United States v. Hayden, No. 14-1812 (7th Cir. 2014)
Annotate this CaseHayden, a California resident, obtained a medical marijuana card and purchased high-grade marijuana in California. He mailed it to himself in St. Louis. A coconspirator sold it in Illinois. While surveilling Hayden as part of a larger investigation, DEA agents followed him to different bank branches where he exchanged $18,000 worth of $20 bills, then followed him to his apartment, executed a warrant, and arrested him after finding 995 grams of marijuana and $80,892 cash. He entered a plea. The court noted that the offense involved 10 to 20 kilograms of marijuana and money laundering, but granted a 3-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. Hayden had committed the crimes while on supervised release and had a prior drug conviction for which he received 15 years’ imprisonment. The resulting range was 24 to 30 months. Hayden requested leniency, citing a son with health issues who lived with Hayden’s mother, and argued that USSG Amendment 782, which had not taken effect, would lowerhe base offense level. The court imposed a 46-month term, noting that Hayden had been absent from the boy’s life, that there was no sentencing disparity, and Hayden’s high likelihood of recidivism. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the sentence.
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