Case ID: f-appx_204/html/0355-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Antonio Larico SMITH, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 06-50010
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Oct. 26, 2006.
    Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    John Michael Hurley, Waco, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    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 was 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 (5th Cir.1993). The district court did not clearly err by applying the enhancement. See id.

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, 795 (5th Cir.2005). No precedent would support this contention.

As the sentenced imposed was within the properly calculated guidelines range, it was presumptively reasonable. See United States 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, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (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, 125 S.Ct. 738), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 43, 163 L.Ed.2d 76 (2005). Smith has not rebutted the presumption of reasonableness, and, therefore, not shown that his sentence was unreasonable. See Alonzo, 435 F.3d at 554.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       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.