Federal Sentence Reduced by 107 Months Following Successful Appeal and Resentencing
Attorney Michael J. Petro is proud to announce a significant resentencing victory in federal court. In this case, a federal sentence reduction after appeal resulted in a 107-month reduction—nearly nine years—from John Lee’s original prison sentence.
Federal criminal cases rarely end with the original sentencing...
Eleventh Circuit Vacates John Lee’s 17-Year Sentence
Attorney Michael J. Petro obtained a significant victory in an Eleventh Circuit sentencing appeal for his client, John Lee. On January 6, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated Lee's 204-month federal prison...
MJ Petro Asks Supreme Court to Stop Wrongful COVID-19 Prosecution
Federal criminal defense attorney Michael J. Petro filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of his client, Tangtang Zhao, challenging an important question concerning what...
11th Circuit Court of Appeals Attorney Michael J. Petro Files Brief for John Lee
Eleventh Circuit appeal attorney Michael J. Petro filed an appellate brief on behalf of John Lee challenging a 204-month federal prison sentence that was more than twice the high end of the advisory
Attorney Petro Files 7th Circuit Brief
Seventh Circuit appeal attorney Michael J. Petro filed the opening appellate brief on behalf of Tangtang Zhao in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in United States v. Tangtang Zhao, No....
11th Circuit Criminal Appeals Attorney
A federal criminal conviction or sentence does not necessarily end when the district court enters judgment. A defendant may have the right to challenge legal errors, trial rulings, constitutional violations, or sentencing errors in the United States Court...
U.S.S.G. Section 3C1.1 Obstruction of Justice – 7th Circuit Brief Filed
Obstruction of Justice Enhancement Under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1
A defendant in federal court can receive a two-level increase in the offense level for obstructing or attempting to obstruct the administration of justice.
The enhancement is found in U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 and can substantially...
Motion to Reconsider Sentence Does NOT Stop Appeal Filing Deadlines
A federal criminal defendant who wants to appeal a conviction or sentence must act quickly. In most federal criminal cases, the defendant has only 14 days to file a notice of appeal.
Practice Tip: If Client Asks To Appeal, File That Notice
A federal criminal defendant who wants to appeal should tell defense counsel immediately. And when a defendant clearly instructs an attorney to file a notice of appeal, the rule is straightforward:
File the...