Case ID: f-appx_111/html/0299-01.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. Terrance Opel POWELL, also known as Bobo, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 04-50042.
    Conference Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided Oct. 20, 2004.
    Ellen A. Lockwood, Joseph H. Gay, Jr, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Evers Jason Leach, Law Offices of E. Jason Leach, Odessa, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before JOLLY, JONES, and WIENER, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Terrance Opel Powell appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and aiding and abetting. He argues that his offense level was erroneously enhanced pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 for obstruction of justice because the district court’s perjury finding failed to identify the material matter on which he purportedly perjured himself. As this was not the basis for Powell’s objection to the enhancement in the district court, our review is for plain error only. See United States v. Vasquez, 216 F.3d 456, 459 (5th Cir.2000).

If the defendant objects to a sentence adjustment for perjury, the district court must make independent findings that the defendant committed perjury. See United States v. Como, 53 F.3d 87, 89 (5th Cir.1995). “The finding is sufficient ... if the court makes a finding of an obstruction or impediment of justice that encompasses all of the factual predicates for a finding of perjury.” United States v. Storm, 36 F.3d 1289, 1297 (5th Cir.1994). The district court identified the material issue as Powell’s testimony absolving his co-defendant April Green of any responsibility for the charged conduct. Powell’s trial testimony that Green played no role in the charged conspiracy was “material” because if believed by the jury, it would have influenced the issue under determination, ie., Green’s guilt. See id.

To the extent that Powell sought to raise the issue whether the record supported a determination that he willfully intended to provide false testimony, that issue is inadequately briefed by counsel and therefore waived. See United States v. Thames, 214 F.3d 608, 611 n. 3 (5th Cir.2000).

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.