Case Explained: Non-Argument Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. KELVIN BOLTON

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Filed: 2026-06-18 Docket: 1:22-cr-00091-SCJ-LTW-1 The eleventh-circuit affirmed the defendant’s convictions and sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and conspiracy to launder money. The court held that although the defendant filed a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 alleging ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to appeal, this collateral relief was properly dismissed as premature while his direct appeal was pending. While the defendant conceded his appeal was untimely and argued claims should be reserved for habeas proceedings, the government declined to move to dismiss the appeal, allowing it to proceed. However, because the defendant raised no challenges to his convictions or sentence on appeal, the court deemed him to have abandoned any claim of reversible error. Consequently, the judgment is affirmed, and the defendant will be permitted to file a new § 2255 motion in the District Court once the mandate issues. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.