This case involved the conviction and sentencing of one Askia Washington for his participation in a fictitious “stash-house robbery” that was totally created by the Government. Judge Fuentes, writing for the 2-1 majority of this panel, described, with open queasiness, the stakes involved in such cases. He wrote:

“Developed by ...

Here the Court issued a rare order approving the deposition of a CI in a civil rights case where the plaintiff alleged that her constitutional rights were violated when the police obtained a search warrant by means of judicial deception.

Blight v. City of Manteca, 244 F. Supp. 3d 1073 ...

This decision is anther frustrating example of how the judiciary sometimes becomes the prosecution’s (unwitting?) partner in shielding Government informants and witnesses from hostile attacks by defense counsel at criminal trials in the United States.

Phil Trent, the defendant in this case and a reputed heroin distributor, was charged with ...

Blight v. City of Manteca, 244 F. Supp. 3d 1073 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2017) (Magistrate Judge)
Blight v. City of Manteca, Civ. No. 2:15-cv-2513 (E.D. Cal. May 23, 2017) (District Judge William Shubb)

These two decisions, first by a Magistrate Judge and then affirmed on appeal by the presiding ...

This stash house robbery case is noted for Judge Stranch’s concurring opinion in which she lashed out against the contonued use of such ploys which give the Government the “virtually unfettered ability to inflate the amount of drugs" involved

This case involved a “stash house sting” that was orchestrated by ...

On April 30, 2014, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to lower the drug quantity table by two offense levels, effective as of November 1, 2014; and that quickly became known as the “drugs minus two” Amendment. Then, in order to be fair to those prisoners who had already been sentenced ...