US v. Hudson, 09-3680

Sentencing challenge in drug and firearm related conviction

US v. Hudson, 09-3680, concerned a challenge to the district court's imposition of a statutory mandatory minimum of 120-month sentence for a drug charge and to 60 months' imprisonment for gun possession in furtherance of drug dealing, to be served consecutively, in a conviction of defendant for drug and firearm related offenses.

In affirming, the court held that defendant's argument, that section 924(c)(1)(A) only imposes a mandatory consecutive sentence if the underlying crime does not impose a greater mandatory minimum sentence, has been rejected by the Supreme Court in Abott v. United States, 131 S. Ct. (2010), which held that section 924(c)(1)(A)'a "except" clause only applies when the minimum sentence "otherwise provided" is "for the section 924(c) offense in question."

Related Link:

• Read the Seventh Circuit's Full Decision in US v. Hudson, 09-3680