United States v. Dash ( 1997 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
DEC 8 1997
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
No. 97-1273
v.
(D.C. No. 97-B-799)
(D. Colo.)
GARY WALTER DASH,
Defendant-Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRORBY, EBEL and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
Mr. Dash, appearing pro se, appeals from the district court's order denying
his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence. He
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
raises two related issues on appeal. First, Mr. Dash contends 21 U.S.C.
§ 841(a)(1) is unconstitutional to the extent it criminalizes the manufacture of
controlled substances with no intent to distribute such substances in commerce
(simple manufacture). Second, he claims his counsel was ineffective for failing
to raise the constitutionality issue. We conclude 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) does not
violate the Commerce Clause and therefore affirm Mr. Dash's sentence.
Mr. Dash was indicted and charged with one count of manufacture of
methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Because he previously
had been convicted of four felonies involving controlled substances, Mr. Dash
pleaded guilty to the manufacturing charge in exchange for the government's
agreement not to pursue a sentence of life in prison without release. The court
sentenced Mr. Dash to 360 months imprisonment and ten years supervised release.
Mr. Dash now contends his counsel should have moved to dismiss the
indictment against him on the ground § 841(a) is unconstitutional because it
exceeds Congress' power under the Commerce Clause of the United States
Constitution to regulate the manufacture of drugs with no intent to distribute.
More specifically, he argues Congress' findings pertaining to its Commerce
Clause authority to regulate controlled substances reflect a "fundamental intent to
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prohibit those activities that facilitate, promote, maintain, foster, advance or
otherwise contribute to the black market commerce in illegal drugs." The "simple
manufacture" of controlled substances, according to Mr. Dash, actually deters
illegal commerce in drugs and therefore does not belong in the class of activities
penalized under the Controlled Substances Act. We disagree.
Mr. Dash himself acknowledges we "must defer to a congressional finding
that a regulated activity affects interstate commerce if there is any rational basis
for such a finding." As we have recognized on numerous occasions, Congress
made explicit findings explaining the "substantial and direct effect upon interstate
commerce" of conduct regulated by the Controlled Substances Act. See, e.g.,
United States v. Wacker, 72 F.3d 1453, 1475 (10th Cir. 1995, as modified Mar.
11, 1996), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 136 (1996) (quoting 21 U.S.C. § 801(3)-(6)).
Included in those findings is the statement that "[i]ncidents of the [drug] traffic
which are not an integral part of the interstate or foreign flow, such as
manufacture, local distribution, and possession, nonetheless have a substantial
and direct effect upon interstate commerce." 21 U.S.C. § 801(3) (emphasis
added). Contrary to Mr. Dash's interpretation, we read this language to include
the simple manufacture of a controlled substance as an activity with a substantial
effect on interstate commerce. Moreover, we agree with the Fourth Circuit there
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is a rational basis for Congress' finding. See United States v. Leshuk, 65 F.3d
1105, 1111-12 (4th Cir. 1995). We therefore reject Mr. Dash's challenge to the
constitutionality of the Controlled Substances Act.
Because we have determined 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) does not exceed
congressional power under the Commerce Clause, defense counsel cannot be held
to have been ineffective for failing to raise the issue before the district court. The
judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
WADE BRORBY
United States Circuit Judge
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