United States v. Thomas

Taylor and Thomas, abandoned by their fathers and raised in poverty by abusive mothers in Hammond, Indiana, sold drugs until 2000, when they admitted to friends that they had committed a robbery and that Taylor had “hit a lick.” The two had robbed a gun shop, killing the owner, a 73-year-old, near-deaf WWII veteran. The owner was shot twice, once in the neck and once in the face. Taylor and Thomas took firearms, which they later sold on the streets. They were convicted of Hobbs Act conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. 1951; Hobbs Act robbery; murder during a robbery, 18 U.S.C. 924(c), (j); and felony possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2) and were sentenced to life in prison. The Seventh Circuit twice ordered evidentiary hearings and supplemental proceedings, then ordered a new trial, which again resulted in life sentences. The district judge resentenced the men, again to life imprisonment, in 2017. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, noting that the district judge fully considered their mitigation arguments, including that both men have below-average IQs. The sentences were consistent with the Guidelines and not substantively unreasonable. View "United States v. Thomas" on Justia Law