United States v. Spann

Defendant pleaded guilty to possession of more than 100 grams of heroin with intent to distribute it, 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(i), and was sentenced to 97 months in prison. The sentence was at the top of the guidelines range. The government had requested an above‐guidelines sentence of 180 months based on the purity of the heroin and the danger it posed to the community. The judge summarily rejected the government’s recommendation. The Seventh Circuit remanded, noting that the trial judge said very little to justify a 97‐month sentence, and “what he did say was in the nature of a conclusion rather than a reason.” View "United States v. Spann" on Justia Law