Opinion ID: 659895
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Douglas's Trial Conviction and Appeal

Text: 3 Douglas was convicted on August 19, 1987 after a jury trial of various offenses stemming from his involvement in a drug trafficking scheme in Brooklyn, New York. Specifically, he was convicted of: (1) conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846; (2) possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a)(1); (3) carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(c)(1); and (4) possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 922(g)(1). Douglas was sentenced to a 60 year term of imprisonment, later reduced to 45 years. Douglas is currently serving his sentence. 4 This Court affirmed the convictions on direct appeal--for which Douglas was represented by new counsel--without a published opinion. See United States v. Douglas, 847 F.2d 836 (2d Cir.1988). In the unpublished summary order resolving the case, however, this Court rejected Douglas's claim that he had received ineffective assistance of counsel because of his attorney's prior representation of a government witness. This Court also found that a challenge to the admission of evidence at trial was waived for failure to object, and that Douglas's sentence did not violate the Eighth Amendment. 5