A jury convicted Robert A. Pollard of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C.
*739
§§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Based on the district court’s drug quantity finding, the district court was required to sentence Pollard to imprisonment for five to forty years, and to supervised release for at least four years.
See id.
§ 841(b)(1)(B). Without the drug quantity finding, Pollard would have faced up to twenty years in prison and at least three years of supervised release.
See
id. § 841(b)(1)(C). The district court
*
sentenced Pollard to eighty-seven months in prison and five years of supervised release. Because the indictment, jury instructions, and verdict form did not specify a drug quantity, Pollard contends his sentence violates
Apprendi v. New Jersey,
Last, Pollard raises concerns for the first time about the possible prison sentence he could receive if his supervised release is revoked. Because the district court sentenced Pollard according to drug quantity under § 841(b)(1)(B), Pollard contends he was convicted of a Class B felony and would face a term of three years in prison if the court revokes his supervised release.
See
18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(3). Pollard argues that if he had been sentenced without regard to drug quantity, he would have been convicted of a Class C felony and would face not more than two years in prison if supervised release is revoked.
See id.
Pollard’s asserts a sentence exceeding two years upon revocation of supervised release would violate
Apprendi.
As we have already explained, under
Apprendi,
Pollard could not have been sentenced to more than twenty years of imprisonment specified in 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C). This default maximum corresponds to a Class C felony, permitting only a two year sentence if supervised release is revoked.
See United States v. Rodgers,
Notes
The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.
