Nov 5 2025
11th Cir. 1:21-cr-20052-DPG-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ANTHONY BERNARD CARTER

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Anthony Carter's sex trafficking convictions, rejecting claims that a minor victim's statements to police were testimonial hearsay. The court also found that jury instruction errors regarding the indictment did not constitute plain error and that the evidence was sufficient to support the transportation charges.

May 6 2025
9th Cir. 2:04-cr-00173- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. RONALD BRUCE MYERS, AKA Rick LNU, AKA Rick Curtis

The Ninth Circuit held that the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act authorizes the government to seize funds accumulated gradually from multiple sources in an inmate's trust account. The court affirmed the district court's order turning over over $1,200 to satisfy unpaid restitution obligations.

Feb 13 2025
2nd Cir. 22-861 Panel Decision

United States v. Mangano

The Second Circuit reversed Edward Mangano's convictions for federal programs bribery, ruling the evidence insufficient to prove he was an agent of the Town of Oyster Bay. The court affirmed his convictions for honest services fraud and obstruction of justice, as well as his wife's convictions for those crimes and making false statements.

Feb 12 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1982 Panel Decision

United States v. Kelly

The Second Circuit affirmed R. Kelly's RICO and Mann Act convictions, rejecting challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence and the constitutionality of the underlying state laws. The court also upheld the district court's evidentiary rulings, jury selection process, and restitution orders, leaving the defendant subject to his original sentence and financial penalties.

Feb 12 2025
2nd Cir. 22-1481 Panel Decision

United States v. Kelly

The Second Circuit affirmed Robert Sylvester Kelly's RICO and Mann Act convictions, ruling that sufficient evidence supported each count and that the underlying state laws were constitutional as applied to him. The court rejected claims of juror bias, ineffective assistance during voir dire, and errors in evidentiary rulings and restitution orders.

Feb 10 2025
9th Cir. 3:19-cr-05000- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. LAMAR ALLEN THOMPSON

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a 28-year federal sentence for child pornography production, ruling that a prior Washington child molestation conviction triggers a statutory ten-year mandatory minimum enhancement. The court also rejected an unpreserved argument that the district court erred by declining to recommend concurrent service with anticipated state sentences.

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.

Oct 8 2024
2nd Cir. 23-251 Panel Decision

Giovinco v. Pullen

The Second Circuit held that prisoners with multiple concurrent sentences cannot earn First Step Act time credits for eligible counts once any single count involves an ineligible offense. The court ruled that the Bureau of Prisons must aggregate all concurrent sentences into a single term for administrative purposes, rendering the entire imprisonment ineligible.