Opinion ID: 172105
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: Defendant-Appellant Robbie Urbano challenges his convictions and sentence for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and Possession of Cocaine Base (crack) in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844. He argues 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional as applied to him and further contends the district court erred in refusing to give his proffered jury instruction requiring the government to prove his actions had an effect on interstate commerce. Urbano's constitutional argument is foreclosed by circuit precedent. Urbano's challenge to the jury instructions fails as well, as this court's precedent makes clear the government can meet § 922(g)(1)'s jurisdictional element by showing the firearm traveled in interstate commerce at some point in the past. We take the opportunity to clarify that when the government seeks to prove the jurisdictional element in this manner, district courts should not give Tenth Circuit Pattern Criminal Jury Instruction 1.39, which defines the showing necessary when the statute requires a defendant's actions to have an effect on interstate commerce. Urbano also challenges both convictions on sufficiency of the evidence grounds, and this court rejects his challenges. Finally, Urbano contends his Sixth Amendment rights were violated when the district court significantly increased his advisory Guidelines sentence range using facts not found by the jury. This argument is also foreclosed by circuit precedent. Therefore, exercising jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), this court AFFIRMS Urbano's convictions and sentence.