United States v. Peter Collins, A/K/A "Gypsy Black", and Inett Branch

WISDOM, Circuit Judge:

On this appeal, the defendants, Peter Collins, also known as “Gypsy Black,’’ and Inett Branch, challenge their convictions for knowingly and intentionally distributing 12.58 grams of heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). We affirm.

The defendants contend, first, that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury that the testimony of an addict-informer is inherently suspect and should be weighed with great caution. At trial, the Government called Henry Hawkins, a former heroin addict, as a witness to testify against the defendants. Hawkins was an informer…