controlled-substance

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Case Title Lower Court Docketed Status Flags Tags Question Presented
25-6742 Gezo Goeong Edwards v. United States District of Columbia 2026-02-06 Pending IFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure due-process indictment-defect ineffective-assistance mens-rea Whether an indictment charging conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance fails to state an offense due to grammatical placement of the adverb 'k…
25-935 United States v. Kevin LaMarcus Mitchell Fifth Circuit 2026-02-06 Pending constitutional-challenge controlled-substance criminal-conviction federal-statute firearm-possession second-amendment Whether 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1) prohibiting firearm possession by persons with certain criminal convictions violates the Second Amendment as applied to de…
25-6622 Alante Martel Nelson v. United States Fourth Circuit 2026-01-20 Pending Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach controlled-substance criminal-law federal-sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether courts should apply the categorical approach to determine a controlled substance offense under USSG § 4B1.2(b) by comparing elements of prior …
25-6326 Eric Lebron Burney v. United States Sixth Circuit 2025-12-09 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance fourth-amendment law-enforcement marijuana probable-cause search-and-seizure Does the smell of legal, low-THC marijuana provide probable cause for law enforcement to conduct an extensive search behind the internal framing and u…
25-6217 Christopher Wuchter v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-11-24 Pending IFP constitutional-challenge controlled-substance facial-unconstitutionality firearm-possession second-amendment statutory-interpretation Whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), which prohibits firearm possession by any unlawful user of a controlled substance, is facially unconstitutional under t…
25-6218 Kenleone Joe Nyandoro v. United States Fifth Circuit 2025-11-24 Pending IFP appeal-waiver controlled-substance firearm-possession ineffective-assistance second-amendment statutory-maximum Whether the only permissible exceptions to a general appeal waiver are for claims of ineffective assistance of counsel or that the sentence exceeds th…
25A535 Shawn Russell Sorensen v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-11-07 Application controlled-substance drug-possession felony-drug-offense ineffective-assistance mandatory-minimum sentencing-enhancement Whether a defendant's prior state drug possession convictions qualify as 'felony drug offenses' under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b) for purposes of imposing a ma…
25-5967 Lynell Guyton v. United States Third Circuit 2025-10-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP analogue-act constitutional-rights controlled-substance criminal-prosecution drug-enforcement due-process Whether the Drug Enforcement Act's failure to schedule an analogue implicates constitutional due process rights and allows prosecution for controlled …
25-5878 Detrayous D. Curry v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-10-14 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-conviction drug-offense federal-schedule sentencing-guidelines state-law Whether the definition of a 'Controlled Substance Offense' for purposes of U.S.S.G. §4B1.2 includes a prior state law conviction for a cocaine offense…
25A410 United States v. Aldo Ali Cordova Perez, Jr. Eighth Circuit 2025-10-09 Presumed Complete 922(g)(3) as-applied-challenge controlled-substance facial-challenge firearm-possession second-amendment Whether a federal statute criminalizing firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances is facially or as-applied unconstitutional under…
25-5816 William Loydellton Speed, Jr. v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-10-07 Denied Response WaivedIFP buyer-seller-exception career-offender-guideline controlled-substance drug-conspiracy federal-law state-law Whether the term 'controlled substance' in the Career Offender Guideline refers to substances controlled under federal or state law, and whether the c…
25-372 Erik Matthew Harris v. United States Third Circuit 2025-09-30 Pending Amici (2) constitutional-vagueness controlled-substance criminal-statute firearm-possession marijuana-use second-amendment Whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3)'s prohibition on firearm possession by marijuana users violates the Second Amendment and is unconstitutionally vague
25A371 Rashun Suncar v. United States Fourth Circuit 2025-09-30 Presumed Complete categorical-approach controlled-substance fourth-circuit state-court-deference statutory-interpretation supreme-court-rule-10 Whether the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals correctly applied the categorical approach in interpreting a state controlled substance statute and disreg…
25A253 Patrick Miller Webb, Jr. v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-09-02 Presumed Complete controlled-substance criminal-conviction federal-sentencing fifth-amendment pro-se sixth-amendment Whether the Fifth and Sixth Amendments permit a criminal conviction and sentence when the petitioner claims inadequate legal representation and limite…
25-5465 David Nicholson v. United States Fifth Circuit 2025-08-25 Denied Response WaivedIFP constructive-possession controlled-substance criminal-procedure dominion-and-control intent-to-distribute post-offense-admission Whether a conviction under 21 U.S.C. § 841 for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance can be sustained based solely on constructi…
25-5454 Marquis Luis Rosado v. Florida Florida 2025-08-22 Denied IFP constitutional-violation controlled-substance criminal-law fentanyl-distribution jury-instruction trial-court Whether the trial court violated the United States Constitution by deviating from Florida's standard jury instruction on death by unlawful distributio…
25-5297 Christopher Jerome Ellis v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-08-06 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender controlled-substance federal-law sentencing-guidelines state-law statutory-interpretation Whether the term 'controlled substance' in the career offender guideline refers exclusively to substances listed in the federal Controlled Substances …
25-5226 Nashaun Drake v. United States Sixth Circuit 2025-07-29 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-law federal-sentencing prior-conviction sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether courts should determine a controlled substance offense under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b) based on the substances controlled at the time of the prior c…
25-5091 Andres Burgara v. United States Ninth Circuit 2025-07-14 Denied Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP controlled-substance criminal-offense drug-possession simultaneous-possession statutory-interpretation united-states-code Does the simultaneous possession of one type of controlled substance in two different locations constitute a single offense under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1…
24-1328 United States v. Keshon Daveon Baxter Eighth Circuit 2025-06-30 Denied Response RequestedRelisted (2) constitutional-challenge controlled-substance criminal-statute drug-use firearms-possession second-amendment Whether 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which prohibits firearm possession by unlawful drug users, violates the Second Amendment
24-1247 United States v. La'Vance LeMarr Cooper Eighth Circuit 2025-06-06 Denied Relisted (3) constitutional-challenge controlled-substance criminal-statute drug-use firearms-possession second-amendment Whether 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which prohibits firearm possession by unlawful drug users, violates the Second Amendment
24-1248 United States v. Patrick Darnell Daniels, Jr. Fifth Circuit 2025-06-06 Pending Relisted (3) constitutional-challenge controlled-substance criminal-statute federal-law firearms-possession second-amendment Whether 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which prohibits firearm possession by unlawful drug users, violates the Second Amendment
24-1249 United States v. Kindle Terrell Sam Fifth Circuit 2025-06-06 Pending Relisted (3) constitutional-challenge controlled-substance criminal-statute drug-use firearms-possession second-amendment Whether 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), which prohibits firearm possession by unlawful drug users, violates the Second Amendment
24-7070 In Re Shawn Michael Chalifoux 2025-04-24 Denied IFP conspiracy controlled-substance false-testimony grand-jury prosecutorial-misconduct selective-prosecution Does an Assistant U.S. Attorney have the authority to present perjurious testimony and/or false declarations before a grand jury and/or district court…
24-6936 Deveon Jamear Smith v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-04-07 Denied IFP constitutional-challenge controlled-substance criminal-statute federal-law firearm-possession second-amendment Whether the Charge of Unlawful User of or Addicted to Any Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm in Violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) is Fac…
24-6898 Avery Jamal Edwards v. United States Eighth Circuit 2025-03-31 Denied IFP controlled-substance criminal-law federal-law sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether an offense must have involved a substance that was controlled under federal law to be considered a 'controlled substance offense' as that term…
24-6410 Antoine Wiggins v. United States Third Circuit 2025-01-28 Denied Amici (1)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (7)IFP circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-procedure federal-law sentencing-guidelines state-law Whether the term 'controlled substance' in the Sentencing Guidelines refers only to substances controlled under federal law or also includes substance…
24-6222 Donat Caleb Porter v. North Carolina North Carolina 2025-01-02 Denied Response WaivedRelisted (2)IFP constitutional-rights controlled-substance exigent-circumstances fourth-amendment pro-se-litigation state-police-powers Whether North Carolina's Controlled Substance Act and Federal Substance laws violate constitutional rights regarding marijuana possession and use
24-6204 Ronald P. Hargrave v. United States Fourth Circuit 2024-12-26 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance due-process fourth-circuit harmless-error prescription-error ruan-standard Can a physician be convicted of a violation of 21 U.S.C. §841, post-Ruan, when that physician's conduct in prescribing the controlled substance was bo…
24-5996 Todd Norman v. United States Eighth Circuit 2024-11-19 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-offense federal-law sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether an offense must have involved a substance that was controlled under federal law to be considered a 'controlled substance offense' under § 4B1.…
24-5231 Dean Terry v. United States Fourth Circuit 2024-08-05 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances-act drug-conviction federal-drug-crimes federal-sentencing-guidelines sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Whether prior drug convictions eligible for the career offender sentencing enhancement in 28 U.S.C. § 994(h) must involve a 'controlled substance' as …
24-5105 Heclouis Nieves-Diaz v. United States First Circuit 2024-07-18 Denied Response WaivedIFP agreement circuit-split conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law overt-act sentencing-guidelines Whether the United States Sentencing Guidelines' definition of a 'controlled substance offense' is limited to only those state and federal crimes that…
24-5031 Keith White v. United States Seventh Circuit 2024-07-09 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-u.s.c.-§-846 career-offender controlled-substance controlled-substance-offenses criminal-procedure drug-offense federal-criminal-law sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation u.s.s.g.-§-4b1.2 Whether an offense under 21 U.S.C. § 846 may be included in the U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2 definition of 'controlled substance offenses' for purposes of sentenc…
23-7676 Romone Raphael Jackson v. United States Eighth Circuit 2024-06-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender career-offender-enhancement circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances-act drug-distribution federal-law sentencing-guidelines state-law Whether a state conviction for distributing a drug that includes substances not regulated under the federal Controlled Substances Act qualifies as a '…
23-7542 Anthony Obute v. United States Fifth Circuit 2024-05-22 Denied Response WaivedIFP appellate-rights appellate-waiver controlled-substance criminal-procedure pharmacy-operations plea-agreement sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Does a defendant's waiver of appellate rights in a plea agreement remain enforceable when the Presentence Investigation Report applies an enhancement …
23-7284 Neal Merrell Walker v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2024-04-22 Denied Response WaivedRelisted (2)IFP 4th-amendment conspiracy controlled-substance criminal-intent due-process ex-post-facto money-laundering sentencing sentencing-enhancement Due-process-violation
23-7190 Trivansky Swington v. United States Eighth Circuit 2024-04-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP armed-career-criminal armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-conviction criminal-sentencing decontrolled-substances eighth-circuit federal-sentencing federal-sentencing-guidelines sentencing-enhancement Whether prior drug convictions inclusive of substances that have since been decontrolled can be used to impose present day federal sentencing enhancem…
23-7075 Breon D. Hicks v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2024-03-26 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-procedure criminal-statute due-process firearm-possession firearms jury-instruction jury-instructions section-924(c) section-924c unlawful-user Whether the district court erroneously instructed the jury concerning the Section 924(c) charges?
23A757 Breon Hicks v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2024-02-16 Presumed Complete constitutional-challenge controlled-substance due-process firearm-possession second-amendment unlawful-user Whether 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(3), which criminalizes firearm possession by unlawful drug users, is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment
23-6692 Mustafa Deville Reynolds v. United States Sixth Circuit 2024-02-07 Denied IFP aiding-and-abetting chain-of-distribution controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-distribution criminal-law due-process enhanced-penalty pinkerton-liability sentencing-enhancement Whether the prosecution must prove aiding and abetting or Pinkerton coconspirator liability before a remote seller in a chain of distribution may be s…
23-6673 Lillian Akwuba v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2024-02-06 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure harmless-error intent-element jury-instruction jury-instructions medical-care mens-rea standard-of-care Whether the stringent harmless error language from Neder applies to Ruan-based jury instruction error?
23A661 Andrew Tablack v. United States Third Circuit 2024-01-18 Presumed Complete controlled-substance criminal-procedure drug-indictment federal-crime scheduling statutory-interpretation Whether a federal drug indictment fails to state a valid offense when the alleged controlled substance is not explicitly scheduled in the U.S. Code or…
23-6499 Pete Manning v. United States Third Circuit 2024-01-17 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-procedure drug-schedules federal-law federal-sentencing sentencing-guidelines state-law time-of-consequences time-of-conviction Whether the term 'controlled substance' is defined by the drug schedules that existed at the time of the prior predicate conviction, or the drug sched…
23-6454 Darwin Dwayne Hutchins v. United States Sixth Circuit 2024-01-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender cocaine-definition controlled-substance federal-vs-state-law non-violent-drug-crimes sentence-length sentencing-discretion sentencing-guidelines state-federal-definition Did the district court err in counting Hutchins's Ohio cocaine conviction as a controlled substance offense for career offender under the Sentencing G…
23-6399 Michael Salinas v. United States Ninth Circuit 2023-12-29 Denied Response WaivedIFP conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-intent criminal-law drug-conspiracy mandatory-minimum mens-rea sentencing sentencing-enhancement Whether, to prove conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance triggering mandatory-minimum and increased-maximum penalties, the government must pr…
23-6394 Andrew Tablack v. United States Third Circuit 2023-12-28 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law criminal-procedure drug-offense federal-statute indictment indictment-defect scheduling statutory-interpretation Is there a legal element in 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) that requires the CDS named in the indictment to be listed on the Controlled Substance Schedules at th…
23-6314 Dana Jahmal Stevenson v. United States Fourth Circuit 2023-12-20 Denied Response WaivedIFP appellate-review attempt attempt-offense controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law federal-sentencing-guidelines sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether a prior sentence for a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) qualifies as a 'controlled-substance-offense' under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A)
23-6135 Charles Kevin Agerton v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-11-29 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law federal-jurisdiction legal-interpretation offense-matching sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether an offense-matching categorical approach applies to the determination of a 'controlled substance offense' under the Sentencing Guidelines?
23-6118 T'Shaun Omar Jones v. United States Sixth Circuit 2023-11-28 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance federal-law federal-sentencing federal-sentencing-guidelines guideline-construction legal-definition state-law statutory-interpretation vehicle-for-review Is the definition of 'controlled substance' in the federal sentencing guidelines controlled by federal or state law?
23-6074 Sylvester Onyejiaka, Jr. v. Missouri Missouri 2023-11-22 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-law double-jeopardy fifth-amendment missouri-opinion possession-of-controlled-substance sentencing unlawful-use-of-weapon weapon-possession Whether a defendant's Fifth Amendment right against double jeopardy is violated when convictions and sentences are entered for unlawful use of a weapo…
23-5782 Tyrone Robinson, aka Tyrone R. Robinson v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-10-13 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance federal-law grievous-ambiguity rule-of-lenity sentencing-guidelines state-law statutory-interpretation Whether the meaning of the term 'controlled substance' in the Sentencing Guidelines includes any substance prohibited by state law, or instead only th…
23-376 United States v. Patrick Darnell Daniels, Jr. Fifth Circuit 2023-10-10 GVR Relisted (2) 2nd-amendment civil-rights constitutional-law constitutional-rights controlled-substance criminal-law drug-user due-process firearm-possession second-amendment statutory-interpretation Whether 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) violates the Second Amendment
23-5604 Ernesto Ordunez v. United States Fifth Circuit 2023-09-18 Denied Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP career-offender controlled-substance crime-of-violence elements-clause preservation-of-error prior-conviction sentencing sentencing-enhancement Whether an objection that a prior conviction is not a crime of violence and a district court's subsequent analysis of whether it meets the elements cl…
23-5587 Daniel Carrington v. United States Fourth Circuit 2023-09-14 Denied Response WaivedIFP burden-of-proof causation controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law death-causation due-process proximate-cause reasonable-doubt statutory-interpretation Whether the Court's decision in United States v. Burrage created a bright line rule on proof of proximate cause
23-198 Jamar M. Lewis v. United States Third Circuit 2023-09-05 Denied Amici (1) armed-career-criminal-act categorical-approach controlled-substance federal-law predicate-conviction sentencing-guidelines state-law Whether the term 'controlled substance' in the Sentencing Guidelines is defined at the time of the predicate conviction or when federal consequences a…
23-5358 Devin Jerrod Long v. United States Sixth Circuit 2023-08-15 Denied IFP controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law drug-conviction drug-offense federal-judge prior-felony prior-felony-convictions sentence-enhancement sentencing-guidelines Can a federal judge impose a sentence enhancement based on a prior drug conviction inclusive of a substance that is no longer controlled at the time o…
23-5266 Mantell Alabi Stevens v. United States Sixth Circuit 2023-08-02 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-conviction criminal-law drug-distribution due-process jury-instructions reasonable-doubt sentencing sentencing-enhancement sufficiency-of-evidence Can a court send a case to the jury when the evidence is only sufficient to give them a choice between probabilities instead of being sufficient to pr…
23-5236 Marvas Aurelien v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-07-28 Denied IFP circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-sentencing drug-schedules federal-drug-schedules federal-law federal-sentencing sentencing-guidelines state-drug-offenses Whether the 'controlled substance' definition in United States Sentencing Guideline § 4B1.2(b) incorporates the federal drug schedules in effect at th…
23-5164 Ermin Adzemovic v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-07-21 Denied IFP controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-sentencing decontrolled-substances drug-offense federal-sentencing-guidelines guideline-range prior-conviction sentencing-guidelines ussg-4b1.2 Does a prior drug conviction under a statute that included now decontrolled substances qualify as a 'controlled substance offense' to enhance a defend…
23-5114 Leroy C. Tate v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-07-17 Denied IFP armed-career-criminal-act career-offender categorical-approach circuit-split controlled-substance eighth-circuit-interpretation federal-sentencing-guidelines mcneill-precedent mcneill-v-united-states sentencing-guidelines state-law Does McNeill require courts to define 'controlled substance' under § 4B1.2 of the federal sentencing guidelines by consulting superseded state schedul…
22-7898 Anthony Lamart Lawrence v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-06-29 Denied IFP armed-career-criminal armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-sentencing decontrolled-substances drug-conviction eighth-circuit federal-sentencing federal-sentencing-guidelines sentencing-enhancement Whether prior drug convictions inclusive of substances that have since been decontrolled can be used to impose present day federal sentencing enhancem…
22-7903 Denvy Hoffman v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-06-29 Denied IFP armed-career-criminal armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-sentencing decontrolled-substances drug-conviction eighth-circuit federal-sentencing federal-sentencing-guidelines sentencing-enhancement Whether prior drug convictions inclusive of substances that have since been decontrolled can be used to impose present day federal sentencing enhancem…
22-7904 Andrew Ryan Demont v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-06-29 Denied IFP appellate-review armed-career-criminal circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-law drug-convictions federal-guidelines federal-sentencing sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether prior drug convictions inclusive of decontrolled substances can be used for federal sentencing enhancements
22-7864 Tommy Lee Hubbard, Jr. v. United States Sixth Circuit 2023-06-26 Denied Response WaivedIFP circumstantial-evidence civil-rights controlled-substance controlled-substances due-process federal-courts hemp legal-interpretation marijuana marijuana-classification thc-threshold Can the federal courts rely exclusively upon circumstantial evidence to decide that a marijuana substance is illegal, when the circumstances surroundi…
22-7755 Jerome Williams v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-06-12 Denied IFP armed-career-criminal-act career-offender categorical-approach circuit-split controlled-substance federal-sentencing-guidelines mcneill-precedent mcneill-v-united-states sentencing-guidelines state-drug-laws Does McNeill require courts to define 'controlled substance' under §§ 4B1.1 and 4B1.2 of the federal sentencing guidelines by consulting superseded st…
22-7736 Brandon Ross Williams v. United States Tenth Circuit 2023-06-08 Denied Relisted (2)IFP armed-career-criminal-act categorical-approach controlled-substance criminal-law drug-offense federal-jurisdiction predicate-offense sentencing Whether the categorical approach for determining a 'serious drug offense' under the Armed Career Criminal Act applies the federal definition of 'contr…
22-7716 Minnela Moore v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-06-06 Denied IFP circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-law drug-schedules federal-drug-schedules federal-offense sentencing-guidelines state-drug-offenses statutory-interpretation Whether the term 'controlled substance' from the 'controlled substance offense' definition in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b) is limited to substances that are fe…
22-7675 Quanathan Naiji Knox Ivery v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-05-31 Denied IFP armed-career-criminal armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-sentencing decontrolled-substances drug-conviction eighth-circuit federal-sentencing federal-sentencing-guidelines sentencing-enhancement Whether prior drug convictions inclusive of substances that have since been decontrolled can be used to impose present day federal sentencing enhancem…
22-7552 Jeffrey Christopher Anders v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-05-15 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense deference-to-agency-interpretation genuine-ambiguity guidelines-commentary inchoate-offenses judicial-deference sentencing-guidelines Whether courts may defer to guidelines commentary without first determining that the underlying Guideline is genuinely ambiguous
22-7516 Adam Dean Brown v. United States Sixth Circuit 2023-05-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP bodily-injury controlled-substance criminal-intent drug-offense due-process felony-statute jury-determination prior-conviction sentencing sentencing-enhancement Whether the term 'knowingly or intentionally' requires the Government to prove that the defendant knew what substance he or she was distributing to ob…
22-7385 Timothy Eugene Brown v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-04-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP armed-career-offender controlled-substance controlled-substances eleventh-circuit federal-enhancement florida-priors sentencing sentencing-guidelines state-law state-priors Whether the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals erred in its decision in United States v. Jackson
22-7263 Christopher L. Ramirez v. United States Seventh Circuit 2023-04-12 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances due-process equal-protection federal-law sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether 'controlled substance offenses' under United States Sentencing Guidelines §4B1.2(b) are limited to those offenses involving substances listed …
22-6834 Michael Laury v. United States Third Circuit 2023-02-22 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance crackhouse-statute drug-activity drug-distribution purpose purpose-element statutory-interpretation title-21-section-856 Whether the Government is required to show that drug activity constitutes the primary or principal purpose of the property, or only that drug distribu…
22-6825 Richie Lee Edmonds, III v. United States Sixth Circuit 2023-02-21 Denied Relisted (2)IFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-history criminal-law drug-distribution due-process federal-sentencing federalism sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether a prior state conviction for drug distribution qualifies as a 'controlled substance offense' under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b)
22-6717 Vontez Scales, aka Tez v. United States Third Circuit 2023-02-07 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender categorical-approach circuit-split civil-rights controlled-substance criminal-law delivery-definition due-process sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether prior convictions for inchoate offenses involving 'delivery' of controlled substances, where the state statute includes 'attempted transfer' a…
22-6493 Robert Keith Kinsey v. United States Fifth Circuit 2023-01-09 Denied Response WaivedIFP 5th-amendment 6th-amendment constitutional-rights controlled-substance criminal-procedure due-process fifth-circuit preponderance-of-evidence sentencing supervised-release trial-by-jury Does 18 U.S.C. § 3583(g) unconstitutionally deprive federal supervised releasees of the right to trial by jury?
22-6345 Jeffrey Johnson v. United States Seventh Circuit 2022-12-20 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-cfr-1308.11 career-offender controlled-substance controlled-substance-analogue drug-classification motion-to-suppress schedule-1 search-and-seizure search-warrant sentencing seventh-circuit Whether the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals incorrectly allowed the District Court's Determination that Furanyl fentanyl was a 'controlled substance …
22-6307 John Homer Legros, Jr. v. United States Fifth Circuit 2022-12-15 Denied Response WaivedIFP conspiracy controlled-substance criminal-law drug-offense federal-jurisdiction sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether 'Conspiracy' to Commit a Crime is a Controlled Substance Offense as defined under the United States Sentencing Guidelines Section §4B1.2
22-6211 In Re Patricia Ann Solomon 2022-12-02 Denied IFP civil-rights conspiracy conspiracy-charge controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law drug-distribution heck-v-humphrey legitimate-purpose medical-prescription prescribing-authority prescription-drugs Can Ms. Patricia Solomon, a physician assistant who never prescribed any drug, be convicted under 21 U.S.C. §846 in the Eastern District of Kentucky L…
22-6117 Tracy Lamont Miles v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2022-11-21 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law federal-jurisdiction federal-question sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the term 'controlled substance' from the 'controlled substance offense' definition in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b) is limited to substances that are fe…
22-5902 Monica Rodriguez v. United States Ninth Circuit 2022-10-25 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 circuit-split controlled-substance drug-conspiracy mandatory-minimum mens-rea sentencing sentencing-enhancement To prove conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance triggering mandatory-minimum and increased-maximum penalties, does the government need to est…
22-5879 Eugene Thurman v. United States Fifth Circuit 2022-10-20 Denied IFP administrative-law appellate-review controlled-substance criminal-law due-process fifth-circuit sentencing-guidelines separation-of-powers statutory-interpretation Did the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals err in deferring to the Sentencing Commission's use of commentary to expand the definition of 'controlled subst…
22-5816 Tony Lam v. United States Fifth Circuit 2022-10-12 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 career-offender conspiracy conspiracy-offense controlled-substance ineffective-assistance legislative-authority legislative-delegation sentencing-commission sentencing-guidelines Did trial counsel provide ineffective assistance to his client upon his failure to research, investigate, and object to his client's career offender c…
22-5693 Rosa Isela Acuna v. United States Ninth Circuit 2022-09-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-conviction criminal-law drug-importation due-process mens-rea sentencing sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Whether a defendant can be convicted and subjected to enhanced punishment for drug type and quantity without proof of knowledge
22-5665 Geoffrie Dill v. United States Seventh Circuit 2022-09-22 Denied Response WaivedIFP appeals controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law drug-offense federal-jurisdiction federal-sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Does 'controlled substance offense' refer only to substances prohibited by the Controlled Substance Act?
22-5472 Aaron Michael Shamo v. United States Tenth Circuit 2022-08-30 Denied Response WaivedIFP anti-drug-abuse-act chemical-compound chemical-compounds controlled-substance counsel-waiver cruel-and-unusual-punishment drug-distribution drug-sentencing eighth-amendment essential-elements fentanyl statutory-interpretation Whether Petitioner's counsel's actions constituted a waiver or forfeiture of the argument that the government failed to prove Petitioner distributed t…
22-5461 James Keith Russey v. United States Tenth Circuit 2022-08-29 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach circuit-split controlled-substance federal-jurisdiction judicial-interpretation legal-uniformity sentencing-guidelines state-law Whether the categorical approach requires courts to define Sentencing Guidelines terms like 'controlled substance' uniformly
22-5449 Antonio Rodriguez, Jr. v. United States Fifth Circuit 2022-08-25 Denied Response WaivedIFP appellate-review circuit-conflict controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense drug-trafficking federal-conviction federal-drug-trafficking federal-sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Is it obvious error to find a prior federal drug trafficking conviction is a 'controlled substance offense' under the Sentencing Guidelines when the s…
22-5427 Jade Christian Nichols v. United States Tenth Circuit 2022-08-23 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure federal-law federal-sentencing preemption sentencing-guidelines state-law statutory-interpretation Does a state definition of 'controlled substance' control a federal sentencing enhancement under the Sentencing Guidelines, when the state lists subst…
22-5417 Charles E. Williams v. United States Eighth Circuit 2022-08-22 Denied Response WaivedIFP armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance criminal-law drug-transactions occasions-different personal-use-amounts sentencing-enhancement undercover-law-enforcement undercover-officer Are sequential drug transactions over a short time frame 'committed on occasions different from one another' for the purpose of the Armed Career Crimi…
22-5378 Robert Collazo, Lino Delgado-Vidaca, Julio Rodriguez, and Steven Amador v. United States Ninth Circuit 2022-08-17 Denied Response WaivedIFP conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law criminal-penalties drug-distribution due-process mandatory-minimum mens-rea sentencing Whether, to prove conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance triggering mandatory-minimum and increased-maximum penalties, the Government must sh…
22-5342 Patrick LaJuan Jones, Jr. v. United States Tenth Circuit 2022-08-11 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure federal-law federal-sentencing preemption sentencing-guidelines state-law statutory-interpretation Does a state definition of 'controlled substance' control a federal sentencing enhancement under the Sentencing Guidelines, when the state lists subst…
22-5204 Ramon Belducea-Mancinas v. United States Fifth Circuit 2022-07-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender circuit-conflict controlled-substance drug-trafficking federal-drug-conviction fifth-circuit plain-error sentencing-guidelines Is it obvious error to find a prior federal drug trafficking conviction is a 'controlled substance offense' under the Sentencing Guidelines when the s…
22-76 Keith L. Carnes v. United States Eighth Circuit 2022-07-26 Denied Amici (2) 2nd-amendment circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law criminal-statute drug-use due-process firearm-possession firearms statutory-interpretation unlawful-user Whether the government must show the defendant's regular or habitual drug use to establish that the defendant is an 'unlawful user' of a controlled su…
22-5076 Holli Womack v. United States Sixth Circuit 2022-07-12 GVR IFP constitutional-vagueness controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law criminal-liability due-process health-care health-care-professional professional-liability ruan-v-united-states statutory-interpretation vagueness Should Petition Womack's conviction be vacated?
21-8123 Terry Malone v. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 2022-06-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP burden-of-proof controlled-substance criminal-procedure due-process fourteenth-amendment mandatory-presumption patterson-v-new-york rebuttable-presumption Did the superior court violate the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment and the dictates of this court in 'Patterson v. New York', 432 U.S. …
21-8075 Ricky Bagola v. United States Eighth Circuit 2022-06-07 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-801 advisory-range controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense controlled-substances-act criminal-law federal-sentencing-guidelines federal-statute prior-conviction sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation ussg-4b1.2(b) Is the term 'controlled substance' in § 4B1.2(b) limited to those substances defined and regulated under the federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S…
21-7070 Anderson Curtel Duke v. United States Fifth Circuit 2022-02-08 Denied Response WaivedIFP agency-deference agency-interpretation attempt-crimes circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense judicial-deference kisor-v-wilkie sentencing-guidelines stare-decisis stinson-v-united-states Should courts defer to Sentencing-Guidelines-commentary when there is no ambiguity in the underlying-text?
21-6825 Diana Bustamante v. United States Eighth Circuit 2022-01-12 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender categorical-approach circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law modified-categorical-approach predicate-offenses sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Do statutes criminalizing simulated controlled substances count as predicate 'controlled substance offenses' for applicability of the career offender …
21-6758 Cameron Taevon Jones v. United States Tenth Circuit 2022-01-04 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-law federal-law guidelines sentencing sentencing-guidelines state-law Does the term 'controlled substance offense' as defined in the Guidelines include offenses under state law that are not categorical matches under fede…
21-6332 Daeron Johnson Merrett, aka Reez v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-11-18 Denied Response WaivedIFP appeals-court-split buyer-seller-instruction circuit-split conspiracy-distribution controlled-substance drug-conspiracy federal-drug-offenses mandatory-minimum mandatory-minimum-sentence sentencing-enhancement serious-drug-felony issue-being-raised
21-6295 Jmarreon Mack v. United States Fifth Circuit 2021-11-16 Denied IFP administrative-law appellate-review attempt controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense deference fifth-circuit judicial-deference sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Did the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals err in deferring to the Sentencing Commission's use of commentary to expand the definition of 'controlled subst…
21-6280 Johnny Williams v. United States Sixth Circuit 2021-11-15 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-sentencing drug-conspiracy drug-distribution-conspiracy due-process enhanced-sentence mens-rea statutory-construction statutory-interpretation When the Government clearly defines the scope and object of a drug distribution conspiracy in a charging Indictment, do the lower courts err when they…
21-6231 Christopher Lee Scott v. United States Fourth Circuit 2021-11-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substance-offenses divisibility fourth-circuit-review modified-categorical-approach precedent remand sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Whether S.C. Code §§ 44-53-370 and 44-53-375(B) are divisible into three offenses
21-6111 Jonas Ross, III v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-10-29 Denied Response WaivedIFP burrage-standard burrage-v-united-states but-for-causation causation circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law drug-distribution eighth-circuit evidence Whether the Eighth Circuit's conclusion that Mr. Ross distributed the controlled substance that resulted in the death of K.P. is in conflict with Burr…
21-5872 Antonio Donnel Johnson v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-10-04 Denied Response WaivedIFP administrative-law controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense guideline-commentary inchoate-offense inchoate-offenses precursor-offense precursor-offenses sentencing-commission sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the United States Sentencing Commission exceeded its authority by adding inchoate and precursor offenses to the definition of 'controlled subs…
21-5731 Sheridan Sisk v. United States Seventh Circuit 2021-09-22 Denied IFP circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law due-process federal-sentencing-guidelines federal-statute sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Does the phrase 'controlled substance' in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b) include substances excluded from the Controlled Substances Act?
21-5633 Roland J. McLain v. United States Seventh Circuit 2021-09-10 Denied IFP career-offender circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-law due-process federal-guidelines federal-sentencing-guidelines sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the phrase 'controlled substance' in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b) includes substances excluded from the Controlled Substances Act
21-5413 Antoine L. Wallace v. United States Seventh Circuit 2021-08-18 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-procedure drug-offense federal-law sentencing-guidelines state-law statutory-interpretation Does the undefined term 'controlled substance' in the federal Sentencing Guidelines refer to substances controlled by federal law or state law?
21-5307 Millard Jerome Strickland, Jr. v. United States Fourth Circuit 2021-08-05 Denied Response WaivedRelisted (4)IFP career-offender circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-conviction federal-law sentencing-guidelines state-law Whether a prior conviction involving a substance that is not a controlled substance for the purposes of federal law can render a federal defendant a '…
21-143 Raymond Rodriguez-Rivera v. United States First Circuit 2021-08-03 Denied Amici (3)Response Waived agreement circuit-split conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law overt-act sentencing-guidelines Whether the United States Sentencing Guidelines' definition of a 'controlled substance offense' is limited to only those state and federal crimes that…
21-5099 Thomas Javion Guerrant v. United States Fourth Circuit 2021-07-14 Denied Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (4)IFP career-offender controlled-substance drug-trafficking federal-law predicate-offense sentencing-guidelines state-conviction Does a state conviction for distribution of a substance not defined as a 'controlled substance' by federal law qualify as a career offender predicate …
21-5042 John Shields v. United States Sixth Circuit 2021-07-08 Denied IFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure double-jeopardy evidence guilty-plea money-laundering plain-error waiver waiver-doctrine Whether the Sixth Circuit's blanket policy of relying on the waiver doctrine conflicts with this Court's plain-error-jurisprudence
20-8310 Kenrick Brathwaite v. United States Second Circuit 2021-06-15 Denied Response WaivedIFP apprendi-rule circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law drug-conspiracy jury-instructions jury-verdict sentencing sentencing-exposure statutory-interpretation statutory-penalties What is the statutory maximum sentence for a conspiracy conviction under 21 U.S.C. §§ 963 or 846, where the jury has declined to make any specific fin…
20-8213 James Atwood v. United States Seventh Circuit 2021-06-03 Denied Relisted (4)IFP career-offender circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances federal-law sentencing-guidelines state-law Does the undefined term 'controlled substance' in the federal Sentencing Guidelines refer to substances controlled by federal law or state law?
20-8189 Heather Dawn Griffith v. United States Fifth Circuit 2021-06-02 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-procedure drug-distribution federal-rule federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure plea-agreement plea-bargaining sentencing statutory-interpretation Whether, in a prosecution under 21 U.S.C. § 846, Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(b)(3) requires a statement sufficient to show an agreement to d…
20-8084 Gregory Brown v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-05-20 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law federal-courts federal-procedure mens-rea sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether 28 U.S.C. § 994(h)(2)(B) and the definition of a 'controlled substance offense' in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b) require that a defendant's prior offens…
20-8077 Kavoris Clayton v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-05-19 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law drug-offense mens-rea sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the drug conduct in the 'controlled substance offense' definition in U.S. Sentencing Guideline § 4B1.2(b) requires knowledge of the illicit na…
20-8047 Cornelius R. Caple v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-05-17 Denied IFP acca assault career-offender controlled-substance criminal-law elements-clause mens-rea sentencing-guidelines Whether the drug conduct in the 'controlled substance offense' definition in U.S. Sentencing Guideline § 4B1.2(b) requires knowledge of the illicit na…
20-7872 Jeremy Darnell Morton v. United States Sixth Circuit 2021-04-28 Denied Response WaivedIFP 4th-amendment appeal attempt-offense career-offender controlled-substance criminal-procedure guideline-range harmless-error search-and-seizure sentencing Did the court of appeals err in using the harmless error rule to resolve the illegal search and seizure of $8,300?
20-7798 Christopher Williams v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-04-20 GVR Relisted (4)IFP armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance drug-transactions judicial-vindictiveness law-enforcement-officer occasions-different prosecutorial-vindictiveness sentencing sentencing-recommendation undercover-law-enforcement Are sequential drug transactions over a short time frame 'committed on occasions different from one another' for purposes of the Armed Career Criminal…
20-7742 Deandre Joseph Warren v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-04-14 Denied IFP administrative-law controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense guideline-commentary inchoate-offense inchoate-offenses precursor-offense precursor-offenses sentencing-commission sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the United States Sentencing Commission exceeded its authority by adding inchoate and precursor offenses to the definition of 'controlled subs…
20-7533 Preston James v. United States Second Circuit 2021-03-23 Denied IFP career-offender career-offender-guideline controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense guideline-commentary inchoate-offense inchoate-offenses sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether it is a misapplication of the Sentencing Guidelines for a sentencing court to defer to guideline commentary that expands the definition of a c…
20-7387 Vaughn Lewis v. United States First Circuit 2021-03-09 Denied Relisted (2)IFP agency-deference career-offender controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense deference inchoate-offenses sentencing-guidelines separation-of-powers statutory-interpretation Whether the commentary can add conspiracy and other inchoate offenses not included in the guideline definition of 'controlled substance offense'
20-7327 Timothy A. Ward v. United States Fourth Circuit 2021-03-05 Denied IFP career-offender categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law federal-guidelines federal-law sentencing sentencing-guidelines state-drug-schedules state-law Whether the term 'controlled substance' in the federal sentencing guidelines should be defined by federal law or the law of the state where the prior …
20-7277 Niles O'Neil v. United States Second Circuit 2021-03-03 Denied Relisted (2)IFP appellate-review controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense inchoate-offense inchoate-offenses judicial-deference kisor-v-wilkie sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the Court of Appeals erred in holding that the U.S. Sentencing Commission acted within its authority by its commentary to § U.S. Sentencing Gu…
20-7276 Russell Lawayne Montague v. United States Fifth Circuit 2021-03-01 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure due-process protective-order sentencing-disparities sentencing-factors sentencing-guidelines sentencing-review supervised-release Whether the district court ordered an unreasonably long 114-month prison sentence
20-7284 Tyrell Donte Curry v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-03-01 Denied Amici (2)IFP armed-career-criminal-act categorical-approach controlled-substance criminal-procedure mens-rea serious-drug-offense statutory-interpretation Whether the drug conduct in the Armed Career Criminal Act's 'serious drug offense' definition in 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(A)(ii) requires knowledge of th…
20-7285 Cedric Durand Collins v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-03-01 Denied IFP controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law drug-offense due-process knowledge-requirement mens-rea sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the drug conduct in the 'controlled substance offense' definition in U.S. Sentencing Guideline. § 4B1.2(b) requires knowledge of the illicit n…
20-7286 Kashus Davis v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-03-01 Denied IFP 18-usc-924 armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance criminal-law criminal-procedure mens-rea serious-drug-offense statutory-interpretation Whether the drug conduct in the Armed Career Criminal Act's 'serious drug offense' definition in 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(A)(ii) requires knowledge of th…
20-7287 Viguens Cius v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-03-01 Denied IFP controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law drug-offense due-process knowledge-requirement mens-rea sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the drug conduct in the 'controlled substance offense' definition in U.S. Sentencing Guideline § 4B1.2(b) requires knowledge of the illicit na…
20-7204 Shane Faithful v. United States Fifth Circuit 2021-02-22 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-distribution criminal-law federal-sentencing medical-care medical-prescription prescription-drugs sentencing sixth-amendment statutory-interpretation Whether a physician who prescribes a controlled substance to a patient for reasons other than medical care has unlawfully 'dispensed' the substance, u…
20-7167 Elin Robinson Mejia Romero v. United States First Circuit 2021-02-17 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-intent criminal-law drug-distribution due-process mens-rea sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Whether a defendant can be convicted and subjected to enhanced punishment under 21 U.S.C. § 841 without proof that he knew the drug type and quantity
20-7069 Martell Roberts v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-02-08 Denied Relisted (2)IFP administrative-law controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense guideline-commentary inchoate-offense inchoate-offenses precursor-offense precursor-offenses sentencing-commission sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the United States Sentencing Commission exceeded its authority by adding inchoate and precursor offenses to the definition of 'controlled subs…
20-7006 Jacquere Doran, aka Jacare Gorman v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-02-01 Denied Response WaivedIFP base-offense-level controlled-substance criminal-sentencing district-court-error enhancement felony-conviction felony-enhancement marijuana-conviction prior-conviction sentencing-guidelines Did the District Court err in treating Mr. Doran's prior California conviction for sale of marijuana as a felony conviction and using it to enhance hi…
20-6730 Jose Lupe Corrall v. United States Fifth Circuit 2020-12-31 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law criminal-procedure drug-distribution due-process federal-scheduling guilty-plea knowledge-standard mens-rea plea-bargaining statutory-interpretation Whether, under McFadden v. United States, a defendant pleading guilty to knowingly distributing a controlled substance must admit that he knew the sub…
20-6405 Joshua Cato v. United States Fifth Circuit 2020-11-23 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law criminal-procedure drug-distribution due-process federal-scheduling guilty-plea knowledge-standard mens-rea plea-bargaining statutory-interpretation Whether, under McFadden v. United States, a defendant who pleads guilty to knowingly distributing a controlled substance must admit that he knew the s…
20-6399 Duwayne Jones v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2020-11-20 Denied Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (3)IFP career-offender controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense eleventh-circuit fifth-circuit florida-statute-§-893.13 mens-rea second-circuit sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation u.s.s.g.-§-4b1.2(b) Is a post-2002 conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver or sell, in violation of Fla. Stat. § 893.13, a 'controlled substance offen…
20-6311 Russell Davis v. United States Sixth Circuit 2020-11-13 Denied Response WaivedIFP accomplice-liability co-conspirator-liability controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-law drug-distribution due-process enhanced-penalty pinkerton-liability sentencing Whether the government must satisfy the evidentiary requirements for accomplice liability under 18 U.S.C. §2 or co-conspirator liability under Pinkert…
20-6133 Theodore David Newcomb v. United States Eighth Circuit 2020-10-26 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach conspiracy conspiracy-elements controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense eighth-circuit inchoate-offense sentencing-commission statutory-interpretation Whether the United States Sentencing Commission exceeded its authority
20-5975 Nathaniel Ruth v. United States Seventh Circuit 2020-10-09 Denied IFP career-offender circuit-split controlled-substance drug-offenses federal-sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Does the phrase 'controlled substance' in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b) include substances that are excluded from the CSA?
20-5513 Timothy Allen McWilliams v. United States Eighth Circuit 2020-08-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender circuit-split conspiracy controlled-substance due-process methamphetamine sentencing-guidelines Whether courts must give deference to the commentary to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines § 4B1.1(b)(2) in determining career offender status
20-5321 Michael Wayne Wadena v. United States Eighth Circuit 2020-08-11 Denied Response WaivedIFP civil-rights controlled-substance criminal-history due-process eighth-amendment firearm-possession related-cases sentencing sentencing-enhancement serious-drug-offense statutory-interpretation Whether the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals have jurisdiction to hear a certificate of appealability
20-5284 Tony Lam v. United States Fifth Circuit 2020-08-06 Denied Response WaivedIFP administrative-law constitutional-authority controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law drug-conspiracy sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Does the U.S. Sentencing Commission's use of the Sentencing Guideline commentary in U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2 to capture drug conspiracy offenses within the me…
20-5054 Michael Lance Davis, aka Michael Scott Davis v. United States Ninth Circuit 2020-07-14 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach controlled-substance criminal-sentencing distribution manufacturing ninth-circuit possession-with-intent-to-distribute serious-drug-offense statutory-interpretation Whether Shular v. United States, 140 S. Ct. 779 (2020), abrogates the 'related to' test for whether a state crime qualifies as a serious drug offense
20-5055 Juan Carlos Castellanos Muratella v. United States Eighth Circuit 2020-07-14 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender circuit-conflict controlled-substance controlled-substances counterfeit-controlled-substances criminal-law drug-trafficking due-process imitation-controlled-substances simulated-substance statutory-interpretation Is a statute that includes simulated controlled substances, imitation controlled substances, and counterfeit controlled substances categorically a con…
19-8885 Juan Leonardo Cadenas-Urena v. United States Fifth Circuit 2020-07-01 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure drug-manufacturing due-process evidence evidence-sufficiency jury-verdict premises-liability sentencing-guidelines sufficiency-of-evidence Did the panel err by holding that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the jury's guilty verdict?
19-8586 Roy Ramirez v. United States Eighth Circuit 2020-06-02 Denied Response WaivedIFP attempt circuit-split conspiracy controlled-substance criminal-law inchoate-offense inchoate-offenses sentencing-guidelines Whether the United States Sentencing Commission has properly defined a 'controlled-substance-offense'
19-8038 Jermaine James v. United States Eighth Circuit 2020-03-18 Denied Response WaivedIFP attempt circuit-split commentary conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law inchoate-offense inchoate-offenses sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the United States Sentencing Commission has properly defined a 'controlled substance offense' under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b)
19-7957 Damar D. Ruffin v. United States Sixth Circuit 2020-03-12 Denied Response WaivedIFP appeals appellate-review controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-procedure double-jeopardy due-process evidence evidence-law jury-instruction jury-trial reversible-error sentencing standard-of-review Whether the court of appeals committed reversible error in determining the amount of a controlled substance
19-7760 Jeremy Achey v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2020-02-25 Denied Response WaivedIFP burden-of-proof conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substance-analogue criminal-sentencing drug-conspiracy due-process federal-drug-law mandatory-minimum sentencing statutory-interpretation statutory-penalties Whether the government must prove that a defendant conspired to distribute the specific controlled substance analogues charged in the indictment
19-7731 Michael Herrold v. United States Fifth Circuit 2020-02-21 Denied IFP armed-career-criminal-act burglary controlled-substance controlled-substances drug-distribution generic-burglary generic-definition intent intent-element overbreadth state-statute statutory-interpretation Where a state statute explicitly defines 'burglary' in a way that does not require proof of an intent to commit a crime, and thus lacks an element nec…
19-7706 Tommy Adams, Jr. v. United States Fourth Circuit 2020-02-19 Denied Response WaivedRelisted (2)IFP career-offender career-offender-guideline controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense controlled-substances criminal-law fourth-circuit modified-categorical-approach sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation taylor-descamps-mathis-precedent taylor-v-united-states Did the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals incorrectly apply the line of authority from this Court beginning with Taylor v. United States, 495 U.S. 575 (…
19-7665 Marvie Chapman, Jr. v. United States Eighth Circuit 2020-02-13 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-statute divisibility felony-drug-offense mathis-standard mathis-v-united-states sentencing-enhancement serious-drug-offense statutory-interpretation Whether a statute is indivisible for purposes of applying Mathis v. United States to 'controlled substance offense', 'serious drug offense', and 'felo…
19-7575 Rashaun Scott Carter v. United States Fourth Circuit 2020-02-05 Denied Response WaivedIFP appellate-review appellate-waiver controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-procedure due-process guilty-plea ineffective-assistance ineffective-assistance-of-counsel plea-bargaining presentence-investigation sentencing Does an appellate waiver bar an appeal based upon a flawed, prejudicial presentence investigation report performed between the trial court's acceptanc…
19-7472 Tymaine Akeen Lewis v. United States Fifth Circuit 2020-01-29 Denied IFP 18-usc-924(e) armed-career-criminal armed-career-criminal-act categorical-approach controlled-substance drug-offense firearm-possession prior-conviction qualifying-offense robbery statutory-interpretation texas-robbery violent Whether Petitioner is an Armed Career criminal under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)?
19-7057 Johnny L. Shelton v. United States Sixth Circuit 2019-12-26 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 21-usc-846 conspiracy controlled-substance criminal-penalty drug-conspiracy drug-trafficking fifth-amendment inchoate-crime sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Whether the 'death results' enhanced penalty provisions of 21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)(C) apply to a prosecution for the inchoate crime of conspiracy to comm…
19-6834 Lee Hope v. United States Sixth Circuit 2019-12-04 Denied Response WaivedIFP 18-usc-922g3 constitutional-vagueness controlled-substance criminal-procedure criminal-procedure-due-process-rehaif-v-united-sta due-process federal-statute judgment-of-acquittal rehaif-v-united-states unlawful-user vagueness Whether the Circuit Court of Appeals erred in holding that defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal was properly denied by the District Court
19-6849 Cedric Sharrod Williams v. United States Fourth Circuit 2019-12-04 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-court-review controlled-substance criminal-law drug-crimes due-process firearm-proximity firearms fourth-circuit sentencing sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Whether the fourth circuit court of appeals erred in concluding that, despite the controlled substance [heroin] in this matter having been locked in a…
19-6775 James Marione Butchee v. United States Eighth Circuit 2019-11-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender controlled-substance criminal-history due-process federal-sentencing ineffective-counsel sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation violent-felony Do having one violent felony and one controlled substance conviction qualify citizens to be a career offender?
19-6748 Steven A. Adams v. United States Seventh Circuit 2019-11-26 Denied Response WaivedIFP aiding-and-abetting ambiguity attempt conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law deference deference-doctrine sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines sentencing-guidelines-manual-4b1.2b statutory-interpretation Whether the term 'controlled substance offense' defined by UNITED STATES SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 4B1.2(b) is ambiguous
19-6586 Shane Inghels v. United States Seventh Circuit 2019-11-12 Denied IFP 18-usc-924 armed-career-criminal-act categorical-approach controlled-substance criminal-statute divisibility indiana-code indiana-code-35-48-4-1.1 serious-drug-offense statutory-interpretation Whether a conviction for dealing in methamphetamine under Indiana Code § 35-48-4-1.1 is improperly considered a 'serious drug offense' under the Armed…
19-6318 Damon Tracy Locke v. United States Eighth Circuit 2019-10-21 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-sentencing drug-statute drug-statutes mathis-precedent mathis-v-united-states plain-error sentencing-enhancement sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Is the Eighth Circuit interpretation and application of drug statutes as qualifying offenses for career offender status in opposition to Mathis v. Uni…
19-6149 Desmond Williams v. United States Eighth Circuit 2019-10-03 Denied Response WaivedIFP aiding-and-abetting civil-procedure civil-rights commentary conspiracy controlled-substance criminal-procedure due-process equal-protection federal-jurisdiction legal-analysis legal-citation legal-issues legal-research legal-terminology legal-writing sentencing-commission standing Whether the lower court erred in dismissing petitioner's claims
19-5871 Patrick Jones v. United States Seventh Circuit 2019-09-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP attempt controlled-substance controlled-substances federal-crime federal-law guidelines-interpretation mandatory-minimum offer-to-sell preparatory-action sentencing-commission sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation substantial-step tenth-circuit-precedent Did the district court err in increasing the defendant's sentence based on the Guidelines definition of 'controlled substance offense'?
19-5789 Jamar Lynn McMillan v. United States Third Circuit 2019-09-03 GVR Relisted (2)IFP career-offender career-offender-enhancement categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense pennsylvania-law predicate-offense rehaif-v-united-states sentencing-guidelines third-circuit Does the categorical approach apply in determining whether an offense qualifies as a predicate for the career-offender enhancement under the Sentencin…
19-5491 Shed T. Woods v. United States Seventh Circuit 2019-08-07 Denied IFP armed-career-criminal-act categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-conviction divisibility drug-offense indiana-code-35-48-4-1 indiana-statute serious-drug-offense statutory-interpretation Whether a conviction for dealing in cocaine or narcotic drug under Indiana Code § 35-48-4-1 is improperly considered a 'serious drug offense' under th…
19-5096 Nicholas Rivera v. United States Third Circuit 2019-07-09 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender career-offender-enhancement categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law federal-law pennsylvania-law predicate-offense sentencing-guidelines Whether the categorical approach applies in determining a predicate offense for career-offender enhancement
18A1368 Ibrahim McCants v. United States Third Circuit 2019-06-27 Presumed Complete controlled-substance crime-of-violence felon-in-possession motion-to-suppress sentencing-guidelines third-circuit Whether a prior state robbery conviction qualifies as a 'crime of violence' under the United States Sentencing Guidelines for purposes of sentence enh…
18A1365 Juaquene Solomon v. United States Sixth Circuit 2019-06-26 Presumed Complete career-offender controlled-substance judicial-discretion plea-agreement sentencing-guidelines sixth-circuit Whether a district court's career offender determination under the United States Sentencing Guidelines constitutes an improper judicial enhancement of…
18-9604 Reitilly Fuentes Ramos v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2019-06-11 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance criminal-procedure dangerous-weapon enhancement pellet-gun sentencing-guidelines ussg-2d1.1 Whether the District Court calculated Mr. Fuentes-Ramos's Sentencing Guidelines when it applied a two-level enhancement pursuant to USSG §2D1.1(b)(1) …
18-9574 Fayez Abu-Aish v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2019-06-06 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 21-usc-846 conspiracy controlled-substance criminal-intent distribution drug-distribution mcfadden-precedent specific-knowledge statutory-interpretation Whether the Government must prove that a defendant had specific knowledge of a controlled substance identified as XLR-11 in order to convict the defen…
18-9069 Hector Rengifo v. United States Third Circuit 2019-05-03 Denied Response WaivedIFP certificate-of-appealability circuit-court-split civil-procedure controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense court-of-appeals due-process habeas-corpus ineffective-assistance ineffective-assistance-of-counsel sentencing-guidelines sixth-amendment standing supreme-court-precedent united-states-v-winstead Whether two United States Court of Appeals has entered a decision in conflict with relevant decision of this Court
18-8392 Obinna Obiora v. United States First Circuit 2019-03-13 Denied Response WaivedIFP constitutional-law controlled-substance criminal-procedure drug-conspiracy due-process jackson-standard jackson-v-virginia reasonable-doubt sufficiency-of-evidence When the evidence that links a defendant to a charged drug conspiracy is based on his participation in an isolated series of alleged transactions with…
18-8265 Bradford D Vol Allen v. United States Fourth Circuit 2019-03-04 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-843b administrative-law auer-deference categorical-approach circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense notice-and-comment sentencing-commission sentencing-guidelines separation-of-powers statutory-interpretation Whether the Sentencing Commission may add a crime to the Sentencing Guideline definition of a 'controlled substance offense' without Congressional app…
18-1064 In Re Octavious DeMont Williams 2019-02-13 Denied 21-usc-841 burden-of-proof constitutional-due-process constitutional-rights controlled-substance criminal-procedure due-process elements-of-crime fifth-amendment judicial-misconduct jury jury-finding jury-trial Octavious Demont Williams petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that his constitutional due process was violated when he was deprived of the…
18-7498 Eddie Hall v. J. A. Terris, Warden Sixth Circuit 2019-01-18 Denied Response WaivedIFP career-offender career-offender-enhancement controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense due-process fundamental-defect habeas-corpus habeas-corpus-petition miscarriage-of-justice section-2241 sentencing sentencing-enhancement Whether the District and Circuit Courts erred in the denial of Hall's § 2241 Petition
18-6926 James Valentine v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2018-12-06 Denied Response WaivedRelisted (2)IFP circuit-court-conflict circuit-court-review circuit-split controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-sentencing criminal-sentencing-enhancement drug-conviction due-process ineffective-assistance ineffective-assistance-of-counsel prior-convictions sentence-enhancement sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Did the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals commit error in applying 21 U.S.C. §851 sentence enhancement?
18-6917 Rodolfo Portela v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2018-12-04 Denied Response WaivedIFP appeal competency-hearing conspiracy controlled-substance controlled-substances criminal-procedure criminal-procedure-sentencing drug-conspiracy drug-trafficking evidence-suppression firearm-possession sentencing sentencing-guidelines sufficiency-of-evidence Whether the district court erred in finding sufficient evidence of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
18-6858 Micah G. Pritchett v. United States Fourth Circuit 2018-11-28 Denied Response WaivedIFP categorical-approach controlled-substance criminal-law distribution drug-distribution federal-sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation virginia virginia-law Whether the Virginia offense of distribution of a controlled substance categorically qualifies as a 'controlled substance offense' under the U.S. Sent…
18-6748 Malachi M. Glass v. United States Third Circuit 2018-11-21 Denied Response WaivedIFP controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law criminal-statute drug-offense federal-law federal-sentencing pennsylvania pennsylvania-law sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether the broader Pennsylvania delivery of a controlled substance statute, 35 Pa. C.S.A. § 780-113(a)(30), qualifies as a 'controlled-substance-offe…
18-6474 Tyrone Hart v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2018-10-29 Denied Response WaivedIFP armed-career-criminal-act begay-v-united-states categorical-approach controlled-substance criminal-statute drug-offense elonis-v-united-states federal-law florida-statute intent-to-sell mens-rea serious-drug-offense staples-v-united-states Is a post-2002 conviction for possession with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver a controlled substance in violation of Fla. Stat. § 893.13 a 'se…
18-6398 Deon Pittman v. United States Sixth Circuit 2018-10-23 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split controlled-substance criminal-statute drug-offense element-of-offense federal-law means-of-offense michigan-law sentencing-guidelines state-law state-statute Whether the specific type of controlled substance is an element of the offense or one of many means to commit the offense under a state statute that p…
18-6301 Darrell Lynn Dancy v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2018-10-15 Denied Response WaivedIFP appeals-court armed-career-criminal-act controlled-substance criminal-procedure district-court factual-innocence predicate-offense sentencing-enhancement unlawful-distribution Whether the Appeals Court and District Court erred by failing to address Petitioner's factual innocence claim
18-5835 Juan Fernando Lizarraga-Leyva v. United States Ninth Circuit 2018-08-30 Denied Response WaivedIFP aggravated-felony controlled-substance deportation drug-trafficking drug-trafficking-crime illicit-trafficking immigration-law immigration-nationality-act mens-rea state-law statutory-interpretation Whether a state drug-trafficking conviction with no mens rea element or a mens rea element different than federal law constitutes the 'aggravated felo…
18-5684 Alejandro Verduzco-Rangel v. United States Ninth Circuit 2018-08-21 Denied Response WaivedIFP aggravated-felony controlled-substance deportation drug-trafficking immigration-law immigration-nationality-act mens-rea statutory-interpretation whether a state drug-trafficking crime with no mens rea element or a mens rea element different than federal law constitutes the 'aggravated felony' o…
18-5654 Willie Lee Daniels v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2018-08-20 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 collateral-review constitutional-challenge controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-law descamps-v-united-states mathis-v-united-states montgomery-v-louisiana retroactivity retroactivity-of-new-rules sentencing sentencing-enhancement Whether Mathis v. United States is retroactive to cases on collateral review
18-5274 Manuel Vega v. United States Ninth Circuit 2018-07-19 Denied Response WaivedIFP california-health-and-safety-code-11378 categorical-approach controlled-substance controlled-substance-offense criminal-conviction divisible-statute drug-offense federal-sentencing federal-sentencing-guideline mathis-v-united-states modified-categorical-approach sentencing-enhancement state-court-decision Whether a court fulfills the mandate of Mathis v. United States if it looks only to whether a state defendant can be punished more than once for posse…