Opinion ID: 159961
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gama-Bastidas' Arguments

Text: 17 Gama-Bastidas argues that the district court's ruling in Gama's casethat the indictment did not charge a 841(a) violationis law of the case and that principles of collateral estoppel or issue preclusion prevent the government from arguing otherwise. Accordingly, he contends that the district court should have treated him in the same manner as his co-defendant, by construing his plea and conviction as a plea and conviction for simple possession under 844 only. Gama-Bastidas further argues that his conviction for possession with intent to distribute under 841(a) was unconstitutional because it impermissibly exceeded the grand jury's charge in violation of his Fifth Amendment right to be tried for a felony only on a grand jury indictment. 18 Gama-Bastidas also argues that the district court construed Rule 35(c) too narrowly. According to his interpretation, the rule's plain language invested the district court with authority to correct the underlying clear error, and, therefore, the court should have resentenced him as though he had been convicted of a 844 violation, rather than a 841(a) violation. He claims the court's failure to properly recognize and exercise its authority under Rule 35(c) is reversible error. 19