Court Opinion

ID: 34881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 19:21:29+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:12:54.767643
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                 Fifth Circuit
                                                              F I L E D
                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                        FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                  April 22, 2004

                                                           Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                   Clerk
                            No. 03-10593
                          Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                     Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

KENNY WASHINGTON,

                                     Defendant-Appellant.

                      --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Northern District of Texas
                    USDC No. 3:02-CR-00287-1
                      --------------------

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Kenny Washington appeals his conviction and sentence for

conspiracy to commit bank theft.    After a thorough review of the

record, we AFFIRM.

     The district court did not abuse its discretion in limiting

the cross-examination of Ralphcel Eaton or in allowing Tom Young

to testify.    Neither Eaton’s plea agreement in a pending and

unrelated state prosecution, nor his testimony suggests that his

testimony was motivated by the pending state charges.       Eaton’s

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
                            No. 03-10593
                                 -2-

deferred adjudications were not convictions under FED. R. EVID.

609, and Washington did not include motive as a reason for cross-

examining Eaton on the deferred adjudications. As for Young,

contrary to Washington’s assertion, he was not a summary witness.

Accordingly, there was no abuse of discretion.    United States v.

Landerman, 109 F.3d 1053, 1062 (5th Cir.), modified by, 116 F.3d
119 (1997); United States v. Townsend, 31 F.3d 262, 268 (5th Cir.

1994).

     Nor did the district court clearly err in applying a four-

point enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a) for Washington’s role

as an organizer or leader in the offense.   The record reflects

that Washington exercised considerable decision-making authority

and that Washington’s participation in the offense was integral.

See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1, cmt. n.4; United States v. Lage, 183 F.3d
374, 384 (5th Cir. 1999).

     Finally, the district court did not clearly err in

determining that the scheme at Nationsbank should be considered

relevant conduct.   The modus operandi was nearly identical at

both Nationsbank and Wells Fargo.   See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3 cmt.

n.9(A) (Nov. 2000); United States v. Anderson, 174 F.3d 515, 526

(5th Cir. 1999).

     The district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.