United States v. Speed

Rico Speed sold 30 grams of crack to a confidential informant and sold firearms and ammunition to the same informant four times. Indicted on four counts, he pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of knowingly distributing crack. Jermaine Speed was indicted on four counts for selling cocaine, and pled guilty to selling 29.6 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant. In separate sentencing hearings, the judge varied downward and imposed 216 months in prison on each defendant, plus the mandatory eight years of supervised release. Defense attorneys objected to the presentence reports (PSRs), but neither objected to recommended conditions of release. The judge adopted those conditions, requiring that each defendant: not knowingly interact with any person whom he knows to be a convicted felon or to be engaged in, or planning to engage in, criminal activity; at the direction of the Probation Office, participate in an alcohol treatment program, including testing, abide by program rules, and refrain from any use of alcohol; and, although the PSR contained no such recommendation, "not possess a firearm, ammunition, destructive device, or any other dangerous weapon.” The judge did not provide reasons for this condition. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, finding no abuse of discretion. View "United States v. Speed" on Justia Law