United States v. Vann, No. 13-2190 (10th Cir. 2015)
Annotate this CaseDefendant-appellant Rayvell Vann was caught and convicted of carrying illegal drugs on an Amtrak train in New Mexico. He argued he did not receive a fair trial because: (1) the district court erred in denying his challenge to the government’s discriminatory strike of a potential juror because of the juror’s race; (2) the court erred in allowing expert testimony about the habits of drug traffickers; and (3) closing arguments misstated and embellished the evidence. Vann also argued the district court erred in permitting him to waive his right to counsel during sentencing and proceed pro se. Upon review, the Tenth Circuit found no reversible errors, and affirmed the district court.
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