U.S. v. Hodge

Defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, but met the requirements of the statutory “safety valve” that required district courts to disregard mandatory minimums. The district court, however, sentenced him to ten years in prison without discussing his request for safety valve relief. The Seventh Circuit reversed and remanded for re-sentencing, finding the trial court erred when it did not engage with defendant’s mitigating argument. (ST. EVE and LEE, concurring)