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John Smith (defendant) and his companion traveled from Tennessee to Florida, where they planned to purchase cocaine for dealing. Smith’s acquaintance, Deborah Hoag, joined Smith, his companion, and a drug dealer in a motel room. In the meeting, Smith discussed his interest in selling his MAC-10 firearm, an automatic weapon. Hoag was an informant for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and tipped off law enforcement to Smith’s plans. An undercover officer posing as a pawnshop dealer called on Smith at the motel room. Smith showed his MAC-10 to the officer and offered to trade the gun for two ounces of cocaine. Smith was later convicted in district court of violating 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), which prohibited knowingly using a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. Smith appealed his conviction. The court of appeals affirmed, and the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
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