NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT ____________
No. 22-2799 ___________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
ANTHONY SMITH, Appellant ____________
On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (D.C. No. 2-19-cr-00008-044) District Judge: Honorable J. Nicholas Ranjan ____________
No. 22-2844 ___________
ANTHONY SMITH, a/k/a ANT, a/k/a LIL PO, Appellant ____________
On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (D.C. No. 2-13-cr-00057-003) District Judge: Honorable J. Nicholas Ranjan ____________
Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) April 18, 2024 Before: HARDIMAN, SMITH, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
(Filed: April 22, 2024)
____________
OPINION * ____________
HARDIMAN, Circuit Judge.
Anthony Smith appeals his judgment of conviction and sentence based on his role
in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. 1 He primarily challenges the sufficiency of the evidence
at trial. He also alleges procedural errors and prosecutorial misconduct. We will affirm.
I
Shortly after being released from prison to a Pittsburgh halfway house in May
2017, Smith met Noah Landfried, the kingpin of an extensive drug-trafficking
organization in western Pennsylvania. Toward the end of the year, Landfried began
selling Smith greeting cards saturated in K2, a synthetic drug designed to mimic
marijuana. Smith resold these K2-laced cards for hundreds of dollars each to prisoners he
knew, as well as to some of his childhood friends. After a federal investigation uncovered
evidence of Smith’s role in selling K2, he was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and
possess with intent to distribute Schedule I, II, and III controlled substances between
* This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not constitute binding precedent. 1 This conviction is docketed at Case No. 22-2799. Smith also appealed the revocation of his supervised release, which is docketed at Case No. 22-2844. Smith did not raise any argument pertinent to the supervised release appeal. 2 January 2017 and January 2019, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. After ignoring text
messages from his probation officer ordering him to turn himself in, Smith was arrested
in October 2019.
In December 2021, Smith was tried before a jury along with Landfried and Michel
Cercone, another co-conspirator. While testifying at trial, multiple co-conspirators
discussed Smith’s involvement in the distribution of K2. In addition to checks that
prisoners had mailed to Smith, the Government presented test results confirming the K2
associated with Landfried contained 5F-MDMB-PINACA, a Schedule I controlled
substance since April 10, 2017. Smith testified that he bought “a few” K2-laced greeting
cards from Landfried about 10 different times. App. 1167. He even admitted that he knew
it was “a crime,” but that he wanted “to make a few extra bucks.” App. 1160–61.
The jury convicted Smith. At sentencing, the District Court overruled Smith’s
objection to the drug-quantity calculation in the Presentence Investigation Report (60 to
80 kilograms of converted drug weight). The District Court then sentenced Smith to 51
months’ imprisonment followed by 6 years’ supervised release. Smith timely appealed
his conviction and sentence for the drug-trafficking crime. 2
II
Smith argues that the jury’s verdict should be overturned “[b]ecause no evidence
was established at trial to show that . . . Smith knew that what he possessed was a
substance listed on the schedules, or the identity of the substance he possessed.” Smith
2 The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742. 3 Br. 35. We review this argument for plain error because Smith did not preserve it in the
District Court. United States v. Johnson, 19 F.4th 248, 255 (3d Cir. 2021).
Smith contends that the conspiracy’s underlying offense, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1),
requires the Government to show he was either “aware that what he purchased contained
the specific substances listed” in the indictment or “knew what he possessed as K2 was a
controlled substance . . . at the time that he possessed it.” Smith Br. 28. He is incorrect.
The Government had to prove only that Smith knew K2 was “some unspecified substance
listed on the federal drug schedules.” McFadden v. United States, 576 U.S. 186, 192
(2015). Smith’s admissions at trial demonstrate that he realized as much. Smith not only
knew that selling K2 was a crime, but he understood that K2 produced a “high” similar to
marijuana. App. 1157. Smith also repeatedly attempted to conceal his activities from
prison officials—for instance, by disguising his K2-laced greeting cards as ordinary
cards. And he tried to avoid law enforcement by absconding after he was indicted. All of
this provided strong evidence that Smith possessed the requisite mental state under 21
U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). See McFadden, 576 U.S. at 192 n.1.
Because a rational juror could conclude that Smith conspired to distribute a
Schedule I controlled substance, namely 5F-MDMB-PINACA, Smith cannot show, as is
required under plain-error review, that the jury’s verdict was “devoid of evidence” or
supported by evidence “so tenuous” that his conviction was “shocking.” United States v.
Jabateh, 974 F.3d 281, 300 (3d Cir. 2020).
III
Smith next argues that he was unlawfully subjected to a variance or constructive
4 amendment 3 because: (1) the Government “was permitted to refer to multiple synthetic
cannabinoids listed” in the indictment by a single name (K2) throughout trial, even
though they were scheduled at different times under the Controlled Substances Act,
Smith Br. 35; and (2) the District Court’s jury instructions “implicated all federal drug
abuse laws, including the Analogue Act,” which was not charged in the indictment, Smith
Br. 37. We review these arguments for plain error because Smith raises them for the first
time on appeal. United States v. Vosburgh, 602 F.3d 512, 531 (3d Cir. 2010).
While counsel for the Government—and Smith—did refer broadly to specific
synthetic cannabinoids as K2 throughout the trial, Smith’s suggestion that the jury might
have convicted him based on a controlled substance not listed in the indictment is
speculative. “[W]e presume that the jury followed the District Court’s instructions,”
United States v. Fallon, 61 F.4th 95, 113 (3d Cir. 2023), and the District Court carefully
instructed the jury that: (1) the charges against Smith were “contained in the indictment,”
App.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT ____________
No. 22-2799 ___________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
ANTHONY SMITH, Appellant ____________
On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (D.C. No. 2-19-cr-00008-044) District Judge: Honorable J. Nicholas Ranjan ____________
No. 22-2844 ___________
ANTHONY SMITH, a/k/a ANT, a/k/a LIL PO, Appellant ____________
On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (D.C. No. 2-13-cr-00057-003) District Judge: Honorable J. Nicholas Ranjan ____________
Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) April 18, 2024 Before: HARDIMAN, SMITH, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
(Filed: April 22, 2024)
____________
OPINION * ____________
HARDIMAN, Circuit Judge.
Anthony Smith appeals his judgment of conviction and sentence based on his role
in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. 1 He primarily challenges the sufficiency of the evidence
at trial. He also alleges procedural errors and prosecutorial misconduct. We will affirm.
I
Shortly after being released from prison to a Pittsburgh halfway house in May
2017, Smith met Noah Landfried, the kingpin of an extensive drug-trafficking
organization in western Pennsylvania. Toward the end of the year, Landfried began
selling Smith greeting cards saturated in K2, a synthetic drug designed to mimic
marijuana. Smith resold these K2-laced cards for hundreds of dollars each to prisoners he
knew, as well as to some of his childhood friends. After a federal investigation uncovered
evidence of Smith’s role in selling K2, he was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and
possess with intent to distribute Schedule I, II, and III controlled substances between
* This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not constitute binding precedent. 1 This conviction is docketed at Case No. 22-2799. Smith also appealed the revocation of his supervised release, which is docketed at Case No. 22-2844. Smith did not raise any argument pertinent to the supervised release appeal. 2 January 2017 and January 2019, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. After ignoring text
messages from his probation officer ordering him to turn himself in, Smith was arrested
in October 2019.
In December 2021, Smith was tried before a jury along with Landfried and Michel
Cercone, another co-conspirator. While testifying at trial, multiple co-conspirators
discussed Smith’s involvement in the distribution of K2. In addition to checks that
prisoners had mailed to Smith, the Government presented test results confirming the K2
associated with Landfried contained 5F-MDMB-PINACA, a Schedule I controlled
substance since April 10, 2017. Smith testified that he bought “a few” K2-laced greeting
cards from Landfried about 10 different times. App. 1167. He even admitted that he knew
it was “a crime,” but that he wanted “to make a few extra bucks.” App. 1160–61.
The jury convicted Smith. At sentencing, the District Court overruled Smith’s
objection to the drug-quantity calculation in the Presentence Investigation Report (60 to
80 kilograms of converted drug weight). The District Court then sentenced Smith to 51
months’ imprisonment followed by 6 years’ supervised release. Smith timely appealed
his conviction and sentence for the drug-trafficking crime. 2
II
Smith argues that the jury’s verdict should be overturned “[b]ecause no evidence
was established at trial to show that . . . Smith knew that what he possessed was a
substance listed on the schedules, or the identity of the substance he possessed.” Smith
2 The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742. 3 Br. 35. We review this argument for plain error because Smith did not preserve it in the
District Court. United States v. Johnson, 19 F.4th 248, 255 (3d Cir. 2021).
Smith contends that the conspiracy’s underlying offense, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1),
requires the Government to show he was either “aware that what he purchased contained
the specific substances listed” in the indictment or “knew what he possessed as K2 was a
controlled substance . . . at the time that he possessed it.” Smith Br. 28. He is incorrect.
The Government had to prove only that Smith knew K2 was “some unspecified substance
listed on the federal drug schedules.” McFadden v. United States, 576 U.S. 186, 192
(2015). Smith’s admissions at trial demonstrate that he realized as much. Smith not only
knew that selling K2 was a crime, but he understood that K2 produced a “high” similar to
marijuana. App. 1157. Smith also repeatedly attempted to conceal his activities from
prison officials—for instance, by disguising his K2-laced greeting cards as ordinary
cards. And he tried to avoid law enforcement by absconding after he was indicted. All of
this provided strong evidence that Smith possessed the requisite mental state under 21
U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). See McFadden, 576 U.S. at 192 n.1.
Because a rational juror could conclude that Smith conspired to distribute a
Schedule I controlled substance, namely 5F-MDMB-PINACA, Smith cannot show, as is
required under plain-error review, that the jury’s verdict was “devoid of evidence” or
supported by evidence “so tenuous” that his conviction was “shocking.” United States v.
Jabateh, 974 F.3d 281, 300 (3d Cir. 2020).
III
Smith next argues that he was unlawfully subjected to a variance or constructive
4 amendment 3 because: (1) the Government “was permitted to refer to multiple synthetic
cannabinoids listed” in the indictment by a single name (K2) throughout trial, even
though they were scheduled at different times under the Controlled Substances Act,
Smith Br. 35; and (2) the District Court’s jury instructions “implicated all federal drug
abuse laws, including the Analogue Act,” which was not charged in the indictment, Smith
Br. 37. We review these arguments for plain error because Smith raises them for the first
time on appeal. United States v. Vosburgh, 602 F.3d 512, 531 (3d Cir. 2010).
While counsel for the Government—and Smith—did refer broadly to specific
synthetic cannabinoids as K2 throughout the trial, Smith’s suggestion that the jury might
have convicted him based on a controlled substance not listed in the indictment is
speculative. “[W]e presume that the jury followed the District Court’s instructions,”
United States v. Fallon, 61 F.4th 95, 113 (3d Cir. 2023), and the District Court carefully
instructed the jury that: (1) the charges against Smith were “contained in the indictment,”
App. 404–05, which did not mention analogue substances; and (2) Smith could be
convicted only if he conspired to possess or distribute something that was “a Schedule I
or Schedule II controlled substance at the time,” App. 1274 (emphasis added). Combined
with the fact that no trial witness mentioned K2 analogues, neither the evidence presented
3 Smith seems to treat these distinct legal concepts as interchangeable. Compare Smith Br. 28–36, with United States v. Castro, 776 F.2d 1118, 1121–22 & n.1 (3d Cir. 1985). But “[u]nlike a constructive amendment, a variance can result in a reversible error only if it is likely to have surprised or otherwise has prejudiced the defense.” United States v. Daraio, 445 F.3d 253, 262 (3d Cir. 2006). Because Smith makes no arguments as to surprise or prejudice, we evaluate his arguments here as implicating only constructive amendment. 5 by the Government nor the instructions provided by the District Court suggested that
Smith could have been convicted unless the jury found he conspired to distribute
controlled substances. 4
IV
Smith briefly makes two additional arguments. First, he claims the Government
unlawfully prejudiced him during cross-examination by implying he had previously made
a false statement to the District Court, specifically that he “wasn’t in possession of any
drugs or weapons.” Supp. App. 33. We disagree. The Government had a good-faith basis
to question Smith on the contradiction between this prior statement and his repeated
admissions at trial that he had previously possessed K2. See United States v. Werme, 939
F.2d 108, 117 (3d Cir. 1991). So it was not an “egregious error or a manifest miscarriage
of justice,” as is necessary to demonstrate prosecutorial misconduct under plain-error
review. United States v. Brennan, 326 F.3d 176, 182 (3d Cir. 2003) (cleaned up).
Second, Smith contends that the District Court erred in its calculation of the drug
weight under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. It did not. Smith admitted to
buying “a few” K2-laced greeting cards from Landfried about 10 different times. App.
4 Smith also argues that a different instruction provided by the District Court during a later trial of co-defendants, “charged under the same count, pursuant to the same operative indictment,” was “more accurate of the crime charged.” Smith Br. 38–39. This argument also fails. Unlike Smith’s jury, see Supp. App. 34–36, the jury in this later trial expressed confusion as to whether “generic K2 [would] be an acceptable substitute to determine proof of knowledge,” App. 261, thus justifying a clarifying instruction to allay confusion. And even if the District Court erred in failing to provide this purportedly “more accurate” instruction, there is nothing to suggest that such error “prejudiced the outcome . . . or seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial system.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 735–36 (1993). 6 1167. Because it was permitted to “estimate the total drug quantities involved in [the]
conspiracy based on evidence of [the] average drug transactions during the conspiracy,”
United States v. Gibbs, 190 F.3d 188, 219 (3d Cir. 1999), the District Court essentially
accepted the Government’s proposed methodology: multiplying the weight of a standard
greeting card (20 grams) by the number of cards Smith admitted to purchasing from
Landfried (2 cards multiplied by 10 purchases for a total of 20 cards); and then
multiplying that amount by 167 grams of converted drug weight pursuant to U.S.S.G.
§ 2D1.1, cmt. n.8(D). This calculation yielded 66.8 kilograms of converted drug weight,
in line with the range of 60 to 80 kilograms included in the Presentence Investigation
Report. None of the factual findings underlying this calculation was clearly erroneous.
See United States v. Rodriguez, 40 F.4th 117, 120 (3d Cir. 2022). We thus reject Smith’s
claim of error at sentencing.
* * *
Smith was convicted by a jury after a fair trial in which the Government presented
ample evidence that he conspired to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance. Because
none of his claims of error is persuasive, we will affirm the judgment of conviction and
sentence.