Verdict . News

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Child Pornography Distribution Sentence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the sentence of Jessie Michael Collins, who pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography to an undercover federal agent. The court rejected his claims of procedural error and substantive unreasonableness in his sentencing.

•Collins pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing child pornography to an undercover federal agent

•District court applied five-level sentencing enhancement based on pattern of sexual abuse involving a minor

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Remands Harris Drug Case Over Supervised Release Terms

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit remanded a federal drug and firearms case to the district court with instructions to vacate multiple supervised release conditions. The court ruled in United States v. Harris that 13 standard conditions and three special conditions must be removed from defendant Daniel Harris's supervised release terms.

•Second Circuit ordered district court to vacate 13 standard supervised release conditions and three special conditions

•Harris was convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses in 2019 and sentenced to 120 months in prison plus five years supervised release

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Upholds Terrorism Enhancement in Hezbollah Training Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the conviction and 10-year sentence of Alexei Saab for receiving military training from Hezbollah between 1996 and 2005. The court applied federal terrorism sentencing enhancements despite timing issues with the underlying statute.

•Alexei Saab was convicted in 2022 of receiving military training from Hezbollah from 1996 to 2005

•The Second Circuit affirmed his 10-year sentence and application of federal terrorism sentencing enhancements

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Third Circuit Affirms Drug Conviction Despite Witness Challenges

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Diego Castillo-Pedraza for methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute. Castillo-Pedraza had challenged the admission of cooperating witness testimony and his below-Guidelines sentence, but the appellate court rejected both arguments in a non-precedential opinion filed January 14, 2026.

•Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed conviction for methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute

•Defendant challenged admission of cooperating witness testimony at trial

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Upholds $21.6M Restitution Order in Wire Fraud Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a $21.6 million restitution order against Sean Grusd, who was convicted of wire fraud for a two-year scheme that defrauded 15 sets of victims. The court rejected Grusd's challenge to a $1.6 million credit applied by the district court.

•Sean Grusd was convicted of wire fraud for a two-year scheme that defrauded 15 sets of victims of approximately $23.2 million

•The Seventh Circuit ruled Grusd waived his right to challenge a $1.6 million restitution credit by acquiescing to it during sentencing

West Virginia Supreme Court

State Court

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

WV Supreme Court Denies Sentence Reduction for 30-Year Sexual Assault Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's denial of a sentence reconsideration motion filed by Jessie Davis, who was convicted in 1995 of multiple counts of sexual assault. Davis argued his rehabilitation efforts warranted a sentence reduction from his 35- to 85-year prison term.

•Jessie Davis was convicted in 1995 of four counts of first-degree sexual assault and four counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian

•The West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's denial of Davis's Rule 35(b) motion for sentence reconsideration

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

6th Circuit Affirms Felon Firearm Sentence in Published Opinion

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Robert Messersmith for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The published decision rejected Messersmith's claims of plea agreement breach and unreasonable sentencing.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed conviction for felon firearm possession

•Court rejected claims of plea agreement breach by government

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

Fifth Circuit Affirms 27-Month Sentence in Federal Wire Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a 27-month prison sentence for Ernesto Villarreal, Jr., who was convicted of wire fraud and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. The court rejected his challenge to a sentencing enhancement for abusing a position of trust.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed 27-month sentence for wire fraud and theft from federal programs

•Court rejected challenge to sentencing enhancement for abusing position of trust

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

11th Circuit Upholds Supervised Release Term in Ford Revocation Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled in United States v. Melvin Ford that a district court did not err in imposing a five-year supervised release term following revocation proceedings. Ford had challenged the sentence, arguing the court improperly considered retribution and violated the Eighth Amendment.

•Melvin Ford received one year and one day custody (as recommended by parties) plus five years supervised release (not recommended by parties)

•Ford challenged the supervised release term, claiming improper consideration of retribution and Eighth Amendment violations