Martinez v. United States of America
SummaryOriginal

Summary

Life sentences for Martinez & Vallejo (juvenile murderers) upheld. RICO convictions involved more than just murder, falling outside recent limits on juvenile life sentences. (7th Circuit RICO § 2255)

2015 | Federal Juristiction

Martinez v. United States of America

Keywords juvenile life sentence; RICO Act; RICO-murder; retroactive application of new law

Abstract

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, convicted as juveniles for murder and sentenced to life in prison under the RICO Act, appealed the denial of their motion to vacate their sentences under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This motion arose from recent Supreme Court rulings that limited life sentences for juvenile offenders. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that Martinez and Vallejo's case did not qualify under these new restrictions because their RICO convictions encompassed various criminal acts, not solely murder.

Open Case as PDF

Abstract

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, convicted as juveniles for murder and sentenced to life in prison under the RICO Act, appealed the denial of their motion to vacate their sentences under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This motion arose from recent Supreme Court rulings that limited life sentences for juvenile offenders. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that Martinez and Vallejo's case did not qualify under these new restrictions because their RICO convictions encompassed various criminal acts, not solely murder.

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, individuals sentenced to life imprisonment as juveniles under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), appealed the District Court's denial of their 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate their sentences. The motion was based on recent Supreme Court jurisprudence limiting life sentences for juvenile offenders. However, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals determined that Martinez and Vallejo's RICO convictions, which encompassed a range of criminal activities beyond murder, did not fall within the scope of these Supreme Court rulings.

Open Case as PDF

Abstract

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, convicted as juveniles for murder and sentenced to life in prison under the RICO Act, appealed the denial of their motion to vacate their sentences under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This motion arose from recent Supreme Court rulings that limited life sentences for juvenile offenders. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that Martinez and Vallejo's case did not qualify under these new restrictions because their RICO convictions encompassed various criminal acts, not solely murder.

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, who were sentenced to life in prison as minors under the RICO Act for murder, recently had their motion to overturn their sentences denied. The motion, filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, was based on recent Supreme Court decisions that placed limitations on life sentences for underage offenders. However, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that these limitations did not apply to Martinez and Vallejo because their convictions under the RICO Act involved multiple criminal offenses, not just murder.

Open Case as PDF

Abstract

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, convicted as juveniles for murder and sentenced to life in prison under the RICO Act, appealed the denial of their motion to vacate their sentences under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This motion arose from recent Supreme Court rulings that limited life sentences for juvenile offenders. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that Martinez and Vallejo's case did not qualify under these new restrictions because their RICO convictions encompassed various criminal acts, not solely murder.

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, two men who were convicted of murder as teenagers and given life sentences, recently had their appeal denied. The two men were hoping to have their sentences shortened due to recent rulings by the Supreme Court that placed limits on life sentences for minors. Martinez and Vallejo were originally sentenced under the RICO Act, a law that covers a wide range of criminal activities. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided that because their convictions were not exclusively for murder, the Supreme Court rulings didn't apply.

Open Case as PDF

Abstract

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo, convicted as juveniles for murder and sentenced to life in prison under the RICO Act, appealed the denial of their motion to vacate their sentences under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This motion arose from recent Supreme Court rulings that limited life sentences for juvenile offenders. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that Martinez and Vallejo's case did not qualify under these new restrictions because their RICO convictions encompassed various criminal acts, not solely murder.

Emmanuel Martinez and Timothy Vallejo were just teenagers when they were given life sentences in prison for murder and other serious crimes. They were sentenced under a law called the RICO Act, which is used to punish people involved in organized crime.

After the Supreme Court made new rules about life sentences for young people, Martinez and Vallejo asked the court to reconsider their punishments. They argued that their sentences were too harsh. However, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (a higher court) said no. The court explained that because their convictions included many different crimes, not just murder, the new rules didn't apply to them.

Open Case as PDF

Footnotes and Citation

Cite

Martinez v. United States, 786 F.3d 748 (7th Cir. 2015).

Highlights