United States v. Martignon, No. 04-5649-cr (2d Cir. June 13, 2007) (Pooler, Sack, CJJ., and Garaufis, DJ). In 2004, Jean Martignon was charged under 18 U.S.C. § 2319A, which makes it a crime to manufacture, publish or distribute “bootleg” recordings of musical performances; that is, those made without the consent of the performers. Martignon moved … Read more
United States v. Salazar, No. 06-0198-cr (2d Cir. June 13, 2007) (per curiam) (Sack, B.D. Parker, Hall, C.JJ.). The headline says it all. Or almost. The court notes that the Guidelines say that the preponderance standard is “appropriate” to Guidelines findings, U.S.S.G. § 6A1.3, comment., and concludes: “[T]he discretion afforded district judges by Booker applies … Read more
United States v. Bearam, Docket No. 05-2823-cr (2d Cir. June 8, 2007) (Cardamone, Straub, Wallace C.JJ.) Here, the Court applies Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600 (2004), for the first time, joining the parade of courts that have limited Seibert to cases involving a deliberate “two-step” interrogations. The Court also vacates a sentence where the … Read more
United States v. Howard, Docket No. 06-0457-cr (2d Cir. June 5, 2007) (Jacobs, Leval, Sotomayor, C.JJ.). Here, on the government’s interlocutory appeal, the Court reverses the district courts order suppressing evidence obtained from the warrantless searches of two automobiles. Facts: This case actually involves two unrelated, but factually similar, searches. In each case police officers … Read more
United States v. Ubiera, Docket No. 05-5256-cr (2d Cir. May 15, 2007) (Jacobs, Cardamone, Sotomayor, C.JJ.). Guidelines section 4A1.2(c)(1) excludes convictions for certain petty offenses and those “similar” to them from a defendant’s criminal history score. Here, in a case of first impression, the Court rejected the defendant’s argument that his two New Jersey prior … Read more
United States v. Stewart, Docket No. 05-1989-cr (2d Cir. May 8, 2007) (Kearse, Sotomayor, C.JJ., and Koeltl, D.J.). In this extremely fact-bound opinion, the Court concludes that the district court correctly found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant procured the unavailability of a hearsay declarant. The “forfeiture-by-wrongdoing” rule is well established, and … Read more
Untied States v. Canova, Docket No. 05-6459-cr (2d Cir. May 8, 2007) (Meskill, Newman and Sack, C.JJ.) In this case, for the second time, the Court finds fault with the district court’s lenient treatment of John Canova. Facts: Canova was convicted after a jury trial of making false statements and various similar offenses, all the … Read more
United States v. Chirino, Docket No. 06-1207-cr (2d Cir. April 12, 2007) (Kearse, McLaughlin, Straub, C.JJ). In a decision that breaks no new ground, the Court upholds the search of a probationer’s bedroom and dresser – where officers found a firearm -that was based on reasonable suspicion that the defendant was in violation of the … Read more
United States v. Kaplan, Docket No. 05-5531-cr (2d Cir. April 11, 2007)(Feinberg, Leval, Cabranes, C.JJ). Here, improper testimony by a co-conspirator about the defendant’s knowledge of the fraud resulted in the reversal of some, but not all, counts of conviction. Facts: This case involved a complex insurance fraud scheme, with staged automobile accidents and corrupt … Read more
We’re back from “spring break,” and are catching up on Second Circuit decisions since our last post.