Verdict . News

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

11th Circuit Vacates Sentence in $2M Credit Card Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated the sentence of Abdoulaye Barry, who was convicted in a sophisticated credit card fraud scheme that netted over $2 million in cigarette purchases from Sam's Club. The appeals court ruled that the district court erred by holding Barry accountable for the full amount charged by all co-conspirators without first determining his individual responsibility.

•Eleventh Circuit vacated Barry's sentence for legal error in accountability determination

•Fraud scheme used stolen credit cards and shared Sam's Club memberships to buy $2M in cigarettes

•Kyle Xavier Wallentine received eight consecutive sentences of 8-15 years each for sexual abuse of a minor, totaling up to 120 years in prison

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Affirms 120-Year Sentence for Child Sex Abuse

The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed a district court's decision to impose eight consecutive prison sentences totaling up to 120 years for Kyle Xavier Wallentine, who pleaded no contest to sexual abuse of a minor charges. The court rejected his pro se appeal after appointed counsel withdrew under the Anders procedure.

•His court-appointed appellate counsel withdrew under the Anders v. California procedure, indicating no meritorious grounds for appeal

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 6, 2026•4 min read

11th Circuit Affirms 228-Month Sentence for Armed Robbery Conspiracy

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the 228-month federal prison sentence for Avery Fuller, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence. The appeals court rejected Fuller's challenge to his sentence in a per curiam opinion issued January 6, 2026.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 228-month federal sentence for Avery Fuller on armed robbery conspiracy charges

•Fuller pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and aiding firearms brandishing during violent crime

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 5, 2026•4 min read

8th Circuit Upholds 32-Year Sentence for Iowa Drug Trafficking Case

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied relief to Stephan Rashad Haley, who was sentenced to 384 months in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering charges in two consolidated federal cases.

•Stephan Haley received 384 months (32 years) in federal prison for drug, fraud, and money laundering offenses

•The Eighth Circuit affirmed the sentence, rejecting challenges to a drug premises enhancement

•Christopher Sellers' life sentence without parole affirmed for 2019 murder of Thedarious Mitchell

Jan 5, 2026•4 min read

Georgia Supreme Court

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentence in Sellers Murder Case

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the murder conviction of Christopher Sellers, who was sentenced to life without parole for the 2019 shooting death of Thedarious Mitchell in DeKalb County. The court rejected Sellers' arguments challenging the sufficiency of evidence and jury instructions.

•Georgia Supreme Court rejected challenges to evidence sufficiency and jury instructions

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 2, 2026•5 min read

10th Circuit Rules on Allocution Rights in Supervised Release Cases

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued a ruling in United States v. Miller addressing whether district courts must personally invite defendants to speak during supervised release revocation hearings. The case arose after Dominic Miller was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for supervised release violations without being given the opportunity to allocute before the court.

•Tenth Circuit addressed whether district courts must personally invite defendants to speak during supervised release revocation hearings

•Dominic Miller was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment without being personally invited to allocute before the court

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 2, 2026•2 min read

6th Circuit Upholds 37-Year Sentence for Armed Robbery Convictions

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a 446-month prison sentence for David Johnson, who was convicted on nine federal counts including armed robbery and firearm violations. The January 2026 decision upholds convictions stemming from multiple robberies affecting interstate commerce in Ohio.

•David Johnson received 446-month federal prison sentence for armed robbery and firearm violations

•Sixth Circuit affirmed convictions on nine counts including robbery affecting commerce and firearm charges

•Nebraska Supreme Court ruled appellate courts cannot disturb sentences within statutory limits absent abuse of discretion

Jan 2, 2026•4 min read

Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Reaffirms Trial Judge Discretion in Sentencing

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Thursday in *State v. Rejai* that appellate courts cannot disturb criminal sentences within statutory limits absent an abuse of discretion by trial judges. The decision reinforces established standards for reviewing allegedly excessive sentences on appeal.

•Court defined abuse of discretion as decisions based on untenable reasoning or actions clearly against justice

•Court establishes that statutory use of 'may' creates presumption of discretionary rather than mandatory action

Jan 2, 2026•4 min read

Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Sentencing Discretion Standards

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued a ruling in State v. Jackson on January 2, 2026, establishing important precedent regarding trial court discretion in probationary matters and sentencing appeals. The decision clarifies when statutory language creates discretionary versus mandatory authority and sets standards for identifying abuse of discretion.

•Trial courts retain broad discretion over probationary matters with limited appellate review