United States v. Lewis, No. 09-3954 (7th Cir. 2011)
Annotate this CaseDefendants were convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and carrying and possessing a fireman during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense (18 U.S.C. 924c); one was tried separately and also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The three were involved in a "sting" in which undercover agents staged a robbery at an imaginary Mexican drug cartel warehouse and recorded the defendants' participation in the plans and in the activities on the day of the robbery. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. There was sufficient evidence to support convictions, despite some inconsistencies in the testimony of an agent and missing recordings, and to reject defenses of coercion and entrapment. Admission of evidence concerning one defendant's prior convictions was appropriate to show predisposition and was not unduly prejudicial. The trial judge properly refused to allow the defense to bring in its theory by cross-examination of an officer covering topics not addressed on direct and involving statements made by a defendant who did not testify. Imposition of mandatory consecutive sentences for the 924c convictions was appropriate, regardless of other mandatory minimum sentences imposed.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on April 8, 2011.
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