Verdict . News

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

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.

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

•Eleventh Circuit rejected Will David Parr's Second Amendment challenge to federal felon-in-possession law

11th Circuit Rejects Felon's Second Amendment Gun Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected a convicted felon's constitutional challenge to federal gun possession laws in *United States v. Will David Parr*. The defendant argued that 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) violates the Second Amendment following recent Supreme Court precedents.

•Court upheld conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) despite recent Supreme Court gun rights decisions

•Eleventh Circuit denied petition for review in removal case involving Armenian national

11th Circuit Denies Armenian National's Immigration Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denied a petition for review filed by Vahagn Paremuzyan, an Armenian national challenging his removal order. The three-judge panel upheld decisions by the immigration judge and Board of Immigration Appeals in the case involving claims of persecution.

•Case involved claims of persecution related to witnessing murder in Armenia

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 228-month federal sentence for Avery Fuller on armed robbery conspiracy charges

11th Circuit Affirms 228-Month Sentence for Armed Robbery Conspiracy

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the 228-month federal prison sentence for Avery Fuller, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence. The appeals court rejected Fuller's challenge to his sentence in a per curiam opinion issued January 6, 2026.

•Fuller pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and aiding firearms brandishing during violent crime

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud sentence for defendant who defrauded COVID-19 relief programs including PPP and EIDL

11th Circuit Affirms Wire Fraud Sentence in COVID-19 Relief Program Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the wire fraud sentence of Omar Loaces Gonzalez, who defrauded COVID-19-era relief programs. The court rejected Gonzalez's arguments that the district court misapplied federal sentencing guidelines and imposed an unreasonable sentence.

•Court rejected challenges to both sentencing guidelines application and substantive reasonableness of the sentence

•Eleventh Circuit vacated 17-year sentence for John Lee's $90 million jewelry fraud scheme targeting Qatar victim

11th Circuit Vacates 17-Year Sentence in $90M Jewelry Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated a 17-year prison sentence for John Lee, who defrauded a Qatar victim of over $90 million in jewelry through a psychic advisor scheme, ruling the sentence was unreasonably harsh.

•Court ruled the sentence was unreasonably harsh, representing a 107-month upward variance from federal guidelines

•11th Circuit affirmed FTC victory against Corpay and CEO Ronald Clarke for deceptive fuel credit card marketing

11th Circuit Upholds FTC Victory Against Corpay in Fuel Card Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a Federal Trade Commission victory against Corpay, Inc. and CEO Ronald Clarke in a consumer deception case involving fuel credit cards. The court ruled that Corpay's business promises were misleading, describing the company's practices as 'all hat and no cowboy.'

•Court described Corpay's practices as 'all hat and no cowboy' - promising savings but delivering hidden charges

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

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.

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

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 5, 2026•4 min read

2nd Circuit Issues Summary Order in Immigration Family Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on January 5, 2026, in Caisaguano-Quizhpi v. Bondi, an immigration case involving a family challenging decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals. The case names Pamela Bondi as the respondent in her capacity as U.S. Attorney General.

•Second Circuit issued summary order on January 5, 2026, in family immigration case involving four petitioners

•Case challenges Board of Immigration Appeals decision with Pamela Bondi named as U.S. Attorney General