United States Eighth Circuit

A conviction and life sentence for drug-related offenses is affirmed over claims of error regarding: 1) denial of a motion for new trial based on an assertion that the convictions were contrary to the weight of the evidence; 2) ineffective assistance of counsel; 3) denial of a request for a court-funded expert to perform a chemical analysis on a rock of cocaine obtained by the government through a controlled purchase, for purposes of the drug quantity determination at sentencing; 4) the drug quantity computation; 5) a sentence enhancement for using a minor to commit a crime; 6) other sentencing enhancements; and 7) the reasonableness of the sentence.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/29/2007
• Published 05/29/2007

Judges

• GRUENDER, Circuit Judge., Before COLLOTON and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges, and GOLDBERG, Judge.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Wallace L. Taylor, argued, Cedar Rapids, IA, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Daniel C. Tvedt, Asst. U.S. Atty., argued, Cedar Rapids, IA, for appellee.