Case Explained: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SHAKEIM WEEKS

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Filed: 2026-06-29 The Fourth Circuit affirmed Shakeim Weeks’s sentence of 168 months for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, concluding that the district court committed no procedural or substantive error under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Applying an abuse-of-discretion standard of review, the court held that the district court did not clearly err in denying Weeks’s request for a mitigating role reduction under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines § 3B1.2, finding sufficient evidence that Weeks was not substantially less culpable than the average participant based on his understanding of the scheme, active role in planning, decision-making authority regarding the drugs, and potential benefit to his standing in the organization. The court further determined the district court did not inadequately address mitigation arguments, noting the judge explicitly considered Weeks’s criminal history, difficult childhood, and other factors before concluding that a within-Guidelines sentence was necessary to promote respect for the law and deter trafficking. Because the sentence fell within the properly calculated advisory Guidelines range of 151 to 188 months, it is presumed substantively reasonable, and Weeks failed to rebut this presumption by demonstrating the sentence was unreasonable under the totality of the circumstances. The judgment of the district court is affirmed, and oral argument was dispensed with as the record adequately presented the facts and legal contentions. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.