United States v. Blitch, No. 11-3519 (7th Cir. 2014)
Annotate this CaseThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives planned to recruit individuals to rob a fictional drug stash house. Agent Gomez acted as “Loquito,” a drug courier for a Mexican drug cartel, who was unhappy with his employer and intended to rob a cartel stash house. To find Loquito’s accomplices for the fictional robbery, ATF turned to Moore, a paid informant. Moore had entered into a state court plea agreement, agreeing to assist in the indictment of 10 individuals on controlled substance delivery charges. Moore began recruiting for Loquito’s crew to fulfill this quota. Ultimately, Blitch, Carwell, Washington and Harris were convicted of conspiring and attempting to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and of being felons in possession of firearms and carrying firearms in furtherance of a crime. On remand due to problems with jury selection and deliberation, they were acquitted on the attempt charge but convicted on all other counts. Each was sentenced to the statutory minimum of 25 years The Seventh Circuit affirmed, rejecting challenges to a ruling granting a motion in limine to preclude an entrapment defense; to the sufficiency of the evidence; to evidentiary rulings; and to sentencing.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on January 27, 2015.
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