United States v. Washington

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT December 14, 2004 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 03-41710 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff - Appellee v. MARCUS WASHINGTON Defendant - Appellant -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 9:02-CR-32-1 -------------------- Before KING, Chief Judge and JOLLY and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Marcus Washington appeals from his jury-verdict conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. He first argues that his sentence is invalid pursuant to Blakely v. Washington, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004). In United States v. Pineiro, 377 F.3d 464, 465-66 (5th Cir. 2004), petition for cert. filed, (U.S. July 14, 2004) (No. 04-5263), this court held that “Blakely does not extend to the federal Guidelines.” Washington acknowledges that * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 03-41710 -2- his instant argument is foreclosed by Pineiro but urges that we reconsider Pineiro’s holding. A panel of this court cannot overrule a prior panel’s decision in the absence of an intervening contrary or superseding decision by this court sitting en banc or by the United States Supreme Court. United States v. Lipscomb, 299 F.3d 303, 313 n.34 (5th Cir. 2002). Washington’s Blakely argument does not warrant relief. Washington also contends that the evidence produced at trial was insufficient to support the jury’s verdict. Because Washington has not shown that the coconspirator testimony produced at trial was incredible as a matter of law, his challenges on grounds of credibility and lack of corroboration fail. See United States v. Gadison, 8 F.3d 186, 190 (5th Cir. 1993); United States v. Greenwood, 974 F.2d 1449, 1457 (5th Cir. 1992). Moreover, examination of the record shows that a rational trier of fact could have found that the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318 (1979). Accordingly, the district court’s judgment of conviction is AFFIRMED.