In this criminal appeal, Defendant Margarito Chavez-Suarez challenges the substantive reasonableness of his sentence. Defendant pled guilty to illegally reentering the country following deportation after a conviction for a drugtrafficking offense. This drug-trafficking offense—a 1997 state court c...   MORE>>

Ronald Smith murdered two men, pled guilty to the crimes, requested capital punishment, and was sentenced to death. Shortly thereafter, Smith changed his mind and requested resentencing. He was resentenced to death in 1984. Since then, Smith has challenged his death sentences in various fora, includ...   MORE>>

John Bolden and Zechariah Benjamin were found guilty on multiple counts by a jury for their role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The district court sentenced Bolden and Benjamin each to life imprisonment. Bolden and Benjamin appeal their convictions...   MORE>>

Ever David Granados appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. He contends the district court should have suppressed physical evidence found in warrantless searches of a hotel room and vehicle, statements ...   MORE>>

After a jury trial in which Burl Washington represented himself, he was convicted of two counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in the death of another person (“Count I and II”), see 21 U.S.C. § 841(a), (b)(1)(C), and two counts of distribution of a controlled substance (“...   MORE>>

This case arises out of an investigation into the distribution of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) and other illegal drugs in Kansas City, Missouri. A fourth superseding indictment charged twenty-eight defendants with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of ecstasy and other drugs. Twent...   MORE>>

Defendant-Appellant Ernie Bradford Scroggins appeals his conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon, arguing that the government obtained evidence necessary to his conviction in violation of the Fourth Amendment and that his conviction is unconstitutional in light of the Second Amendment. We ...   MORE>>

Appellant Dario Mendoza-Mendoza, a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty to one count of illegal entry into the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Mendoza argued that a Guidelines sentence was excessive in light of various facts peculiar to his case. The district court, ...   MORE>>

After two conspirators pleaded guilty, a jury convicted Armando Rodela-Aguilar (Rodela), Joel Castro-Gaxiola (Castro), and Reyes Martinez-Ruiz (Martinez) of conspiring to distribute, and aiding/abetting possession with intent to distribute, methamphetamine. We affirmed, rejecting claims of insuffici...   MORE>>

Michael Carlos Cooper Wiest was indicted for three bank robberies under 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), and three related counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(a). Wiest pled not guilty, and moved to suppress some evidence. His motion to...   MORE>>