December 29th, 2017

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US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Opinions
United States v. Smith

Docket: 16-10819
Opinion Date: December 28, 2017
Judge: Jerry E. Smith
Areas of Law: Criminal Law

The Fifth Circuit affirmed defendant's conviction for possession of firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence. The court held that the district court did not err by including the government's requested jury instruction. Although the court found that the addition unnecessarily confused the issue and should not have been included, it did not ultimately misstate the law and was therefore not reversible error. The court also held that there was sufficient evidence to convict defendant of possession of firearms in furtherance of the crime of extortion.

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