×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Fifth Circuit: District Court Miscalculated Sentencing Guidelines Range by Implausibly Finding Defendant Would Use All Cash Proceeds of Drug Sales Seized to Purchase More Meth to Resell
by Douglas Ankney
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas erred in its drug quantity attribution by implausibly finding that Zaira Valenzuela Lujan would have used all of the $10,694 seized from her to purchase additional ...
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Criminal Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- Prosecutorial Extortion: Alleged Drug Dealer Agrees to $300,000 Seizure in Face of Charges Threatened Against Entire Family, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Vacates Sentence Because Government Failed to Meet Its Burden to Support Uncharged Drug Quantity Under Rule 32, by Douglas Ankney
- Drug Detection Dogs Are Unreliable and Reflect the Vicious Heritage of Their Slave-Hunting Dog and Police-Dog Predecessors, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Clarifies Prejudice Standard for IAC Based on Faulty Probation Eligibility Advice Is an Effect on Defendant’s Decision Making, Not Different Outcome, by Mark Wilson
- Everybody’s Guilty: To the Police State, We’re All Criminals Until We Prove Otherwise, by Nisha Whitehead, John W. Whitehead
- Colorado Supreme Court Announces ‘Reasonable Likelihood’ Framework for Determining Whether Trial Court’s Comments to Prospective Jurors Lowered Prosecution’s Burden of Proof, by Douglas Ankney
- Iowa Supreme Court: Warrantless Entry Into Home for Misdemeanor Arrest Violates Both U.S. and Iowa Constitutions and Requires Suppression of Evidence, by Mark Wilson
- Police Often Use ‘Cover Charges’ to Mask False Arrests and Police Brutality, by Casey Bastian
- Eighth Circuit: Government Breached Plea Agreement by Relying on Pre-Plea Conduct to Dispute Acceptance of Responsibility Despite Acknowledging Defendant Qualified for Credit in Agreement, by Richard Resch
- California Supreme Court Announces Uncharged Lesser Firearm Enhancement May Be Substituted Under § 12022.53, by Mark Wilson
- California Court of Appeal: Gang Enhancements Remanded for Retrial Under AB 333; Sameness Requirement Satisfied
- Maryland Court of Appeals: Kazadi Applies to Cases Where Issue Was Preserved at Trial but Appeal Not Yet Noted at Time Kazadi Decided, by Douglas Ankney
- Third Circuit Suppresses Evidence Found After Police Created Safety Concern to Justify Prolonging Traffic Stop, by Anthony Accurso
- Fifth Circuit: District Court Miscalculated Sentencing Guidelines Range by Implausibly Finding Defendant Would Use All Cash Proceeds of Drug Sales Seized to Purchase More Meth to Resell, by Douglas Ankney
- California Supreme Court Announces Conspiracy to Commit Home Invasion Robbery Not Subject to Enhancement to Indeterminate Life Sentence Under Penal Code § 186.22(b)(4), by Matthew Clarke
- Commentary: Exploring Implications of the Supreme Court’s Expansion of Second Amendment Rights, by Professor Douglas A. Berman
- Third Circuit: District Court’s Focus on Substance of Defendant’s Meritless Arguments in Denying Request to Represent Himself Resulted in Inadequate Inquiry Prior to Denial in Violation of Sixth Amendment, by Matthew Clarke
- Fourth Circuit: South Carolina Marijuana Law Not a Categorical Match to Federal Law for ACCA Sentencing, by David Reutter
- Hawai’i Supreme Court Holds Randomness and Violent Nature of Crime Alone Insufficient to Establish Exigent Circumstances for Warrantless Entry Into Suspect’s Home, by Anthony Accurso
- Tenth Circuit: Guilty Plea Not Knowing and Voluntary Because Sentencing Court Failed to Ask Follow Up Questions After Defendant Said He’s Off His Medication and ‘Mind Isn’t Right’, by David Reutter
- Sixth Circuit: COA Not Required to Appeal Order Denying Rule 4(a)(5) Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal, by Douglas Ankney
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies Ex Post Facto Analysis Focuses on When, Not Where, Crime Occurred and Does Not Require Showing of Disadvantage to Defendant, by Douglas Ankney
- The War in Ukraine Raises Awareness About Secure Communications During a Crisis, by Douglas Ankney
- Inflation Transforming Petty Offenses Into Felonies, by Douglas Ankney
- Ohio Justice Calls for Plea Bargaining Reform to End ‘Sentencing by Ambush’, by David Reutter
- Your Data Is For Sale and Anonymization Is Meaningless, by Anthony Accurso
- Michigan Supreme Court Announces Punishment for Second-Degree Murder and Involuntary Manslaughter When Based on Same Conduct Violates Prohibition Against Double Jeopardy, by Anthony Accurso
- NYPD Continues Its Longstanding Tradition of Thwarting Misconduct Investigations and Evading Accountability, by Douglas Ankney
- FBI’s ‘Rich Neighborhood’ Breach Practice, by Jayson Hawkins
- Nebraska Company Providing Digital Wiretaps of Messaging Platforms to Law Enforcement Agencies, by Anthony Accurso
- Quattrone Center Reveals Lack of Transparency Concerning Prosecutorial Misconduct Claims Report identifies over 7,000 instances of state attorney conduct that ‘did not comport’ with ethical, procedural, or legal rules, by Casey Bastian
- Chicago PD Emphasizing Facial Recognition for Investigations, by Anthony Accurso
- Illinois Limits Police Access to Data Stored by Third Parties, by Anthony Accurso
- Border Patrol Agents Track and Spy on U.S. Journalists and Unidentified Members of Congress, by Douglas Ankney
- ‘Freedom Commons Academy’ Provides Former Prisoners Housing and Structured Re-entry Services in Syracuse, by Casey Bastian
- Maine’s Law Enforcement Agencies, Like Those of Most States, Don’t Track Complaints Against Police Officers, by Douglas Ankney
- Prosecutor’s Sentencing Message to Defendant: Insist on Trial, Pay with Your Liberty, by David Reutter
- News in Brief
More from Douglas Ankney:
- California Court of Appeal Announces Crime Defendant ‘Was Convicted’ of, Not Crime ‘Could Have Been Convicted’ of Today, Governs Eligibility for Removal From Sex Offender Registry, Oct. 1, 2024
- Federal Judges Closing Loophole That Permits Government to Conduct Warrantless Searches of Cellphones at Border, Oct. 1, 2024
- Kansas Supreme Court Announces Complete and Wrongful Denial of Defendant’s Constitutional Right to Testify Constitutes ‘Structural Error’ and Reverses Convictions Where Defendant Removed From Stand and Entire Testimony Stricken, Oct. 1, 2024
- New Research Method Leads to Better Touch DNA Recovery and Development of Genetic Profiles, Oct. 1, 2024
- First Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity for Massachusetts Officials Who Held Prisoner in Solitary for Two Years Without Hearing, Sept. 15, 2024
- Former Warden Added to Suit Over Brutal Killing of Disabled Virginia Prisoner, Sept. 15, 2024
- Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Grants Credit to Prisoner’s LWOP Sentence, Sept. 15, 2024
- Regional Jail in Kentucky Settles DOJ Complaint, Agrees to Provide Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder, Sept. 15, 2024
- Nevada Supreme Court Holds That Violating Jail Phone Policy Does Not Waive Attorney-Client Privilege, Sept. 15, 2024
- Former D.C. Guard Gets 42-Month Sentence for Assaulting Handcuffed Prisoner, Sept. 15, 2024
More from these topics:
- Landmark Drug Possession Reform Based on Unproven Allegations Reversed in Oregon, June 15, 2024. Criminal justice system reform, War on Drugs, State Law Claims.
- Wife of “El Chapo” Released from U.S. Prison, Son Extradited, Dec. 1, 2023. War on Drugs.
- Prison Walls No Barrier to America’s Deadly Opioid Crisis, Nov. 15, 2023. War on Drugs, Drug Treatment/Rehab.
- Five Years After Limiting Personal Visits and Banning Mail, Drug Use Worse in Pennsylvania Prisons, Sept. 15, 2023. War on Drugs, Mail Regulations, Visiting.
- Roadside Drug Tests: Failed Technology From the Failed War on Drugs, Aug. 1, 2023. Drug Testing, War on Drugs.
- Ninth Circuit: Government’s Inflammatory Arguments in Sentencing Memorandum and at Sentencing Hearing Implicitly Breached Plea Agreement Promise Not to Recommend Sentence in Excess of Low-End Guidelines Range, June 15, 2023. War on Drugs, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Remands/Rehearings/Resentencings, Validity of.
- Maryland Cops Stop People Based on Smell of Pot Despite Being Legal in State, Lawmakers Pass Bill to End Abusive Practice, May 25, 2023. War on Drugs, Marijuana Laws/Issues, Profiling Evidence.
- Four Charged with Using Drones to Smuggle Drugs into California Prisons, May 9, 2023. Cell Searches, War on Drugs.
- Despite Official Claims, Stopping Mail to Missouri Prisoners Has No Effect on Drug Overdoses, April 1, 2023. Drug Overdose, War on Drugs, Mail Regulations, Sting Operations.
- Another Chapter in Cops’ False Narrative That Mere Contact With Fentanyl Is Deadly – Cleveland Police K-9 Given NARCAN After Fentanyl Exposure, March 30, 2023. War on Drugs, Safety Threat to Police.