Tyrone Sturdivant was convicted by a jury of various drug charges including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine. He was arrested in January 2005 and sentenced in US District Court to 29 years in prison.
Sturdivant appealed the district court's denial of motions for acquittal and for a new trial.
Prosecutors cross-appealed the court's denial of a sentencing enhancement.
They argued that the defendant's three prior felony drug convictions meant he should have been given a mandatory life sentence.
The 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that the district court did err in refusing to apply 1 of the prior convictions.
The federal appeals court sent the case back to the district court for resentencing.
Sturdivant appealed the district court's denial of motions for acquittal and for a new trial.
Prosecutors cross-appealed the court's denial of a sentencing enhancement.
They argued that the defendant's three prior felony drug convictions meant he should have been given a mandatory life sentence.
The 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that the district court did err in refusing to apply 1 of the prior convictions.
The federal appeals court sent the case back to the district court for resentencing.
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