Verdict . News

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

4th Circuit Affirms Enhanced Gun Sentence for Repeat Felon

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction and enhanced sentence of Elias Phillip Francis, who pleaded guilty to federal firearm possession charges. The court upheld the district court's determination that Francis qualified for enhanced sentencing under the Armed Career Criminal Act due to his three prior violent felony convictions.

•Francis pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

•District court found Francis had three prior violent felony convictions qualifying him for Armed Career Criminal Act enhancement

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Carter received a 78-month sentence for felon in possession of firearm under federal law

11th Circuit Upholds 78-Month Sentence for Felon Firearm Possession

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 78-month sentence for Christian Isaiah Carter, who was convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Carter challenged the district court's classification of his prior Georgia aggravated assault conviction as a 'crime of violence' for sentencing enhancement purposes.

•The main issue was whether Georgia aggravated assault qualifies as a 'crime of violence' for sentencing enhancement

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

10th Circuit Rules on Police Detention in Federal Gun Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued a ruling in United States v. Chafin, addressing whether police properly detained Jeremy Daniel Chafin during an encounter that led to federal firearm possession charges. The case involved a motion to suppress evidence based on claims of unlawful investigatory detention.

•Jeremy Daniel Chafin was charged with illegal firearm possession as a convicted felon under federal law

•District court granted Chafin's motion to suppress evidence, finding unlawful police detention

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 12, 2026•4 min read

5th Circuit Upholds Sentence for Modified Gun Killing After Fake Sale

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the federal sentence of Jamaion Wilson, who killed a man with a modified handgun after discovering he had been sold a fake firearm. Wilson pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machinegun under federal law.

•Wilson killed a man with a modified handgun after discovering he was sold a fake firearm

•The weapon was equipped with a "Glock switch" that converted it to fire like a machinegun

Jan 12, 2026•4 min read

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed Antoine Johnson's conviction for felon-in-possession of firearm charges

11th Circuit Upholds Felon-in-Possession Conviction in Johnson Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed Antoine Johnson's conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, rejecting his challenges to the denial of his motion to suppress and claims of insufficient evidence for sentencing enhancement.

•Court rejected challenges to denial of motion to suppress evidence from traffic stop

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

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

5th Circuit Affirms 262-Month Sentence for Career Offender

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a 262-month prison sentence for Quintell Dewayne Gladney, who was convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and sentenced as a career offender under federal guidelines.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed 262-month sentence for career offender convicted of firearm possession

•Defendant challenged district court's reliance on presentence report to characterize prior Louisiana drug convictions

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

•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

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

Fifth Circuit Rejects Felon's Second Amendment Challenge to Gun Law

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a constitutional challenge to federal felon-in-possession laws in United States v. Jeffery, filed January 7, 2026. Robert Lawrence Jeffery argued that the Supreme Court's Bruen decision invalidated his conviction under federal firearm prohibition statutes.

•Fifth Circuit rejected Second Amendment challenge to federal felon firearm possession laws

•Defendant argued Supreme Court's Bruen decision invalidated his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)