Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Eric DOBBIN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-07-18
Citations: 139 F. App'x 518
Docket Number: No. 04-4948
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Eric DOBBIN, Defendant—Appellant.
Judges: Before WILKINSON, MOTZ, and SHEDD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 139
Pages: 518–519

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Eric DOBBIN, Defendant—Appellant.
No. 04-4948.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: June 27, 2005.
Decided: July 18, 2005.
Thomas P. McNamara, Federal Public Defender, Stephen C. Gordon, Assistant Federal Public Defender, James E. Todd, Jr., Research and Writing Attorney, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellant. Frank D. Whitney, United States Attorney, Anne M. Hayes, Christine Witcover Dean, Assistant United States Attorneys, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.
Before WILKINSON, MOTZ, and SHEDD, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See Local Rule 36(c).

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
A jury found Eric Dobbin guilty of two counts of bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d) (2000), and two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) (2000). On appeal, Dobbin contends the evidence was insufficient to support the firearms convictions. Dobbin further contends the sentence violated the rules announced in United States v. Booker, — U.S. -, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005) and Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004). We affirm.
When reviewing a sufficieney-of-the-evidence claim, the verdict will be sustained "if there is substantial evidence, taking the view most favorable to the Government, to support it." Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942). "[S]ubstantial evidence is evidence that a reasonable finder of fact could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a conclusion of a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Burgos, 94 F.3d 849, 862 (4th Cir.1996) (en banc). Under § 924(c), any person is prohibited from possessing a firearm during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime. With respect to § 924(c), a firearm is "(A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device." 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3) (2000). The Government need not present expert testimony to support a § 924(c) conviction. In United States v. Redd, 161 F.3d 793, 797 (4th Cir.1998), this Court stated that "eyewitness testimony is sufficient to prove that a person used a firearm." We find there was sufficient evidence to support the firearm convictions.
At sentencing, the district court imposed a sentence treating the sentencing guidelines as mandatory. The court also imposed an alternate sentence, as instructed by this Court's order in United States v. Hammoud, 378 F.3d 426 (4th Cir.2004), opinion issued by, United States v. Hammoud, 381 F.3d 316 (4th Cir.2004), cert. granted, judgment vacated, — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 1051, 160 L.Ed.2d 997 (2005). The mandatory sentence and the alternate sentence were identical. Because the district court specifically imposed an alternate sentence "pursuant to 18 United States Code Section 3553(a), as directed by the Court of Appeals in United States v. Hammoud, " (J.A. at 758-59), we find there was no error. The burden is on Dobbin to establish prejudice, United States v. White, 405 F.3d 208, 223 (4th Cir.2005), which he has failed to do.
Accordingly, we affirm the convictions and sentence. 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