Verdict . News

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•4 min read

Fifth Circuit Reviews Dismissal of Lumen Technologies Securities Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is reviewing a securities fraud class action lawsuit against telecommunications company Lumen Technologies and several executives. The district court dismissed the case with prejudice following adverse news coverage and stock price declines.

•Fifth Circuit reviewing dismissal of securities fraud class action against Lumen Technologies and executives

•District court dismissed case with prejudice following company's stock decline and adverse news coverage

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•4 min read

3rd Circuit Upholds Fraud Conviction of Clean Energy CEO Who Called Himself 'Modern Icarus'

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the 48-count conviction of James P. Abrams, a clean energy startup founder who defrauded investors using forged documents and false financial statements. Abrams, who compared himself to the mythological figure Icarus, received a 72-month prison sentence and must pay $1.2 million in restitution.

•Third Circuit affirmed 48-count conviction including wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction charges

•Abrams used forged documents and false financial statements to deceive clean energy startup investors

First Circuit Court of Appeals

First Circuit Affirms Attorney Conviction in Romance Scam Case

The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Hassan Abbas, a disbarred attorney who facilitated romance scams and business email compromises that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. The court rejected Abbas's appeal in a case highlighting sophisticated online fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals.

•Hassan Abbas, a former attorney, was convicted for facilitating romance scams and business email compromises worth millions

•Abbas used his legal credentials to open fraudulent bank accounts for fake companies to process victim payments

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Denial of Coram Nobis Petition in Wire Fraud Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Eugene J. Lockhart Jr.'s petition for writ of coram nobis, an extraordinary legal remedy seeking to overturn his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. The brief ruling represents the latest development in a case that originated in 2009 in the Northern District of Texas.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed denial of coram nobis petition without detailed explanation

•Lockhart originally pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving wire fraud and bank fraud

State Court

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Affirms Theft and Forgery Convictions

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the criminal convictions of Terri L. Moulton for theft and forgery, rejecting her claims of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and discovery violations. The court found that while some prosecutorial statements constituted error, they were harmless and did not deprive Moulton of a fair trial.

•Moulton embezzled $500,000 from Dewitt Machine and Fabrication over three years while working as bookkeeper

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court rejected all four appellate challenges including prosecutorial misconduct claims

•Two Housing Authority of South Bend leaders convicted of orchestrating kickback scheme with fake maintenance contracts

7th Circuit Affirms Wire Fraud Convictions in Housing Authority Kickback Scheme

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed wire fraud convictions against two former Housing Authority of South Bend leaders who orchestrated a kickback scheme involving fake maintenance contracts. The court reversed bank fraud charges while upholding convictions related to the misuse of federal housing funds.

•Seventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud charges on technical grounds

3w ago•5 min read

•Seventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud convictions for Housing Authority officials

7th Circuit Upholds Wire Fraud Convictions for Housing Officials

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud convictions for two Housing Authority of South Bend leaders who orchestrated a kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts. The scheme diverted federal funds intended for affordable housing.

•Robinson and Smith orchestrated kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts on federal housing properties

•Seventh Circuit reversed bank fraud convictions on Counts 2-7 for both defendants

7th Circuit Reverses Bank Fraud Convictions in Robinson-Smith Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit granted a petition for panel rehearing and reversed bank fraud convictions for defendants Tonya Robinson and Albert Smith, while affirming their wire fraud convictions. The court directed the district court to enter a judgment of acquittal on the bank fraud counts.

•Wire fraud conviction on Count 8 was affirmed for both defendants

•Seventh Circuit reversed bank fraud convictions on Counts 2-7 but affirmed wire fraud conviction on Count 8

7th Circuit Reverses Bank Fraud Convictions, Orders Acquittal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit granted a petition for panel rehearing and reversed bank fraud convictions for Tonya Robinson and Albert Smith, directing the district court to enter judgments of acquittal. The court's January 28, 2026 order clarified its previous December 15, 2025 opinion with specific remand instructions.

•Court granted defendants' petition for panel rehearing to clarify remand instructions

•Seventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud convictions for kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts at Housing Authority of South Bend

7th Circuit Upholds Wire Fraud, Reverses Bank Fraud in Housing Scheme

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud convictions against two Housing Authority of South Bend officials who orchestrated a kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts. Tonya Robinson and Albert Smith used their leadership positions to enrich themselves by hiring contractors for non-existent work and taking cuts of the payments.

•Court reversed bank fraud convictions due to government's failure to prove false statements were made to a bank