Court Opinion

ID: 9382376
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-27 16:00:30.777382+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:38.203422
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            For the Eighth Circuit
                        ___________________________

                                No. 22-2251
                        ___________________________

                            United States of America

                                      Plaintiff - Appellee

                                         v.

                   Maricus Davon Futrell, also known as Rukus

                                    Defendant - Appellant
                                  ____________

                    Appeal from United States District Court
                  for the Eastern District of Missouri - St. Louis
                                  ____________

                           Submitted: January 13, 2023
                             Filed: March 27, 2023
                                 [Unpublished]
                                 ____________

Before GRUENDER, BENTON, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.
                          ____________

PER CURIAM.

       Maricus D. Futrell pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with
intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§
846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A). The district court 1 sentenced him to 132 months

      1
        The Honorable Ronnie L. White, United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Missouri.
in prison. He appeals his sentence. Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this
court affirms.

      Futrell argues the district court erred in applying a two-level enhancement
under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for possession of a dangerous firearm. This court
reviews findings of fact for clear error and application of the guidelines de novo.
See United States v. Woods, 670 F.3d 883, 886 (8th Cir. 2012).

       The government bears the burden of proving a sentencing enhancement. See
United States v. Peroceski, 520 F.3d 886, 889 (8th Cir. 2008). The two-level
enhancement was proper here if “the weapon was present, unless it is clearly
improbable that the weapon was connected with the offense.” U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1
cmt. n.11. See Peroceski, 520 F.3d at 887 (holding the government must prove “the
weapon was present and that it is at least probable that the weapon was connected
with the offense”). This is a “low bar.” United States v. Garcia, 703 F.3d 471, 476
(8th Cir. 2013). To a show a “connection,” the government need not show that the
defendant used or touched the weapon. See Peroceski, 520 F.3d at 889.

        Futrell stipulated that: (1) he was a “runner” in two drug-trafficking
conspiracies; (2) all runners in one of the conspiracies carried handguns or assault
rifles; (3) investigators found him in the bedroom of his girlfriend, a coconspirator;
(4) the girlfriend’s house facilitated activities of the drug-trafficking conspiracy; and
(5) in the bedroom investigators found over $9,000 and a loaded semi-automatic
pistol. These facts are sufficient to support the district court’s finding that it was not
clearly improbable that the weapon was connected with the drug offense. See United
States v. Hernandez, 440 Fed. Appx. 522, 523 (8th Cir. 2011) (holding that it was
not clearly improbable that an unloaded gun hidden in an attic above defendant’s
garage and wrapped in a bandana and electrical tape was connected with defendant’s
drug offense); United States v. Dunning, 1997 WL 415241, at *1 (8th Cir. Jul. 25,
1997) (finding no clear error in the district court’s determination that it was not
clearly improbable that a revolver found in a closet with the drugs and cash was

                                           -2-
connected with the offense even though defendant professed a lack of knowledge as
to its presence). The court did not err in applying the enhancement.

                                 ********

The judgment is affirmed.
                      ______________________________

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