We review the recently filed sentencing memoranda and compare the recommendations to U.S. Sentencing Commission sentencing data.
Author: Mark Allenbaugh
A Tale of Two Sentences: The Leaker and The Liar
We review today’s sentence of Reality Winner to 63 months for divulging classified material to a newspaper. We compare her sentence to what George Papadapolous may receive next month for his false statements conviction.
Martin Shkreli Sentencing Analysis
We review Martin Shkreli’s 84-month sentence. “Pharma Bro” received a very, very low 84-month sentence statistically speaking, when compared to similarly situated defendants. We also review Judge Matsumoto’s federal fraud sentences to determine that while a low sentence from a national statistical perspective, an 84-month sentence is the second highest ever imposed by Judge Matsumoto.
Sentencing Analyses of DMX and Larry Nassar
In this week’s episode of our Federal Sentencing Round-Up, we review the recent guilty plea of rap artist DMX and likely sentence he may receive. We also examine the recent 60-year sentence of former Olympic doctor Larry Nassar on child pornography receipt and distribution charges.
What Caused the Federal Prison Population Explosion?
November 1, 2017 marks the 30th anniversary that the Federal Sentencing Guidelines went into effect. Since then, the federal prison population has grown over 400% while the U.S. population has grown only 37%. It’s budget, now topping $7 billion annually–has grown over 500% adjusting for inflation, while spending per inmate has increased a mere 18%.
United States v. Robles-Alvarez, No. 16-1222 (1st Cir. 2017)
In a large-scale cocaine trafficking appeal of a life sentence, the First Circuit reversed and remanded where the district court failed to address the defendant’s argument for a downward variance from his life sentence based on the sentences of his co-conspirators, which were considerably less, ranging from 46 to 210 months. The First Circuit emphasized