Opinion ID: 695622
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prior Convictions for Simple Possession

Text: 46 Bennett also argues that his two prior convictions were mere possession offenses, and that Congress did not intend for such simple violations to stand as a predicate for a mandatory term of life imprisonment under section 841(b)(1)(A). Bennett's contention presents an issue of [s]tatutory interpretation[, which] is a question of law subject to de novo review. United States v. Harden, 37 F.3d 595, 600 (11th Cir.1994) (construing enhancement provision in section 841(b)(1)(A)). 47 In 1991, when the district court sentenced Bennett, the definition of a prior felony drug offense appeared in section 841(b)(1)(A). The definition provided: 48 the term felony drug offense means an offense that is a felony under any provision of this subchapter or any other Federal law that prohibits or restricts conduct relating to narcotic drugs, marihuana, or depressant or stimulant substances or a felony under any law of a State or a foreign country that prohibits or restricts conduct relating to narcotic drugs, marihuana, or depressant or stimulant substances. 49 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(b)(1)(A) (1990). 7 The definition does not contain any language excluding state felonies for simple possession. Thus, under the plain language of the statute, it appears that a felony drug offense includes any criminal conduct relating to narcotics, including simple possession, which a state has proscribed as a felony. 8 50 Furthermore, in a different recidivist provision, Congress has used the language serious drug offense as opposed to felony drug offense. See 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(e) (emphasis added). In defining serious drug offense, section 924(e) limits such convictions to offense[s] under State law, involving manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance.... 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(e)(2)(A)(ii). Thus, the definition of serious drug offense excludes state convictions for simple possession. We can only conclude that if Congress meant to place a similar limitation on section 841(b)(1)(A), it would have used the serious drug offense language and it would have provided a similar definition. Thus, we reject Bennett's second argument and affirm his life sentence.