United States v. Joel Thomas, Jr.

Dissent by Judge KOZINSKI

OPINION

SCHROEDER, Circuit Judge:

Joel Thomas, Jr. appeals from the judgment following his jury conviction and sentence for multiple counts of conspiracy and armed bank robbery. He received a total sentence of 49.5 years, and challenges both the conviction and the reasonableness of the sentence.

His challenges to the conviction can be easily dealt with. The sentence raises more difficult issues. This is because 32 years of the total 49.5 year sentence were required to be imposed, consecutive to any other sentence, as a result of statutory, mandatory mínimums over which…