Posts by Brandon Sample
Biden Administration to Ramp Up Clemency
Will thousands be released later this year in clemency push by President Biden? May 10, 2021 As the Biden administration begins to make good on its promises to overhaul the criminal justice system in the interest of giving those most impacted by social inequity a seat at the table, media outlets are buzzing with discussions…
Read MoreFederal Drug Trafficking Offense Penalties – Knowing the Basics
Recently, the FBI and Tennessee law enforcement arrested 10 people on federal drug trafficking charges in Memphis. They were ultimately charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute. They had in their possession methamphetamine, cocaine, and more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. Given the conspiracy charges in this case, those arrested…
Read MoreTrespassing In Cyberspace: The Law of Federal Cybercrime
It has been nicknamed “Celebgate.” That is the federal cybercrime scandal, beginning in September 2014, in which hackers obtained and leaked photographs of a number of female celebrities. The FBI’s investigation into Celebgate is still ongoing and recently (January 2018) resulted in another guilty plea. This time the plea came from a 26-year-old Connecticut man…
Read MoreThe Federal Appeal Process – What you need to know.
Procedural TV shows like Law and Order and films like A Few Good Men make the most of the age-old “courtroom drama” form of entertainment. Most of us, when thinking about courtroom litigation, immediately jump to images of lawyers arguing to a jury, or witnesses in the witness box having a “Perry Mason moment.” However,…
Read MoreAre Sex Offender Registries Unconstitutional?
A sex offender registry, publicly listing those convicted of federal sex crimes, is important to give the community information to help keep children safe. However, it sometimes leads to absurd, or even tragic, results. Take, for example, 19-year-old William Elliot. He had sex with his then-girlfriend who was a few weeks shy of her 16th…
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