USA v. Smith

Filing 920061026

Opinion

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United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT October 26, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 06-50010 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus ANTONIO LARICO SMITH, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 6:05-CR-32 -------------------Before REAVLEY, WIENER and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Antonio Larico Smith appeals the sentence imposed following his jury-trial conviction for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base. Smith argues that the district court clearly erred by applying a two-level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for his possessing a dangerous weapon during the commission of his offense. The evidence at sentencing showed that a police officer saw Smith in possession of a gun at the motel where he later was found in possession of cocaine base and distributing cocaine base. * There Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 06-50010 -2was also evidence that Smith had sold cocaine on the night that he was seen with the gun and that he had previously been seen with a gun while conducting drug trafficking activity. The Government established that a temporal and spatial relation existed between the gun, the drug trafficking activity, and Smith, and Smith did not show that it was clearly improbable that the gun was not possessed in connection with his drug trafficking. See United States v. Eastland, 989 F.2d 760, 770 The district court did not clearly err by See id. (5th Cir. 1993). applying the enhancement. Smith argues that his sentence was unreasonable because it was greatly enhanced by relevant conduct found by the district court by a preponderance of the evidence and supported by unreliable testimony. In connection with this argument, he asserts, for the first time on appeal, that the relevant conduct so greatly increased the drug quantity for which he was held responsible that it constituted a situation where the relevant conduct was the tail that wagged the dog of the substantive offense, and the district court should have required clear and convincing evidence to support the relevant conduct. Because Smith did not raise this argument below, we review for plain error. See United States v. Alvarado-Santilano, 434 F.3d 794, No precedent would support this contention. 795 (5th Cir. 2005). As the sentenced imposed was within the properly calculated guidelines range, it was presumptively reasonable. See United No. 06-50010 -3States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 554 (5th Cir. 2006). To the extent that Smith argues that United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), requires a greater burden of proof at sentencing than before, he is incorrect. See United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 519 (5th Cir.) (citing Booker, 543 U.S. at 233, 259-60), cert. denied, 126 S. Ct. 43 (2005). Smith has not rebutted the presumption of reasonableness, and, therefore, not shown that his sentence was unreasonable. AFFIRMED. See Alonzo, 435 F.3d at 554.

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