SDNY: 84-Month Sentence Reduced From Mandatory Life Exposure

Our client was indicted on federal charges of coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child pornography, along with related counts, carrying a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence and sentencing guidelines of 360 months to life.

Rather than accept the government’s charging decision, our office formally appealed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s internal review committee, comprised of supervisory-level Assistant U.S. Attorneys. That effort succeeded: prosecutors agreed to reduce the charges to counts carrying a 10-year mandatory minimum, lowering the guideline range to 210–262 months.

At sentencing, the U.S. Probation Department recommended 210 months, the low end of that range. Our office argued for a substantial downward variance, and the Court agreed, imposing a sentence of 84 months.