Verdict . News

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Affirms Sexual Abuse Sentence Enhancement

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a sentence enhancement for Leo Steban Chumwalooky, who pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. The appellate court upheld the district court's finding that Chumwalooky had supervisory control over the victim.

•Leo Steban Chumwalooky pled guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country under federal jurisdiction

•District court applied sentence enhancement for supervisory control over victim under U.S.S.G. § 2A3.2(b)(1)

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Vacates Sentence in $2M Credit Card Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated the sentence of Abdoulaye Barry, who was convicted in a sophisticated credit card fraud scheme that netted over $2 million in cigarette purchases from Sam's Club. The appeals court ruled that the district court erred by holding Barry accountable for the full amount charged by all co-conspirators without first determining his individual responsibility.

•Eleventh Circuit vacated Barry's sentence for legal error in accountability determination

•Fraud scheme used stolen credit cards and shared Sam's Club memberships to buy $2M in cigarettes

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds Maritime Drug Trafficking Conviction

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of Ronald Mijail Arregoces Barros for conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine aboard a vessel under U.S. jurisdiction. The January 7, 2026 ruling upholds the Southern District of Florida's original conviction in this high-seas drug trafficking case.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed conviction for conspiracy to possess 5+ kilograms of cocaine on vessel under U.S. jurisdiction

•Defendant challenged government authority under Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act in foreign Exclusive Economic Zones

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Gun Conviction, Rejects 2nd Amendment Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed Dijuan Taylor's federal firearms conviction, rejecting his constitutional challenge to the federal gun possession statute. Taylor had argued that 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) violated his Second Amendment rights both facially and as applied to his case.

•Third Circuit affirmed Dijuan Taylor's federal firearms conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

•Court rejected Taylor's Second Amendment challenges, citing binding precedent from previous cases

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Third Circuit Affirms USCIS Denial of Naturalization for Diversity Visa Recipient

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling that upheld USCIS's denial of naturalization for Ousmane Savane, a permanent resident since 2012 who entered through the Diversity Visa Program. The court found that material omissions on his initial immigrant visa application warranted the denial.

•Third Circuit affirmed USCIS denial of naturalization for permanent resident who made material omissions on original diversity visa application

•Court rejected appellant's argument that omissions were immaterial, upholding government's authority to deny citizenship based on prior application discrepancies

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Upholds FBAR Penalties Against Couple for Foreign Account

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed civil penalties against Juan and Catherine Reyes for failing to report their foreign bank account holdings. The January 2026 decision upholds summary judgment enforcing penalties under federal banking disclosure laws.

•Second Circuit affirmed civil penalties against couple for failing to file required foreign bank account reports

•Court held that 'willful' FBAR violations include reckless conduct, not just intentional violations

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Second Circuit Issues Summary Order in Mohamed v. Bondi Immigration Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on January 7, 2026, in the immigration case Ali Abdou Mohamed v. Pamela Bondi. The three-judge panel addressed a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision, though the full details of the court's ruling were not disclosed in the available documentation.

•Second Circuit issued summary order in Ali Abdou Mohamed v. Pamela Bondi immigration case on January 7, 2026

•Three-judge panel included Circuit Judges Richard J. Sullivan, William J. Nardini, and Eunice C. Lee

State Court

Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Rules on Estate Undue Influence Claim

The South Dakota Supreme Court addressed a family estate dispute involving allegations that James Anthony O'Neill unduly influenced his mother's will to disinherit his siblings. The case centers on procedural issues regarding the use of prior court findings in probate proceedings.

•Tony O'Neill petitioned to probate his mother's will that left him everything and disinherited his siblings

•Siblings objected claiming the will was product of undue influence by Tony

State Court

•Kyle Xavier Wallentine received eight consecutive sentences of 8-15 years each for sexual abuse of a minor, totaling up to 120 years in prison

Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Affirms 120-Year Sentence for Child Sex Abuse

The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed a district court's decision to impose eight consecutive prison sentences totaling up to 120 years for Kyle Xavier Wallentine, who pleaded no contest to sexual abuse of a minor charges. The court rejected his pro se appeal after appointed counsel withdrew under the Anders procedure.

•His court-appointed appellate counsel withdrew under the Anders v. California procedure, indicating no meritorious grounds for appeal