Source: cases/21usc841/VARIANTS.md
# 21usc841 -- variant catalogue (GENERATED by tools/casedsl.py variants; do not edit)
12 cases, 77 blocks, 167 verbatim quotes. **21 instances** (statute applied to the case's own facts, decided on the merits by this court); 19 applied-but-not-reached; 37 other rulings (comparator / rule-announced / background citations, or procedural / hypothetical / alternative / dissent / lower-court scope) listed separately at the end and NOT counted in the catalogue.
Citation role per case: applied 8, background 1, comparator 3.
Holding codes: S = satisfied, N = not-satisfied, - = not-reached. Pointer = `file.case` @first-quote-offset.
## Coverage
| element | cases | S | N | - | genera | variants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| knowledge | 8 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| act.distribute | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| possession | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| intent-to-distribute | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| substance | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| quantity | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| death-results | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| aiding | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
## element `knowledge`
_"knowingly or intentionally" (mens rea, incl. knowledge of the substance's nature; deliberate ignorance)_
- **(not reached, no variant)/** -- 6 (S 0 / N 0 / - 6)
- `(not reached, no variant)` -- 6 (S 0 / N 0 / - 6)
- - `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- United States v. Tiangco (2016)
- - `f3d-20-229-united-states-v-vincent.case` -- United States v. Vincent (1994)
- - `f3d-235-565-us-v-hishaw.case` -- United States v. Hishaw (2000)
- - `f3d-57-516-us-v-kitchen.case` -- United States v. Kitchen (1995)
- - `us-500-453-chapman-v-united-states.case` -- Chapman v. United States (1991)
- - `us-571-204-burrage-v-united-states.case` -- Burrage v. United States (2014)
- **circumstantial/** -- 2 (S 2 / N 0 / - 0)
- `circumstantial/loader-of-sealed-boxes-coordinated-with-delivery`
- S [proved] `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` @3660 -- United States v. Vera (1983) -- party=Vera
- `circumstantial/owner-of-stash-premises-who-loaded-and-drove`
- S [proved] `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` @23429 -- United States v. Vera (1983) -- party=Posada
- **admitted/** -- 1 (S 1 / N 0 / - 0)
- `admitted/defendant-admits-knowing-possession`
- S [conceded] `f2d-779-1098-united-states-v-prieto-tejas.case` @5220 -- United States v. Prieto-Tejas (1986) -- party=Prieto-Tejas
## element `act.distribute`
_the prohibited act: "manufacture, distribute, or dispense" (a)(1); sub: act.distribute, act.manufacture, act.dispense_
- **sale/** -- 2 (S 2 / N 0 / - 0)
- `sale/controlled-buy-by-informant`
- S [proved] `f3d-20-229-united-states-v-vincent.case` @6397 -- United States v. Vincent (1994)
- `sale/hand-to-hand-sale-to-user`
- S [conceded] `us-571-204-burrage-v-united-states.case` @1760 -- Burrage v. United States (2014)
- **(not reached, no variant)/** -- 1 (S 0 / N 0 / - 1)
- `(not reached, no variant)`
- - `us-500-453-chapman-v-united-states.case` -- Chapman v. United States (1991)
- **delivery/** -- 1 (S 1 / N 0 / - 0)
- `delivery/staged-wholesale-delivery-to-undercover-agent`
- S [proved] `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` @2174 -- United States v. Vera (1983) -- party=Vera and Posada; count=841(a)(1) distribution count
## element `possession`
_"possess" (actual / constructive / joint)_
- **actual/** -- 4 (S 3 / N 1 / - 0)
- `actual/admitted-ownership-of-drugs-hidden-in-own-car`
- S [conceded] `f2d-779-1098-united-states-v-prieto-tejas.case` @802 -- United States v. Prieto-Tejas (1986) -- party=Prieto-Tejas
- `actual/drugs-concealed-on-person`
- S [conceded] `f3d-235-565-us-v-hishaw.case` @3980 -- United States v. Hishaw (2000)
- `actual/momentary-handling-during-inspection-before-assent`
- N [no-evidence] `f3d-57-516-us-v-kitchen.case` @16249 -- United States v. Kitchen (1995) -- theory=actual possession (holding a kilogram for 2-3 seconds)
- `actual/physically-loaded-boxes-of-drugs`
- S [proved] `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` @20087 -- United States v. Vera (1983) -- party=Vera
- **constructive/** -- 3 (S 2 / N 1 / - 0)
- `constructive/dominion-over-premises-or-vehicle-holding-drugs`
- S [proved] `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` @4780 -- United States v. Vera (1983) -- party=Posada
- `constructive/driver-with-dominion-over-vehicle-holding-drugs`
- S [proved] `f2d-779-1098-united-states-v-prieto-tejas.case` @12216 -- United States v. Prieto-Tejas (1986) -- party=Dusal (co-defendant, not an appellant); count=846 conspiracy count (his possession is found as a step in the conspiracy analysis; no 841 conviction of his is under review)
- `constructive/no-recognized-authority-over-sellers-drugs`
- N [no-evidence] `f3d-57-516-us-v-kitchen.case` @1801 -- United States v. Kitchen (1995) -- theory=constructive possession (intent to purchase + cash in hand)
- **(not reached, no variant)/** -- 1 (S 0 / N 0 / - 1)
- `(not reached, no variant)`
- - `f3d-20-229-united-states-v-vincent.case` -- United States v. Vincent (1994)
## element `intent-to-distribute`
_possession "with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense"_
- **(not reached, no variant)/** -- 2 (S 0 / N 0 / - 2)
- `(not reached, no variant)` -- 2 (S 0 / N 0 / - 2)
- - `f3d-235-565-us-v-hishaw.case` -- United States v. Hishaw (2000)
- - `f3d-57-516-us-v-kitchen.case` -- United States v. Kitchen (1995)
- **inferred/** -- 2 (S 2 / N 0 / - 0)
- `inferred/quantity-purity-scale-and-unaffordable-claimed-habit`
- S [proved] `f2d-779-1098-united-states-v-prieto-tejas.case` @6630 -- United States v. Prieto-Tejas (1986) -- party=Prieto-Tejas; count=substantive 841(a)(1) possession-with-intent count
- `inferred/quantity-value-scales-and-prior-sale`
- S [proved] `f3d-20-229-united-states-v-vincent.case` @7933 -- United States v. Vincent (1994)
## element `substance`
_"a controlled substance" -- identity/schedule of the drug (incl. analogues, counterfeit (a)(2))_
- **(not reached, no variant)/** -- 6 (S 0 / N 0 / - 6)
- `(not reached, no variant)` -- 6 (S 0 / N 0 / - 6)
- - `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- United States v. Tiangco (2016)
- - `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` -- United States v. Vera (1983)
- - `f2d-779-1098-united-states-v-prieto-tejas.case` -- United States v. Prieto-Tejas (1986)
- - `f3d-57-516-us-v-kitchen.case` -- United States v. Kitchen (1995)
- - `us-500-453-chapman-v-united-states.case` -- Chapman v. United States (1991)
- - `us-571-204-burrage-v-united-states.case` -- Burrage v. United States (2014)
- **identity/** -- 1 (S 1 / N 0 / - 0)
- `identity/lab-test-plus-defendant-admission`
- S [conceded] `f3d-235-565-us-v-hishaw.case` @4204 -- United States v. Hishaw (2000)
## element `quantity`
_(b) penalty thresholds: drug type and quantity ("mixture or substance")_
- **(not reached, no variant)/** -- 2 (S 0 / N 0 / - 2)
- `(not reached, no variant)` -- 2 (S 0 / N 0 / - 2)
- - `f2d-779-1098-united-states-v-prieto-tejas.case` -- United States v. Prieto-Tejas (1986)
- - `us-571-204-burrage-v-united-states.case` -- Burrage v. United States (2014)
- **lower-tier-supported/** -- 1 (S 1 / N 0 / - 0)
- `lower-tier-supported/sentence-within-proved-quantity-maximum`
- S [conceded] `f3d-235-565-us-v-hishaw.case` @35605 -- United States v. Hishaw (2000) -- count=count eight, (b)(1)(B) 5-gram cocaine-base tier
- **mixture-or-substance/** -- 1 (S 1 / N 0 / - 0)
- `mixture-or-substance/carrier-medium-weight-included`
- S [law] `us-500-453-chapman-v-united-states.case` @480 -- Chapman v. United States (1991) -- count=(b)(1)(B)(v) 5-year mandatory-minimum tier (1 gram or more of LSD mixture)
- **threshold-found-by-jury/** -- 1 (S 1 / N 0 / - 0)
- `threshold-found-by-jury/special-interrogatory`
- S [proved] `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` @2174 -- United States v. Tiangco (2016) -- count=Count 2, (b)(1)(A) 50 g methamphetamine tier
- **threshold-not-found-by-jury/** -- 1 (S 0 / N 1 / - 0)
- `threshold-not-found-by-jury/lab-weight-below-charged-tier`
- N [no-evidence] `f3d-235-565-us-v-hishaw.case` @32715 -- United States v. Hishaw (2000) -- count=count eight, (b)(1)(A) 50-gram cocaine-base tier
## element `death-results`
_(b)(1) enhancement: "death or serious bodily injury results from the use"_
- **but-for-causation/** -- 1 (S 0 / N 1 / - 0)
- `but-for-causation/contributing-cause-in-mixed-drug-overdose`
- N [no-evidence] `us-571-204-burrage-v-united-states.case` @828 -- Burrage v. United States (2014) -- count=count 2 (heroin sold to Banka; (b)(1)(C) death-results 20-year mandatory minimum)
## element `aiding`
_liability as aider/abettor or co-conspirator (18 U.S.C. § 2 / § 846) for the § 841 offence_
- **(not reached, no variant)/** -- 1 (S 0 / N 0 / - 1)
- `(not reached, no variant)`
- - `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- United States v. Tiangco (2016)
## Other rulings (not instances; excluded from the counts above)
| role | scope | block | holding | variant | case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| applied | hypothetical | element intent-to-distribute | satisfied [proved] | `inferred/quantity-inconsistent-with-personal-use-plus-supplier-testimony` | `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- count=2009 Missouri traffic-stop seizure (uncharged episode; intrinsic evidence of the Count 1 846 conspiracy, not Count 2) |
| applied | procedural | element act.distribute | satisfied [proved] | `delivery/shipment-by-commercial-courier-intercepted-before-addressee` | `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- count=Count 2; theory=delivery to the carrier / attempted transfer to the addressee inside the forum district (further ground for venue, partly in a footnote) |
| applied | procedural | element possession | satisfied [proved] | `constructive/package-in-transit-with-common-carrier` | `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- count=Count 2 (April 29, 2014 UPS shipment from Nevada to New Jersey); theory=constructive possession continuing in the forum district (second ground for venue, after the continuing-offence ground) |
| applied | procedural | defense x-due-process-arbitrary-sentence | not-satisfied [law] | `rational-basis/street-weight-penalty-scheme` | `us-500-453-chapman-v-united-states.case` |
| applied | procedural | defense x-entrapment | not-reached | | `f3d-20-229-united-states-v-vincent.case` |
| applied | procedural | defense x-rule-of-lenity | not-satisfied [law] | `no-grievous-ambiguity/plain-text-and-structure` | `us-500-453-chapman-v-united-states.case` |
| applied | procedural | defense x-vagueness | not-satisfied [law] | `as-applied/sentencing-term-not-vague` | `us-500-453-chapman-v-united-states.case` |
| applied | procedural | element x-venue | satisfied [law] | `continuing-offense/drugs-shipped-by-courier-into-forum-district` | `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- count=Count 2; theory=venue in the District of New Jersey as a district into which a continuing offence continued (18 U.S.C. 3237(a)) |
| background | merits | element act.distribute | satisfied [conceded] | `sale/controlled-buy-by-informant` | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` |
| background | merits | element aiding | not-reached | | `f-supp-2d-427-894-us-v-person.case` |
| background | merits | element aiding | satisfied [proved] | `conspiracy-846/acts-furthering-delivery-as-proof-of-knowing-participation` | `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` -- party=Vera and Posada; count=21 U.S.C. 846 conspiracy count |
| background | merits | element aiding | satisfied [proved] | `conspiracy-846/tacit-agreement-inferred-from-joint-transport` | `f2d-779-1098-united-states-v-prieto-tejas.case` -- party=Prieto-Tejas (with Dusal); count=21 U.S.C. 846 conspiracy count |
| background | merits | element intent-to-distribute | not-reached | | `f-supp-2d-427-894-us-v-person.case` |
| background | merits | element knowledge | not-reached | | `f-supp-2d-427-894-us-v-person.case` |
| background | merits | element possession | not-reached | | `f-supp-2d-427-894-us-v-person.case` |
| background | merits | element quantity | not-reached | | `f-supp-2d-427-894-us-v-person.case` |
| background | merits | element quantity | satisfied [proved] | `threshold-found-by-jury/special-interrogatory` | `f-supp-3d-225-274-us-v-tiangco.case` -- count=Count 1 (21 U.S.C. 846 conspiracy-wide quantity, 50 g tier) |
| background | merits | element substance | not-reached | | `f-supp-2d-427-894-us-v-person.case` |
| background | merits | element substance | satisfied [conceded] | `identity/counterfeit-pills-containing-fentanyl` | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` |
| comparator | merits | element act.dispense | not-reached | | `f3d-767-453-us-v-teran-salas.case` |
| comparator | merits | element act.distribute | not-reached | | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` -- theory=federal "distribute" restated as the analogy for reading Pennsylvania "delivery" |
| comparator | merits | element intent-to-distribute | not-reached | | `f3d-767-453-us-v-teran-salas.case` |
| comparator | merits | element intent-to-distribute | satisfied [law] | `categorical-match/state-possession-with-intent-offense` | `us-569-184-moncrieffe-v-holder.case` -- count=Georgia offense of conviction, Ga. Code 16-13-30(j)(1); theory=categorical comparison in the abstract to 841(a)(1): first condition, the state offense necessarily proscribes CSA conduct |
| comparator | merits | element knowledge | not-reached | | `f3d-767-453-us-v-teran-salas.case` |
| comparator | merits | element knowledge | not-reached | | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` |
| comparator | merits | element knowledge | not-reached | | `us-569-184-moncrieffe-v-holder.case` |
| comparator | merits | element possession | not-reached | | `f3d-767-453-us-v-teran-salas.case` |
| comparator | merits | element possession | not-reached | | `us-569-184-moncrieffe-v-holder.case` |
| comparator | merits | element prior-conviction | not-reached | | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` |
| comparator | merits | element quantity | satisfied [law] | `mixture-or-substance/usable-plant-parts-with-detectable-drug-included` | `f3d-20-229-united-states-v-vincent.case` -- theory=Sentencing Guidelines 2D1.1 drug weight ("mixture or substance" has the same meaning as in 841) |
| comparator | merits | element quantity | not-reached | | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` |
| comparator | merits | element quantity.marijuana-small-amount-no-remuneration | satisfied [law] | `felony-vs-misdemeanor-tier/state-conviction-does-not-negate-b4-social-sharing` | `us-569-184-moncrieffe-v-holder.case` -- count=Georgia offense of conviction, Ga. Code 16-13-30(j)(1); theory=categorical comparison: second condition, whether the conviction necessarily establishes the (b)(1)(D) felony tier rather than the (b)(4) misdemeanor tier |
| comparator | merits | element substance | satisfied [conceded] | `schedule-i/marijuana` | `us-569-184-moncrieffe-v-holder.case` |
| comparator | merits | element x-categorical-match | satisfied [law] | `state-predicate-matches-federal-offence/overbreadth-only-theoretical-no-realistic-probability` | `f3d-767-453-us-v-teran-salas.case` -- count=prior Texas conviction, Tex. Health & Safety Code § 481.112(a) possession with intent to deliver; theory=categorical comparison to the federal distribute/dispense definition |
| comparator | merits | element x-categorical-match | satisfied [law] | `state-predicate-matches-federal-offence/no-implied-offer-to-sell` | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` -- count=prior Pennsylvania convictions, 35 Pa. Stat. § 780-113(a)(30) delivery, vs Guidelines "distribution"; theory=offer-to-sell overbreadth argument |
| comparator | merits | element x-categorical-match | satisfied [law] | `state-predicate-matches-federal-offence/attempted-transfer-is-completed-delivery` | `f4th-142-259-us-v-suncar.case` -- count=prior Pennsylvania convictions, 35 Pa. Stat. § 780-113(a)(30) delivery, vs Guidelines "distribution"; theory=attempted-transfer overbreadth argument |
| rule-announced | merits | element intent-to-distribute | not-reached | | `f2d-701-1349-united-states-v-vera.case` |
## Fact-line polarity
80 fact lines: cuts-against 15, supports 65; 4 of them flagged `absent` (the court notes what is NOT alleged or proved).