The Supreme Court cases Michael M. BUSIC v. UNITED STATES and Anthony LaROCCA, Jr. v. UNITED STATES are related to each other as they were tried together on a multicount indictment charging drug, firearms, and assault offenses. Both petitioners were convicted of narcotics and possession of firearms counts, as well as two counts of armed assault on federal officers under 18 USC 111. Busic was found to be an aider and abettor and thus derivatively a principal under 18 USC 2, while LaRocca was the actual triggerman.
The case, Busic v. United States, was brought to the Supreme Court after the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the convictions of both petitioners. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to consider whether the Court of Appeals erred in holding that the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions for armed assault on federal officers. The Court also examined whether the trial court erred in denying Busic's motion to sever his trial from LaRocca's. Ultimately, the Supreme Court affirmed the convictions of both petitioners.