United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
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No. 14-2844
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United States of America
lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
Lori Jenkins
lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
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Appeal from United States District Court
for the District of Nebraska - Omaha
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Submitted: May 13, 2015
Filed: July 6, 2015
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Before WOLLMAN, SMITH, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
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BENTON, Circuit Judge.
Lori Lynn Jenkins was convicted on two counts of being a felon in possession
of ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). The district
court1 sentenced her to 120 months’ imprisonment. She appeals, claiming insufficient
1
The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the District of Nebraska.
evidence, an erroneous supplemental instruction to the jury, and error in applying the
cross-reference from Sentencing Guidelines §§ 2K2.1(c)(1)(B) and 2A1.1. Having
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.
I.
The federal indictment charged:
Count I
On or about August 2, 2013, in the District of Nebraska, LORI
JENKINS, Defendant herein, having been convicted on August 27,
1997, in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, of a crime
punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, to wit:
shoplifting over $1,500, did knowingly possess in and affecting
commerce, ammunition, which had been shipped and transported in
interstate commerce, to wit: Brenneke, 12 gauge “classic magnum”
shells. In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(l)
and 924(a)(2).
Count II
On or about August 20, 2013, in the District of Nebraska, LORI
JENKINS, Defendant herein, having been convicted on August 27,
1997, in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, of a crime
punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, to wit:
shoplifting over $1,500, did knowingly possess in and affecting
commerce, ammunition, which had been shipped and transported in
interstate commerce, to wit: Remington 9mm ammunition. In violation
of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(l) and 924(a)(2).
The 12 gauge shells, a specialty item, were available only at one store in Omaha. The
government presented video of Jenkins’s purchase. Another store’s video showed her
purchasing the 9mm ammunition. Jenkins’s cousin testified to waiting in the car
while she purchased the 9mm ammunition. Jenkins did not stipulate to a prior felony
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conviction. The government entered into evidence a certified copy of Jenkins’s prior
felony showing a shoplifting offense for a value between $500 and $1,500.
Both federal counts say “shoplifting over $1,500.” The certified copy of the
prior felony shows an original charge of shoplifting over $1,500—a class III felony.
The charge was later amended by interlineation to a class IV felony—shoplifting over
$500 but less than $1,500.
Deliberating, the jury sent the court a question, “What is a class 3 felony and
what is the punishment? What is a class 4 felony and what is the punishment?” The
government, seeing this as a legal question, asked the court to instruct that, under
Nebraska law, a felony is a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
Jenkins objected, arguing this evidence was not adduced at trial and asking the court
to refer the jury back to the instructions. The court eventually agreed with the
government, instructing that “in the State of Nebraska, a felony conviction is an
offense that carries the potential penalty of more than one year in prison.” About 30
minutes later, the jury reached a guilty verdict.
The ammunition was linked to four murders by Jenkins’s son and daughter.
At sentencing, the presentence investigation report (PSR) relied on the cross-
reference in § 2K2.1(c)(1)(B) to hold Jenkins responsible for the transfer of
ammunition resulting in death. Applying the first-degree murder reference under §
2A1.1, the Guidelines range was life. The court found Jenkins transferred the
ammunition with knowledge or intent that it would be used in connection with
another offense. Applying the cross-reference, the court sentenced her to the
statutory maximum of 120 months’ imprisonment.
Jenkins appeals, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, the supplemental
jury instruction, and the application of Guidelines §§ 2K2.1(c)(1)(B) and 2A1.1.
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II.
A.
This court reviews de novo the sufficiency of the evidence to support a
conviction, “viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the verdict and
accepting all reasonable inferences supporting the verdict.” United States v. Colton,
742 F.3d 345, 348 (8th Cir. 2014) (per curiam).
Jenkins contends the government failed to prove she had previously been
convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year and
shoplifting over $1,500.
The indictment charges “shoplifting over $1,500,” but the prior felony was for
shoplifting over $500 but less than $1,500. She did not challenge the indictment at
trial. Review is for plain error. See United States v. Lee, 374 F.3d 637, 649 (8th Cir.
2004). Jenkins must prove that “the indictment was defective and that it seriously
affected the fairness and integrity of the judicial proceedings.” United States v.
Higgins, 710 F.3d 839, 846 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 343 (2013). “Any
error, defect, irregularity, or variance that does not affect substantial rights must be
disregarded.” United States v. Allen, 406 F.3d 940, 945 (8th Cir. 2005) (en banc),
quoting Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(a).
It is unlawful for anyone “who has been convicted in any court of, a crime
punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” to possess ammunition
involved in interstate commerce. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Federal law does not
require that a felony shoplifting charge exceed a specified amount. See id. If a crime
is punishable by more than one year, it meets the statutory requirement.
The evidence—the certified copy of the prior felony—shows Jenkins’s prior
conviction as a class IV felony, punishable by more than one year in prison. The
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government need only prove a prior felony conviction—not its specific
circumstances. See Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172, 190 (1997) (“Congress,
however, has made it plain that distinctions among generic felonies do not count for
this purpose; the fact of the qualifying conviction is alone what matters under the
statute.”); United States v. Carter, 270 F.3d 731, 735 (8th Cir. 2001) (“The
government is only required to prove the existence of a prior felony conviction.”).
The error in the indictment did not affect Jenkins’s substantial rights.
B.
Jenkins challenges the supplemental instruction to the jury. “A district court
has broad discretion to respond to a jury request for supplemental instructions. It
must insure that any supplemental instructions given are accurate, clear, neutral and
non-prejudicial.” United States v. Felici, 54 F.3d 504, 507 (8th Cir. 1995). A
challenged jury instruction is reviewed for abuse of discretion. United States v.
Evans, 431 F.3d 342, 347 (8th Cir. 2005).
Responding to the jury’s question, the district court instructed that “in the State
of Nebraska, a felony conviction is an offense that carries the potential penalty of
more than one year in prison.” “Whether a particular conviction qualifies as a
predicate felony for the purpose of § 922(g) is a question of law for the district court.”
United States v. Thomas, 615 F.3d 895, 899 (8th Cir. 2010). The court’s
supplemental instruction describes Nebraska law clearly, neutrally, and accurately.
See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105 (2013). Moreover, the instruction was non-prejudicial.
It repeated information the jury had already been told. As the district court explained
to counsel:
One question I ask [the jury] is whether they have been convicted of a
felony or whether they have a felony charge pending against them. And
at that time, I tell them a felony is an offense which carries the potential
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penalty of one year or more in prison. So they did hear that when they
first came in on Tuesday morning.
The district court did not abuse its discretion giving the supplemental instruction.
C.
The Guideline for 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) offenses is § 2K2.1. Subsection
2K2.1(c)(1) makes a cross-reference if the defendant “transferred a firearm or
ammunition . . . with knowledge or intent that it would be used or possessed in
connection with another offense.” “[I]f death resulted” the court applies “the most
analogous offense guideline from Chapter Two, Part A, Subpart 1 (Homicide), if the
resulting offense level is greater than that determined above.” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1
(c)(1)(B). The district court applied the cross-reference to § 2A1.1 and sentenced
Jenkins to 120 months’ imprisonment.
Jenkins argues the district court violated Alleyne v. United States, 133 S. Ct.
2151 (2013), Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U. S. 466 (2000), and Blakely v.
Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004), by applying §§ 2K2.1(c)(1)(B) and 2A.1.1. This
court reviews “de novo the legal conclusions a district court reaches in order to apply
an enhancement for purposes of calculating an advisory guidelines range . . . while
the factual findings underpinning the enhancement are reviewed for clear error.”
United States v. Battle, 774 F.3d 504, 516 (8th Cir. 2014) (ellipsis in original).
“[S]entencing judges are required to find sentence-enhancing facts only by a
preponderance of the evidence.” United States v. Norwood, 774 F.3d 476, 479 (8th
Cir. 2014) (per curiam).
Jenkins is incorrect that Alleyne, Apprendi, and Blakely require the jury to find
evidence supporting the sentencing enhancements beyond a reasonable doubt. Those
cases require a jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt any fact that increases the
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penalty beyond the prescribed statutory maximum, or increases the mandatory
minimum. See United States v. Davis, 753 F.3d 1361, 1361-62 (8th Cir. 2014) (per
curiam) (“[A]pplication of a statutory maximum or minimum are to be distinguished
from ‘factfinding used to guide judicial discretion in selecting punishment within
limits fixed by law.’” (quoting Alleyne, 133 S. Ct. at 2161 n.2)). See also United
States v. Jackson, 782 F.3d 1006, 1013 (8th Cir. 2015). “Application of the § 2A1.1
cross-reference neither increases the penalty beyond the statutory maximum nor
increases the mandatory minimum.” Davis, 753 F.3d at 1361 (internal citations
omitted).
Jenkins also argues that there was insufficient sentencing evidence that she
transferred the ammunition to her son and that death occurred. The court heard
testimony linking Jenkins’s transfer of ammunition to several homicides. According
to the homicide investigator, Jenkins’s daughter said that the family openly discussed
the homicides among themselves. The court found that there was evidence Jenkins
made the purchases for her son, at his request, and with his money. The court found
that, when Jenkins gave her son the 9mm ammunition, she knew that he had killed
three others with the 12-gauge ammunition, and that it was more likely than not that
he planned to kill another with the 9mm ammunition. The court properly concluded,
by a preponderance of the evidence, that ammunition purchased by Jenkins was
transferred to her son resulting in four deaths.
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The judgment is affirmed.
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