United States Seventh Circuit

Conviction of defendant for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. section 924(c), is affirmed as defendant's argument that his conduct did not violate section 924(c) because he did not possess the firearm for protection, but rather as collateral to secure a drug debt, is rejected because defendant took possession of a firearm in manner that facilitated a drug transaction.

Appellate Information

• Argued 01/12/2010
• Decided 04/02/2010
• Published 04/02/2010

Judges

• FLAUM, Circuit Judge., Before POSNER, FLAUM, and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Donald J. Schmid, Attorney (argued), Office of the United States Attorney, South Bend, IN, for Plaintiff-Appellee., H. Jay Stevens, Attorney (argued), Indiana Federal Community Defenders, Inc., South Bend, IN, for Defendant-Appellant.