Opinion ID: 2978059
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Supplemental Information

Text: Pope argues that the district court improperly increased the applicable mandatory minimum sentence because the supplemental information filed by the government, which identified Pope’s prior felony convictions, failed to reference the proper statute, 21 U.S.C. § 851. He claims that this purported defect deprived him of proper notice that the government intended to seek an enhanced sentence based upon his prior convictions. When an individual is convicted of violating 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), he faces an enhanced penalty based on certain prior felony drug convictions. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b). Section 851 requires - 17 - No. 08-1219 United States v. Pope that the government provide notice to a defendant of its intention to seek an enhanced sentence. Compliance is mandatory. United States v. King, 127 F.3d 483, 487 (6th Cir. 1997). This section “was designed to satisfy the requirements of due process and provide the defendant with ‘reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding the possibility of an enhanced sentence for recidivism.’” Id. at 489 (quoting United States v. Belanger, 970 F.2d 416, 418 (7th Cir. 1992)). The sufficiency of an information under § 851 is a question of law subject to de novo review. United States v. Layne, 192 F.3d 556, 575 (6th Cir. 1999). “Section 851 does not specify the particular form that notice of enhancement must take.” United States v. Soto, 8 F. App’x 535, 539 (6th Cir. 2001) (citations omitted). The notice filed by the government informed Pope that he faced enhanced penalties pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B) due to his five prior felony drug convictions, all of which the notice specifically identified. Pope does not suggest that he did not receive notice that the government sought to enhance his sentence based upon his prior convictions, or that he did not understand the notice. Rather, he argues only that the technical absence from the notice of a specific reference to 21 U.S.C. § 851 renders his sentence procedurally defective. He is mistaken. Layne forecloses Pope’s argument. In Layne, the defendant asserted that the information was defective because the government failed to expressly reference § 851. 192 F.3d at 575–76. Observing that § 851 is “silent on whether the government must actually cite the statute in the information it files,” the court rejected the defendant’s argument, emphasizing “‘the importance of - 18 - No. 08-1219 United States v. Pope interpreting § 851’s notice requirements so as to avoid elevating form over substance.’” Id. at 576 (quoting King, 127 F.3d at 489). “[U]ltimately, a § 851 information is sufficient if it provides reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding the possibility of an enhanced sentence.” Id. Because Pope received reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard, the supplemental information filed by the government fulfilled the statutory and due process requirements.