Opinion ID: 2968468
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: 2d 741, 751 & n.16 (Md. 1997).

Text: To hold that look-a-like drug convictions are not predicate offenses for purposes of the career offender Guidelines would run afoul of Congress’ mandate to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6) (2000). Drug traffickers who happen to have look-a-like drugs on hand when they are arrested would be subject to much lower sentences. But, as this case illustrates, defendants who are convicted of selling fake drugs and defendants who are convicted of selling genuine narcotics have been found guilty of similar conduct. Id. To fail to recognize this similarity would create an unwarranted sentencing disparit[y] of the sort Congress and the Commission have sought to avoid. 12 UNITED STATES v. MILLS