United States v. Pierce, No. 13-3687 (2d Cir. 2015)
Annotate this CaseDefendants Pierce, Colon, and Meregildo appealed their convictions for conspiracy, racketeering, murder, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses. The court concluded that the evidence was sufficient to convict defendants; the admission into evidence of a rap video and images of tattoos posted on Colon's Facebook page were relevant, their probative value was not outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, and Colon's First Amendment rights were not implicated when the district court admitted evidence from his social media account; the court rejected Colon's claim regarding the constitutionality of the Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. 2702-2703, where he possessed the very contents he claims the Act prevented him from obtaining; and the district court did not abuse its discretion in giving jury instructions the uncalled witness charge and the supplemental instruction regarding the narcotics conspiracy. In regards to Pierce's sentence, the court concluded that the rule of lenity applies because the statute is silent on how Pierce's discharge conviction and possession conviction should be sequenced for sentencing purposes. Accordingly, the court vacated Pierce's sentence and remanded for resentencing. The court affirmed in all other respects.
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