Opinion ID: 167028
Heading Depth: 6
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Use of communications facility.

Text: The fifth object of the charged conspiracy involved the use of a communications facility in the distribution of drugs. See 21 U.S.C. § 843(b). Charles Hudson, who was at that time cooperating with police, set up several controlled purchases of drugs from McCalister, using the telephone. This evidence was more than sufficient to support a jury’s finding that McCalister had used a communications facility to distribute drugs. D. Conclusion. There was, then, overwhelming evidence presented at trial from which a jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the conspiracy involved 1) all five charged objects; and 2) a sufficient quantity of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin to support the 290-month sentence the district court imposed. In light of that, McCalister suffered no prejudice because his appellate attorney failed to assert claims based upon Apprendi and Edwards/Pace during McCalister’s direct appeal, nor because his trial attorney failed to raise Edwards 24 and Pace at trial or sentencing. Therefore, McCalister has not established cause excusing his procedural default of those claims. Further, his § 2255 claims alleging that his trial and direct-appeal counsel were constitutionally ineffective also fail.