» Federal Violations and Crimes
Drug Quantity Proof / Evidence at Sentencing
October 15th, 2019
Contributor: Hope C. Lefeber
In United States v. Rowe, No. 18-1192 (Apr. 2, 2019), the Third Circuit vacated the defendant’s conviction for distribution and possession with intent to distribute 1,000 grams of heroin because the government failed to prove that he distribute…
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Supreme Court Holds That Guilty Plea Does Not Bar Legal Challenge to Constitutionality of Statute of Conviction on Appeal
March 29th, 2018
The Supreme Court recently held that a guilty plea does not bar a federal criminal defendant from challenging the constitutionality of the statute of conviction on direct appeal. In Class v. United States, No. 16-424, _U.S._, 2018 WL 987347 (February…
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Categories: Federal Violations and Crimes
Proposed Amendments To Federal Sentencing Guidelines
February 9th, 2017
In December, 2016, the United States Sentencing Commission proposed certain amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines that would be helpful for first offenders in that a 1-2 point reduction in the sentencing guidelines has been proposed. Part A…
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Supreme Court Rules Against Expanded Use of Federal Bribery Laws
July 21st, 2016


Supreme Court Will Decide Required Criminal Intent for Federal Bank Fraud Crime
May 18th, 2016

Third Circuit Grants Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
October 25th, 2014
On October 20, 2014, the Third Circuit granted Dung Bui’s habeas petition in U.S. v. Bui, 2014 WL 5315061 (3d Cir, Oct. 20, 2014). Since Congress’ passing of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act in 1996, successful habeas petitions a…
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3d Circuit Upholds Conviction for Securities Fraud For Trading On Information Learned At Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
August 16th, 2014
A financial adviser who made more than $250,000 trading on insider information he got from a fellow Alcoholics Anonymous member failed in his bid to overturn his conviction by challenging the validity of the rule he violated. Timothy McGee, who was c…
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Federal Defense Attorney Hope Lefeber Discusses Recent Third Circuit Opinions
July 28th, 2014
Third Circuit Spring Recap U.S. v. Velazquez, 749 F.3d 161 (3d Cir. 2014) In U.S. v. Velazquez, the Third Circuit ruled that the government’s minimal efforts to apprehend Velazquez violated his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial. In 2005, the…
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Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Hope C. Lefeber Discusses Supreme Court’s Decision To Decide Whether A Facebook Post Can Be a Criminal Threat
July 1st, 2014
Last week, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from the Third Circuit about … Facebook! Surprisingly enough, this case is not about the company’s privacy policies or about its seemingly arbitrary removal of “offensiveâ€â€¦
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Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Hope C. Lefeber Discusses Recent 3rd Circuit Case Ruling That A Person Has No Fourth Amendment Protection When Using Shared Wi-Fi
June 24th, 2014
Last week was a busy week for the Fourth Amendment in the Courts of Appeal. On the same day that the Eleventh Circuit ruled that the Fourth Amendment covers data obtained from cell towers, the Third Circuit in U.S. v. Stanley ruled that the Fourth Am…
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