United States. v. C.A.
Matthew Pruden represented a client charged in federal court with, among other charges, conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Based on a prior federal conviction, the client faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years (15 for the drug conspiracy charge and a consecutive 5-year sentence for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime). Mr. Pruden negotiated a plea where the client was required only to plead to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and would not receive a sentencing enhancement based on his prior federal conviction, greatly reducing the client’s sentencing exposure. At sentencing, Mr. Pruden successfully argued against the application of a sentencing enhancement based on the presence of a firearm.