Federal Drug Offenders’ Sentence Reduction

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Baltimore (and other offices around the county) has announced a new policy, effective March 13, in which certain drug offenders will receive a 2-level downward departure on the drug quantity chart. This is fantastic news and it aligns with imminent changes to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Statistically, this amounts to…

Guilt by Association

It is a sad state of affairs when Debo Adegbile cannot be confirmed to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Senate last week rejected his appointment – after President Obama nominated him. What is sad is the reason why he was not approved, despite his stellar credentials. He was not approved because, when…

Gun Cases Moving up to the Feds?

FEDERAL AND STATE GUN OFFENSES BALTIMORE, MARYLAND In Alston v. State, an unusual opinion that was 8 years in the making, the Maryland Court of Appeals (Chief Judge Bell) held, among other things, that a felon in possession of a handgun is not subject to the mandatory 5 years without parole — if the predicate conviction…

2255 Win in Armed Career Criminal Case

FEDERAL DEFENSE MARYLAND / 2255 This past week the Firm won another 2255 Motion. In US v. Gerome Young, the defendant was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing he was determined to be an armed career criminal, based on three prior convictions for either a serious drug offense or…

Federal Cuts To Slow Down Prosecutions

FEDERAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE MARYLAND It is still early in the budget crisis known as “sequestration.” But, it is expected that cuts to federal spending will directly affect the criminal justice system, particularly in federal district court. The word is, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will have a smaller budget, which means they will prosecute fewer cases….

Firm Wins Coram Nobis in Baltimore City

Coram Nobis — Baltimore City Federal Criminal Defense Baltimore, Maryland The firm won a contested coram nobis proceeding in Baltimore City last week. Our client was facing federal prosecution as an Armed Career Criminal. This was because he had three previous convictions for either drug felonies, violent felonies, or a combination of both. As an…