Case ID: f-appx_95/html/0045-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "GARZA, Circuit Judge.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Howard Dewayne WILLIAMS, Defendant—Appellant.
    No. 03-41242.
    SUMMARY CALENDAR
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    DECIDED: March 22, 2004.
    Michelle S. Englade, Assistant US Attorney, US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    Jani J. Maselli, Houston, TX, for Defendan1>-Appellant.
    Before REYNALDO G. GARZA, HIGGINBOTHAM, and DEMOSS, Circuit Judges.
   GARZA, Circuit Judge.

In this appeal, we review Defendant— Appellant, Howard Williams’, sentence pursuant to his guilty plea for possession of more than five grams but less than fifty grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

Williams argues that the district court erred in imposing a two-level increase in his offense level based upon his possession of a pistol that was found in the night stand of the motel room Williams was seen exiting immediately prior to his arrest. Specifically, Williams challenges the reliability of the statements of four drug users arrested in the motel room who told officers that the gun belonged to Williams. According to Williams, the statements lacked sufficient indicia of reliability as required by U.S.S.G. § 6A1.3(a).

We review the decision for plain error because Williams failed to inform the district court of the specific grounds of his objection. See United States v. Burton, 126 F.3d 666, 671 (5th Cir.1997). Under the plain-error standard of review, Williams bears the burden of showing that (1) there is an error, (2) the error is clear or obvious, and (3) the error affects his substantial rights. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-34, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993).

The Sentencing Guidelines state that if a dangerous weapon was possessed during a drug-trafficking offense, the defendant’s offense level is increased by two levels. U.S.S.G. § 2Dl.l(b)(l). The adjustment should be applied if the weapon was present, unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was connected with the offense. Id, comment, (n.3); see United States v. States, 339 F.3d 285, 293-94 (5th Cir.2003).

The district court relied on information in the PSR, including statements made by drug users, to make it’s decision. Information in a PSR generally bears sufficient indicia of reliability to be considered evidence in making factual determinations under the Sentencing Guidelines. United States v. Fitzgerald, 89 F.3d 218, 223 (5th Cir.1996). It is Williams’ burden to show that the evidence relied upon is materially untrue, inaccurate, or unreliable. See United States v. Floyd, 343 F.3d 363, 372 (5th Cir.2003).

Though some courts have questioned the reliability of statements made by drug users regarding drug-quantity calculations, we find that the four identical statements made in this case as to the simple question of whether the gun belonged to Williams are not materially untrue, inaccurate, or unreliable. See Id. Thus, Williams has failed to show plain error. The district court’s decision is 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.