Compelling Sentencing Memo Elicits Reduced Sentence for Defendant

A defendant pleaded guilty to possession of oxycodone with the intent to distribute, with the sentencing guidelines calling for more than 10 years of incarceration. But since the arrest, the defendant had turned his life around, so the defense attorney hired Sullivan | Simon to write a sentencing memo detailing why a sentence of probation without incarceration was appropriate. Our sentencing memo resulted in the judge imposing just one day of jail time plus probation. The defense attorney thanked us and said, “I think you did a pretty good job.”