fair-sentencing-act

43 cases — ← All topics

Case Title Lower Court Docketed Status Flags Tags Question Presented
24-6344 Tamir Abdullah v. United States Sixth Circuit 2025-01-21 Denied Response WaivedIFP criminal-procedure drug-quantity fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing-range statutory-interpretation Does the statute of conviction or a drug quantity in the record determine eligibility for relief under Section 404 of the First Step Act?
24-6292 Shannon L. Cotton v. United States Seventh Circuit 2025-01-14 Denied Response WaivedIFP criminal-sentencing fair-sentencing-act felony-classification first-step-act statutory-interpretation supervised-release Whether the plain language of 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3) requires a district court to determine the current classification of a defendant's felony by look…
24-6260 Chris Walker v. United States Fifth Circuit 2025-01-10 Denied Response WaivedIFP fair-sentencing-act fifth-circuit-standard first-step-act intervening-changes legal-review sentencing-reduction Is the Fifth Circuit's definition of a 'complete review' under Section 404 consistent with this Court's decision in Concepcion?
23-6600 Richard Daniel v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2024-01-29 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split covered-offense discretionary-sentencing fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing-discretion sentencing-package-doctrine sentencing-reduction Whether a district court can impose a reduced sentence for both covered and non-covered offenses under the First Step Act
23-6596 Kenneth Roshaun Reid v. United States District Court for the District of South Carolina Fourth Circuit 2024-01-26 Dismissed Response WaivedIFP board-of-immigration-appeals child-status-protection-act criminal-procedure discretion discretionary-review fair-sentencing-act immigration-law plain-error priority-date retroactivity sentencing statutory-interpretation Did the District Court abuse its discretion when it refused to apply the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 to Kenneth Roshaun Qedens
23-6418 Harvey Holland v. United States Third Circuit 2024-01-05 Denied Response WaivedIFP due-process fair-sentencing-act first-step-act jury-trial murder-cross-reference sentencing-discretion Whether the district court ruled directly contrary to the Court's direction in Concepcion by finding that Petitioner was eligible for relief but refus…
23-6403 Tony L. Ford v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2024-01-03 Denied Response WaivedIFP concepcion-precedent concepcion-v-united-states criminal-resentencing eleventh-circuit eleventh-circuit-interpretation fair-sentencing-act first-step-act intervening-law-changes sentencing sentencing-discretion statutory-penalty Whether the Eleventh Circuit's limitation on First Step relief contravenes Concepcion's holding, that in deciding whether to reduce the sentence of an…
23-6019 Luis Olivares v. United States Eighth Circuit 2023-11-16 Denied Response WaivedIFP 18-usc-3582 criminal-sentencing district-court district-court-discretion exceptional-circumstances fair-sentencing-act sentence-modification statutory-interpretation Whether the Fair Sentencing Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), permits a district court to modify Mr. Olivares' unusually long sentence in this exception…
23-5832 William R. Abbott v. Loretta Otis-Sanders, et al. Fifth Circuit 2023-10-18 Denied Response WaivedIFP civil-rights crack-cocaine criminal-procedure due-process eighth-amendment-cruel-and-unusual-punishment equal-protection fair-sentencing-act federal-sentencing federal-statute-of-limitations first-step-act prison-rape-elimination-act retroactivity whether the State of Louisiana Constitution's Equal Protection Clause embodies through the United States Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment
23-5755 Dewayne Joseph v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-10-11 Denied IFP circuit-split discretion discretionary-relief fair-sentencing-act first-step-act retroactive-application sentencing-guidelines Whether district courts have an obligation to calculate revised guidelines to reflect the retroactive effect of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 as a b…
23-341 Bobby Lee Ingram v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-10-02 Denied Relisted (2) apprendi-v-new-jersey concepcion-v-united-states drug-quantity eleventh-circuit fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing sentencing-reduction statutory-penalty terry-v-united-states Whether the Eleventh Circuit has violated Terry in holding that, at step one, district courts should disregard the 'elements' of a defendant's offense…
23-226 Antonio Soul Gonzalez v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-09-12 Denied Amici (1) covered-offense criminal-sentencing discretion district-court-discretion fair-sentencing-act first-step-act recalculation sentence-reduction sentencing-range statutory-interpretation Whether a district court must recalculate a movant's sentencing range as if Sections 2 and 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 were in effect at the …
23-5198 Richard Potts v. United States Third Circuit 2023-07-26 Denied Response WaivedIFP criminal-justice-reform criminal-sentencing discretionary-authority district-court-discretion fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing sentencing-reduction statutory-interpretation statutory-penalty Whether the Fair Sentencing Act modified the statutory penalty for petitioner's offense, so that petitioner is eligible for a sentence reduction under…
23-27 Michael Harper v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-07-10 Denied apprendi-v-new-jersey circuit-split criminal-resentencing drug-quantity fair-sentencing-act first-step-act judicial-discretion sentencing sentencing-reduction statutory-penalty terry-v-united-states Whether the Eleventh Circuit has violated Terry in holding that, at step one, district courts should disregard the 'elements' of a defendant's offense…
22-7832 David Troy, III v. United States Fourth Circuit 2023-06-22 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-court circuit-precedent criminal-resentencing fair-sentencing-act first-step-act fourth-circuit retroactive-changes retroactive-law sentencing sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether retroactive changes in the law unrelated to the Fair Sentencing Act must be corrected in a First Step Act proceeding?
22-7783 Pinkney Clowers, III v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2023-06-14 Denied Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP apprendi circuit-split concepcion-v-united-states criminal-enterprise drug-quantity fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing-discretion statutory-interpretation terry-v-united-states Whether the Eleventh Circuit's limitation on First Step Act relief contravenes Terry's element-based determination of eligibility and Concepcion's hol…
22-7309 James H. Roane, Jr., and Richard Tipton v. United States Fourth Circuit 2023-04-18 Denied IFP continuing-criminal-enterprise covered-offense criminal-enterprise drug-weight drug-weight-threshold fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing-range Whether the First Step Act's 'covered offense' analysis turns upon whether the Fair Sentencing Act modified the sentencing range for violation of a gi…
22-5061 Dewayne Joseph v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2022-07-11 GVR IFP concepcion-ruling concepcion-v-united-states crack-cocaine crack-penalties criminal-resentencing discretion eleventh-circuit fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing sentencing-modification Whether the First Step Act proceedings should be conducted similar to original sentencings in light of Concepcion v. United States
21-7342 Alejandro Salinas Garcia v. United States Fourth Circuit 2022-03-11 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 drug-sentencing fair-sentencing-act first-step-act least-harsh-sentence multiple-drug-types sentencing-parameters statutory-penalties statutory-sentencing Does the record demonstrate that a defendant was sentenced in accordance with the FSA1 for violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841, involving multiple drug type…
21-6357 Kenneth Roshaun Reid v. United States Fourth Circuit 2021-11-23 Denied Response WaivedIFP constitutional-violation criminal-procedure due-process fair-sentencing-act federal-sentencing habeas-corpus ineffective-counsel jurisdiction procedural-default retroactivity sentencing Whether the district court erred in denying Mr. Reid a fair hearing for resentencing and failing to bring him back to court for the application of the…
21-690 Rodney Earl Cannady, aka Camp Earl v. United States Fourth Circuit 2021-11-09 Denied career-offender cocaine-base-offense criminal-sentencing fair-sentencing-act first-step-act plain-error retroactive-amendment retroactivity sentencing-reduction Did the district court err by denying defendant Cannady relief pursuant to the retroactive First Step Act of 2018 and Fair Sentencing Act of 2010
21-6107 Thomas Johnson v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-10-27 Denied Relisted (3)IFP criminal-procedure criminal-resentencing district-court-discretion factual-developments fair-sentencing-act first-step-act legal-developments presidential-commutation sentencing sentencing-reduction statutory-interpretation Whether a district court must or may consider intervening legal and factual developments when deciding to impose a reduced sentence under the First St…
21-6007 Carlton Potts, aka Pep v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-10-19 Denied Relisted (3)IFP appellate-review criminal-resentencing criminal-sentencing district-court district-court-discretion factual-developments fair-sentencing-act first-step-act legal-developments sentencing-reduction statutory-interpretation Whether a district court must or may consider intervening legal and factual developments when deciding to impose a reduced sentence under the First St…
21-5874 Warren Lavell Jackson v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-10-04 GVR Relisted (3)IFP apprendi-rule apprendi-v-new-jersey constitutional-law constitutional-precedent covered-offense criminal-sentencing fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing-reduction statutory-interpretation Whether the 'as if' language in Section 404(b) of the First Step Act requires a sentencing court to disregard intervening, but well-established consti…
21-5584 Guerly Alexis v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-09-07 Denied Response WaivedIFP circuit-split criminal-procedure criminal-sentencing eleventh-circuit equal-protection fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing-relief statutory-interpretation Whether a defendant whose offense preceded the enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, and who was sentenced after its enactment, but not necess…
21-5480 Charles Bryant v. United States Second Circuit 2021-08-25 GVR Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (3)IFP circuit-split crack-cocaine fair-sentencing-act first-step-act judicial-discretion mandatory-minimum sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether a judge may impose a new sentence 'as if' only the change to the crack thresholds applies, ignoring other legal changes that have altered the …
21-5100 Matthew James Haymond, Sr. v. United States Eighth Circuit 2021-07-14 Denied Response WaivedIFP crack-cocaine criminal-sentencing drug-offenses fair-sentencing-act first-step-act mandatory-life-sentence mandatory-minimum plea-bargaining retroactive-application sentencing-reduction statutory-interpretation Whether Mr. Haymond was improperly denied First-Step-Act-relief
20-7972 Gregory L. Roberson, Charles Matthews, and Dorothy Robinson v. United States Third Circuit 2021-05-11 Denied IFP circuit-split crack-cocaine fair-sentencing-act first-step-act retroactivity sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation statutory-penalties Does the term 'covered offense' in the First Step Act include violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) involving crack cocaine to which apply the penalties in…
20-7474 Ezralee J. Kelley v. United States Ninth Circuit 2021-03-17 Denied Amici (3)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP as four circuits hold as three circuits hold or whether a resentencing court must correct a Gu career-offender circuit-split fair-sentencing-act first-step-act judicial-interpretation resentencing sentencing-guidelines Whether a district court imposing a reduced sentence under Section 404(b) of the First Step Act is prohibited from correcting an erroneous Sentencing …
20-7218 Crystal Zuniga v. United States Fifth Circuit 2021-02-23 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-856 congressional-intent double-counting drug-involved-premise drug-sentencing fair-sentencing-act precedent sentencing-guidelines statutory-interpretation Whether Congress intended The Fair Sentencing Act to more severely punish persons sentenced under 21 U.S.C. §856 in what is a departure from over 20 y…
20-6819 Frantz Sterlin v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2021-01-11 Denied Response WaivedIFP criminal-justice criminal-sentencing eligibility fair-sentencing-act first-step-act section-404 sentence-reduction sentencing-reduction u.s.-senate-bill-756 Whether Petitioner was eligible for a First Step Act reduction of his sentence
20-6832 Shannon Keith Harris v. United States Fifth Circuit 2021-01-11 Denied IFP cocaine-sentencing criminal-sentencing drug-trafficking fair-sentencing-act first-step-act mandatory-minimum mandatory-minimums resentencing retroactivity sentencing-guidelines Whether district courts are required to apply the current, legally correct Sentencing Guideline range or the old Sentencing Guideline range that appli…
20-5904 Tarahrick Terry v. United States Eleventh Circuit 2020-10-05 Judgment Issued Amici (9)IFP 2010 crack offenders sentenced under 21 U.S.C. § circuit-split crack-cocaine fair-sentencing-act federal-criminal-statute first-step-act sentencing sentencing-modification statutory-interpretation statutory-penalties Whether pre-August 3, 2010 crack offenders sentenced under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C) have a 'covered offense' under Section 404 of the First Step Act
20-291 Jamell Birt v. United States Third Circuit 2020-09-04 Denied Amici (2)Relisted (3) circuit-split crack-cocaine criminal-sentencing fair-sentencing-act first-step-act sentencing-penalties statutory-interpretation Does the term 'covered offense' in the First Step Act of 2018 include violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) involving crack cocaine to which apply the pena…
20-5323 Alfred Domenick Wright v. United States Fourth Circuit 2020-08-11 Denied Response WaivedIFP criminal-procedure fair-sentencing-act government-error ineffective-assistance-of-counsel judicial-review sentencing-reduction sibron-v-new-york statutory-interpretation substantial-assistance united-states-v-gall Should the Government correct error committed when applying 'The Fair Sentencing Act'
19-8877 Patrick D. Lomas v. United States Fifth Circuit 2020-07-01 Denied Response WaivedIFP abuse-of-discretion criminal-procedure discretion fair-sentencing-act first-step-act judicial-discretion section-404 sentencing sentencing-reduction statutory-interpretation Did the District Court abuse its discretion in denying Petitioner's motion for sentence reduction under the First Step Act and Fair Sentencing Act?
19-8445 Freddie Lee Curry, aka King of da Hood, aka Rat v. United States Fourth Circuit 2020-05-12 Denied Response WaivedIFP 21-usc-841 alleyne alleyne-ruling criminal-procedure drug-quantity fair-sentencing-act first-step-act mandatory-minimum sentence-reduction sentencing statutory-interpretation Did the District Court abused its discretion when it failed to to apply Alleyne to Appellant's sentence reduction under Section 404(b) of the First St…
19-8034 Whitney Atkinson v. United States Sixth Circuit 2020-03-18 Denied Response WaivedIFP crack-cocaine drug-offense fair-sentencing-act first-step-act mandatory-minimum retroactive-application sentence-enhancement statutory-interpretation Did Mr. Atkinson receive a sentence for a covered drug offense, such that he should be eligible for retroactive application of the Fair Sentencing Act…
19-7776 Mickel L. Marzouk v. United States Fourth Circuit 2020-02-25 Denied Response WaivedIFP 924(c) crime-of-violence criminal-procedure criminal-sentencing due-process elements-clause fair-sentencing-act fourth-circuit hobbs-act rule-of-lenity sentencing sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation Whether Petitioner's sentence on the second § 924(c) conviction and twenty-five year sentence enhancement was incorrectly affirmed
19-7430 Richard L. Bryant v. United States Fourth Circuit 2020-01-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP alleyne apprendi apprendi-alleyne apprendi-alleyne-rule drug-distribution-conspiracy fair-sentencing-act fair-sentencing-act-2010 first-step-act first-step-act-2018 relevant-conduct retroactive-sentencing sentencing-reduction statutory-ranges Whether a defendant convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving multiple controlled substances is eligible for a sentence reduction under th…
19-6774 Albert Allen, Jr. v. United States Eighth Circuit 2019-11-27 Denied Response WaivedIFP certificate-of-appealability criminal-procedure criminal-procedure-appeal due-process fair-sentencing-act ineffective-assistance-of-counsel mandatory-minimum mens-rea prosecutorial-misconduct sentencing sentencing-guidelines Whether the Court of Appeals Erred in Denying Petitioner's Application for a Certificate of Appealability
18-8796 Larry Junior Copeland, aka La-La v. United States Fourth Circuit 2019-04-11 Denied Response WaivedIFP certificate-of-appealability evidentiary-hearing fair-sentencing-act first-step-act habeas-corpus procedural-default retroactivity sentencing-discretion Should the Court of Appeals have granted a certificate of appealability on whether district court abused its discretion?
18-7567 Ron Collins v. United States Seventh Circuit 2019-01-24 Denied Response WaivedIFP certificate-of-appealability criminal-procedure due-process eighth-amendment fair-sentencing-act ineffective-assistance ineffective-assistance-of-counsel prosecutorial-misconduct sentencing sentencing-guidelines Whether the court of appeals erred in denying petitioner's application for a certificate of appealability