Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-03-03339/USCOURTS-ca8-03-03339-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Pablo Favela-Corral
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

1

The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, Chief Judge, United States District Court for

the District of Nebraska.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 03-3339

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, *

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the

* District of Nebraska.

Pablo Favela-Corral, also known as *

Pablo Fabelo-Corral, also known as * [UNPUBLISHED]

Paulo Fabela-Corral, also known as *

Pavlo Favela, *

*

Appellant. *

___________

Submitted: August 6, 2004

Filed: August 19, 2004

___________

Before SMITH, FAGG, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Pablo Favela-Corral pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with

intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§ 846. At sentencing, the district court1

 assessed a 2-level enhancement under

U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for possession of a dangerous weapon, and sentenced FavelaAppellate Case: 03-3339 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/19/2004 Entry ID: 1801261 
-2-

Corral to 188 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release. On appeal,

Favela-Corral challenges the weapon enhancement, arguing that the mere presence

of an unloaded firearm did not provide the necessary nexus to the drug offense.

We conclude that the district court did not clearly err in assessing the weapon

enhancement. See United States v. Braggs, 317 F.3d 901, 904 (8th Cir. 2003)

(standard of review; government has burden of proof by preponderance of evidence).

In a bedroom of Favela-Corral’s home, police found a semiautomatic rifle under the

mattress and packages of methamphetamine in a wall vent. See United States v.

Frazier, 280 F.3d 835, 853 (8th Cir.) (nexus between drug offense and weapon was

established where firearm was stored in same location as drugs; government need not

prove that firearm was loaded and ready for use to support enhancement), cert.

denied, 537 U.S. 911 (2002).

Accordingly, we affirm.

______________________________

Appellate Case: 03-3339 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/19/2004 Entry ID: 1801261