United States v. Shand, No. 13-227-cr (2d Cir. Jan. 13, 2014) (Pooler, Parker, and Wesley), available here This summary has been provided by noted criminal defense attorney Francisco Celedonio, who also serves on the Board of Directors of Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.: In this illegal reentry case under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(2), … Read more

United States v. Vasquez Macias, No. 12-3908-cr (2d Cir. Jan. 14, 2014) (Pooler, Raggi, and Wesley), available here The defendant, a citizen of Honduras, was convicted after a jury trial of being “found in the United States” illegally after he was deported from the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C.§ 1326(a). The Circuit reversed the … Read more

United States v. Razzoli, No. 13-126(L) (2d Cir. Dec. 23, 2013) (Raggi, Chin, and Droney) (summary order), available here Convicted of willfully and forcibly interfering with the performance of duties of Deputy United States Marshals, the defendant appealed pro se. The Court rejected all eight of his arguments: First, the district court properly denied the defendant’s … Read more

United States v. Morris, No. 12-4796-cr (2d Cir. Dec. 23, 2013) (Pooler, Parker, and Chin) (summary order), available here The defendant violated supervised release by leaving the judicial district without permission. He was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment, the top of the advisory range, and a new 22-month term of supervised release. The Circuit held … Read more

United States v. Isola, No. 12-3484-cr (2d Cir. Dec. 23, 2013) (Pooler, Parker, and Chin) (summary order), available here Convicted of wire fraud, the defendant claimed that the district court committed by plain error by not allowing him to present evidence concerning the negligence of the financial institutions he defrauded. He argued that the evidence was … Read more

United States v. DeLaRosa, No. 12-4188-cr (2d Cir. Dec. 20, 2013) (Cabranes, Wesley, and Livingston) (summary order), available here DeLaRosa was convicted of conspiring with John Brooker and others to distribute drugs in Vermont “and elsewhere” from 2006 to “on or about June 16, 2009.” On appeal, he argued principally that the district court erred by … Read more

United States v. Gonzalez, No. 12-5075-cr (2d Cir. Dec. 20, 2013) (Pooler, Parker, and Wesley) (summary order), available here Gonzalez was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. He argued on appeal that the evidence was insufficient to prove his guilt. But the Circuit affirmed, holding that the testimony of … Read more

United States v. Harry, No. 12-3623-cr (2d Cir. Dec. 19, 2013) (Pooler, Parker, and Wesley) (summary order), available here Convicted of threatening to harm the family of a United States Probation Officer, the defendant was sentenced principally to 46 months of imprisonment. He argued on appeal that the district court should have ordered a competency hearing … Read more

UNITED STATES V. JOHNSON, NO. 12-5094-cr (2D CIR. DEC. 16, 2013) (KATZMANN, WINTER, AND CALABRESI) (SUMMARY ORDER), AVAILABLE HERE The defendant in this appeal challenged his sentence as procedurally and substantively unreasonable. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and received 3 years’ prison. At sentencing, the district court compared him … Read more

UNITED STATES V. NUNEZ, ET. AL., NO. 11-5019-cv (2D CIR. DEC. 16, 2013) (LIVINGSTON, LYNCH, AND HOHIER) (SUMMARY ORDER), AVAILABLE HERE The defendant in this appeal challenged his sentence as procedurally unreasonable.  Specifically, he claimed that the district court erroneously denied him safety valve relief, held him responsible for 5 to 15 kilograms of cocaine, … Read more