Document: 513 U.S. 10115 S.Ct. 382130 L.Ed.2d 225 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.Reshat SHABANI. No. 93-981. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Oct. 3, 1994. Decided Nov. 1, Syllabus * Respondent Shabani was convicted conspiracy to distribute cocaine in violation 21 U.S.C. § 846 after District refused instruct jury that proof an overt act furtherance a narcotics is required for conviction under 846. The Appeals reversed, holding that, its precedent, Government must prove at trial defendant has committed such act. Held: In order establish 846, need not commission any acts conspiracy. statute's plain language does require act, and requirement been inferred from congressional silence other statutes, see, e.g., Nash v. States, 229 373, 33 780, 57 L.Ed. 1232. Thus, absent contrary indications, it presumed Congress intended adopt common law definition conspiracy, which "does make doing than conspiring condition liability," id., 378, S.Ct., 782. Moreover, since general statute provision Organized Crime Control Act 1970 both appears Congress' choice quite deliberate. Felix, 503 ----, 112 1377, 118 25, distinguished. While correctly asserts punish criminal thoughts, agreement itself actus reus. rule lenity cannot be invoked here, ambiguous. Pp. ___-___. 993 F.2d 1419 (CA9 1993) reversed. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Richard H. Seamon, Washington, DC, petitioner. Dennis P. Riordan, San Francisco, CA, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR 1 This case asks us consider whether drug statute, requires conspirator We conclude not. 2 According grand indictment, Reshat participated distribution scheme Anchorage, Alaska, with his girlfriend, her family, associates. allegedly supplier drugs, he arranged smuggled California. undercover operation, federal agents purchased distributors involved 3 charged He moved dismiss indictment because did allege argued, essential element offense. Hon. Russel Holland, denied motion, proceeded trial. At close evidence, again raised issue asked court conviction. noted Circuit precedent allegation but state Recognizing result "totally illogical," App. 29, Judge Holland rejected Shabani's proposed instruction, 36. returned guilty verdict, sentenced 160 months imprisonment. 4 Ninth (1993). acknowledged inconsistency between cases those requiring trial, latter "stand on weak ground." F.2d, 1420. Nevertheless, felt bound by attempted reconcile two lines cases. reasoned although alleged " '[c]ourts do as detailed statement offense's elements count substantive count.' Id., 1422, quoting Tavelman, 650 1133, 1137 1981). 5 Chief Wallace wrote separately point out no circumstance could refrain alleging had followed invited question en banc Circuit, "contrary every circuit, clings problematic gloss insisting, despite complete lack textual support convict this section government conspiracy." 1422 (Wallace, C.J., concurring). For reasons unknown, grant review. granted certiorari, 510 114 1047, 127 370 (1994), resolve conflict 11 Circuits have addressed question, all held act.* II 6 passed 406 Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention 1970, Pub.L. 91-513, 84 Stat. 1236. It provided: "Any person who attempts or conspires commit offense defined title punishable imprisonment fine may exceed maximum punishment prescribed offense, object attempt 1265. As amended Anti-Drug 1988, 100-690, 6470(a), 102 4377, currently provides: subchapter shall subject same penalties neither version further we statutes. 1232 (1913), Holmes wrote, "[W]e can see reason reading into Sherman more find there," 782, antitrust liability. reasoning prompted our conclusion Singer 323 338, 65 282, 89 285 (1945), Selective Service 340, 283. 7 follow settled principle statutory construction intends terms. See Molzof 502 301, 307-308, 711, 716-717, 116 731 (1992). consistently understanding liability." Nash, supra, U.S., 782; also Collins Hardyman, 341 651, 659, 71 937, 941, 95 1253 (1951); Bannon 156 464, 468, 15 467, 469, 39 494 (1895) ("At necessary aver nor . ."). Petitioner contends these decisions were rendered period unfettered expansion ended when declared "we will view disfavor broaden already pervasive wide-sweeping nets prosecutions." Grunewald 353 391, 404, 77 963, 974, 931 (1957) (citations omitted). Grunewald, however, limitations case, whatever exasperation prosecutions expressed dictum says little about views enacted 8 views, instructive 18 371, contains explicit "do effect light additional speaks volumes. After all, preceded presumably provided framework specific statute. "Nash give formulary: choosing text modeled gets overt-act requirement; Act, dispenses requirement." Sassi, 966 283, 284 (CA7 1992). made deliberately respect 846; 91-452, 922, 802(a) "one [the conspirators] 936, codified 1511(a). 9 Early opinions dealing simply relied precedents interpreting ignored variations provisions. Monroe, 552 860, 862 (CA9), cert. denied, 431 972, 97 2936, 53 1069 (1977), citing Feola, 420 671, 1255, 43 541 (1975); Thompson, 493 305, 310 419 834, 60, 42 60 (1974), Rabinowich, 238 78, 86-88, 35 682, 684-685, 59 1211 (1915). Two Courts led down path, King, 521 61, 63 (CA10 1975); Hutchinson, 488 484, 490 (CA8 1973), subsequently recognized misstep their early interpretations, Covos, 872 805, 810 1989); Savaiano, 843 1280, 1294 1988). 10 What failed recognize now explicit: 25 (1992), contrary. formed basis defendant's prior attempting manufacture drugs. argued violated Double Jeopardy Clause Grady Corbin, 495 508, 110 2084, 109 548 (1990), overruled, Dixon, 509 113 2849, 125 556 (1993), using evidence underlying "to offense" second prosecution. bar charge. STEVENS, writing separately, thought double jeopardy discussion unnecessary partly "there statute," 1386 (STEVENS, concurring part judgment). argues responding point, implicitly acts; otherwise, would merely advisory. procedural history belies contention. disputed offered qua acts, existence lower Felix "mindful ." 926 1522, 1529, n. 1991). concerns "tended show conspiracy," indisputably Ibid. Indeed, STEVENS "the coconspirators." 1386. opinion, apparent point—rather STEVENS' 846—before reaching issue. event, strained consequence precedential purposes, "[q]uestions 'merely lurk record' are resolved, resolution them inferred." Illinois Bd. Elections Socialist Workers Party, 440 173, 183, 99 983, 989, 230 (1979), Webster Fall, 266 507, 511, 45 148, 149, 69 411 (1925). reminds thoughts without violates predominantly mental composition. prohibition against mere thought; reus so viewed Regina Bass, Mod. 55, 88 Eng.Rep. 881, 882 (K.B.1705) ("[T]he very assembling together act"); Iannelli 770, 777, 1284, 1289, 616 (1975) ("Conspiracy inchoate essence unlawful act") 12 Finally, invokes lenity, arguing unclear specifies one necessary. applies only when, consulting traditional canons construction, left ambiguous See, Beecham 511 1669, 1672, 128 383 (1994); Smith 508 2050, 2059-2060, 124 138 That here. To explicitly intention petitioner's applicable "mere possibility articulating narrower construction," 2059, supported logic. 13 interpretive principles reveal Accordingly, judgment 14 Reversed. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 26 287, 50 499. (CA7), 506 509, 121 444 (1992); Clark, 928 639, 641 (CA4 1991); Figueroa, 900 1211, 1218 (CA8), 496 942, 3228, 675 (1990); Paiva, 892 155 (CA1 Onick, 889 1425, 1432 (CA5 Cochran, 883 1012, 1017-1018 (CA11 1988); Pumphrey, 831 307, 308-309 (CADC 1987); Bey, 736 891, 894 (CA3 1984); Dempsey, 733 392, 396 (CA6), 469 105 389, 83 (1984); Knuckles, 581 311 (CA2), 439 986, 581, 58 659 (1978).

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