United States v. George Chapman

Fifth Circuit

United States v. George Chapman

359 F. App'x 487

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

DecidedDecember 31, 2009

Docket09-40210

StatusUnpublished

Cited by1 cases

This text of 359 F. App'x 487 (United States v. George Chapman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

United States v. George Chapman, 359 F. App'x 487 (5th Cir. 2009).

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Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

A jury found George Richard Chapman guilty of possession with intent to distribute 5.9 kilograms of cocaine. He now appeals his conviction and resulting 121-month prison sentence. Chapman argues that, in light of the recent Supreme Court decision in Flores-Figueroa v. United States, — U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 1886, 173 L.Ed.2d 853 (2009), the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction because the Government did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew the specific type and quantity of controlled substance he possessed. In the alternative, Chapman asserts that the district court plainly erred in failing to instruct the jury that it had to find that he knew the specific type and quantity of drug he possessed.

These issues are foreclosed by current circuit precedent, see United States v. Gamez-Gonzalez, 319 F.3d 695, 699-700 (5th Cir.2003) (holding that knowledge of drug type or quantity is not an element of an offense under 21 U.S.C. § 841), which has not been overruled by Flores-Figueroa. See United States v. Betancourt, 586 F.3d 303, 308-09 (5th Cir.2009). Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

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PER CURIAM: *

A jury found George Richard Chapman guilty of possession with intent to distribute 5.9 kilograms of cocaine. He now appeals his conviction and resulting 121-month prison sentence. Chapman argues that, in light of the recent Supreme Court decision in Flores-Figueroa v. United States, — U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 1886, 173 L.Ed.2d 853 (2009), the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction because the Government did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew the specific type and quantity of controlled substance he possessed. In the alternative, Chapman asserts that the district court plainly erred in failing to instruct the jury that it had to find that he knew the specific type and quantity of drug he possessed.

These issues are foreclosed by current circuit precedent, see United States v. Gamez-Gonzalez, 319 F.3d 695, 699-700 (5th Cir.2003) (holding that knowledge of drug type or quantity is not an element of an offense under 21 U.S.C. § 841), which has not been overruled by Flores-Figueroa. See United States v. Betancourt, 586 F.3d 303, 308-09 (5th Cir.2009). Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

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359 F. App'x 487, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-george-chapman-ca5-2009.

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