US v. Williams, 09-1811

Conviction and sentence for drug and firearm offenses affirmed

US v. Williams, 09-1811, concerned a challenge to a conviction of defendant for various drug and firearm offenses in connection with a drug and gun conspiracy, and district court's imposition of a twenty-five years' imprisonment.


In affirming, the court held that defendant has not shown that district court abused its discretion in denying his motion to continue trial and rejected defendant's prejudice hypothesis on the merits. The court also held that defendant's argument, that he should have been acquitted on the drug charge is deemed waived as his skeletal argument, consisting of a single three-sentence paragraph, is plainly insufficient.  Lastly, the court rejected defendant's various challenges to his sentence in concluding that the district court did not err in its drug-quantity calculations and the sentence imposed was reasonable.

Related Link:

• Read the First Circuit's Full Decision in US v. Williams, 09-1811