Opinion ID: 4471258
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Felon-In-Possession Sentence

Text: Brown also contends that the district court erred by increasing his sentence under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) on the ground that he possessed a firearm in connection with another felony offense. We review the district court’s application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and its findings of fact for clear error. See United States v. Stanford, 823 F.3d 814, 843 (5th Cir. 2016). Section 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines provides for a four-level enhancement when “the defendant used or possessed any firearm . . . in connection with another felony offense.” The enhancement applies if the firearm “facilitated, or had the potential of facilitating, another felony offense.” Id. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(A). “Another felony offense” means any federal, state, or local crime that is punishable by a prison term of more than 4See United States v. Sims, 774 F. App’x 231, 231–32 (5th Cir. 2019) (per curiam); United States v. Ramirez, 264 F. App’x 454, 458–59 (5th Cir. 2008) (per curiam); United States v. Rocha-Ramirez, 243 F. App’x 22, 23 (5th Cir. 2007) (per curiam); United States v. Deal, 237 F. App’x. 909, 910–11 (5th Cir. 2007) (per curiam). 6 Case: 18-50962 Document: 00515265825 Page: 7 Date Filed: 01/09/2020 No. 18-50962 c/w No. 18-50963 one year, even if the defendant was never charged or convicted. Id. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(C). Application of the enhancement depends on the type of felony alleged. If the crime is a drug trafficking offense, the adjustment automatically applies if a firearm is found “in close proximity to drugs, drug-manufacturing materials, or drug paraphernalia.” United States v. Jeffries, 587 F.3d 690, 692 (5th Cir. 2009); U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(B)(ii). For all other felonies except burglary, the enhancement applies if the gun facilitated, or had the potential to facilitate, another felony offense. Jeffries, 587 F.3d at 692; U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(A). The evaluation of the connection between the gun and the additional felony is a factual finding that we review for clear error. See United States v. Coleman, 609 F.3d 699, 708 (5th Cir. 2010). Addressing the drug trafficking issue, here, the presentence report (“PSR”) stated that when officers arrested Brown, they found a plastic bag containing twelve smaller bags filled with 5.1 total grams of cocaine. Brown told the officers where to find the firearm at issue. The officers found the loaded firearm in a toolbox between a bed and a nightstand; the toolbox also contained three fully loaded magazines. The officers also found additional ammunition; a gun holster; a digital scale; and a safe that contained prescription drugs, roughly one gram of heroin, and less than one gram of methamphetamine. Brown conceded that he owned the drugs and firearm and told the officers that there were also used syringes in a kitchen cabinet. In addressing the § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) enhancement, the probation officer referred to Note 14(B) of the Guidelines, which states that the enhancement applies “in the case of a drug trafficking offense in which a firearm is found in close proximity to drugs, drug-manufacturing materials, or drug paraphernalia.” See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(B)(ii). Brown objected to the 7 Case: 18-50962 Document: 00515265825 Page: 8 Date Filed: 01/09/2020 No. 18-50962 c/w No. 18-50963 enhancement, arguing that there was no indication that the gun was used in connection with another offense and the evidence did not reflect that the gun was related to the drugs in his home. At sentencing, the district court overruled Brown’s objection to the adjustment and adopted the PSR in relevant part without change. Brown now argues that the § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) adjustment was improperly applied because there was no record evidence that his possession of the firearm facilitated a drug trafficking offense. He maintains that the evidence at most showed that he simultaneously possessed a firearm and drugs for personal use. We disagree. Brown had 5.1 grams of cocaine divided into small plastic bags, a digital scale, used syringes, roughly one gram of heroin, and less than one gram of methamphetamine in his home. Moreover, Brown’s home was relatively small, so he could readily access the firearm in his bedroom. Based on these facts, it is plausible that Brown had engaged in drug trafficking—and it is inarguable that the gun was in close proximity to Brown’s drugs and related paraphernalia. The district court’s findings supporting the enhancement were not clearly erroneous. See Coleman, 609 F.3d at 708. The § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) enhancement was thus proper. See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(B).