Opinion ID: 701736
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Facilitative Nexus

Text: 41 Use, as that term applies in Sec. 924(c)(1), requires more than mere possession of a firearm, but does not require outwardly apparent utilization: [the] weapon need not be brandished, displayed or discharged. United States v. Reyes-Mercado, 22 F.3d 363, 367 (1st Cir.1994) (citations omitted). To sustain a conviction under this section for the use of a firearm, there must be shown some facilitative nexus between the weapon and the criminal activity. Id. (citations omitted). 42 We have stated that,  'the government need not prove actual possession by the defendant, only that the firearm was readily accessible for the defendant's use' and that '[p]lacing a weapon nearby to protect a drug operation comes within the definition of used ' for purposes of section 924(c). United States v. Wight, 968 F.2d 1393, 1396 (1st Cir.1992) (citing United States v. Abreu, 952 F.2d 1458, 1466 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 503 U.S. 994, 112 S.Ct. 1695, 118 L.Ed.2d 406 (1992)). [W]here a drug trafficker is not carrying a gun on his person, but has one nearby, the court's critical concern is not whether the gun was 'instantly available' or 'exclusively dedicated to the narcotics trade,' but whether it was 'available for use' in connection with the narcotics trade. United States v. Castro-Lara, 970 F.2d at 983. Among the factors we examine in determining whether a gun was available for use in connection with a drug operation are the proximity of the gun to the drugs and drug proceeds and the availability of the gun to the defendant. See, e.g., United States v. Paulino, 13 F.3d 20, 26 (1st Cir.1994) (Drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded revolver were located in close proximity to one another. [Appellant] had an apparent possessory interest in, and a significant degree of control over, the premises. On these facts, a reasonable factfinder certainly could find the requisite facilitative nexus....); United States v. Castro-Lara, 970 F.2d at 983 (Appellant was apprehended in his car, at the scene of a drug pickup, with the gun inside the car's trunk.... [W]e believe a rational jury was free to conclude that the location of the firearm--near a large sum of cash, in close proximity to live ammunition, and at a place where drugs were to be delivered--coupled with the timing--[appellant] brought the gun to the airstrip in the course of taking delivery of a sizable quantity of cocaine--supported a finding that the firearm was 'available for use' during and in relation to the drug trafficking crime.). 43 There was testimony at trial that the gun was found in room 311 in a zippered bag less than two feet from Nieves-Burgos, and that also found in the room were several quantities of cocaine, bundles of cash, and various instruments and supplies typically utilized for packaging cocaine. This evidence is sufficient to support a finding that the gun in room 311 was used by Nieves-Burgos to protect the drugs of which he was in possession. Although there is evidence in the record that weighs against this conclusion, the jury presumably considered all of the evidence and drew the permissible inference that the gun was used by Nieves-Burgos during and in relation to his possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Sec. 924(c)(1). See United States v. Batista-Polanco, 927 F.2d 14, 17 (1st Cir.1991) (the factfinder may decide among reasonable interpretations of the evidence).