United States of America, Plaintiff-appellant-cross-appellee, v. Adrian Yoco Martin, Defendant-appellee-cross-appellant, 38 F.3d 534 (11th Cir. 1994)

Following a jury trial, the appellee, Adrian Yoco Martin, was convicted of armed robbery of a motor vehicle, "carjacking," 18 U.S.C. § 2119 (Supp. V 1993), and of using a firearm during a crime of violence (the carjacking offense), 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1988 and Supp. V 1993). At sentencing, the district court sentenced the appellee to a term of imprisonment for the section 2119 violation, but refused to sentence him for the section 924(c) offense; to do so, the court concluded, would constitute double jeopardy. The Government now appeals that decision.¹ 

The Fifth Circuit, in a case decided earlier this year, United States v. Singleton, 16 F.3d 1419 (1994), addressed the questions the Government's appeal presents: first, whether proof of a violation of section 2119 always establishes a violation of section 924(c), so that the two statutes fail the "same elements" test of Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 52 S. Ct. 180, 76 L. Ed. 306 (1932); and, second, whether Congress intended "to impose cumulative punishments for violations of Sec. 924(c) and all crimes of violence, including 'carjacking,' to satisfy the requirements of the Double Jeopardy Clause." Singleton, 16 F.3d at 1429. The Fifth Circuit answered both questions in the affirmative: the statutes fail the same elements test, but Congress intended cumulative punishments.

We are persuaded by the Singleton court's analysis and the conclusions it reached and, accordingly, adopt them in full. The judgment of the district court with respect to the section 924(c) offense is therefore vacated and the case is remanded for sentencing on that count only. The district court's judgment is otherwise affirmed.

AFFIRMED, in part; VACATED and REMANDED, in part.