Irma Ovalles v. United States

NEWSOM, Circuit Judge:

The question before us is whether one of the key provisions of an important federal criminal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c), is unconstitutionally vague. As relevant to our purposes, § 924(c) makes it a federal offense-punishable by a term of imprisonment ranging from five years to life-for any person to use, carry, or possess a firearm in connection with a "crime of violence." 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c)(1)(A). The provision challenged here- § 924(c)(3)'s "residual clause"-defines the term "crime of violence" to mean a felony "that by its nature, involves a substantial risk that…