Case ID: f-appx_27/html/0150-01.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, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Timmy GADSON, a/k/a Batmike, a/k/a Dwayne K. Stevenson, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 01-4172.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted Sept. 25, 2001.
    Decided Oct. 16, 2001.
    
      G. Wells Dickson, Jr., Law Offices of G. Wells Dickson, Jr., Charleston, SC, for appellant.
    Scott N. Schools, United States Attorney, Robert H. Bickerton, Assistant United States Attorney, Charleston, SC, for appellee.
    Before NIEMEYER, TRAXLER, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Timmy Gadson appeals from his convictions and sentence entered after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Gadson was sentenced to 235 months imprisonment. Gadson’s attorney has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Counsel states that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal but raises issues regarding the application of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Gadson has filed a pro se supplemental brief, rearguing the Apprendi issues and also challenging his sentence under United States v. Rhynes, 196 F.3d 207, 238-40 (4th Cir.1999), vacated in part on other grounds, 218 F.3d 310 (4th Cir.2000).

Gadson argues that the district court improperly found the quantity and type of drags involved at sentencing, rather than submitting the question to the jury, and that his indictment was defective for failure to charge the amount of drags, all in violation of Apprendi. Because Gad-son was sentenced to less than the 360 month maximum sentence under 21 U.S.C.A. § 841(b)(1)(C) (West Supp.2001) for a defendant with a prior drag felony and an unspecified drag amount, the fact that the quantity or type of drugs involved was determined by the district court based upon a preponderance of the evidence does not violate Apprendi. See United States v. Kinter, 235 F.3d 192, 201 (4th Cir.2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 937, 121 S.Ct. 1393, 149 L.Ed.2d 316 (2001). Likewise, where, as here, drag quantity was not charged as an element of the offense, the indictment is not defective, so long as the defendant is sentenced under the applicable maximum statutory term of imprisonment for a conspiracy involving an unspecified drag amount. United States v. White, 238 F.3d 537, 542 (4th Cir.2001), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1074, 121 S.Ct. 2235, 532 U.S. 1074 (2001). In his brief, counsel recognizes that circuit precedent forecloses his argument and argues for reexamining prior cases. Gadson provides no persuasive reasoning to overturn prior case law, and this panel could not do so at any rate. See United States v. Torcasio, 959 F.2d 503, 507 (4th Cir.1992).

Gadson next argues that, because his indictment charged him with a cocaine and crack cocaine conspiracy and because the jury did not return a special verdict, he may only be sentenced for a powder cocaine conspiracy. He relies on Rhynes, which held that, where there is a general verdict on a count charging a conspiracy to distribute multiple controlled substances, the district court may not impose a sentence in excess of the statutory maximum for the least-punished drug on which the conspiracy could have been based. 196 F.3d at 238-40. However, because the maximum sentence for a powder cocaine conspiracy involving an unspecified drug amount and a defendant with a prior drug felony conviction is 360 months, see 21 U.S.C.A. § 841(b)(1)(C), Gadson’s sentence does not run afoul of Rhynes. See also Edwards v. United States, 523 U.S. 511, 513-15, 118 S.Ct. 1475, 140 L.Ed.2d 703 (1998) (holding that sentencing judge, not the jury, is authorized to determine the kinds and amounts of drugs for which the defendant is accountable when the jury has returned a general verdict of guilty in a drug conspiracy case involving cocaine and crack cocaine, so long as the sentence does not exceed the maximum that the statutes permit for a cocaine-only conspiracy).

In accordance with the requirements of Anders, we have examined the entire record in this case, and we find no meritorious issues for appeal. Accordingly, we affirm Gadson’s convictions and sentence. This court requires that counsel inform his client, in writing, of his right to petition to the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If the client requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel’s motion must state that a copy thereof was served on the client. We dispense with oral argument, because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.