United States v. Justin Case Lebarron

── United States v. Justin Case Lebarron ── Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Date: June 08, 2026 Category: NEW USCA11 Case: 21-12157 Document: 111-1 Date Filed: 06/08/2026 Page: 1 of 69 FOR PUBLICATION In the United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit ____________________ No. 21-12157 Non-Argument Calendar ____________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JUSTIN CASE LEBARRON, Defendant-Appellant. ____________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida D.C. Docket No. 8:20-cr-00156-TPB-CPT-1 ____________________ Before ROSENBAUM, ABUDU, and TJOFLAT, Circuit Judges. ABUDU, Circuit Judge: Justin Case Lebarron was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences related to the death of one of his former drug associates, USCA11 Case: 21-12157 Document: 111-1 Date Filed: 06/08/2026 Page: 2 of 69 2 Opinion of the Court 21-12157 J.B.,1 from a mixture of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The gov- ernment indicted him under 21 U.S.C. § 841 of the Controlled Sub- stances Act (“CSA”) for knowingly and intentionally conspiring in a drug trafficking ring to possess and distribute controlled sub- stances, “the use of which resulted in the death of J.B. from such substance,” (“Count I”); and possession with intent to distribute the actual drugs which killed her (“Count II”).2 On appeal, Lebarron challenges the district court’s jury instruction regarding the proper application of subsection 841 (b)(1)(C)’s “death-result” penalty en- hancement, which triggered the mandatory life sentences. After a thorough review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm Lebarron’s convictions and sentence. I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND & PROCEDURAL HISTORY On January 7, 2020, J.B. fatally overdosed in Lebarron’s home. Security cameras installed throughout the home provide a picture of J.B.’s final moments. On the afternoon of her death, J.B. made several drug sales. Security footage shows J.B. met customers at the front door of Leb- arron’s home, retrieved the agreed-upon quantities of drugs from 1 In order to protect the identity of the victim, we refer to her by her initials throughout this opinion. 2 Lebarron was convicted of a total of four counts; however, only Count I and Count II carried the penalty enhancement provision of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C) which resulted in concurrent life sentences. On ap- peal, Lebarron only challenges his convictions and subsequent sentences as to Count I and Count II. USCA11 Case: 21-12157 Document: 111-1 Date Filed: 06/08/2026 Page: 3 of 69 21-12157 Opinion of the Court 3 Lebarron’s bedroom, and then returned to the front door to com- plete the exchanges. At approximately 5:07 p.m., after completing what would be her final drug sale, J.B. entered Lebarron’s bedroom—where Leb- arron was present—and obtained narcotics.3 J.B. then exited the bedroom and injected herself twice with the narcotics in the living room. As J.B. slowly lost consciousness, she slid face-first off a bed in the living room and onto the floor. Two other men were in