Opinion ID: 2975338
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Aiding and Abetting Attempt To Possess Cocaine

Text: Gardner next argues that there was insufficient evidence to find that he aided and abetted McMillion or Hassell in their attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. In order to sustain Gardner’s conviction on this count, the government must have produced sufficient evidence that (1) McMillion or Hassell committed the principal offense and (2) that Gardner aided and abetted the commission of that offense. In order to secure a conviction of a defendant for aiding and abetting an offense, the government must show: (1) an act by a defendant that contributes to the execution of a crime; and (2) the intent to aid in the crime’s commission. United States v. Lowery, 60 F.3d 1199, 1202 (6th Cir. 1995); United States v. Lawson, 872 F.2d 179, 181 (6th Cir. 1989). As applied to the offense of aiding and abetting an attempt to possess with intent to distribute, the government accordingly must prove that the principal committed the “attempt” offense. That is, the government must prove that the principal had the intent to commit the drug offense and that the principal committed an overt act that constituted a substantial step toward the commission of the drug offense. United States v. Wesley, 417 F.3d 612, 618 (6th Cir. 2005); United States v. Pennyman, 889 F.2d 104, 106 (6th Cir. 1989). The “substantial step” consists of objective acts that mark the defendant’s conduct as criminal in nature. Pennyman, 889 F.2d at 106. Gardner argues that he did not commit any act other than being present in the car when the three men went to pick up the cocaine. However, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable jury could have found that the evidence established that Gardner aided or abetted either McMillion’s or Hassell’s attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. First, there was substantial evidence that Hassell and McMillion intended to acquire and took substantial steps toward acquiring cocaine. They discussed how to acquire the cocaine in Griffin’s kitchen, searched for the red truck in order to steal the cocaine at gunpoint, cut up magazine clippings to use as fake money to buy the cocaine, and went on a second mission to a motel room to steal the cocaine by force. A jury could have concluded that Hassell and McMillion attempted to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Second, there is substantial evidence that Gardner committed an act that assisted in the crime’s commission and had the intent to aid his accomplices. Gardner was present during every aspect of the crime discussed in the previous paragraph. He also brought the firearms along on two separate attempts to acquire the cocaine and asked McMillion to purchase gloves and duct tape for the motel-room mission. A rational trier of fact could have found that Gardner aided and abetted McMillion’s or Hassell’s attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Thus, Gardner’s allegation of insufficiency of the evidence on this count fails. No. 05-6272 United States v. Gardner Page 7 4. Aiding and Abetting Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Gardner next argues that there was insufficient evidence that he aided and abetted the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). We find his argument unavailing. A rational trier of fact could have found Gardner guilty of aiding and abetting Hassell’s possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. We have held that, to sustain a conviction under § 924(c) for aiding and abetting, the government must prove “that the defendant, as the accomplice, associated and participated in the use of the firearm in connection with the underlying . . . crime.” United States v. Franklin, 415 F.3d 537, 554-55 (6th Cir. 2005) (citing Rattigan v. United States, 151 F.3d 551, 558 (6th Cir. 1998) (citations omitted)). See also United States v. Morrow, 977 F.2d 222, 231 (6th Cir. 1992). The government can meet that burden by showing that the defendant both knew that the principal was armed and acted with the intent to assist or influence the commission of the underlying predicate crime. Franklin, 415 F.3d at 554-55. Thus, in this case, the government was required to prove that Gardner knew one of his accomplices possessed a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and that Gardner acted with the intent to assist or influence the commission of the underlying drug trafficking crime. At least one of Gardner’s accomplices possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to McMillion’s testimony, Gardner brought two weapons to the car before the three men drove to the motel, where they were either to purchase drugs with fake money or steal the drugs at gunpoint. While in the car on the way to the motel, Gardner handed one of the guns to Hassell, who was seated in the front passenger seat. That evidence suffices to show that Hassell actually possessed a firearm. Cf. United States v. Moreno, 933 F.2d 362, 373 (6th Cir. 1991). Hassell also possessed that weapon “in furtherance of” a drug trafficking offense. According to the evidence adduced at trial, the plan from that point forward was to steal the cocaine at gunpoint from the “dealers” in the motel room. The guns were strategically located in the automobile to be within reach of Hassell and Gardner. The very purpose of having the guns in the car was to aid in the theft of the drugs. A reasonable jury could have concluded that Hassell possessed a firearm in furtherance of the underlying drug conspiracy. Cf. United States v. Mackey, 265 F.3d 457, 461-62 (6th Cir. 2001). Because Gardner handed Hassell a weapon, a reasonable jury could have concluded both that Gardner knew Hassell was armed and that Hassell was armed to further the underlying drug offense. That evidence, combined with the Gardner’s clear criminal intent (which we have already discussed in the conspiracy context), leads to the inexorable conclusion that a jury reasonably could have found that Gardner aided and abetted the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. We accordingly reject his insufficiency challenge to this conviction. 5. Aiding and Abetting a Felon In Possession of a Firearm Gardner next argues that there was insufficient evidence that he aided and abetted a felon in possession of a firearm. Gardner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He was also charged in this same count as an aider and abettor, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2. The verdict form is clear on which theory the jury relied upon: Gardner was found not guilty as a principal, but was found guilty as an aider and abettor. Therefore, for Gardner’s conviction on this count to stand, he must have aided and abetted either Hassell’s or McMillion’s commission of the principal offense. Thus, we must ask whether Hassell or McMillion could have been convicted of violating § 922(g)(1) as principals. The elements of being a felon in possession of a firearm, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), are: (1) the No. 05-6272 United States v. Gardner Page 8 defendant had a previous felony conviction; (2) the defendant possessed a firearm; and (3) the firearm traveled in or affected interstate commerce. United States v. Kincaide, 145 F.3d 771, 782 (6th Cir. 1998). The record contains no evidence that Hassell was a convicted felon. Thus, Gardner’s conviction on this count depends first on whether McMillion could have violated § 922(g)(1). As to the first element of being a felon in possession of a firearm, evidence was presented to the jury that McMillion had previously been convicted of at least two felony drug charges. Indeed, the jury heard that he had pled guilty to violating § 922(g) in this matter. Moreover, a reasonable jury could have concluded that McMillion possessed a firearm. Possession may be either actual or constructive. Actual possession means that the possessor had physical control over the weapon, whereas “[c]onstructive possession exists when a person does not have actual possession but instead knowingly has the power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion and control over an object, either directly or through others.” Moreover, “[p]roof that ‘the person has dominion over the premises where the firearm is located’ is sufficient to establish constructive possession.” Kincaide, 145 F.3d at 782 (citing United States v. Clemis, 11 F.3d 597, 601 (6th Cir. 1993) (per curiam), and United States v. Snyder, 913 F.2d 300, 304 (6th Cir.1990)). There is no evidence in the record that McMillion ever actually possessed a firearm. Instead, the evidence shows that Gardner and Hassell were the actual possessors. However, a jury could have concluded that McMillion had constructive possession over the two guns in the car. McMillion was Griffin’s primary representative when dealing with Thompson, whom McMillion thought was a drug-dealer from Texas. The car belonged to McMillion and he was driving the three men to the motel for the purpose of using the firearms to commit a drug trafficking offense. He acquiesced in Gardner’s bringing of the guns and told Gardner to put the safety on. It was McMillion’s role in the ultimate plan to enter the motel room and check if the “dealers” were armed. If they were not, McMillion was to return to the car, bring his armed coconspirators into the motel room, and steal the cocaine at gunpoint. Based on that evidence, a reasonable jury could have found that McMillion had the “power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion and control over a firearm, either directly or through others,” Clemis, 11 F.3d at 601, and thus that McMillion constructively possessed the weapons in the car. As to the third element of the § 922(g) offense, Gardner conceded that the two weapons found had traveled in interstate commerce. Thus, there is sufficient evidence from which a jury could have concluded that McMillion violated § 922(g) as a principal. However, for Gardner’s conviction to stand, there must also be sufficient evidence to show that Gardner aided and abetted McMillion in the commission of that crime. The elements that the government must show to prove aiding and abetting are: (1) an act by a defendant that contributes to the commission of a crime; and (2) the intent to aid in the commission of the crime. Lawson, 872 F.3d at 181. Because there is evidence that Gardner brought both weapons into the car, Gardner certainly committed an act that contributed to McMillion’s commission of the offense. Thus, we now consider whether Gardner had the required intent to aid in McMillion’s commission of the crime. We have yet to decide whether this element requires proof that the aider and abetter knew or should have known that the principal, McMillion in this case, was a convicted felon. The circuits are split on this question. The Ninth Circuit has held that the government need not show that the defendant knew the principal was a felon. United States v. Canon, 993 F.2d 1439, 1442 (9th Cir. 1993); United States v. Graves, 143 F.3d 1185, 1188 (9th Cir. 1998) (“Canon decided the question of whether an aider and abettor is required to know of the principal’s status as a felon.”). Also, while the Seventh Circuit has not directly confronted this particular question, that court has held that No. 05-6272 United States v. Gardner Page 9 a defendant in this type of case need only share the principal’s knowledge that the principal possessed a gun. United States v. Moore, 936 F.2d 1508, 1527-28 (7th Cir. 1991) (“Moore was clearly aware of Miles’ use of a gun in both armed robberies and, thus, satisfied this prong of the ‘aiding and abetting’ test.”). In contrast, the Third Circuit has held that the government must show that the defendant must know or have reasonable cause to know that the principal is a felon in order to sustain an aiding-and-abetting conviction under § 922(g). United States v. Xavier, 2 F.3d 1281, 1286 (3d Cir. 1993). The Ninth and Seventh Circuits offer little reasoning for their conclusions. In Canon, 993 F.2d at 1442 (citations omitted), the Ninth Circuit provides almost no support for its holding, writing that, because the government did not have to show that the principal knew his own felonious status, the government only had to show that the aider and abettor “associated himself with [the principal’s crime], that he participated in it as in something that he wished to bring about, [and] that he [sought] by his action to make it succeed.” The Seventh Circuit followed similar reasoning, holding in passing that, because the “required state of mind” for a principal’s § 922(g) violation is that the principal “knowingly possessed the gun,”the government must only show that the aider and abettor knew the principal possessed the gun. Moore, 936 F.2d at 1526-28 (citations omitted). The Third Circuit decision, in contrast, is well-reasoned and we concur with it. The Third Circuit began by reiterating that the felon-in-possession statute, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), is not a specificintent statute. Xavier, 2 F.3d at 1286. However, the Third Circuit noted that “criminal liability for aiding and abetting a § 922(g) violation stands on a different footing because it depends on the status1 of the person possessing the firearm,” a situation which “Congress addressed . . . [in] § 922(d).” Ibid. The court then discussed that section of the statute, under which “one cannot be criminally liable without knowledge or reason to know of the transferee’s status.” Ibid. (citing United States v. Murray, 988 F.2d 518, 522 (5th Cir. 1993) (“It is the purchaser’s status as a felon which makes the activity criminal. If the aider and abettor does not know this fact, it is difficult to say he shared in the criminal intent of the principal.”)). The Third Circuit concluded that to allow aider-and-abettor liability without requiring proof of knowledge of the status of the principal under § 922(g) would effectively circumvent the knowledge element in § 922(d) and would thus abrogate congressional intent. It is worth noting that the Ninth Circuit, in a later case regarding accessory-after-the-fact liability, criticized but could not overrule that court’s holding in Canon. See United States v. Graves, 143 F.3d 1185, 1188 (9th Cir. 1998) (“Although we acknowledge that Canon decided the question whether an aider and abettor is required to know of the principal’s status as a felon, we have serious reservations regarding the soundness of that determination. In particular, we note that the decision contains no analysis in support of its conclusion.”). As the Ninth Circuit noted in Graves, a felon who possesses a firearm can be presumed to have known of his own status as a felon. Ibid. However, a presumption that a third party has knowledge of the principal’s felonious status is on shakier ground, particularly in light of Congress’s requirement that the government show that a § 922(d) defendant knew or had cause to know of the transferee’s status. Ibid. We cannot countenance an interpretation of § 922(g) that would permit any ordinary gun dealer to be held criminally liable for “aiding” a third person’s possession of a firearm without some knowledge or cause to know of that third person’s status as a convicted felon, when that very same transaction would not be criminal under § 922(d) for “selling” the same gun. As such, we agree with the Third Circuit and hold that, in order for aiding-and-abetting liability to 1 The statute reads, in pertinent part: “It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm to any person knowing or having cause to believe that such person . . . is under indictment for, or has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year[.]” 18 U.S.C. § 922(d). No. 05-6272 United States v. Gardner Page 10 attach under § 922(g), the government must show that the defendant knew or had cause to know that the principal was a convicted felon. Xavier, 3 F.3d at 1286.2 Therefore, in order for Gardner’s conviction as an aider and abettor under § 922(g) to stand, the government must have presented some proof that Gardner knew or had cause to know of McMillion’s status as a convicted felon. The government presented no such evidence. As such, no rational trier of fact could have concluded that Gardner aided and abetted McMillion’s gunpossession. The evidence presented on this count was insufficient. Accordingly, we sustain this insufficiency challenge and remand with instructions for the district court to enter a judgment of acquittal on this count. Cf. Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1, 17-18 (1978).