United States Sixth Circuit

In a case arising from a large-scale drug-trafficking operation that transported cocaine on musical-band tour buses from Los Angeles to Detroit and other cities, defendant's conviction for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute is affirmed but his 180-month sentence vacated where: 1) a claim that that he was denied a fair trial because of prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument is rejected; but 2) the below-Guidelines sentence required vacatur pursuant to the government's challenge to its reasonableness, as the sentence was not adequately explained.

Appellate Information

• Decided 10/17/2008
• Published 10/17/2008

Judges

• Before:  DAUGHTREY and GILMAN, Circuit Judges;  MILLS, District Judge.

Court

• United States Sixth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  James C. Thomas, Plunkett & Cooney, Detroit, Michigan, for Appellant.  Jennifer J. Sinclair, Assistant United States Attorney, Detroit, Michigan, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  James C. Thomas, Plunkett & Cooney, Detroit, Michigan, for Appellant. Jennifer J. Sinclair, Assistant United States Attorney, Detroit, Michigan, for Appellee.