Court Opinion

ID: 9914663
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-02 19:00:34.023421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:14:19.531041
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-30320        Document: 00517017689             Page: 1      Date Filed: 01/02/2024

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

                                      No. 23-30320                                    FILED
                                    Summary Calendar                            January 2, 2024
                                    ____________                                 Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                      Clerk
   United States of America,

                                                                      Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Brandon Fontnett,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Louisiana
                              USDC No. 6:21-CR-177-8
                     ______________________________

   Before Wiener, Stewart, and Douglas, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Defendant–Appellant Brandon Fontnett appeals the 151-month
   sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for possession with the
   intent to distribute cocaine. In particular, Fontnett challenges the district
   court’s use of his prior conviction for attempted possession with intent to
   distribute cocaine to qualify him as a career offender. As he argued in the

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-30320      Document: 00517017689            Page: 2    Date Filed: 01/02/2024

                                      No. 23-30320

   district court, Fontnett asserts that (1) inchoate offenses are not included in
   the definition of a “controlled substance offense” under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b)
   and (2) guidelines commentary to the contrary is not entitled to deference.
          The Government has filed an unopposed motion for summary
   affirmance or, in the alternative, for an extension of time to file its brief.
   Fontnett correctly concedes that his claim is foreclosed by United States v.
   Vargas, 74 F.4th 673 (5th Cir. 2023) (en banc), petition for cert. filed (U.S. Oct.
   23, 2023) (No. 23-5875). In that case, we determined that the commentary
   warranted deference and “reaffirm[ed] our longstanding precedent that
   inchoate offenses . . . are included in the definition of ‘controlled substance
   offense.’” Vargas, 74 F.4th at 698.
          When, as here, “there can be no substantial question as to the
   outcome of the case,” summary disposition is appropriate. Groendyke
   Transp., Inc. v. Davis, 406 F.2d 1158, 1162 (5th Cir. 1969). The motion for
   summary affirmance is GRANTED, the alternative motion for an extension
   of time is DENIED, and the district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.

                                           2