Verdict . News

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Upholds 51-Month Sentence in Felon Gun Possession Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a 51-month prison sentence for Raekwon Undral Jackson, who pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson challenged his sentence as substantively unreasonable, arguing the district court gave excessive weight to deterrence factors.

•Jackson pleaded guilty to federal felon in possession of firearm charges after discarding weapon during police chase

•District court imposed 51-month sentence at bottom of Guidelines range

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Dismisses Drug Dealer's Appeal Due to Waiver Agreement

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit dismissed Stanley Willocks Hodgson's appeal of his federal drug and firearm convictions, ruling his plea agreement waived his right to appeal. The court remanded the case to correct discrepancies between the oral sentencing and written judgment.

•11th Circuit dismissed Hodgson's appeal due to sentence appeal waiver in his plea agreement

•Hodgson was convicted of drug distribution and illegal firearm possession as non-immigrant visa holder

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Denial of Asylum for Guatemalan Mother, Child

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit denied a petition for review from Rusby Dionisia Aguilar-Hernandez and her minor son, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision to reject their asylum applications. The court found substantial evidence supported the immigration board's denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture.

•Eighth Circuit upheld Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of asylum for Guatemalan mother and child

•Court found substantial evidence supported rejection of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture claims

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Denies Asylum for Honduran Family Fleeing Gang Violence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit denied a petition for review from a Honduran family seeking asylum and withholding of removal after fleeing MS-13 gang violence. The non-precedential decision affects Minerva Carbajal-Recinos and her nephew Delmer Orlando Carbajal-Duque.

•Third Circuit denied asylum petition from Honduran family fleeing MS-13 gang violence

•Gang members systematically extorted and pillaged the family's farm from 2008-2009

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Child Support Court Challenge

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of a pro se lawsuit filed by William Williams against Philadelphia child support courts and major credit agencies. The case was dismissed under federal statute allowing courts to reject frivolous claims from indigent litigants.

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of pro se lawsuit against Philadelphia child support courts and credit agencies

•Case dismissed under federal statute allowing courts to reject frivolous claims from indigent litigants

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Denies Compassionate Release for Life-Sentenced Drug Offender

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of compassionate release for Jose Romeu, who has served over 30 years of a life sentence for drug trafficking offenses committed in the early 1990s. Romeu, representing himself, sought early release under federal compassionate release provisions.

•Jose Romeu has served over 30 years of a life sentence for drug trafficking offenses from the 1990s

•The Eleventh Circuit affirmed denial of his compassionate release motion under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Rejects Constitutional Challenge to Supervised Release Law

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a constitutional challenge to federal supervised release revocation procedures in United States v. Mitchell. Joseph Floyd Mitchell contested 18 U.S.C. § 3583(g) for the first time on appeal after receiving a seven-month prison sentence.

•Fifth Circuit rejected constitutional challenge to 18 U.S.C. § 3583(g) mandatory supervised release revocation statute

•Joseph Floyd Mitchell received seven-month prison sentence after supervised release revocation

Regulatory

•Five varieties of hummus recalled due to undeclared sesame allergen

Connecticut Company Recalls 5 Hummus Varieties Over Undeclared Sesame

Carrot Top Country Kitchens LLC has issued a Class II recall of five hummus varieties due to undeclared sesame, posing serious health risks to consumers with sesame allergies. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is warning the public about the recalled products distributed from the company's Bridgeport facility.

•Class II recall classification indicates potential for temporary or reversible adverse health consequences

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 6, 2026•2 min read

Sixth Circuit Affirms 121-Month Sentence in Nigerian Fraud Scheme

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the 121-month prison sentence for Fatai Okunola, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to a Nigerian-based online fraud scheme targeting vulnerable individuals. Okunola challenged his sentence as procedurally and substantively unreasonable.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed 121-month prison sentence for Fatai Okunola's role in Nigerian-based online fraud scheme

•Okunola pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, false naturalization statements, and money laundering charges