Court Opinion

ID: 29178
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:35:25+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:25.251244
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                            No. 02-30424
                        Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

FREDDIE FRANCIS, JR.,

                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                        - - - - - - - - - -
          Appeal from the United States District Court
              for the Western District of Louisiana
                      USDC No. 99-CR-20028-9
                        - - - - - - - - - -
                          October 30, 2002

Before DeMOSS, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Freddie Francis, Jr., appeals his sentence for possession

with intent to distribute 17.66 grams of cocaine base.   21 U.S.C.

§ 841(a)(1).   He was sentenced to 300 months of imprisonment.   He

argues that in determining his sentence, (1) the district court

was bound by the drug quantity alleged in the indictment and

should not have used relevant conduct to increase his sentencing

guideline range, and (2) the fact of prior convictions should not

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 02-30424
                                 -2-

have been used to increase his sentence under the guidelines when

those prior convictions were not alleged in the indictment.

Francis acknowledges that both issues are foreclosed by this

court’s precedents.    He seeks to preserve the issues for Supreme

Court review.

     Francis’ 300-month sentence was within the statutory maximum

sentence of 40 years of imprisonment.      21 U.S.C.

§ 841(b)(1)(B)(iii).   Francis’ first argument is without merit.

See Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000).

     Francis’ two prior convictions need not have been alleged in

the indictment.   See Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S.

224, 228-47 (1998).    Apprendi did not overrule Almendarez-Torres.

See United States v. Dabeit, 231 F.3d 979, 984 (5th Cir. 2000),

cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1202 (2001).

     AFFIRMED.