United States v. Kerr, No. 11-5462-cr(L) (2d Cir. May 16, 2014) (Kearse, Parker, and Hall), available here After being charged with possessing MDMA with intent to distribute, Kerr ceased communicating with  — and then fired — his two appointed attorneys, insisted on pressing several “ill-advised theories of defense,” and underwent a competency examination that ultimately … Read more

United States v. Lockhart, No. 13-0602-cr (2d Cir. May 15, 2014) (Katzmann, Straub, and Lohier), available here This appeal required the Court to decide the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(b)(2), which mandates a ten-year minimum term of imprisonment for a defendant who possesses child pornography and was previously convicted “under the laws of any State relating to aggravated … Read more

United States v. Gill, No. 12-2207-cr (2d Cir. May 7, 2014) (Katzmann, Winter, and Calabresi), available here Section 1326(a) of title 8, U.S.C, makes it a felony for an alien who was previously deported from the United States to reenter this country without the consent of the Attorney General to reapply for admission. But, assuming certain procedural requirements are … Read more

United States v. Yousef, No 12-4822-cr (2d Cir. Apr. 29, 2014) (Sack, Lynch, and Lohier), available here Jamal Yousef pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization (18 U.S.C. 2339B). Judge Keenan sentenced him to 12 years in prison. On appeal, Yousef argued, as he had before pleading … Read more

United States v. Corbett, No. 11-3678-cr (2d Cir. Apr. 29, 2014) (Katzmann, Winter, and Calabresi), available here What evidence is sufficient under the Lindbergh Law, 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a), to convict a defendant of “holding” a victim against the victim’s will? The circuits disagree. The Fourth and Eleventh Circuits, for example, say that a defendant who … Read more

United States v. Griffiths, No. 13-2102-cr (2d Cir. Apr. 25, 2014) (Cabranes, Lynch, and Lohier) (per curiam), available here Griffiths was tried before a jury on charges of making false statements, obstructing justice, and committing mail fraud. At the close of the evidence, his attorney suffered two strokes. The district court, instead of postponing trial indefinitely … Read more

United States v. Allen, No. 13-0296-cr (2d Cir. Apr. 16, 2014) (Pooler, Parker, and Wesley), available here Allen pled guilty to transporting, receiving, and possessing child pornography. At sentencing, the district court ruled that Allen’s prior New York State conviction for Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, N.Y. Penal Law 130.60(2), subjected him to increased penalties … Read more

United States v. Crandall, No. 12-3313-cr (2d Cir. Apr. 10, 2014) (Walker, Cabranes, and Parker), available here This summary was provided by noted criminal defense attorney Francisco Celedonio, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.: Crandall was convicted after a jury trial of being a felon … Read more

United States v. Miles, No. 13-1158-cr (2d Cir. Apr. 10, 2014) (Wesley, Carney, and Rakoff) (per curiam), available here This summary was prepared by noted criminal defense attorney Francisco Celedonio, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.: Defendant Miles appealed his conviction and sentence as a … Read more

Here’s a quick summary of noteworthy summary orders recently issued by the Circuit: United States v. Davis, No. 12-4836-cr (2d Cir. Apr. 2, 2014) (Katzmann, Livingston, and Carter) (summary order), available here The Circuit rejected Davis’s argument that the district court improperly sentenced him as a “career offender.” The district court, using the “modified categorical approach” … Read more