Federal Defenders of New York Second Circuit Blog

Circuit Vacates Restitution Order

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

Claim That Indictment Charged a “Non-Offense” Was Waived By Guilty Plea

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

Court Rejects Pro Se Appeal

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

Defendant’s Consent to Computer Monitoring Was Fatal to Motion to Suppress

United States v. Kelly, No. 12-4185-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 4, 2014) (Walker, Livingston, and Chin) (summary order), available here Kelly was originally arrested for failing to register as a sex offender and for illegally possessing firearms. He obtained bail after agreeing to a special condition of pretrial release that authorized the Probation Office to monitor his … Read more

Defrauding Dick’s: Circuit Reaffirms “Right to Control” Theory of Mail and Wire Fraud

United States v. Viloski, No. 12-265-cr (2d Cir. Feb. 4, 2014) (Walker, Cabranes, and Parker) (summary order), available here Viloski, a lawyer and real estate broker, was a broker/consultant for development projects of Dick’s Sporting Goods. The trial evidence showed that he acted as a consultant for real estate transactions in which he accepted a consulting … Read more

Tax Fraud Conviction and Sentence Not Barred on Statute of Limitation Grounds

UNITED STATES V. OSUALA, NO. 12-3573 (2D CIR. FEB. 3, 2014) (CABRANES, LIVINGSTON, AND CARNEY) (SUMMARY ORDER), AVAILABLE HERE This defendant appealed from convictions for obstructing administration of the IRS, subscribing to false and fraudulent income tax returns, and aiding and assisting the preparation of false individual tax returns.  He claimed expiration of the six-year … Read more

Court Affirms Fraud and Identity Theft Convictions and Sentences Over Claims of Insufficient Evidence and Sentencing Error

UNITED STATES V. WILLIAMS, JOHNSON, AND JONES, NOS. 12-2314(L), 12-2454-cr(CON), 12-2650(CON) (2D CIR. FEB. 3, 2014) (KATZMANN, WESLEY, AND CHIN) (SUMMARY ORDER), AVAILABLE HERE In this case, a jury convicted two defendants (Johnson and Jones) after trial for multiple counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, as well as conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  A third defendant … Read more

Co-Defendant Sentencing Disparity Did Not Render Sentence Unreasonable

United States v. Chervin, No. 13-631-cr (2d Cir. Jan. 30, 2014) (Kearse, Pooler, and Raggi) (summary order), available here This summary is provided by noted criminal defense attorney Francisco Celedonio, Esq., who is also a member of the Board of Directors of Federal Defenders of New York, Inc.:   Appellant Chervin challenged his 57-month sentence, which … Read more

Admission of Co-Conspirator Statements at Defendant’s Trial Did Not Violate His Confrontation Clause or Due Process Rights

UNITED STATES V. FAILING, NO. 10-3330-cr (2D CIR. FEB. 3, 2014) (KATZMANN, WESLEY, AND LOHIER) (SUMMARY ORDER), AVAILABLE HERE In this case, the defendant was convicted after trial of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  He received 77 months’ custody.  On appeal he challenged the district court’s admission of out-of-court statements by a … Read more

Loss Calculations and Trial Conviction Affirmed in Wire and Bank Fraud Case

UNITED STATES V. JOHNSON, NO. 12-3328-cr (2D CIR. FEB. 3, 2014) (POOLER, RAGGI, AND SCHOFIELD) (SUMMARY ORDER), AVAILABLE HERE Post-conviction for wire fraud and bank fraud, the defendant in this appeal challenged his sentence as procedurally unreasonable and challenged the sufficiency of the evidence to his intent to commit bank fraud pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1344.  … Read more