Opinion ID: 15662
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Gasaway's and Limbrick's Firearm Convictions

Text: 34 Gasaway and Limbrick contend that there was insufficient evidence to sustain their convictions for using or carrying firearms during the commission of crimes of violence, because the Government never demonstrated that they themselves carried weapons during the charged robberies. 35 The Government explicitly charged the defendants with aiding and abetting the use of firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) & 2. Additionally, the trial court gave the jury an aiding and abetting instruction. If we assume for the sake of argument that there was no evidence that Gasaway and Limbrick carried firearms individually, there still exists ample evidence in the record that Gasaway and Limbrick aided others in their use of firearms. They were aware of the existence of the firearms, given the prominent role the guns played in the robberies and the limited number of robbers. Accordingly, their convictions for aiding and abetting were proper. See United States v. Williams, 985 F.2d 749, 755 (5th Cir.1993)(requiring aiders and abettors at least to know that firearms were available to their cohorts during the crime.) 36