United States v. Adams

Before KANNE, ROVNER, and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.

Quawntay “Bosco” Adams was arrested in a reverse sting operation shortly after he accepted the keys to a van into which government agents had loaded some 1400 pounds of marijuana. A jury later convicted Adams on charges that he possessed more than 100 kilograms of marijuana with the intent to distribute, see 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(vii), conspired to commit money laundering, see 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(I) and (h), and attempted to escape from custody, see 18 U.S.C. § 751(a). Adams appeals, contending that he was deprived of his right to a speedy trial; that the evidence does not support his conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering; and that, because government agents had disabled the van loaded with marijuana before they turned it over to an unwitting Adams, he did not have true control over the marijuana and therefore did not possess it. We agree that the evidence does not support the conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering but otherwise affirm the judgment of conviction.