United States v. Michael Nelson

922 F.2d 311, 1990 U.S. App. LEXIS 22108, 1990 WL 205285
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedDecember 18, 1990
Docket90-3121
StatusPublished
Cited by81 cases

This text of 922 F.2d 311 (United States v. Michael Nelson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth 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. Michael Nelson, 922 F.2d 311, 1990 U.S. App. LEXIS 22108, 1990 WL 205285 (6th Cir. 1990).

Opinion

CONTIE, Senior Circuit Judge.

Defendant-appellant Michael Nelson appeals his multiple-count cocaine-trafficking conviction and sentence. For the following reasons, we affirm Nelson’s conviction and sentence.

I.

On September 20, 1988, defendant-appellant Michael Nelson (“Nelson”) was named in seven counts of an eleven-count su-perceding indictment. Stephen Nelson, Demetrious Nelson, Curtis Davis, Joseph Parker, “Teño,” and “J.R.” were also named in the superceding indictment. Count I of the superceding indictment charged the seven defendants with “unlawfully, willfully, knowingly, and intentionally” conspiring to “distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine and to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute said substance” within 1000 feet of a school from January, 1988 until July 20, 1988 in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 845a. The first count of the indictment further charged that “[i]t was the objective of said conspiracy for Michael Nelson to obtain bulk quantities of cocaine from sources outside the State of Ohio, and to manage and supervise the distribution of said cocaine once brought into the Cleveland, Ohio, area.”

The superceding indictment alleged twenty-one overt acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy (nine directly implicating Nelson):

1. On May 2, 1988, Michael Nelson met Mack Brown (who at all times referred to herein, was acting in an undercover capacity) at Vices [Nightclub] and dis *313 cussed arrangements to deliver a half (V2) ounce of cocaine.
2. On May 4, 1988, Michael Nelson and Mack Brown used the telephone to discuss the delivery of one-half (V2) ounce of cocaine.
3. Subsequently, and still on May 4, 1988, Michael Nelson, Curtis Davis and Bernard [last name unknown] arrived at 55th and Cedar, Cleveland, Ohio, and met with Mack Brown. Mack Brown paid Michael Nelson $620.00 for one-half (Va) ounce of cocaine. Following the receipt of said $620.00, Michael Nelson instructed Mack Brown to go to Vices and to wait for the delivery of cocaine.
5. On May 6, 1988, Michael Nelson met Mack Brown at Vices where Nelson received $1,200 from Mack Brown for one (1) ounce of cocaine. Following receipt of the $1,200, Michael Nelson instructed Mack Brown to wait in his vehicle in front of Vices for delivery of the cocaine.
7. On May 10,1988, Michael Nelson met Mack Brown inside Vices and agreed that Mack Brown would pay Nelson $2,300 for two (2) ounces of cocaine. Pursuant to instructions from Michael Nelson and while inside Vices, Brown gave the $2,300 to Curtis Davis.
9. On May 31, 1988, pursuant to instruction from Michael Nelson, Mack Brown went to Vices where he handed Nelson $5,000, the previously agreed upon price for five (5) ounces of cocaine.
19. On July 20, 1988, Mack Brown met Michael Nelson inside Vices to discuss the sale of kilogram quantities of cocaine by Michael Nelson to Mack Brown. Michael Nelson searched Brown, shortly after Brown’s arrival at Vices, to determine whether Brown was wearing a transmitter.
20. Subsequently, and still on July 20, 1988, Michael Nelson agreed to distribute one and one-half (D/2) kilograms of cocaine to Mack Brown for $40,000 on the condition that Brown pay for the cocaine prior to its delivery.
21. Finally, and still on July 20, 1988, Michael Nelson met with a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who, unknown to Nelson, was acting in an undercover capacity, and in an effort to encourage the Special Agent to advance the $40,000 for the IV2 kilograms of cocaine, Michael Nelson stated that he was one of the hottest dope dealers in Cleveland, Ohio.

September 20, 1988 Superceding Indictment at 3-6.

Count II of the superceding indictment charged the appellant and Demetrious Nelson with distributing approximately fourteen (14) grams of cocaine “within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public secondary school” (East High School) on May 4, 1988, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 845a, and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Count III charged the appellant and “Teno” (last name unknown) with distributing twenty-eight (28) grams of cocaine “within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public secondary school” on May 6, 1988, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 845a, and 18 U.S.C. § 2.

Count IV of the superceding indictment charged the appellant, Curtis Davis and Demetrious Nelson with distributing fifty-six (56) grams of cocaine “within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public secondary school” on May 10, 1988, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 845a, and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Count V charged the appellant and Demetrious Nelson with distributing one hundred forty (140) grams of cocaine “within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public secondary school” on May 31, 1988, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 845a, and 18 U.S.C. § 2.

Count VI charged the appellant, Stephen Nelson and Joseph Parker with distributing fifty-six (56) grams of cocaine “within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising a public secondary school” on June 17, 1988, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 845a, and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Count VIII charged Nelson with “knowingly and intentionally” using a communication facility (a telephone) “to facilitate acts constituting a felony under Sections 846 and 841(a)(1) of Title 21, United States Code” on May 4, 1988, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b).

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Bluebook (online)
922 F.2d 311, 1990 U.S. App. LEXIS 22108, 1990 WL 205285, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-michael-nelson-ca6-1990.