Court Opinion

ID: 21992
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 07:50:48+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:15.076344
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 99-60317
                           Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                Plaintiff - Appellee

     v.

WILLIAM J. KELTY

                Defendant - Appellant

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
            for the Southern District of Mississippi
                    USDC No. 3:99-CR-9-ALL-WS
                       --------------------
                        September 14, 2000

Before KING, Chief Judge, and JONES and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     William J. Kelty appeals from a judgment entered after a

jury convicted him of (i) making a fraudulent claim against the

United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 287 and (ii)

obstructing, impeding, and impairing the Internal Revenue Service

(IRS) in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7212(a).

     Kelty argues that the Government presented insufficient

evidence to support the conclusion that he knowingly presented a

fraudulent instrument to the IRS as payment on his tax liability.

We hold that Kelty preserved his sufficiency arguments for

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 99-60317
                                 -2-

appellate consideration.    See United States v. Mann, 557 F.2d

1211, 1216 n.6 (5th Cir. 1977).    We have reviewed the record and

find no reversible error.    Viewed in the light most favorable to

the verdict, the evidence was sufficient to support Kelty’s

convictions on both counts.    See United States v. Shabazz, 993

F.2d 431, 441 (5th Cir. 1993).

     Kelty argues that the two counts in the indictment were

multiplicitous.    Because he did not object on this basis before

trial, he has waived the issue.    United States v. Soape, 169 F.3d

257, 265 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 527 U.S. 1011 (1999).

     Kelty argues that the indictment was constructively amended

by the evidence presented at trial.    Because Kelty did not make

this argument to the district court, we review for plain error

only.    United States v. Millet, 123 F.3d 268, 272 (5th Cir.

1997).    Having reviewed the record, we find no error, plain or

otherwise.    See United States v. Robles-Vertiz, 155 F.3d 725, 728

(5th Cir. 1998).

     Kelty argues that the district court erred at sentencing by

imposing a two-level adjustment pursuant to U.S.S.G.

§ 2F1.1(b)(2)(A).    We see no clear error in the district court’s

determination that his offense involved more than minimal

planning.    See United States v. Burns, 162 F.3d 840, 854 (5th

Cir. 1998).

     AFFIRMED.