Dwayne Barrett, Petitioner v. United States

The Court decided whether one act with a gun during a violent crime that causes death can produce two federal convictions under 18 U.S.C. §§924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (j). The justices said no: Congress allowed only one conviction for that single act, not two.

The Court ruled 9-0 for Barrett, and Justice Jackson wrote the opinion.

Majority

Jackson

Roberts

Thomas

Alito

Kagan

Sotomayor

Gorsuch

Kavanaugh

Barrett

“Congress did not authorize convictions under both 18 U.S.C. §§924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (j) for a single act that violates both provisions.”

This limits how prosecutors and courts can stack convictions when the same gun use violates both provisions at once. For example, a defendant in a firearm-death case covered by both sections can receive one conviction instead of two for the same act.

Lower courts must apply this rule in pending and future cases involving these two statutes. Prosecutors, defense lawyers, and judges will need to adjust charges, convictions, or sentencing where one act had been treated as two convictions.

The case asked whether one act could trigger two convictions under §§924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (j). The Court said Congress allowed only one conviction.

Federal defendants, prosecutors, and trial judges in firearm cases are most affected. Cases involving one gun act that also caused death cannot produce both convictions.

Lower courts must follow the ruling in current and future cases. Lawyers and judges may need to revisit charges, convictions, or sentencing built on both provisions.