Castaneda

OVERVIEW

This consolidated appeal is brought by eleven individuals involved in an extensive conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin. Appellants raise a multitude of issues, the majority of which are considered in a separate, unpublished disposition. Our concern here is with appellants’ appeals from their jury convictions for use of a weapon in relation to a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c), and with Terezo De Jesus Umansor-Alvarez’s (“Umansor-Alvarez”) and Lucas Omelas-Martinez’s (“Ornelas-Martinez”) appeals from their sentences. We reverse six of seven of Leticia Castane *764 da’s (“Leticia”) 1 firearm convictions and affirm all of Uriel Castaneda’s (“Uriel”), Maria Meras’ (“Meras”) and Ismael Barron’s (“Barron”) firearm convictions. We remand Umansor-Alvarez’s case for findings with respect to his sentence; we affirm the sentence of Ornelas-Martinez.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Beginning in August of 1989, the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”), the Seattle police, and the Los Angeles police began three unrelated investigations into appellants’ drug activities. These investigations uncovered an extensive heroin and cocaine…