Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Zeb Anthony HENSON, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-08-29
Citations: 444 F. App'x 670
Docket Number: No. 11-4345
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Zeb Anthony HENSON, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before MOTZ, DUNCAN, and KEENAN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 444
Pages: 670–671

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Zeb Anthony HENSON, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 11-4345.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: Aug. 25, 2011.
Decided: Aug. 29, 2011.
Larry W. Shelton, Federal Public Defender, Christine Madeleine Lee, Research and Writing Attorney, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Roanoke, Virginia, for Appellant. Timothy J. Heaphy, United States Attorney, Jean B. Hudson, Assistant United States Attorney, Charlottes-ville, Virginia, for Appellee.
Before MOTZ, DUNCAN, and KEENAN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
Dismissed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Zeb Anthony Henson pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute of five grams or more of actual methamphetamine, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (2006). He received a sentence of eighty-four months' imprisonment. Henson appeals his sentence, contending that the district court abused its discretion when it denied his request for a downward departure under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 4A1.8 (2010), on the ground that his criminal history category substantially over-represented the seriousness of his criminal history. For the reasons explained below, we dismiss the appeal.
The district court has the discretion to depart downward "[i]f reliable information indicates that the defendant's criminal history category substantial over-represents the seriousness of the defendant's criminal history or the likelihood that the defendant will commit other crimes." U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 4A1.3(b)(l) (2010). However, "[w]e lack the authority to review a sentencing court's denial of a downward departure unless the court failed to understand its authority to do so." United States v. Brewer, 520 F.3d 367, 371 (4th Cir.2008). Our review of the record discloses that the district court did not fail to recognize its authority to depart. Thus, Henson's claim is not reviewable on appeal.
We therefore dismiss the appeal. 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.
DISMISSED.