FILED

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

SEPTEMBER 7, 2006

THOMAS K. KAHN

CLERK

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

________________________

No. 05-11575

Non-Argument Calendar

________________________

D. C. Docket No. 04-00095-CR-T-23-TBM

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff-Appellee, 

versus 

ELIZABETH POWELL GATLIN, 

Defendant-Appellant. 

________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Middle District of Florida

_________________________

 (September 7, 2006)

Before ANDERSON, BLACK and BARKETT, Circuit Judges. 

PER CURIAM:

Elizabeth Powell Gatlin appeals her convictions and sentences for three
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counts of distribution of methamphetamine (“meth”), in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C); possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of

meth, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(viii); using and carrying a

firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, 18 U.S.C.

§ 924(c)(1)(A); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18

U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2).

First, Gatlin challenges that there was insufficient evidence to support her

conviction for possession with intent to distribute meth. Gatlin argues that the

government failed to prove that she intended to distribute the 50 grams of meth in

her possession on the date of her arrest. Gatlin argues that the meth found in her

purse was for her personal use, which was consistent with both Detective James

Pruitt’s testimony, as well as the testimony of Gatlin herself. Gatlin argues that the

jury was left to speculate as to whether she intended to sell the meth in her purse. 

Gatlin further argues that there was no evidence supporting the jury’s specific

finding that this count of conviction involved 56 grams of meth. 

Second, Gatlin challenges that there was insufficient evidence to support her

conviction for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug

trafficking crime. Gatlin argues that her possession of a firearm was accidental or

coincidental to the commission of the drug felony. Gatlin contends that Detective
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Pruitt’s testimony demonstrates that she had the gun for protection because she had

been robbed the morning of the date of her arrest.

Third, Gatlin challenges that 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) are

both facially unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause and unconstitutional as

applied to her. Gatlin argues that § 922 exceeds Congress’s power under the

Commerce Clause because the statute requires that the gun affect commerce, but

does not specify that it must affect interstate or foreign commerce. Gatlin also

argues that the statute is unconstitutional because it does not require that the

possession of a firearm “substantially” affect commerce. Gatlin acknowledges that

her argument has previously been rejected by this Court. Gatlin also argues that

the offense under § 924(c) of possessing or using a firearm in the commission of

another federal crime has no inherent relationship to interstate commerce and notes

that § 924(c) contains no explicit jurisdictional element that limits its application to

interstate commerce. Gatlin further challenges that § 924(c) is unconstitutional as

applied to her because the government offered no evidence showing that her

conduct affected interstate commerce or had a substantial effect on commerce.

Gatlin argues that the fact that the firearm was manufactured in another state has

no bearing on the overall regulation of firearms or the sale of firearms. 

Fourth, Gatlin challenges that the enhancement of the mandatory minimum
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sentence for possession with intent to distribute meth based on prior convictions

not alleged in the indictment or found by the jury violated her Fifth and Sixth

Amendment rights. Gatlin also argues that she should be sentenced under the

mandatory guidelines because her offense was committed and indictment was

issued prior to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 756, 160

L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Gatlin also challenges that the enhancement of a statutory

minimum based on judicial fact findings should be subject to the same

constitutional mandates as those which raise the maximum sentence. Gatlin

concedes, however, that all of these arguments are foreclosed by precedent. 

Finally, Gatlin challenges that the enhancement to the mandatory minimum

penalty for the conviction for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to

a drug trafficking crime based on the firearm being discharged is unconstitutional. 

Gatlin argues that the question of whether the firearm was discharged should be

part of the offense and charged in the indictment because it elevates the minimum

sentence. Gatlin concedes, however, that this argument is foreclosed by Supreme

Court precedent. 

I.

We generally review “the sufficiency of the evidence de novo, viewing the

evidence in the light most favorable to the government and drawing all reasonable
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inferences in favor of the jury's verdict.” United States v. Castro, 89 F.3d 1443,

1450 (11th Cir. 1996). Determinations of the credibility of witnesses fall within

the exclusive province of the jury and may not be revisited unless the testimony is

“incredible as a matter of law.” United States v. Calderon, 127 F.3d 1314, 1325

(11th Cir. 1997). In order to be incredible as a matter of law, the testimony “must

be unbelievable on its face.” Id.

In order to convict Gatlin of possession with the intent to distribute

methamphetamine, the government had to establish three elements: (1) knowledge;

(2) possession; and (3) intent to distribute. United States v. Gamboa,166 F.3d

1327, 1331 (11th Cir. 1999). The intent to distribute may be inferred from the

amount of drugs involved. United States v. Hernandez, 433 F.3d 1328, 1333 (11th

Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S.Ct. 1635 (2006).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and

making all reasonable inferences in favor of the jury’s verdict, the evidence is

sufficient to support the jury’s finding that Gatlin had the intent to distribute meth. 

Detective Pruitt testified that in his experience that meth users typically only buy

smaller amounts of meth such as one-sixteenth or one-eighth an ounce, and rarely

buy as much as a half-ounce. Based on this testimony, the jury may have

disbelieved Gatlin’s testimony that she used between one-quarter and one-half an
 Gatlin does not argue that her testimony should be disregarded for sufficiency purposes, 1

c.f. Williams, 390 F.3d at 1325 (Corrigan,J., concurring), and in fact relies on her testimony as well.

6

ounce, and concluded that the two ounces of meth in her purse was more than an

amount for personal use. The jury may have also inferred Gatlin’s intent to sell the

meth in her purse from her admission that she sold meth and the fact that she sold

drugs to Detective Pruitt multiple times. Also, the jury may have inferred Gatlin’s

intent to sell the meth in her purse based on her own testimony that she was

unemployed and supported her own habit by selling meth. 

The fact that Gatlin had the opportunity to sell two more ounces of meth to

Detective Pruitt on the date of her arrest and refused supports her testimony that

the meth in her purse was for her own personal use. The jury, however, may have

concluded that Gatlin was saving that meth for another customer, as Detective

Pruitt testified. The jury also may have inferred Gatlin’s intent to distribute from

her testimony that she intended to smoke the meth in her purse, but “[i]f [she]

needed a little bit of cash, [she] was going to get rid of a little bit of it.” The jury

may have also disbelieved Gatlin’s testimony and used her testimony as evidence

of her guilt. See United States v. Williams, 390 F.3d 1319, 1326 (11th Cir. 2004)

(“Where some corroborative evidence of guilt exists for the charged offense . . .

and the defendant takes the stand in her own defense, the Defendant's testimony,

denying guilt, may establish, by itself, elements of the offense”). Although 1
7

Gatlin’s argument would provide a reasonable basis for an acquittal on this count,

there was sufficient evidence to support a reasonable inference to the contrary that

Gatlin did intend to distribute the meth. Therefore, the conviction on this count

was supported by sufficient evidence. 

Finally, it is unclear how the jury specifically found that Gatlin possessed 56

grams of meth with the intent to distribute it. It is possible that the jury confused

the amount of meth in Gatlin’s purse with Detective David Wallace’s testimony

that he discovered 55.9 grams of marijuana in Gatlin’s bedroom. The evidence,

however, does support a finding that Gatlin possessed 66 grams of meth in her

purse. The jury may have found that Gatlin only intended to sell 56 grams of the

meth and to keep the other 10 grams. Because the evidence in the record actually

supports a finding of a greater amount of meth, and the difference between 56

grams and 66 grams of meth would not affect Gatlin’s sentence, the jury’s specific

finding is supported by sufficient evidence. 

II.

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), it is illegal for “any person who,

during and in relation to any . . . drug trafficking crime . . . for which the person

may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, [to] use[] or carr[y] a firearm . . .

.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). To sustain a conviction under this statute, the
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government must have sufficient evidence on both the “uses or carries” prong and

the “during and in relation to” prong. United States v. Timmons, 283 F.3d 1246,

1250 (11th Cir. 2002). The phrase “in relation to” means that, at a minimum, “the

firearm must have some purpose or effect with respect to the drug trafficking

crime; its presence or involvement cannot be the result of accident or coincidence.” 

Smith v. United States, 508 U.S. 223, 238, 113 S.Ct. 2050, 2059, 124 L.Ed.2d 138

(1993). The firearm at least must facilitate, or have the potential of facilitating the

drug trafficking offense. Id.

The evidence here was sufficient for the jury to find that Gatlin used or

carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. Detective

Pruitt testified that most of the drug transactions with Gatlin occurred in her

bedroom, and Gatlin testified that she usually sold meth from her bedroom. The

evidence also reflected that Gatlin placed the gun under the pillow on her bed. The

evidence further reflected that Gatlin fired the gun twice in her bedroom as officers

entered her home. The storing and firing of the gun supports a jury inference that

she was “using” or “carrying” the gun. Furthermore, the fact that she had the gun

stored in the place where she generally sold meth supports the jury’s inference that

she possessed the gun during and in relation to the crime of possessing meth with

the intent to distribute it. The jury may have inferred that she started firing the gun
9

when the police came to search her home because she thought someone was

coming to steal her drugs. Although Gatlin claims that she had the gun because

she feared that people were coming to attack her, the jury may have disbelieved her

testimony and used it as substantive evidence of her guilt, along with the

government’s evidence. Therefore, the jury’s finding that Gatlin used or carried a

firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense is supported by

substantial evidence. 

III.

We review de novo Gatlin’s preserved challenge to § 922(g) under the

Commerce Clause. United States v. Dunn, 345 F.3d 1285, 1288 (11th Cir. 2003). 

We review Gatlin’s challenge under the Commerce Clause to § 924(c) for plain

error because it is raised for the first time on appeal. United States v. Peters, 403

F.3d 1263, 1270 (11th Cir. 2005). To establish plain error, a defendant must show

there is (1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects substantial rights. United

States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 1776, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). If all

three conditions are met, we may only reverse if the error “seriously affect[s] the

fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. (internal

quotations omitted).

We have repeatedly upheld the constitutionality of § 922(g). United States
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v. Wright, 392 F.3d 1269, 1280 (11th Cir. 2004), cert. denied,125 S.Ct. 1751

(2005); United States v. Dunn, 345 F.3d at 1297; United States v. Scott, 263 F.3d

1270 (11th Cir.2001); United States v. Dupree, 258 F.3d 1258 (11th Cir.2001);

United States v. Nichols, 124 F.3d 1265, 1266 (11th Cir. 1997); McAllister, 77

F.3d at 390. In Nichols, we rejected an identical constitutional challenge to

§ 922(g) because the term “commerce” is not defined as “interstate or foreign

commerce.” Nichols, 124 F.3d at 1266. Thus, we similarly reject Gatlin’s facial

challenge to the constitutionality of § 922(g). 

We have also upheld the constitutionality of § 924(c) against Commerce

Clause challenges. United States v. Ferreira, 275 F.3d 1020, 1028 (11th Cir.

2001); United States v. DePace, 120 F.3d 233, 235 n. 2 (11th Cir. 1997). We

similarly deny Gatlin’s challenge here. 

Finally, Gatlin argues that § 924(c) is unconstitutional as applied to her. 

Section 924(c) only requires that the government prove some “minimal nexus” to

interstate commerce. Scott, 263 F.3d at 1274. Agent Michael Gistinger testified

that the frame or receiver of Gatlin’s firearm was manufactured in California and

crossed state lines to get into Florida. Under federal law, the definition of a

firearm includes the frame or receiver. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3)(C). Agent

Gistinger’s testimony that the frame or receiver was manufactured in California
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and crossed state lines into Florida is sufficient to establish the minimal nexus to

interstate commerce. Therefore, we reject Gatlin’s challenge that § 924(c) is

unconstitutional as applied to her. 

IV.

We review de novo constitutional challenges to a sentence. United States v.

Cantellano, 430 F.3d 1142, 1144 (11th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S.Ct. 1604

(2006). 

In Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140

L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), the Supreme Court held that the government need not allege

in its indictment, and need not prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that a defendant

had prior convictions in order for a district court to use those convictions to

enhance a sentence. Id. at 247, 118 S.Ct. at 1233. We have clarified that the

Supreme Court's decision in Almendarez-Torres was left undisturbed by Apprendi

v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), Blakely v.

Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), and Booker. 

United States v. Shelton, 400 F.3d 1325, 1329 (11th Cir. 2005). Moreover, we

have noted that while recent decisions may arguably cast doubt on the future

prospects of Almendarez-Torres, the Supreme Court has not explicitly overruled
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Almendarez-Torres, and, as a result, we must follow it. United States v.

Camacho-Ibarquen, 410 F.3d 1307, 1316 n.3 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 126 S.Ct.

457 (2005). Thus, we reject Gatlin’s argument that the district court violated her

Fifth Amendment and Sixth Amendment rights by enhancing her sentence based

on prior convictions that were not charged in the indictment or proven to the jury

beyond a reasonable doubt, particularly where, as here, the fact of those

convictions was not challenged and, thus, was admitted. See Shelton, 400 F.3d at

1330. 

We have also rejected the idea that a court may splice Booker’s Sixth

Amendment holding from the remedial holding and apply only part of Booker

retroactively. United States v. Duncan, 400 F.3d 1297, 1303-04 (11th Cir.), cert.

denied, 126 S.Ct. 432 (2005). Furthermore, we rejected the argument that the

application of the Booker remedial holding would violate due process or the Ex

Post Facto Clause because it would effectively increase the sentence authorized by

the jury verdict from the guideline range to the statutory maximum. Id. at 1307-08. 

As she concedes, Gatlin’s argument is controlled by Duncan, and we therefore

reject it. 

Finally, the Supreme Court has distinguished facts that raise a defendant’s

maximum sentence from those raising a defendant’s minimum sentence and held
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that facts increasing a minimum sentence are not subject to the constitutional

restrictions in the Apprendi line of cases. Harris v. United States, 536 U.S. 545,

557, 122 S.Ct. 2406, 2414, 153 L.Ed.2d 524 (2002). Thus, we deny Gatlin’s

constitutional challenge to the enhancement of the statutory minimum sentence

based on prior convictions. 

V.

We review de novo constitutional challenges to a sentence. Cantellano, 430

F.3d at 1144. 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A): 

[A]ny person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or

drug trafficking crime . . . for which the person may be prosecuted in

a court of the United States, uses or carries a firearm, or who, in

furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm, shall, in addition

to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug

trafficking crime . . . 

(i) be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years;

. . . 

(iii) if the firearm is discharged, be sentenced to a term of

imprisonment of not less than 10 years.

18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).

The Supreme Court has held that § 924(c)(1)(A) defines a single offense and

regards discharging a firearm as a sentencing factor to be found by the judge, not
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an offense element to be found by the jury. Harris, 53 U.S. at 556, 122 S.Ct. at

2414. Furthermore, as noted above, the Supreme Court also held in Harris that

facts increasing a minimum sentence are not subject to the constitutional

restrictions in the Apprendi line of cases. Id. at 557, 122 S.Ct. at 2414. Thus, we

reject Gatlin’s argument that the 120-month mandatory minimum sentence for

using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime is

unconstitutional because it was based on facts not alleged in the indictment or

found by the jury. 

The judgment of the district court is

AFFIRMED.