sufficiently proved the enhancements applied, and that the district court did not violate the Fifth Amendment by suggesting Kurns could testify to rebut the government's case.

Criminal Firearms Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Jan 3 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1799 Panel Decision

United States v. Cuomo

The Second Circuit affirmed Guy Cuomo's convictions for computer fraud and identity theft, ruling that impersonating debtors to access state unemployment databases constituted unauthorized access under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The court also upheld his 45-month sentence, rejecting challenges to the evidence sufficiency and sentencing enhancements.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Nov 26 2024
2nd Cir. 22-639 Per Curiam

United States v. Davis

The Second Circuit affirmed Andrew Davis's conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering, ruling that circumstantial evidence sufficiently linked his girlfriend's cash deposits to his drug trafficking proceeds. The court also rejected ten pro se arguments regarding ineffective assistance, double jeopardy, and sentencing enhancements as meritless, forfeited, or premature.

Constitutional Fifth Amendment - Double Jeopardy Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241)
Read summary →
Oct 30 2024
2nd Cir. 23-612 Panel Decision

Ferreira v. Aviles-Ramos

The Second Circuit held that district courts must independently evaluate equitable factors in IDEA reimbursement cases rather than deferring to state administrative agencies. Although the court found the district court initially erred by deferring to the IHO and SRO, it affirmed the judgment because the lower court ultimately conducted its own independent balancing of equities.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
Read summary →
Oct 28 2024
9th Cir. 2:17-cr-00055- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DILESH SHARMA

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a federal sentence for child pornography offenses, rejecting a facial due process challenge to two Congressionally directed sentencing enhancements. The court held that enhancements for computer usage and image quantity remain rationally related to legitimate government interests despite changes in technology.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release
Read summary →