Court Opinion

ID: 9471131
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:25:32.365807+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:16.871852
License: Public Domain

FLETCHER, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the result, and I join all of the majority opinion except Part VIL I write separately on the effect of conviction of both attempt and conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846. Although I agree that the sentences imposed for attempt must be vacated, I rest my conclusion on a different reason.
21 U.S.C. § 846 (1976) provides that
Any person who attempts or conspires to commit any offense defined in this subchapter is punishable by imprisonment or fine or both which may not exceed the maximum punishment prescribed for the offense, the commission of which was the object of the attempt or conspiracy.
The statute thus prescribes punishment for one who “attempts or conspires” to commit any offense defined in the subchapter. Based on a given course of conduct, a defendant may be convicted of the section 846 offense if a jury unanimously agrees that the Government has proven the elements of either attempt or conspiracy. But a defendant may not be punished for both attempt and conspiracy based on a single course of conduct merely because the elements of both offenses are present.
To be sure, there will be situations where multiple punishments under section 846 will be proper. Such instances will arise when a defendant “attempts or conspires” to violate the drug laws on two completely separate occasions. For example, a defendant who engages in a conspiracy to manufacture and sell amphetamines that ends, and who later separately attempts by himself to manufacture and sell the substance, could be separately punished for two distinct violations of section 846.
The instant case does not present such a situation. The defendants acted in concert for the purpose of setting up an amphetamine laboratory in Taylor’s home. Based on this conduct, they were found guilty of conspiracy. The statute does not authorize additional punishment for “attempt” based on the same conduct. I would vacate the attempt sentences without reference to the jury instruction given.