Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jose GARCIA, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2002-07-19
Citations: 41 F. App'x 643
Docket Number: No. 01-4603
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jose GARCIA, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 41
Pages: 643–644

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jose GARCIA, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 01-4603.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted June 26, 2002.
Decided July 19, 2002.
Lionel S. Lofton, Lofton & Lofton, P.C., Charleston, South Carolina, for Appellant. J. Strom Thurmond, Jr., United States Attorney, Miller W. Shealy, Jr., Assistant United States Attorney, Charleston, South Carolina, for Appellee.
Before WILKINS and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Jose Antonio Garcia appeals the 240-month sentence he received after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. § 841(a)(1), 846 (West 1999). On appeal, Garcia argues the district court erred by declining to award him an adjustment for acceptance of responsibility and by adjusting his sentence for possessing a dangerous weapon. Finding no error, we affirm.
The denial of an adjustment for acceptance of responsibility is a factual determination reviewed for clear error. United States v. Miller, 77 F.3d 71, 74 (4th Cir.1996). In all but extraordinary cases, a defendant who receives an enhancement in his, sentence for obstruction of justice is ineligible for a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 3E1.1, comment, (n.4) (2000).
After Garcia pled guilty, he fled to Costa Rica and subsequently fought extradition. Garcia argues the district court stated it was precluded from awarding an adjustment under the guidelines. We have reviewed the record and are satisfied the district court recognized its ability to award an adjustment in an appropriate case. We find no error in the district court's decision not to apply the § 3E1.1 adjustment.
Garcia also argues that the district court erred in applying a two-level enhancement for possession of a dangerous weapon under USSG § 2D1.1(b)(1). The determination that a weapon enhancement is warranted is a factual question subject to clear error review. United States v. Apple, 915 F.2d 899, 914 (4th Cir.1990).
The district court imposed the adjustment based on two weapons found in Garcia's home during a seizure of approximately 300 grams of cocaine. The proximity of a gun to illicit narcotics generally warrants the enhancement. United States v. Harris, 128 F.3d 850, 852 (4th Cir.1997). Contrary to Garcia's arguments, United States v. McAllister, 272 F.3d 228, 234 (4th Cir.2001), is factually distinguishable because unlike in McAllister, the weapons found in Garcia's home were in both temporal and spatial proximity to the drugs. We find the district court did not clearly err in imposing the adjustment.
We grant Garcia's motion to file a pro se supplemental brief. Garcia argues the denial of a downward departure under USSG § 5K1.1 or § 5K2.0 violated his right to due process because the district court recognized that he provided substantial assistance and his was an extraordinary case. The Government did not move for a departure under USSG § 5K1.1 and Garcia does not allege the Government had an unconstitutional motive. See Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 185-86, 112 S.Ct. 1840, 118 L.Ed.2d 524 (1992); United States v. Wallace, 22 F.3d 84, 87 (4th Cir.1994).
Garcia also claims he is entitled to a three-point adjustment for acceptance of responsibility, and he attempts to explain why the fire-arms were in his possession. Based on our review of the record, these claims do not warrant relief.
We affirm Garcia's conviction 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.
Garcia did not challenge the district court's imposition of an adjustment for obstruction of justice.