Opinion ID: 782294
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the Cocaine Base Was Crack

Text: 44 Brown was sentenced for crack cocaine. He argues that there was not sufficient evidence to show that the cocaine base involved in the conspiracy was crack cocaine. At sentencing, the question of whether a particular substance is crack or another form of cocaine is a fact question to be determined by the district court and reviewed for clear error only. United States v. Jones, 159 F.3d 969, 982 (6th Cir.1998). Because Brown did not raise an objection below, we review for plain error only. There was no plain error in this case. Throughout the trial, key witnesses Donnell Simpson and Ronald Simpson referred to their practice of cooking into crack the cocaine that they purchased from sources including Brown. A DEA forensic chemist testified that the drugs seized from co-conspirators Richard Simpson and Michael Moore were crack cocaine. Thus, there was evidence in the record establishing that the cocaine base was crack cocaine. 45