Judge vacates prison sentence of cocaine trafficker, orders new sentencing

Government agreed that prison sentence was too long and counsel for defendant was ineffective

A federal judge Monday vacated the sentence of a man who had been sent to prison for more than 12 years for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance in South Dakota.

Rickey Lee Young, Jr. challenged the prison sentence, arguing that his trial counsel was ineffective. Judge Eric Schulte agreed.

Indeed, even the U.S. Attorney’s Office – the same office that prosecuted the case against Young – agreed.