Opinion ID: 676107
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Firearm conviction under Sec. 924(c).

Text: 13 Sanders next challenges his conviction under Sec. 924(c), arguing that the evidence is insufficient to demonstrate that he used or carried any of the firearms discovered at the Milwaukee residence at all, much less that he did so in relation to a drug trafficking offense. To prove that Sanders violated Sec. 924(c), the government had to show that he: (1) used or carried a firearm; and (2) that he used or carried the firearm during and in relation to his drug trafficking offenses. See United States v. Perez, 28 F.3d 673, 676 (7th Cir.1994); accord United States v. Villagrana, 5 F.3d 1048, 1051 (7th Cir.1993). To prove use of a firearm under Sec. 924(c), it is sufficient if the government establishes that the gun increases the likelihood of success of the drug offense as a means of protection or intimidation, ... is available to provide protection, or ... provides a heightened sense of security to a defendant. Perez, 28 F.3d at 676 (citations omitted); accord Villagrana, 5 F.3d at 1052. 14 Sanders first argues that he was not able to use or carry the firearm under Sec. 924(c) because he was in Colorado during the time of the drug trafficking offenses. Of course this is nothing more than a rehash of his alibi defense which the jury rejected. We will not revisit the jury's determination that Sanders resided at and conducted his drug offenses at the Milwaukee residence. 15 Sanders next contends that because Harvey never testified that he saw Sanders with a firearm during any of the drug transactions at the Milwaukee residence, this further underscores his claim that the government presented no evidence that he used or carried a firearm within the meaning of Sec. 924(c). Yet [t]he fact that [Sanders] never brandished, fired, or referred to the gun[ ] during the drug transaction is immaterial. United States v. Villarreal, 977 F.2d 1077, 1079 (7th Cir.1992), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 1350, 122 L.Ed.2d 731 (1993) (quotations omitted) (citations omitted). Here a .32 semiautomatic pistol, ammunition for the same and over $9,400 in cash were found in Sanders' locked bedroom. From this evidence the jury could reasonably conclude that Sanders used the gun to protect the proceeds of his drug transactions, thus providing him with a heightened sense of security. This is enough to sustain his conviction under Sec. 924(c). See Perez, 28 F.3d at 676; accord Villagrana, 5 F.3d at 1052; Villarreal, 977 F.2d at 1079.