Court Opinion

ID: 9961157
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-18 00:01:03.94421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:20:21.062807
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-60457           Document: 46-1         Page: 1      Date Filed: 04/17/2024

          United States Court of Appeals
               for the Fifth Circuit                                  United States Court of Appeals
                                                                               Fifth Circuit

                                  ____________                               FILED
                                                                         April 17, 2024
                                   No. 23-60457                         Lyle W. Cayce
                                 Summary Calendar                            Clerk
                                 ____________

United States of America,

                                                                   Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                         versus

Kelson Smith,

                                           Defendant—Appellant.
                  ______________________________

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Northern District of Mississippi
                           USDC No. 3:22-CR-135-1
                  ______________________________

Before Jones, Southwick, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam:*
      Kelson Smith pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of
ammunition by a convicted felon. See 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He received a
four-level enhancement for possession of a firearm in connection with
another felony offense. See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). The district court

      _____________________
      *
          This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-60457         Document: 46-1       Page: 2     Date Filed: 04/17/2024

                                   No. 23-60457

overruled Smith’s objection to the enhancement and ultimately sentenced
him to 38 months of imprisonment.
       On appeal, Smith argues that the district court failed to adequately
explain its reasons for overruling his objection to the enhancement. Because
he failed to raise this issue in the district court, we review for plain error. See
United States v. Neal, 578 F.3d 270, 272 (5th Cir. 2009). However, Smith has
not shown error. In overruling his objection to the enhancement, the district
court recited a portion of Application Note 14 to § 2K2.1, which addresses
application of the enhancement when, in the context of a drug trafficking
offense, a firearm is found in close proximity to drugs.            See § 2K2.1,
comment. (n.14(B)). The district court quoted the factual basis from Smith’s
rearraignment, cited the “amount of contraband” found, and cited the
circumstances of the search of his vehicle. During that search, the officer
also found 18 grams of methamphetamine and found two firearms inside of
the glove box.     We conclude that the district court’s explanation was
sufficient to show that it relied on Application Note 14(B), it considered the
parties’ arguments, and it expressed a reasoned basis for its decision. See
United States v. Rouland, 726 F.3d 728, 732 (5th Cir. 2013).
       Smith also challenges the decision to apply this enhancement.
Because he objected in the district court, we review for clear error. See United
States v. Choulat, 75 F.4th 489, 491 (5th Cir. 2023); cert. denied, 2024 WL
674900 (U.S. Feb. 20, 2024) (No. 23-5908). Application Note 14(B) states
in relevant part that, when the defendant is engaged in a “drug trafficking
offense in which a firearm is found in close proximity to drugs,” the
enhancement is warranted “because the presence of the firearm has the
potential of facilitating another felony offense.”          § 2K2.1, comment.
(n.14(B)). On appeal, Smith argues both that he was not engaged in a drug
trafficking offense and that he did not possess the two firearms recovered
from the vehicle’s glove box. However, based on the circumstances of the

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Case: 23-60457        Document: 46-1       Page: 3    Date Filed: 04/17/2024

                                 No. 23-60457

vehicle search, including 18 grams of methamphetamine found in Smith’s
vehicle and the two firearms found in its unlocked glove box, we conclude
that the district court did not clearly err in finding that Smith was engaged in
a drug trafficking offense and that Smith constructively possessed two
firearms. Therefore, the district court did not clearly err by imposing the
four-level enhancement.
       AFFIRMED.

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