United States v. Paladin, No. 12-2098 (1st Cir. 2014)
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Before Appellant’s sentencing, he learned of the existence of certain evidence that the government had failed to disclose to him. Appellant filed a motion to set aside the verdict and for a new trial, contending that the government had failed to disclose exculpatory evidence that could have been used to impeach the credibility of the key government witness against him at trial. The district court denied the motion. Appellant was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment, which was “legally required” by the quantities of cocaine at issue and by virtue of this being Appellant’s third felony drug conviction. The First Circuit Court of Appeals (1) affirmed the denial of Appellant’s motion, holding that the suppression did not result in prejudice to Appellant; and (2) rejected the constitutional challenges Appellant raised to the district court’s imposition of a life sentence.
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