United States v. Chibuko, No. 12-0039-cr (2d Cir. Mar. 7, 2014) (Katzmann, Kearse, and Wesley) (per curiam), available here This published decision offers guidance on the procedures to be followed before a district court may impose consecutive sentences for multiple counts of aggravated identity theft, 18 U.S.C. 1028A. Chibuko was convicted at trial of various fraud … Read more
United States v. Anderson (Hakimi), No. 11-5364-cr (2d Cir. Mar. 4, 2014) (Hall, Carney, and Scheindlin), available here A jury convicted Roohid Hakimi of conspiracy and attempt to possess and distribute controlled substances. After the verdict, the district court (Judge Hurd) entered a judgment of acquittal, holding that the evidence was insufficient to establish guilt. This … Read more
United States v. Taylor, Nos. 11-2201(L), 11-2426(CON), 11-2639(CON) (2d Cir. Mar. 4, 2014) (Kearse, Jacobs, and Carney), available here In this published decision, the Circuit granted the government’s petition for panel rehearing and withdrew its original opinion vacating the convictions of all three defendants. Unfortunately for the government, the Court, on rehearing, not only again vacated the defendants’ … Read more
United States v. Lee, No. 13-1432-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 27, 2014) (Wesley, Droney, and Abrams) (summary order), available here This summary was provided by noted criminal defense lawyer Francisco Celedonio, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.: In this summary order, the Circuit upheld a decision … Read more
Kovacs v. United States, No. 13-0209 (2d Cir. Mar. 3, 2014) (Kearse, Jacobs, and Parker), available here Kovacs, an Australian national, pled guilty in 1999 to misprision of felony (18 U.S.C. § 4). His lawyer advised him at the time — and stated on the record — that the plea would have no immigration consequences. Many … Read more
United States v. Maynard, No. 12-5106-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 24, 2014) (Kearse, Jacobs, and Parker), available here This important decision holds that, under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. §§ 3663-64, restitution may be awarded only for the harms enumerated in the statute. The facts were simple: Maynard and Ludwig robbed five … Read more
United States v. Bailey, No. 07-3719-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 21, 2014) (Cabranes, Pooler, and Raggi), available here This case shows that even a Supreme Court victory isn’t always enough to help a convicted defendant. The police stopped Bailey about a mile from a residence that he had just departed and that was about to be … Read more
United States v. Lochard, No. 12-5115-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 19, 2014) (Chin, Carney, and Droney) (summary order), available here Convicted of access device fraud, the defendant was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay about $108,000 in restitution. The judgment did not set forth a payment plan or provide for the waiver … Read more
United States v. Rubin, No. 12-3777-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 19, 2014) (Cabranes, Hall, and Chin), available here Rubin was charged principally with conspiracy to violate the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (“Gambling Act”). He pled guilty under an unconditional, written plea agreement, and was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment. On appeal, the … Read more
United States v. Faison, No. 12-5006-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 10, 2014) (Leval, Calabresi, and Lynch) (summary order), available here Representing himself at a jury trial, the defendant was convicted, among other things, of possessing 28 grams of cocaine base with intent to distribute. On appeal, he continued to represent himself, challenging his arrest, the indictment, and … Read more