United States v. Bruce R. Nelson

Bruce R. Nelson appeals his conviction of possession of heroin, a misdemeanor under 21 U.S.C. § 844(a). 1 He contends that the conviction cannot stand since the Government failed to prove the presence of a sufficient quantity of heroin to produce a narcotic effect. The trial court rejected this contention and instructed the jury that any measurable amount of 'heroin would sustain the conviction. We affirm.

Nelson possessed two plastic packets each containing brown powder. Chemical analysis established these packets qualitatively contained heroin laced with procaine and lactose, the latter two…