Barrett v. United States · ¶2

Held: Congress did not clearly authorize convictions under both §§924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (j) for a single act that violates both provisions. One act that violates both provisions therefore may spawn only one conviction. The part of the Second Circuit's judgment that held otherwise is reversed. Pp. 135–148. (a) When enacted, § 924(c) “made it a discrete offense” to use or carry a frearm in connection with a predicate federal crime of violence or drug trafficking crime. Abbott v. United States, 562 U. S. 8, 12. A § 924(c) violation triggers a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years. Congress later added §924(j) to provide a different penalty scheme for §924(c) violations that cause death. Section 924(j) has no mandatory minimums; it instead authorized significant maximum sentences, including the death penalty or life in prison when the underlying violation is murder. Pp. 135–138.…

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