Criminal Law

Decided: January 7, 2016  

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the jury verdict convicting the defendant of three counts in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(b), and one count in violation of § 875(c). Additionally, the Fourth …

Decided: January 7, 2016

In a case stemming from the defrauding of investors, the Fourth Circuit held that the district court erred by interfering with the trial, but that the error did not lead to …

Decided: December 21, 2015

In a case about criminal sentencing, the Fourth Circuit found that Camden Barlow’s prior state convictions qualified as felonies under federal law, but that, given new law, he did not have …

Decided: December 18, 2015  

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of the defendant’s motion to suppress a firearm as the fruit of an illegal seizure.  

In the early morning hours, two uniformed police …

Decided: December 14, 2015

The Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded.

Lance Antonio Williams (“Williams”) appeals the decisions of the Middle District of North Carolina that ruled he was ineligible for a sentence reduction. Williams argues …

Decided: December 14, 2015  

The Fourth Circuit concluded the district court was incorrect in finding that reasonable suspicion existed to extend a traffic stop beyond its initial purpose; and therefore, vacated the defendant’s conviction and …

Decided: December 10, 2015

The Fourth Circuit found the evidence was insufficient to support Daniel Blue’s convictions for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy …

Decided: December 2, 2015

The Fourth Circuit reversed the district court’s order and remanded the case for proceedings on the merits.

In 2004, Defendant Jeremy Fontanez (“Fontanez”) plead guilty and was convicted for his involvement …

Decided: December 2, 2015

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling that there was no Double Jeopardy.

This case arose when Michael Schnittker (“Schnittker”) pled to the possession of child pornography under 18 …

Decided: November 25, 2015

In a murder case, the Fourth Circuit found that the Supreme Court of Virginia considered the petitioner’s evidence, and did not make an unreasonable determination of facts under the Antiterrorism and …

Decided: November 18, 2015

The Fourth Circuit held that, in deciding whether a prior conviction qualifies as a predicate for federal sentence enhancement, the standard is what sentence might have been imposed for the prior …

Decided: November 17, 2015

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the Defendants’ convictions, but vacated their sentences, remanding for resentencing.

In 2010 and 2011, Defendant Kamal Zaki Qazah (“Qazah”), along with other conspirators, began purchasing thousands of …

Decided: November 5, 2015

The Fourth Circuit reversed and vacated the district court’s ruling.

Defendant, Anthony Palomino-Coronado was convicted of knowingly employing, using, persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing a minor in sexually explicit conduct, for …

Decided: November 3, 2015

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court’s order dismissing the indictment.

Marshall Vinson (“Vinson”) was charged with “possession of a firearm by a prohibited person” after police officers found a rifle …

Decided: October 30, 2015  

The Fourth Circuit concluded that the evidence the government offered with respect to at least four of the defendant’s five burglary convictions did not show that the convictions qualified as “violent …