United States v. Jimenez-Bencevi

TORRUELLA, Circuit Judge.

Appellant Xavier Jiménez-Beneevi (“Jiménez”) was convicted of tampering with a federal witness, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, use of a firearm during and in relation to crimes charged in the indictment, and use of a cell phone in attempting to commit kidnapping. Because the acts resulted in the death of the witness, Delia Sánchez-Sánchez (“Sánchez”), Jiménez faced the death penalty, though the jury ultimately rejected that punishment and instead recommended a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release.

Jiménez now…