Court Opinion

ID: 9894551
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-02 00:00:35.213258+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:54.239663
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-30100        Document: 00516952601             Page: 1      Date Filed: 11/01/2023

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

                                                                                       FILED
                                      No. 23-30100                             November 1, 2023
                                    Summary Calendar
                                                                                 Lyle W. Cayce
                                    ____________
                                                                                      Clerk

   United States of America,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Brian W. Chappell,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Louisiana
                               USDC No. 2:22-CR-37-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Higginbotham, Stewart, and Southwick, Circuit
   Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Brian W. Chappell pled guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm
   in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), and possession of a firearm without a
   serial number in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(i). The firearms cited in the
   offenses of conviction were firearm silencers. Chappell was sentenced to 46

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
Case: 23-30100         Document: 00516952601               Page: 2      Date Filed: 11/01/2023

                                          No. 23-30100

   months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. He now
   appeals, challenging his sentence.
           The undisputed facts recounted in Chappell’s presentence report
   show that he was stopped by police while driving his tow truck. In the cab of
   the truck was a box addressed to Chappell. The contents included 168 grams
   of methamphetamine, digital scales, and plastic baggies. The silencers cited
   in the conviction offenses were found in exterior storage compartments of
   the tow truck. 1 The silencers were in, or could readily have been put in,
   operating condition, and there were other firearms in the exterior storage
   compartments with the silencers. In determining Chappell’s guidelines
   range, the probation officer applied the cross-reference under U.S.S.G.
   § 2K2.1(c)(1)(A) to U.S.S.G. § 2X1.1, which resulted in the application of
   U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, the Guideline addressing drug-trafficking offenses.
           Chappell       unsuccessfully        objected      to     the    application      of
   Section 2K2.1(c)(1). His objection was that the adjusted offense level was
   the same whether his guidelines range was calculated under Section 2K2.1 or
   Section 2D1.1 because the probation officer had erroneously calculated his
   adjusted offense level under Section 2D1.1. In his sole issue on appeal,
   Chappell contends that the district court erred in imposing the cross-
   reference under Section 2K2.1(c)(1) because there was no connection
   between his possession of the silencers and his possession of the drugs. This
   argument is different from the one he raised in the district court, and we
   review it only for plain error. See United States v. Hill, 63 F.4th 335, 364 (5th
   Cir. 2023); United States v. Wikkerink, 841 F.3d 327, 331 (5th Cir. 2016).

           _____________________
           1
          The record supports a finding that the exterior storage compartments were locked
   when Chappell left his home following a hurricane, but it is silent as to whether the storage
   compartments were still locked a month later when he was pulled over by police.

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Case: 23-30100      Document: 00516952601           Page: 3    Date Filed: 11/01/2023

                                     No. 23-30100

          Firearm silencers are firearms as defined in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)(7), 18
   U.S.C. § 921(a)(3)(C), and U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.1. Pursuant to the
   commentary to Section 2K2.1, subsection (c)(1) applies “if the firearm or
   ammunition facilitated, or had the potential of facilitating,” another felony
   offense. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(A). In cases like this one, where a drug-trafficking
   offense is involved, the cross-reference should apply if the “firearm is found
   in close proximity to drugs . . . or drug paraphernalia.”         § 2K2.1 cmt.
   n.14(B)(ii). We have stated that the “in connection with” language of
   Section 2K2.1(c) requires a functional nexus. United States v. Mitchell, 166
   F.3d 748, 756 (5th Cir. 1999). The factual finding of a connection between
   the firearm and another offense is reviewed for clear error. See id. at 754 n.24.
          The record does not support Chappell’s contention that the district
   court applied the cross-reference based on his possession of any firearm other
   than the two silencers that were cited in the offenses of conviction. In
   overruling Chappell’s objection to the application of the cross-reference and
   finding that the probation officer had correctly calculated Chappell’s
   guidelines sentencing range, the district court implicitly adopted the factual
   findings necessary to conclude that Section 2K2.1(c)(1)(A)’s cross-reference
   applied. See United States v. Anderson, 174 F.3d 515, 526 n.3 (5th Cir. 1999).
          The district court’s determination that there was a sufficient
   connection between Chappell’s possession of the firearm silencers and the
   drug-trafficking offense to establish the necessary functional nexus “is
   plausible in light of the record read as a whole,” and is therefore not clearly
   erroneous. United States v. Villanueva, 408 F.3d 193, 203 (5th Cir. 2005);
   Mitchell, 166 F.3d at 756. Accordingly, the district court did not err, plainly
   or otherwise, in applying Section 2K2.1(c)’s cross-reference.
          AFFIRMED.

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