Court Opinion

ID: 29375
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:38:05+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:53.091133
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 01-21145

                          Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                             Plaintiff-Appellee,

                               versus

LIONELL CHARLES BALTIMORE,

                                             Defendant-Appellant.

           Appeal from the United States District Court
                For the Southern District of Texas
                            (01-CR-406)

                         November 25, 2002

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, SMITH, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Lionell Charles Baltimore appeals his sentence after pleading

guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of

18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2).          Baltimore argues that the

district court erred in applying the cross reference in U.S.S.G. §

2K2.1(c)(1)(A) to calculate his sentence. He argues that the court

erred in finding that he possessed a firearm in connection with the

     *
      Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this
opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the
limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
commission of another offense, namely possession with the intent to

distribute 13.3 grams of crack cocaine.

     The district court’s application of the sentencing guidelines

is reviewed de novo, and its factual findings are reviewed for

clear error.1

     Baltimore’s firearm was in plain view in the car he was

driving.      After   Baltimore      was       detained,      a   clear     plastic     bag

containing 13.3 grams of crack cocaine fell to the floor from his

rear pants area.        Given that the gun and the drugs had been in

close proximity to one another, the physical and functional nexus

between the     drugs    and   the   gun       was     met    such   that    he   was    in

possession of the gun while committing the offense of possession of

crack cocaine with intent to distribute.2

     Baltimore     also    argues     that        18    U.S.C.       §    922(g)(1)     is

unconstitutional because it requires only a minimal Commerce Clause

nexus.     He acknowledges that this argument is foreclosed by this

court’s decision in United States v. Daugherty,3 but seeks to

preserve the argument for further review.                    Baltimore’s sentence is

AFFIRMED.

     1
         United States v. Vasquez, 298 F.3d 354, 356 (5th Cir. 2002).
     2
         See United States v. Mitchell, 166 F.3d 748, 755-56 (5th Cir.
1999).
     3
       264 F.3d 513 (5th Cir. 2001), cert. denied, 122 S. Ct. 1113
(2002).

                                           2