The Third Circuit has determined that a New Jersey convictions for possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, distributing cocaine, and conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute all qualify as drug trafficking aggravated felonies. In so doing, the court held that New Jersey attempt law is coextensive with federal law in that both require a substantial step that strongly corroborates the actor’s criminal purpose, and both hold that solicitation can count as a substantial step. The court recognized that its decision created a circuit split with the Ninth Circuit on the definition of attempt under the Controlled Substances Act.
The full text of Martinez v. Attorney General can be found here:
https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1827&context=thirdcircuit_2018