US v. King, No. 09-5179

Drug Trafficking Conviction Affirmed

In US v. King, No. 09-5179, the court affirmed defendant's conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime where the government presented ample evidence showing that defendant constructively possessed the rifle found in the trunk of defendant's car.

As the court wrote:  "A jury found Jerrel Montel King guilty of one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drugtrafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). He now appeals his conviction only as to the firearms count, arguing that the government presented insufficient evidence to show either that he "possessed" the firearm or that he did so "in furtherance" of a drug-trafficking crime."

Related Resources

• Read the Tenth Circuit's Decision in US v. King, No. 09-5179