Opinion ID: 599272
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficiency of Evidence on the Gun Charge

Text: 46 The court must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the government; the verdict will not be overturned unless no rational juror could find that each essential element was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); United States v. Muehlbauer, 892 F.2d 664, 666-67 (1990). To support a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), the government must prove that (1) the defendant used or carried the firearm, and (2) this use or carrying of the firearm must have been during and in relation to a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense. United States v. Edun, 890 F.2d 983, 986 (7th Cir.1989). 47 The Gunnings contend that because their car was located in an area where they could not observe the drug transaction, they could not have used the gun to facilitate the drug transaction. They claim the gun was in Angela's purse merely to protect them while they were on the road. 48 Sam and Angela cite several cases for the proposition that mere possession of a firearm is insufficient for conviction under § 924(c). United States v. Matthews, 942 F.2d 779, 783-784 (10th Cir.1991) (firearms found in living room); United States v. Bruce, 939 F.2d 1053, 1054-1056 (D.C.Cir.1991) (small derringer hidden in a belt buckle stored in a paper bag alongside drugs in the pocket of a raincoat hanging in a closet); United States v. Lyman, 892 F.2d 751, 752 (8th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 810, 111 S.Ct. 45, 112 L.Ed.2d 21 (1990) (pistol in bag in kitchen cabinet); United States v. Feliz-Cordero, 859 F.2d 250, 253-254 (2nd Cir.1988) (pistol found in dresser drawer). Each of those cases, however, considered whether a firearm not carried by a defendant was used in relation to the drug offense, a point not relevant to the case against Sam and Angela, who were charged with carrying a firearm. 49 Angela plainly carried the firearm that was found in her purse. The cases she cites establish that one carries a firearm within the meaning of § 924(c) when the firearm is within her reach during commission of the drug offense. United States v. Feliz-Cordero, 859 F.2d at 253; accord, United States v. Bruce, 939 F.2d at 1056. Sam, too, carried a firearm through the operation of 18 U.S.C. § 2. Timmie Eichen testified that he carried a firearm in the waistband of his trousers during the transaction because Sam told him to do so. One who counsels or commands another to commit a crime, and knowingly and actively contributes toward its success, is guilty of that crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2. United States v. Reiswitz, 941 F.2d 488, 494 (7th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1190, 117 L.Ed.2d 431 (1992). 50 The government also was required to prove that the firearms were carried during and in relation to the drug offense. To meet this burden, the government was required to demonstrate a relation or connection between the transaction and the possession of the firearm. United States v. Villarreal, 977 F.2d 1077, 1079 (7th Cir.1992). The evidence presented at trial easily suffices to meet this standard. The jury was entitled to find that Sam told the Eichens to take a gun in case Mr. Utley tried anything that would undercut the deal; the jury was entitled to believe the Eichens were armed in furtherance of that instruction. The jury also could find that Angela was present during the conversation and was aware of Sam's stated preference for being armed during the transaction, and that she carried the handgun for that purpose. 51 There was sufficient evidence to prove that the Gunnings violated 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).