United States v. Malouf

SENTENCING MEMORANDUM

GERTNER, District Judge.

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This case is about the interpretation of an important federal drug distribution statute, 21 U.S.'C. § 841, under which the defendant Michael Malouf (“Malouf’) was indicted. Section 841 creates a staircase of sentences, with steep increases at each step — statutory máximums up to life imprisonment and mandatory mínimums that increase from five, to ten, and to twenty years. Where the defendant is situated on this sentencing staircase depends upon the type and quantity of drugs involved, whether the defendant has a prior felony drug…