Case ID: f-appx_2/html/0618-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Marcus L. HITZ, Appellant.
    No. 00-1341.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
    Submitted Jan. 30, 2001.
    Decided Feb. 2, 2001.
    Before HANSEN, MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, and BYE, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

Marcus L. Hitz pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. The district court sentenced him to 168 months imprisonment and five years supervised release. On appeal, Mr. Hitz challenges the court’s application of a two-level enhancement for possessing a firearm in connection with the offense, see U.S.S.G. § 2Dl.l(b)(l), and a three-level enhancement for being a manager or supervisor of the criminal activity that involved five or more participants, see U.S.S.G. § 3B.l.l(b).

We conclude the district court did not clearly err in determining Mr. Hitz possessed a firearm in connection with the offense, given the testimony at sentencing that he provided a gun as payment for drugs. See United States v. Womack, 191 F.3d 879, 885 (8th Cir.1999); United States v. Newton, 184 F.3d 955, 957-58 (8th Cir. 1999).

Likewise, we conclude the court did not clearly err in applying the aggravating-role enhancement, given the testimony at sentencing that Mr. Hitz regularly had people drive him around during his drug transactions, that he provided for his drivers’ living expenses and gave them drugs without charging, that he provided money to others to rent hotel rooms where drug deals occurred, and that he directed one of his drivers to hold some drugs because police officers were near. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1, comment, (nn.1-2); United States v. Hyatt, 207 F.3d 1036, 1038 (8th Cir.2000); United States v. Johnson, 47 F.3d 272, 277 (8th Cir.1995).

Accordingly, we affirm. 
      
      . The Honorable Warren K. Urbom, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.