United States Eighth Circuit

A life sentence following a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine is affirmed where, in light of the massive quantity of drugs and defendant's prior drug convictions, imposing a life sentence was not a "grossly disproportionate" punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/16/2008
• Published 06/16/2008

Judges

• PER CURIAM., Before MURPHY, BYE, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Wallace L. Taylor, argued, Clemens Erdahl, on the brief, Cedar Rapids, IA, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Patrick J. Reinert, AUSA, argued, Chadwick L. Groover, AUSA, on the brief, Cedar Rapids, IA, for appellee.