Verdict . News

Jan 9, 2026•4 min read

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed Hilliard's conviction on three heroin distribution counts, firearm possession, and failure to appear

11th Circuit Upholds 16-Year Sentence for Georgia Drug Distribution Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and 192-month sentence of Nathaniel Hilliard for multiple drug distribution charges, firearm possession by a convicted felon, and failure to appear at court proceedings. Hilliard had argued his Sixth Amendment right to self-representation was violated.

•Court rejected Hilliard's claim that his Sixth Amendment right to self-representation was violated

Jan 9, 2026•4 min read

•11th Circuit reversed district court order requiring University of Florida to reinstate expelled law student Preston Damsky

11th Circuit Reverses Student Reinstatement in Anti-Semitic Posts Case

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court order that required the University of Florida to reinstate law student Preston Damsky, who was expelled for anti-Semitic social media posts including one stating "Jews must be abolished by any means necessary." The appeals court found the university likely to succeed in defending the expulsion.

•Student was expelled for anti-Semitic X posts including "Jews must be abolished by any means necessary"

Jan 9, 2026•2 min read

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 180-month prison sentence plus lifelong supervised release for Brian McKay

11th Circuit Affirms 15-Year Sentence for McKay in Child Exploitation Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 180-month prison sentence for Brian Joseph McKay, who pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges. McKay challenged his sentencing, arguing the district court improperly considered rehabilitation factors.

•Investigation began with tip from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed D'eante Corker's felon-in-possession firearms conviction

11th Circuit Upholds Felon's Gun Conviction After Traffic Stop Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed D'eante Corker's conviction for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, rejecting his argument that police unlawfully prolonged a traffic stop for a canine search. The January 8, 2026 decision upholds the district court's denial of Corker's motion to suppress evidence.

•Court rejected argument that traffic stop was unlawfully prolonged for canine search

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 96-month sentence for bank fraud committed while working at Alabama law firm

11th Circuit Affirms 96-Month Bank Fraud Sentence for Alabama Attorney

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 96-month federal sentence for Anna Michelle La Rue, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud while working as an office manager at an Alabama law firm. La Rue had challenged the upward variance from sentencing guidelines as substantively unreasonable.

•Defendant challenged upward variance from guidelines as substantively unreasonable under federal law

•Dimitri Beaubrun challenges his felon-in-possession conviction under the Second Amendment

11th Circuit Weighs Second Amendment Rights for Nonviolent Felons

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is considering whether federal laws prohibiting all convicted felons from possessing firearms violate the Second Amendment rights of those with nonviolent criminal histories. Dimitri Beaubrun argues the blanket ban is unconstitutional as applied to nonviolent offenders.

•Case involves potential conflict between recent Eleventh Circuit decisions on gun rights

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed conviction and 105-month sentence for felon firearm possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

11th Circuit Upholds Felon's 105-Month Gun Sentence in Alabama Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and 105-month prison sentence of Randall Demetrius Broaden for unlawful firearm possession as a convicted felon. The appeals court rejected Broaden's constitutional challenge to federal gun laws and found his sentence reasonable.

•Court rejected constitutional challenge, citing binding circuit precedent upholding federal gun laws

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed six drug-related convictions for Kenneth Pertillo and Johnifer Barnwell

11th Circuit Upholds Drug Convictions for Georgia Defendants

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed drug convictions against Kenneth Pertillo and Johnifer Barnwell, rejecting their challenges to evidence admission in a federal prosecution stemming from a heroin-dealing investigation in Macon, Georgia.

•Court rejected challenges to admission of prior drug sale evidence and personal notebooks

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

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

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.

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