Court Opinion

ID: 9384159
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-01 00:00:29.906604+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:51.011916
License: Public Domain

Case: 21-51249        Document: 00516696797             Page: 1      Date Filed: 03/31/2023

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

                                                                                      FILED
                                      No. 21-51249                              March 31, 2023
                                    Summary Calendar
                                                                                 Lyle W. Cayce
                                    ____________
                                                                                      Clerk

   United States of America,

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                            versus

   Randy Dwain Ross,

                                              Defendant—Appellant.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Western District of Texas
                              USDC No. 7:21-CR-255-1
                     ______________________________

   Before Jones, Haynes, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
         Randy Dwain Ross pleaded guilty of being a felon in possession of a
   firearm. In this appeal, Ross challenges the four-level enhancement of his
   offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) because he used or possessed
   a firearm or ammunition in connection with a drug trafficking offense. See
   § 2K2.1, comment. (n.14(B)(ii)).

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 21-51249      Document: 00516696797           Page: 2     Date Filed: 03/31/2023

                                     No. 21-51249

          Our review of the district court’s application of the Sentencing
   Guidelines is de novo, and our review of the district court’s factual findings
   is for clear error. See United States v. Alcantar, 733 F.3d 143, 146 (5th Cir.
   2013). “A factual finding is not clearly erroneous if it is plausible in light of
   the record as a whole.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
          Ross contends that the findings in the presentence report did not bear
   sufficient indicia of reliability to support the district court’s reliance on them
   without additional corroborating evidence. He contends that the evidence
   did not show that he was involved in drug distribution or that the firearm
   facilitated drug distribution.
          In general, a presentence report bears sufficient indicia of reliability to
   be considered as evidence by the sentencing court. See United States v.
   Harris, 702 F.3d 226, 230 (5th Cir. 2012). In addition to the presentence
   report, the record in this case also includes a police detective’s affidavit filed
   in support of the criminal complaint. See United States v. Robins, 978 F.2d
   881, 892 (5th Cir. 1992).
          Here, a firearm, ammunition, and items associated with firearms were
   found in close proximity to items that have been recognized by this court as
   associated with the drug trade. See United States v. Mays, 466 F.3d 335, 341
   (5th Cir. 2006); see also United States v. Bass, 996 F.3d 729, 742 (5th Cir.
   2021); Alcantar, 733 F.3d at 146-47. The district court’s finding that the
   firearm was possessed in connection with Ross’s drug trafficking activity was
   plausible in light of the record as a whole and, therefore, was not clearly
   erroneous. See Alcantar, 733 F.3d at 146. The judgment is AFFIRMED.

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