United States v. Trujillo — 10th Cir. (Sep 17, 2026)
The Tenth Circuit hears Daniel Trujillo's appeal from a 70-month sentence for illegal reentry. The federal judge applied a ten-level guideline increase based on an earlier felony conviction. Here, the disputed requirement is whether the earlier sentence reached five years. Trujillo challenges that increase and also says 70 months is too severe given how long ago much of his past conduct occurred. The government defends both. Because he did not object to the increase at sentencing, the judges review that issue for plain error.
United States v. Trujillo (No. 25-2124) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, argued September 17, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Tenth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/oralarguments/25-2124.mp3
Argument listing and date — Tenth Circuit:https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/oralargument/search-results?field_oa_hearing_date_value%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=08%2F01%2F2026&field_oa_hearing_date_value%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%2F30%2F2026
Appeal docket and counsel — Tenth Circuit:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca10/25-2124
Case issues summary — Federal Public Defender, District of Kansas:https://ks.fd.org/sites/ks/files/media-library/issues-pending-20260402.pdf
Illegal-reentry sentencing guideline — U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2024 Manual § 2L1.2:https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2024/CHAPTER_2_L-X.pdf
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b) — U.S. Courts:https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf
Plain-error review — United States v. Olano, Supreme Court:https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USREPORTS-507/USREPORTS-507-725
- 0:00Introduction
- 2:17Plain-error review