Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Christopher Ponzo v. United States
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, No. 25-1203, 25-1259, 25-1327 · judgment April 1, 2026
(petition-stage, structural)
Modestly above the 4.1% base rate. The model weights this up for a First Circuit decision below, a circuit split argued in the petition, and counsel who has filed here before.
Question presented
Whether under this Court’s decision in McIntosh v. United States, 601 U.S. 330 (2024), a district court has authority to enter a final order of forfeiture against a defendant where, in violation of Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(b)(4)(B):
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the first time the government specified the amount it sought to forfeit was at the sentencing hearing;
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the order of forfeiture was not orally pronounced “at sentencing”;
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the district court granted the government’s post-sentencing motion for forfeiture without allowing the defendant to respond;
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the defendant had no opportunity to present evidence or be heard before $13.2 million was ordered forfeited; and
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the forfeiture order entered outside of the defendant’s presence?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Max D. Stern
Todd & Weld LLP
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Proceedings
- Aug 31 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 5, 2026)
- Jun 04 2026Application (25A1338) granted by Justice Jackson extending the time to file until August 31, 2026.
- May 02 2026Application (25A1338) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 30, 2026 to August 29, 2026, submitted to Justice Jackson.