United States v. Ferrell

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT March 17, 2006 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 05-60380 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus KYLE C. FERRELL, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi USDC No. 3:04-CR-81 -------------------- Before SMITH, GARZA, and PRADO, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Kyle C. Ferrell appeals his conviction following a jury trial for making a false statement to a financial institution and wire fraud. Ferrell argues for the first time on appeal that he was denied a fair trial by the prosecutor’s mischaracterization of certain testimony; he also argues that the district court’s subsequent refusal to re-instruct the jury was error. We find no error, plain or otherwise, because the transcript shows that the prosecutor did not mischaracterize the testimony. See United * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 05-60380 -2- States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 631 (2002); United States v. Montgomery, 210 F.3d 446, 454-55 (5th Cir. 2000). We also reject Ferrell’s assertion that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding of fraudulent intent. Ferrell complains that the testimony against him was not trustworthy. However, the credibility of witnesses is a matter for the jury. See United States v. Rodriguez, 278 F.3d 486, 490 (5th Cir. 2002). Ferrell has failed to show that a reasonable juror could not have found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Bell, 678 F.2d 547, 549 (5th Cir. 1982)(en banc). Finally, we find that the district court did not err in denying Ferrell’s motion for a new trial. Ferrell asserts that he should receive a new trial because the district court did not re-instruct the jury that the prosecutor’s statements were not evidence and because there was insufficient evidence to prove his fraudulent intent. Ferrell has not shown that the jury’s verdict was against the great weight of the evidence such that it would be a serious miscarriage of justice to let it stand. See United States v. Robertson, 110 F.3d 1113, 1118 (5th Cir. 1997). AFFIRMED.