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Federal Criminal Law

Legal news related to Federal Criminal Law

19 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
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Affirms Double Murder Conviction for Dakota Briscoe

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Dakota Don Briscoe, known as 'Outlaw,' who was found guilty of shooting two men in their car and setting the vehicle on fire in September 2020. The appellate court rejected Briscoe's appeal without oral argument.

•Tenth Circuit affirmed conviction of Dakota Don Briscoe for 2020 double murder and carjacking
•Court proceeded without oral argument, finding it unnecessary for decision
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Drug Dealer's Conviction on Gun Charges

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the federal conviction of Lawon Carter, a repeat felon who operated drug sales from two Detroit houses while possessing loaded firearms. The court rejected Carter's challenges to the search warrant and evidence sufficiency.

•Carter operated drug sales from two Detroit houses while possessing loaded firearms as a convicted felon
•The Sixth Circuit rejected challenges to the search warrant's validity and evidence sufficiency
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Hears Second Amendment Challenge to Gun Law

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued an order and judgment in United States v. Salazar, addressing a constitutional challenge to the federal law prohibiting undocumented immigrants from possessing firearms. Defendant Gerson Armando Romero Salazar appealed his conviction after unsuccessfully arguing the statute violates the Second Amendment.

•Gerson Armando Romero Salazar was convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(A) for being an undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm
•The defendant challenged the federal statute as facially unconstitutional under the Second Amendment
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Career Offender Status in Cannabis Conviction Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to classify Jesus Alfonso Ruiz as a career offender, rejecting his argument that his 2015 Illinois cannabis conviction should not count as a predicate offense. Ruiz received a 210-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed career offender status despite defendant's hemp/cannabis legal distinction argument
•Court held state drug convictions can qualify as predicates even when substances differ from federal controlled substances
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Affirms Enhanced Sentence for Child Porn Defendant

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed an enhanced prison sentence for Bryan Michael Vannausdle, who pled guilty to receiving child pornography after exchanging explicit materials with a 13-14-year-old girl. The appeals court upheld the district court's application of federal sentencing enhancement guidelines.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed 240-month prison sentence for defendant who pled guilty to receiving child pornography
•Vannausdle exchanged explicit materials with 13-14-year-old girl and made sexual solicitations
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Federal Circuit
•4 min read
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Convictions in Multi-Defendant Norfolk Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed convictions of four defendants in a consolidated criminal case from Norfolk federal court. The appeals court upheld the decisions of Senior District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. in cases involving Nelson Evans, Kalub Shipman, Jaquate Simpson, and Landis Jackson.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed convictions of four defendants from same Norfolk federal case
•Published opinion by Judge Heytens establishes precedential value for future cases
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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
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Upholds Conviction for Threats Against Chicago Abortion Clinic

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of Farhan Sheikh, a college student who threatened to kill doctors, patients, and visitors at a Chicago abortion clinic via social media. Sheikh's constitutional challenges to federal threat statutes and procedural arguments were rejected by the three-judge panel.

•Farhan Sheikh convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) for making threats against abortion clinic personnel via iFunny social media post
•Seventh Circuit rejected constitutional challenges to federal threat statute and claims of procedural errors
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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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