United States v. Broughton

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT _____________________ No. 98-41045 Summary Calendar _____________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus CRAIG BROUGHTON, Defendant-Appellant. _________________________________________________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (1:98-CR-7-1) _________________________________________________________________ March 23, 1999 Before POLITZ, BARKSDALE, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Claiming insufficient evidence, Craig Broughton appeals his conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The evidence presented by the Government at trial included testimony and a videotape concerning Broughton paying $900 for two ounces of cocaine base, being “fronted” four more ounces, and picking up the bag containing the cocaine base. Other testimony included the amount of cocaine base being consistent with intent to distribute. Broughton testified that he had previously been * 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 R. 47.5, the Court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. convicted for possession of a controlled substance; and that he inspected the cocaine base to determine its quality for another person. Based on the above-described evidence, we conclude that the Government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Broughton knowingly possessed the cocaine base with intent to distribute. See, e.g., United States v. Posada-Rios, 158 F.3d 832, 855 (5th Cir. 1998), petition for cert. filed (U.S. 16 Feb. 1999) (No. 98- 8140); United States v. Jones, 133 F.3d 358, 362 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 118 S. Ct. 1854 (1998). The jury was entitled to reject Broughton’s testimony that he intended to purchase stereo equipment rather than cocaine base. See United States v. Kelley, 140 F.3d 596, 607 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 119 S. Ct. 247 (1998). AFFIRMED