This month, the government is asking for a pair of 10-year prison sentences for two Gree USA Inc. executives convicted of failing to report defective humidifiers. This comes after the two were found guilty of conspiracy to...more
Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco recently sparked debate by stating, “Like a firearm, AI can enhance the danger of a crime.” And just as prosecutors can seek enhanced sentences for offenses involving firearms, the...more
In what may come as a surprise to many, lawmakers across the political spectrum actually agree on at least one thing: the practice of sentencing federal defendants based on acquitted conduct has gone on long enough. Last...more
Key Takeaways - ..The Third Circuit recently decided that the loss enhancement to the fraud guideline in the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines applies only to “actual loss” and not to “intended loss.” ..While the primary...more
United States v. Yusuf (April 2, 2021), No. 19-3472 Unanimous decision: Jordan (writing), McKee, and Smith Concurrence: McKee Defendants pleaded guilty to their respective crimes and stipulated that they would not argue, at...more
Precedential Opinions of Note - False Claims Act’s First-to-File Bar Permits Amended Complaint Adding New Relator - In re Plavix Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (No. II) (September 1, 2020), No....more
Precedential Opinions of Note - Evidence from Outside Limitations Period Permissible to Prove Ongoing Scheme to Defraud - United States v. James (April 3, 2020), No. 19-1250...more
This morning, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in the following cases: California v. Texas, No. 19-840; Texas v. California, No. 19-1019: A petition for a writ of certiorari and conditional...more
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued the following three opinions: Intel Corp. Investment Policy Comm. v. Sulyma, No. 18-1116: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) demands that...more
In United States v. Moran, the Second Circuit (Calabresi, Cabranes, Chin) affirmed the sentence of Lamont Moran, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin. ...more
On September 3, 2019, a divided panel issued a decision in United States v. Wallace (Winter, Pooler, Abrams, by designation) affirming the district court’s denial of Wallace’s suppression motion as well as Wallace’s 15-year...more
In United States v. Barrett, No. 14-2541 (2d Cir. Aug. 30, 2019) (Winter, Raggi, Droney), the Second Circuit vacated a defendant’s conviction for using a firearm in connection with a “crime of violence” under 18 U.S.C. §...more
In United States v. Ryan, 17-3919-cr (Jacobs, Lohier, Carney), the Second Circuit affirmed a four-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) for using a firearm in connection with another felony offense. Appellant...more
The Second Circuit (Walker, Cabranes, Sack) issued a per curiam decision in United States v. Bleau, 18-cr-1574 affirming a sentence based on a conviction for receiving and possessing child pornography, but remanding for...more
The Second Circuit (Leval, Lynch, Droney) issued a decision reversing a mandatory life sentence, finding plain error because the district court failed to apply the categorical approach when considering whether the...more
There is a popular vintage Harley Davidson t-shirt that says “Tough Guys Finish First.” That may be true. But, sometimes, to finish first, one does not need more tough guys; one needs more lawyers, as a crime-related matter...more
The Second Circuit has once again confronted the issue of what is a “controlled substance” for purposes of sentencing enhancements under the Guidelines. ...more
On December 10, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States decided United States v. Stitt, No. 17-765, holding that the federal statutory term “burglary,” as used in the Armed Career Criminal Act, includes burglary...more
With the medical marijuana licensing process now underway in Oklahoma, it might be well to consider some of the effects that holding a patient or commercial license have on an individual’s ability to exercise the right to...more
Most individuals convicted of federal money laundering charges face prison time. These prison sentences are often increased by the judge’s determination that certain sentencing enhancements unique to this crime apply. ...more
In a summary order issued on July 11, 2017, United States v. Burghardt, No. 16-949(L) (Katzmann, Pooler, Lynch), the Second Circuit remanded a 322-month Guidelines sentence for distribution and receipt of child pornography...more
For the third time in the past year, the Second Circuit in United States v. Jenkins, No. 14-4295 (Kearse, Jacobs, Parker), has vacated as substantively unreasonable a sentence imposed under the sentencing guideline for child...more
The Supreme Court of the United States issued decisions in three cases yesterday: Rippo v. Baker, No. 16-6316: Petitioner Michael Damon Rippo moved to disqualify the Nevada state judge who presided over his criminal...more
In a summary order issued yesterday in United States v. Munteanu, No. 16-1254, the Second Circuit (Winter, Cabranes, Lynch) reiterated that a district court must make findings of fact before imposing an obstruction of justice...more
In United States v. Huggins,15-1676, the Second Circuit (Winter, Cabranes, and Restani, sitting by designation) limited the scope of two Guidelines enhancements often applicable to white-collar crimes: (1) U.S.S.G....more