18 USC 2261 – Interstate Domestic Violence Act. Husband Brutalizing Ex-Wife and Driving Her to Another State Is a Federal Crime
USA v. David Larsen, 08-3088.
On January 31, 2004, David Larsen brutally attacked Teri Jendusa-Nicolai, his ex-wife, when she came to his home in Racine County, Wisconsin, to pick up their two young daughters. The couple had divorced three years earlier after an abusive marriage, and Jendusa-Nicolai had recently...
Ostrich Instruction: Improper Use in Police Sting Case Leads to Reversal Of Conviction
USA v. Mark Ciesiolka, 09-2787.
Mark Ciesiolka was convicted in 2008 of knowingly attempting to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). His prosecution emanated from a police sting operation, in which an officer, purporting to be a 13-year-old...
Defendant’s Offer to Take Polygraph Test Is Not Admissable
United States v. Dinga, No. 09-2956 (7th Cir. 07/06/2010)
William Dinga bought several firearms in March and April 2008 which attracted the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Because he lied about these purchases, Dinga was charged and convicted of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement...
FRCP 43: Defendant Does Not Have to Be Present at Jury Instruction Conference
USA v. Flavio Perez. 08-2566.
A jury convicted Flavio Perez of two counts of filing false federal income tax returns. The district court sentenced Perez to 33 months' imprisonment. Perez appeals, claiming that the district court violated his right to be present at trial by conducting a jury instruction...
8 USC 1326: The Three Requirements to Vacate a Prior Deportation Order
United States v. Arita-Campos, No. 09-2368 (7th Cir. 06/08/2010)
In September 1993, fourteen-year-old Mario Arita-Campos was apprehended by immigration officials. Because he had entered the United States illegally without inspection, immigration officials determined that he was deportable.
When Arita-Campos subsequently failed to appear at his scheduled deportation hearing in February...
Entrapment Defense: Boilerplate Rules For Getting The Jury Instruction
USA v. Shamonte Hall and Karinder Gordon. 09-2682, 09-2470.
In the spring of 2008, appellant Shamonte Hall believed he had stumbled upon a great criminal opportunity. A disgruntled drug courier asked if he would help him rob a drug stash house under armed guard. For the help, the courier...
The Limits of the First Amendment: White Supremicist’s Indictment Is Legally Sufficient
USA v. William White, 09-2916.
A superseding indictment alleged that William White was the founder and content provider of a website that posted personal information about a juror who served on the Matthew Hale jury, along with postings calling for the use of violence on enemies of white supremacy....
Cocaine Base v. Crack: 7th Circuit Urges Congress for More Technical and Precise Definitions
USA v. Luis Gonzalez, Miguel Ayala, and Fidel Hernandez, 05-3528, 09-1529, 09-1631.
The three defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of mixtures containing cocaine base. Gonzalez and Ayala were sentenced to 120 months in prison and Hernandez to 300 months.
Common...
District Court Failed to Provide Defense Exhibits to Jurors: Boilerplate Rules for Mistrial
USA v. Keith Collins, 09-2360.
A jury convicted appellant Keith Collins of possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute it and of conspiring to do the same. Collins argues that the district court should have granted a mistrial.
During deliberations, Collins' jury sent a note to...
The Limits of Cross-Examination of a Government Snitch: Boilerplate Rules
United States v. Linzy, No. 09-2046 (7th Cir. 04/27/2010)
On January 29, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Defendant Aaron Michael Linzy, Sr. and his co-defendant Jarvell Jones with one count of conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, namely, crack cocaine, methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (ecstasy), and marijuana (Count I), and one...