» Sentencing and Appeals

On June 27, 2024, the US Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated decision in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy, finding that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could not impose civil penalties in an enforcement action becaus… Read More

For years, federal judges have been allowed to consider allegations that were ultimately rejected by a jury when sentencing criminal defendants. This practice, known as “acquitted conduct sentencing,” is offensive to basic notions of common sense… Read More

A plea bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant where the defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest to criminal charges, often in exchange for a less severe charge or a more lenient penalty than the judge might otherwise… Read More

On August 24, 2023, the United States Sentencing Commission voted to allow delayed retroactive application of Amendment 821, which authorized a two-point reduction under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for people with no significant criminal histor… Read More

Being charged with a federal crime means you have allegedly violated a law enacted by the United States Congress, as opposed to a law enacted by a state. Federal crimes typically involve federally regulated activities, such as crimes involving the ma… Read More

In United States v. Kousisis, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued another important and precedent-setting ruling and further clarified its decision in United States v, Banks, holding that even where government contracts are procured by misrepre… Read More

The United States Sentencing Guidelines provide courts with a framework for sentencing criminal defendants. In cases involving allegations of financial conduct and economic losses, the Guidelines place a heavy emphasis on the amount of loss as a prim… Read More

The Federal Sentencing Guidelines were enacted in 1987 to create uniformity in sentencing, including for sentences white-collar crimes. There has always been a perception that white collar crimes were treated more leniently than other crimes. The U.S… Read More