United States v. May

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-40641 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus BILLY MAY, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 4:99-CR-96-1 -------------------- January 23, 2001 Before DAVIS, JONES, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Billy May has appealed his convictions for conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property. May contends that the district court erred by increasing his offense level by two levels for obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. The district court found that May had made threatening statements about several witnesses and that May was aware that he was under investigation at the time he made the statements. See U.S.S.G. * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 00-40641 -2- § 3C1.1 comment. (n.4(a)). The district court's ruling was not clearly erroneous. See United States v. Bethley, 973 F.2d 396, 402 (5th Cir. 1992) (standard of review). May contends that the district court erred in refusing to reduce his offense level for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a). The district court found that May knew that he was being investigated at the time he attempted to influence witnesses. Under the highly deferential standard of review applicable to this issue, see United States v. Gonzales, 19 F.3d 982, 983 (5th Cir. 1994), we cannot conclude that the district court erred in concluding that May's conduct was not consistent with acceptance of responsibility and did not present "extraordinary circumstances" within the meaning of U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, comment. (n.4). May contends that the district court erred in adding two levels to his offense level, under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c), because of May's managerial role in the offense. May's argument on appeal does not address the district court's rationale in imposing the role adjustment, that May had acted in a "managerial" capacity, and does not demonstrate that district court's ruling was clearly erroneous. See United States v. Alvarado, 898 F.2d 987, 993 (5th Cir. 1990). The judgment is AFFIRMED.