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Criminal Practice

  • August 08, 2025

    Massachusetts Sheriff Charged With Extorting Cannabis Shop

    Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins was arrested Friday morning in Florida on extortion charges related to his demand for a stake in a cannabis dispensary — and a refund when his shares lost value — federal prosecutors announced.

  • August 07, 2025

    2nd Circ. Says Trial Atty With Brain Disease Not 'Ineffective'

    The Second Circuit on Thursday affirmed the convictions of a former New York City law enforcement union president along with its ex-financial adviser for defrauding members out of $500,000, rejecting among contentions that one defense lawyer's abilities were impaired at trial by a fast-moving neurodegenerative disease.

  • August 07, 2025

    Sentencing Commission Plans To Reassess Fraud Guidelines

    The U.S. Sentencing Commission on Wednesday said it will consider potential reforms to the federal sentencing guidelines for fraud offenses, including the outsized role of loss calculation in sentencing, one of several priorities the agency has marked for closer examination.

  • August 07, 2025

    Mass. Court Clairifies Sentencing For Large Capacity Firearms

    A Massachusetts appeals court clarified sentencing for unlawful possession of large capacity firearms and feeding devices Thursday, explaining the sentence for a non-licensed offender must have a maximum of at least 2.5 years, ordering resentencing of a man who faced up to one year and one day.

  • August 07, 2025

    NY Court Affirms Assault Conviction, But Raises Jury Issue

    A man convicted of assaulting a woman in his home with a hammer saw his convictions largely upheld by a New York state appellate court panel Thursday, but dissenting judges said that he deserved a new trial on grounds that an anonymous jury was used improperly.

  • August 07, 2025

    Motorola Surveillance App Teed Up For 1st Circ. Review

    The First Circuit should decide whether a Motorola app designed to allow police to record calls without informing the person on the other line was illegal in and of itself, said a Massachusetts federal judge overseeing a suit from four men who argue that it was.

  • August 07, 2025

    7th Circ. Affirms 25-Year Drug Sentence, OKs Voice ID At Trial

    The Seventh Circuit on Thursday upheld a narcotics distribution conviction of a former owner of a Texas trucking company whose drug ring transporting hundreds of pounds of cocaine and heroin was discovered after a co-conspirator recorded a call with the man and provided a copy to federal agents.

  • August 07, 2025

    Fla. Court Tosses Habeas Bid In Robbery Case

    A Florida appeals court has ruled that an indictment in a robbery and assault case cannot be overturned by a self-filed habeas petition from the defendant who claims the charging document lacked sufficient evidence about the date and time of the burglary assault charges.

  • August 07, 2025

    9th Circ. Backs Seattle's Win In Housing Ordinance Suit

    The Ninth Circuit affirmed Seattle's lower court victory against a suit filed by landlords challenging a 2017 city housing law that, among other restrictions, prevents landlords from requiring prospective tenants to disclose whether or not they have criminal records.

  • August 07, 2025

    Man Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion, Faces $50M In Restitution

    A man accused of numerous financial crimes related to his operation of promoting abusive and illegal tax shelters pled guilty to three charges across two different cases in Colorado federal court on Thursday.

  • August 07, 2025

    Calif. Sheriff Says Criminal Law Enforceable On Tribal Land

    A California sheriff is asking a federal judge to dismiss the latest complaint from the Round Valley Indian Tribes and three members alleging law enforcement illegally raided cannabis growers, saying criminal laws can still be enforced on tribal land.

  • August 06, 2025

    Ohio Panel Revives Robbery Case Over Receipt Evidence

    An Ohio state appeals court has ruled that a state prosecutor's office did not violate evidence rules when it failed to turn over a sales receipt for a stolen cell phone in a robbery case, finding the evidence wouldn't have helped the defendant.

  • August 06, 2025

    5th Circ. Upholds Gun Ban For Convicted Felons

    A Fifth Circuit panel on Wednesday shot down a felon's attempt to have a gun charge thrown out after he was found guilty of a drive-by shooting, saying a historical analog from the time of the country's founding allows for confiscation of firearms from felons.

  • August 06, 2025

    4th Circ. Says Habeas Request Prevented By Procedure

    The Fourth Circuit denied habeas relief to a Virginia attempted bank robber who has since been released from prison, affirming Wednesday that his argument that he was sentenced under an unconstitutionally vague guideline did not meet procedural requirements for postconviction relief and could not be considered.

  • August 06, 2025

    Mich. Panel Wary Of MSU Student's Hazing Law Challenge

    A former Michigan State University student may have an uphill battle convincing a state appellate panel to ax criminal hazing charges related to a student's death at a fraternity party, the judges on the panel suggested Wednesday.

  • August 06, 2025

    US Asks High Court To Decide If Drug Users Can Have Guns

    The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve "a four-way circuit conflict" over whether it is legal to prevent users of drugs including marijuana, which has been legalized in some fashion in the vast majority of states, from possessing firearms.

  • August 06, 2025

    9th Circ. Backs SEC's No-Denials Settlements Rule

    The Ninth Circuit on Wednesday rejected a First Amendment challenge to a decades-old U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule that restricts defendants who settle securities law charges from denying the claims against them, saying the law has "long regarded the voluntary relinquishment of constitutional rights as permissible" with safeguards.

  • August 06, 2025

    Ark. Prisoners Challenge Nitrogen Gas Execution Law

    Ten Arkansas death row inmates have challenged a new law authorizing their execution by nitrogen gas, arguing the law is unconstitutional because it violates the state's separation of powers doctrine, an attorney confirmed to Law360.

  • August 06, 2025

    Fla. AG Names Election Official As Statewide Prosecutor

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has tapped one of the state's deputy secretaries of state with experience in election integrity, civil litigation and criminal prosecution to serve as the new statewide prosecutor.

  • August 05, 2025

    Feds Charge 2 With Shipping Nvidia AI Chips To China

    Two Chinese nationals residing in California were charged with using a company they founded to unlawfully export microchips used in AI applications worth "tens of millions of dollars" to China in violation of the Export Control Reform Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

  • August 05, 2025

    Ill. Appeals Court Backs Counsel Redo In Battery Case

    An Illinois state appeals court has ruled that a man found guilty of domestic battery is entitled to a trial court hearing on a motion he personally lodged claiming his attorney was ineffective and that he was unfairly denied the hearing because of how he filed the request.

  • August 05, 2025

    Texas Man Gets Real Sentence For AI-Generated Child Porn

    A Texas man has been sentenced by a Florida federal judge to up to two years in prison for using an artificial intelligence app to generate child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced on Tuesday.

  • August 05, 2025

    DC Circ. Upholds Reincarceration Following Release Mistake

    The D.C. Circuit ruled Tuesday that the lower court in the district did not violate the civil rights of a man who served 27 additional months in prison after the D.C. Department of Corrections accidentally released him and only discovered the error while he was incarcerated again for a different matter.

  • August 05, 2025

    Pa. Court Says State Can Suspend DUI Suspect's License

    In a precedential ruling, Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court has found that a state law stripping those suspected of DUI of their driver's licenses for one year if they refuse to be tested for intoxicating substances is constitutional, despite a driver's contrary assertions.

  • August 05, 2025

    Ex-ComEd Lobbyist Gets 1 Year For Masking Madigan Bribes

    A former lobbyist for Commonwealth Edison was sentenced to a year and a day in prison Tuesday for allowing his lobbying firm to serve as a pass-through for the utility to pay associates of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan for little to no work, as it sought his support for favorable energy legislation.

Expert Analysis

  • EDNY Ruling May Limit Some FARA Conspiracy Charges

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    Though the Eastern District of New York’s recent U.S. v. Sun decision upheld Foreign Agents Registration Act charges against a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, its recognition of an affirmative legislative policy to exempt some officials may help defendants charged with related conspiracies, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • DOJ Memo Lays Groundwork For Healthy Bank Sponsorships

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    The U.S. Department of Justice's recent digital asset policy shift offers potential clarity in the murky waters of sponsor bank relationships, presenting nontraditional financial companies with both a moment of opportunity and a test of maturity, say attorneys at Arnall Golden.

  • FCPA Enforcement Is Here To Stay, But It May Look Different

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    After a monthslong enforcement pause, the U.S. Department of Justice’s new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act guidelines fundamentally shift prosecutorial discretion and potentially reduce investigatory burdens for organizations, but open questions remain, so companies should continue to exercise caution, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

  • Remediation Still Reigns Despite DOJ's White Collar Shake-Up

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    Though the U.S. Department of Justice’s recently announced corporate enforcement policy changes adopt a softer tone acknowledging the risks of overregulation, the DOJ has not shifted its compliance and remediation expectations, which remain key to more favorable resolutions, say Jonny Frank, Michele Edwards and Chris Hoyle at StoneTurn.

  • The Sentencing Guidelines Are Commencing A New Era

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    Sweeping new amendments to the U.S. sentencing guidelines — including the elimination of departure provisions — intended to promote transparency and individualized justice while still guarding against unwarranted disparities will have profound consequences for all stakeholders, say attorneys at Blank Rome.

  • What FCA Liability Looks Like In The Cybersecurity Realm

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    ​Two recent settlements highlight how whistleblowers and the U.S. Department of Justice have been utilizing the False Claims Act to allege fraud predicated on violations of cybersecurity standards — timely lessons given new bipartisan legislation introducing potential FCA liability for artificial intelligence use, say​ attorneys Rachel Rose and Julie Bracker.

  • 5 Takeaways From DOJ's Media Compulsory Process Rules

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    The U.S. Department of Justice’s new rules, making it easier for law enforcement investigating leaks to compel members of the media and third parties to disclose information, could have wide-ranging impacts, from reduced protections for journalists and organizations, to an expanded focus on nonclassified material, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • DOJ Policy Shifts May Resurrect De Facto 'China Initiative'

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    The U.S. Department of Justice's recently unveiled white collar enforcement strategy seemingly marks a return to a now-defunct 2018 policy aimed at combating national security concerns with China, and likely foretells aggressive scrutiny of trade and customs fraud, sanctions evasion, and money laundering, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Industry Impact Uncertain Amid Priority Shift, Staff Cuts

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    A recent enforcement memo outlines how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's regulatory agenda diverges from that of the previous administration, but, given the bureau's planned reduction in force, it is uncertain whether the agency will be able to enforce these new priorities, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From US Attorney To BigLaw

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    When I transitioned to private practice after government service — most recently as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — I learned there are more similarities between the two jobs than many realize, with both disciplines requiring resourcefulness, zealous advocacy and foresight, says Zach Terwilliger at V&E.

  • How The DOJ Is Redesigning Its Approach To Digital Assets

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    Two key digital asset enforcement policy pronouncements narrow the Justice Department's focus on threats like fraud, terrorism, trafficking and sanctions evasion and dial back so-called regulation by prosecution, but institutions prioritizing compliance must remember that the underlying statutory framework hasn't changed, say attorneys at Blank Rome.

  • Staying The Course Amid Seismic DOJ White Collar Changes

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    While some of the big changes at the U.S. Department of Justice during the second Trump administration — like an embrace of cryptocurrency and more politicized prosecutions — were expected, there have also been surprises, so practitioners should advise clients to stay focused on white collar compliance in this unpredictable environment, say attorneys at Keker.

  • DOJ Could Target Journalists Under Media Policy Reversion

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    The U.S. Department of Justice's recently announced media policy largely mirrors policies in effect from 2014 to 2020, but ambiguities in key statutory terms could allow the administration to apply it to journalists in new ways and expand investigations beyond leaks of classified information, says Julie Edelstein at Wiggin.

  • Customs Fraud Enforcement In The Age Of Tariffs

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    In the wake of the Trump administration’s new approach toward tariffs, two recent Justice Department developments demonstrate aggressive customs fraud enforcement, with the DOJ emphasizing competitive harm to American businesses, and signaling that investigations will likely involve both civil and criminal enforcement tools, say attorneys at Bernstein Litowitz and London & Naor.

  • 4 Ways Slater Is Priming DOJ For Continued Antitrust Success

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    Just as Jonathan Kanter did during his recent tenure leading the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater is following the effective blueprint set by Thurman Arnold when he modernized the division more than 80 years ago, says Perry Apelbaum at Kressin Powers.

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