Opinion ID: 716752
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Violations of Section 924(c)

Text: 58 In his final challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, Floyd argues that his convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) must be reversed because the Government failed to establish that Floyd possessed a firearm during the commission of the kidnapping and the carjacking. Floyd asserts the evidence is insufficient because [t]he evidence adduced on each of these charges came from one witness, Mr. James Davis and because [n]o weapons were recovered from Mr. Floyd. 59 Credible witness testimony is sufficient to establish that a defendant possessed a firearm during the commission of a crime. See United States v. Gregg, 803 F.2d 568, 571-72 (10th Cir.1986) (upholding conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1202(a) where witnesses to bank robbery testified that the defendant used a real gun, and not a toy gun and were able to describe the weapon), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 920, 107 S.Ct. 1379, 94 L.Ed.2d 693 (1987); United States v. Hamilton, 992 F.2d 1126, 1130-31 (10th Cir.1993) (upholding a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) where defendant's confession was corroborated by witness testimony that the defendant carried a real gun which she knew was real because it sounded heavy and made of metal when he laid it on the counter). The Government is not required to introduce the actual firearm into evidence. Gregg, 803 F.2d at 571. 60 Here, Davis testified that when Floyd demanded his help in abducting Michael, Floyd informed him, I think I should tell you I have a gun. Davis testified that Floyd showed him the handle of the gun. Davis further testified that when Floyd handcuffed him to a tree, he had fifteen to twenty seconds to observe the gun from approximately three feet away. Davis, who himself owns two rifles and two shotguns, stated that the gun was a small pistol, chrome-plated, a squared-off barrel with a muzzle protruding maybe a quarter, three-eights inches from the main barrel. Davis testified that after examining weapons in a gun store, he concluded that the gun used by Floyd was a Raven .25 semiautomatic pistol. The district court did not err in determining that Davis's testimony was sufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Floyd possessed a gun during the course of the kidnapping and the carjacking. 61