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Drug Crimes

Legal news related to Drug Crimes

11 articles

Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Reverses Safety Valve Relief in Drug Sentencing Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's decision granting safety valve relief to Paul Engstrom in a drug-related case, vacating his below-minimum sentence and remanding for resentencing.

•Ninth Circuit reversed district court's safety valve relief determination for drug defendant Paul Engstrom
•Engstrom failed to provide complete debrief to government as required by federal statute
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Rules on $4.8M Counterfeit Drug Sentencing in Dark Web Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a published opinion Tuesday in United States v. Omar Thomas Wala, addressing sentencing methodology for a defendant who manufactured and sold 16.1 million counterfeit alprazolam pills on the dark web. Wala challenges the district court's loss calculation methodology following his guilty plea to conspiracy and substantive counterfeiting charges.

•Omar Thomas Wala manufactured and sold 16.1 million counterfeit alprazolam pills on dark web over five years
•Sixth Circuit reviews district court's loss calculation methodology following guilty plea to conspiracy and counterfeiting
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Eleventh Circuit Reissues Opinion Affirming Hassan Jones Convictions

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has reissued a revised opinion in *United States v. Hassan Jones*, partially affirming and partially vacating the defendant's drug and gun-related convictions. The court made clarifications regarding prosecutorial misconduct while maintaining its original holding.

•Eleventh Circuit reissued revised opinion maintaining partial affirmance and vacation of Hassan Jones's drug and gun convictions
•Court clarified findings on prosecutorial misconduct, distinguishing between reversible error and deliberate intent to mislead jury
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Drug Conviction After Suppression Motion Denied

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Jack F. Gibbins III for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The appeals court rejected Gibbins' challenge to the denial of his motion to suppress drug evidence found during his hospital treatment.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed methamphetamine conviction after rejecting suppression motion challenge
•Drug evidence found in defendant's hospital clothing deemed admissible under inevitable discovery doctrine
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Rules on Drug Sentencing Enhancement in Aaron Loines Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a published opinion January 21 in United States v. Aaron Loines, addressing federal drug sentencing enhancement requirements under 21 U.S.C. § 841. The case examines when prior drug convictions qualify for enhanced minimum sentences.

•Sixth Circuit issued published opinion on federal drug sentencing enhancements under 21 U.S.C. § 841
•Case addresses when prior drug convictions qualify for enhanced minimum sentences
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Second Circuit Affirms District Court in United States v. Santiago

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court's judgment against defendant Jerrard Santiago in a criminal case. The three-judge panel issued a summary order on January 12, 2026, providing no precedential value under federal appellate rules.

•Second Circuit affirmed district court judgment in criminal case against Jerrard Santiago
•Three-judge panel issued non-precedential summary order on January 12, 2026
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Legal News
•4 min read

Port Arthur Man Gets 19+ Years in Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking

A Port Arthur man has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced the lengthy sentence, which reflects federal enforcement priorities against drug trafficking operations.

•Port Arthur resident sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking
•Case prosecuted in Eastern District of Texas under U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Affirms Life Sentence Denial Under First Step Act

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a sentence reduction motion filed under the First Step Act of 2018. Zechariah Benjamin, serving a mandatory life sentence for crack cocaine distribution, was deemed eligible for resentencing but unsuccessful in obtaining relief.

•Benjamin was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in 2008 for crack cocaine distribution and conspiracy
•His sentence was enhanced due to at least two prior cocaine delivery convictions in Illinois
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State Court
•4 min read
Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release from 'Illegal Imprisonment'

The Oregon Supreme Court issued an extraordinary order on December 24, 2025, directing the immediate release of Natalia Joanne Hernandez from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, declaring her imprisonment illegal. The unanimous en banc decision came through an original habeas corpus proceeding, with the court expediting the appellate judgment process to secure her immediate freedom.

•Oregon Supreme Court found Hernandez's imprisonment at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility to be illegal and ordered immediate release
•The decision came through a rare original habeas corpus proceeding heard en banc by the full court
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of New Hampshire

NH Supreme Court Affirms Drug Conviction Despite Wiretap Challenge

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has affirmed the drug trafficking convictions of John Santiago, rejecting his appeal that challenged wiretap evidence used against him. Santiago was convicted of possession of a controlled drug with intent to sell and conspiracy after a retrial, following an initial mistrial due to jury deadlock.

•Santiago convicted on drug trafficking charges after retrial following 2023 mistrial due to jury deadlock
•Defendant challenged wiretap evidence claiming interpreters may not have been in required geographic location during interception
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