Opinion ID: 4445950
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Jeﬀrey Rush

Text: While De La Torre received his methamphetamine supply from another co‐conspirator within the organization, Jeﬀrey Rush went straight to the top and received his methampheta‐ mine supply directly from Zamudio. In addition to selling the drugs himself, Rush also supplied Christian Chapman down the distribution line. Rush was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) and/or 500 grams or more of cocaine (mixture), in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. The government filed an information, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 851(a), notifying Rush that it intended to rely upon two previous felony drug convictions to seek an enhanced sentence. Both convictions were Indiana state court convic‐ tions, one in 2001 for felony dealing in a controlled substance (the “2001 Indiana conviction”) and the second in 2010 for fel‐ ony possession of methamphetamine (the “2010 Indiana con‐ viction”). The two prior felony drug convictions subjected Rush to a mandatory term of life imprisonment without re‐ lease. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1) (2018). Facing life in prison, Rush opted to plead guilty in ex‐ change for the government dropping one of the two § 851 Nos. 18‐2009, et al. 7 prior felony convictions. His mandatory minimum sentence was now twenty years’ imprisonment, though he agreed to a binding plea agreement under Federal Rule of Criminal Pro‐ cedure 11(c)(1)(C) with a sentence of 312 to 324 months, which was within the Sentencing Guidelines range. The district court sentenced Rush to a prison term of 312 months. On appeal, Rush argues that neither of his two prior felony drug convictions were in fact qualifying predicate oﬀenses under § 851 and therefore he should be able to withdraw his binding guilty plea agreement because it was not knowingly and intelligently entered into.