But others ensnared in ATF stash house stings have not been as fortunate, according to Alison M. Siegler, founder and director of the University of Chicago Law School's Federal Criminal Justice Clinic.

The clinic has litigated several stash house cases. Siegler represents defendant Matthew Webster in the case before Gettleman.

"Sadly, hundreds of people in Chicago and elsewhere in the country are serving decadeslong sentences for this troubling, ATF-created offense; some have even been sentenced to life in prison," Siegler said in a written statement.

Read more at Chicago Daily Law Bulletin