United States v. Larry Wilson Dickey

102 F.3d 157, 46 Fed. R. Serv. 172, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 33011, 1996 WL 717011
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DecidedDecember 13, 1996
Docket95-40752
StatusPublished
Cited by58 cases

This text of 102 F.3d 157 (United States v. Larry Wilson Dickey) 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. Larry Wilson Dickey, 102 F.3d 157, 46 Fed. R. Serv. 172, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 33011, 1996 WL 717011 (5th Cir. 1996).

Opinion

DeMOSS, Circuit Judge:

Larry Wilson Dickey appeals his convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine and firearm violations. Applying the recent Supreme Court decision in Bailey v. United States, — U.S. -, 116 S.Ct. 501, 133 L.Ed.2d 472 (1995), we find the evidence insufficient to support his firearms conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) and reverse the two convictions under that statute. Finding *160 no other reversible error, we affirm all other convictions and sentences.

BACKGROUND

In June 1994 the Galveston County Narcotics Task Force received an anonymous tip through Houston Crime Stoppers that Dickey was illegally manufacturing methamphetamine. Sergeant Randall Burrows, a Galveston County Sheriffs Deputy assigned to the Narcotics Task Force, went to Dickey’s homes 1 at 11:00 p.m. that evening. As Sergeant Burrows walked around the house and trailer, he detected a chemical odor that is normally emitted from methamphetamine laboratories.

Sergeant Burrows then left Dickey’s residence and phoned a Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agent, who later joined him at Dickey’s at 1:00 a.m. The agents did not detect the chemical odor this time. The agents set up a surveillance of Dickey’s house and around 11:00 p.m. the next day they saw a pickup truck parked outside the house. Several plastic garbage bags were in the bed of the truck. The truck left the house five minutes later and they followed it. The truck was stopped and its driver was identified as Joseph Kelly Weber, Dickey’s half-brother.

With Weber’s consent, the agents examined the garbage bags and found empty chemical containers, including an empty bottle of muriatic acid, a chemical commonly used in clandestine labs. The agents also found filter paper that had a strong residue associated with methamphetamine, empty acid containers and broken glassware. The agents further found ,a box in the bed of the truck containing trash that had a chemical residue. Weber explained that Dickey had asked him to dispose of the garbage bags. 2 The agents then obtained a search warrant.

Before the warrant was executed, a cooperating individual lured Dickey away from his house so agents could arrest him off the premises. The agents then entered and searched the house and trailer. The trailer contained a methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory. In the laboratory were numerous chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine, as well as laboratory glassware and equipment. The laboratory also contained nicotinamide and inosito, dilutants used to cut methamphetamine. The agents found various stages of the methamphetamine manufacturing process occurring in the trailer. For example, three jugs of methamphetamine reaction intermediate were in the freezer. Reaction intermediate is a crystalline substance which, when mixed with a solvent and several other ingredients, produces phenyl-2-propanol (“P2P”), a Schedule I controlled substance. P2P is treated with other chemicals to make methamphetamine. Many flasks in the laboratory contained P2P at various stages of the chemical process. The agents recovered 3.35 kilograms of P2P, 570.5 grams of methamphetamine 3 and 11.79 grams of amphetamine from the laboratory. Based on the amount of chemicals and equipment, Dickey was capable of producing 23.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his laboratory.

Several firearms were found in the house and trailer. An UZI nine millimeter rifle with a 12-ineh barrel 4 was found on the bed near a shaving kit containing methamphet- . amine in the bedroom of the trader. The agents found a disassembled AMT .380 caliber pistol in the closet. Also found in the bedroom of the trader were: (1) a Colt .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol; (2) an FEG nine millimeter semiautomatic pistol; and (3) a Mossberg 20-gauge pump shotgun with a short barrel. In the laboratory part of the trailer the agents found a Glock pistol. In the house, the agents found an AA ARMS *161 nine millimeter pistol on top of the refrigerator. With the exception of the AMT pistol, all firearms were loaded and operational.

Dickey was indicted in a six count indictment and charged with: Count 1 — Aiding and abetting in the manufacture of methamphetamine in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A); Count 2 — Aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A); Count 8 — Being a felon in possession of firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); Counts 4 and 5 — Two counts of carrying or using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); and Count 6 — Possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 5841, 5845, 5861(d) and 5871.

A jury found Dickey guilty of all counts in the indictment and the district court sen-tencéd him to life in prison on counts one and two and 120 months in prison on counts three and six, all to be served concurrently. The district court also sentenced Dickey to 120 months on count four and 60 months on count five, to be served concurrent to each other but consecutive to the terms on the other counts. Dickey filed a timely notice of appeal.

DISCUSSION

Search Warrant

Dickey contends that the affidavit supporting the search warrant was insufficient to establish probable cause because- Sergeant Burrows’ summary of Weber’s statements was in reckless disregard for the truth. Dickey also argues that the district court erred in denying his request for an evidentiary hearing pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978), and for failing to suppress the evidence found in the illegal search of his home.

In his affidavit supporting the search warrant, Sergeant Burrows stated that ‘Weber advised that his half brother, Larry Wilson Dickey, asked him to dispose of the bags which contained garbage.

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Bluebook (online)
102 F.3d 157, 46 Fed. R. Serv. 172, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 33011, 1996 WL 717011, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-larry-wilson-dickey-ca5-1996.