United States v. Jonathan Everett Gibson

615 F. App'x 619

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: July 7, 2015
• Docket: 13-15620
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIA1V1:

Jonathan Gibson appeals his conviction after pleading guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(e). For the first time, Gibson—on appeal—argues that § 922(g)(1) is facially unconstitutional; he says it violates the Commerce Clause and the Tenth Amendment.

We generally review constitutional challenges de novo, but because Gibson failed to raise these arguments below, we review only for plain error. See United States v. Peters, 403 F.3d 1263, 1270 (11th Cir.2005). Therefore, Gibson must demonstrate that error occurred, the error was plain, the error affects his substantial rights, and the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or reputation of the judicial proceedings. See United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir.2005). An error cannot be “plain” unless it is “obvious” and “clear under current law.” United States v. Humphrey, 164 F.3d 585, 588 (11th Cir.1999). In addition, “only the Supreme Court or this [Cjourt sitting en banc can judicially overrule a prior panel decision” of our Court. United States v. Dean, 604 F.3d 1275, 1278 (11th Cir.2010).

We have repeatedly upheld the constitutionality of § 922(g)(1) as a valid exercise of Congress’s Commerce Clause power. See, e.g., United States v. Jordan, 635 F.3d 1181, 1189 (11th Cir.2011); United States v. Dupree, 258 F.3d 1258, 1260 (11th Cir.2001); United States v. McAllister, 77 F.3d 387, 391 (11th Cir.1996). None of the recent Supreme Court decisions relied on by Gibson abrogated or reversed our prior decisions on the constitutionality of § 922(g)(1). Furthermore, considering § 922(g)(1) is a valid exercise of Congress’s Commerce Clause power, the statute does not violate the Tenth Amendment. See Cheffer v. Reno, 55 F.3d 1517, 1521 (11th Cir.1995).

In this case, no plain error occurred. And Gibson’s arguments are squarely foreclosed by binding precedent.

Next, Gibson argues, for the first time, that the “minimal nexus” test set out in Scarborough v. United States, 431 U.S. 563, 575, 97 S.Ct. 1963, 1969, 52 L.Ed.2d 582 (1977), is no longer sufficient for establishing the required connection to interstate commerce under § 922(g). He points to the Supreme Court’s decisions in Bond v. United States, 572 U.S. -, 134 S.Ct 2077, 189 L.Ed.2d 1 (2014), and Jones v. United States, 529 U.S. 848, 120 S.Ct. 1904, 146 L.Ed.2d 902 (2000). Gibson maintains that a more significant connection to interstate commerce is now required for § 922(g) to cover intrastate possession and says that his conviction cannot stand because no significant connection to interstate commerce exists. As this claim is also raised for the first time on appeal, we review only for plain error. See Peters, 403 F.3d at 1270.

Neither Bond nor Jones involved § 922(g) or the “minimal nexus” test set forth in Scarborough. Thus, Scarborough remains binding precedent; and the “minimal nexus” test is the applicable standard for establishing a connection with interstate commerce.

We reject Gibson’s argument. And it is squarely foreclosed by binding precedent. Thus, the district court did not plainly err when it convicted Gibson of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of § 922(g)(1), where the Government established (and Gibson acknowledged) that the pertinent firearm previously traveled in interstate commerce.

AFFIRMED.