United States v. Davis

After a four-day trial, a jury convicted Eddie Roosevelt Hands ("Hands") of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a). The jury also determined that Hands should forfeit $725,000 pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853. The district court sentenced Hands to concurrent prison sentences of life on the conspiracy count and twenty years on the distribution and possession count. Hands appeals his conviction and the forfeiture award, contending that the trial courts erroneous admission of graphic evidence of his abuse of his wife and the prosecutors improper statements during closing arguments deprived him of a fair trial. We reverse and remand for a new trial.