United States v. Smith

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 96-21131 Conference Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus ANTHONY MICHAEL SMITH, Defendant-Appellant. - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. H-96-CR-12-1 - - - - - - - - - - August 15, 1997 Before KING, HIGGINBOTHAM, and DUHÉ, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Anthony Michael Smith appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to possess, with intent to deceive, and possession with intent to pass one or more counterfeit securities. Smith argues that the district court erred in failing to enter a downward departure based on his substantial assistance to authorities pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. Smith’s sole contention is that the Government’s refusal to move for a § 5K1.1 * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in Local Rule 47.5.4. No. 96-21131 - 2 - downward departure was unfair. Because Smith has not alleged that the Government’s failure to file a § 5K1.1 motion was due to an unconstitutional motive, this claim is without merit. See Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 186 (1992). Further, Smith argues that the district court miscalculated the loss attributable to him under U.S.S.G. § 2F1.1. Smith’s first point of error under this argument is that the district court took into account checks drawn on McFall & Sartwelle and Centex accounts that were not alleged in the indictment. This argument is without merit because the district court has latitude to consider such under the Sentencing Guidelines. See U.S.S.G. §§ 2F1.1, 1B1.3(B); see also United States v. Cryer, 925 F.2d 828 (5th Cir. 1991). Smith’s second point of error is that there is insufficient evidence to show that he is responsible for passing the McFall & Sartwelle and Centex checks. Inasmuch as Smith did not present evidence to rebut the Government’s evidence, nor statements in his presentence report thereto, the court’s consideration of the McFall & Sartwelle and Centex checks was plausible in light of the record read as a whole. United States v. Watson, 966 F.2d 161, 162 (5th Cir. 1992); see also United States v. Gray, 105 F.3d 956, 969 (5th Cir.) cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 1326 (1997). Therefore, the court did not commit clear error in including those checks in its calculation of the loss attributable to No. 96-21131 - 3 - Smith. United States v. Humphrey, 104 F.3d 65, 71 (5th Cir. 1997). AFFIRMED.