United States of America v. Darnell McConnell, II

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
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No. 21-1086
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United States of America
Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
Darnell McConnell, II
Defendant - Appellant
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Appeal from United States District Court
for the Southern District of Iowa - Eastern
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Submitted: December 13, 2021
Filed: March 14, 2022
[Unpublished]
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Before SMITH, Chief Judge, GRUENDER and KOBES, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
Darnell McConnell II pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a
firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He has a prior Illinois conviction for
manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), 720 ILCS 570/401(d).
The PSR recommended a base offense level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)
for the prior felony controlled substance conviction. McConnell argued that his

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Illinois conviction was not a controlled substance offense. The district court1
overruled the objection and accepted the PSR’s Guidelines calculation. McConnell
appeals. We review whether a prior conviction qualifies as a controlled substance
offense under the Guidelines de novo. United States v. Williams, 926 F.3d 966, 969
(8th Cir. 2019).
Our precedent forecloses McConnell’s argument. We recently held in United
States v. Henderson, 11 F.4th 713, 719 (8th Cir. 2021), that 720 ILCS 570/401 is a
“controlled substance offense” for the § 2K2.1(a) enhancement. We are bound by
this decision. United States v. Riza, 267 F.3d 757, 760 (8th Cir. 2001).
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
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1 The Honorable John A. Jarvey, Chief Judge, United States Court for the
Southern District of Iowa.

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