United States v. Staggers

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: June 1, 1999
• Docket: 98-30143
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

No. 98-30143 -1-

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 98-30143 Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

ANDRE PATRICK STAGGERS,

Defendant-Appellant.

- - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana USDC No. 97-CR-35-A - - - - - - - - - -

May 28, 1999

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, JONES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Andre Staggers appeals his conviction and sentence after being

found guilty of conspiring to violate the federal narcotics laws,

in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. Staggers first argues that there

was insufficient evidence to support his conviction. We review

Staggers’ sufficiency claim only for plain error because he failed

to renew his motion for a judgment of acquittal at the close of all

evidence. See United States v. McCarty, 36 F.3d 1349, 1358 (5th

* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 98-30143 -2-

Cir. 1994). Under the plain error standard, this court will

reverse only if there is a manifest miscarriage of justice. Id.

A review of the record indicates that there was sufficient evidence

to support Staggers’ conviction. Because the record contains

evidence pointing to Staggers’ guilt and because that evidence is

not “so tenuous that a conviction would be shocking,” no

miscarriage of justice has occurred. See id. (internal quotations

and citation omitted).

Staggers also argues that the district court erred in imposing

a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice based on his

false testimony at trial. He contends that some jurors are

predisposed to convict drug traffickers without proof beyond a

reasonable doubt. He also contends that an enhancement for

obstruction of justice is inappropriate when a defendant’s

conviction is based solely on circumstantial evidence. Staggers’

contentions are meritless. He has cited no authority to show that

the district court clearly erred in imposing a two-level

enhancement for obstruction of justice. Accordingly, the district

court’s finding must be upheld. See United States v. Gray, 105

F.3d 956, 972 (5th Cir. 1997) (upholding two-level enhancement for

obstruction of justice based on defendant’s false testimony at

trial because defendant cited no case law to show that the district

court’s finding was in error).

Finally, Staggers contends that he was entitled to the

benefits of the “safety valve” provision. This contention is also

without merit. Staggers was not entitled to the benefits of the

safety valve provision because, as the district court found, he has No. 98-30143 -3-

not shown that he truthfully provided the Government with all

information and evidence regarding his offense of conviction. See

U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(5) & comment. (n.3); cf. United States v.

Flanagan, 87 F.3d 121, 125 n.3 (5th Cir. 1996)(stating that

defendant may have satisfied burden of providing the Government

with all information and evidence regarding the offense when he

“acknowledged his participation and involvement in the instant

offense” in connection with accepting responsibility).

AFFIRMED.