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The United States Supreme Court has cut the prison sentence for a Minneapolis man convicted on drug and firearm charges.

The High Court ruled that a federal appeals court overstepped its authority by adding 15 years to the man's sentence.

Michael Greenlaw was a member of the gang called the "Family Mob," which sold crack cocaine in south Minneapolis for years.

A federal judge sentenced Greenlaw to 36 years.  Greenlaw appealed to the 8th Circuit arguing that his sentence was too long. The government did not take a position before the appeals court.

The 8th Circuit ruled that Greenlaw's sentence was not too long, but that it was too short, and added 15 years to his sentence. 

Greenlaw appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Writing for the majority, Justice Ruth Ginsberg said appellate courts can't "sally forth" on their own in taking up questions prosecutors never asked.

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Elizabeth Stawicki

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The United States Supreme Court has cut the prison sentence for a Minneapolis man. The High Court ruled that a federal appeals court overstepped its authority by adding 15 years to the man's sentence.

Supreme Court cuts Minneapolis man's sentence

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