Opinion ID: 553755
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: gary thompson

Text: 7 Gary Thompson was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. Secs. 846 and 841(a)(1). On appeal, Thompson claims the district court violated his right to due process by allowing unintelligible audio tapes to be played before the jury, and in applying the sentencing enhancing provision, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(b)(1)(B), despite the fact that the original indictment did not specify an amount of contraband. 8 Thompson's claims are without merit. His challenge to the admission of the audio tapes is encumbered by his failure to make a timely objection at trial, pursuant to Fed.R.Evid 103(a)(1). Accordingly, this Court's inquiry is limited to findings of plain error. Because we find the district court complied with our holding in United States v. Robinson, 763 F.2d 778, 781 (1985), we find no such plain error. Thompson's argument as to 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(B) is similarly foreclosed by our opinion in United States v. Moreno, 899 F.2d 465 (6th Cir.1990), in which we concluded that Sec. 841(b) is merely a sentencing provision, not a separate offense that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. As a penalty provision, we agree with the district court that drug quantity is a factual matter to be found by the trial judge and need not be included in the underlying indictment. See United States v. Wood, 834 F.2d 1382 (8th Cir.1987).