United States v. Johnson , 53 F. App'x 269 ( 2002 )


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  •                           UNPUBLISHED
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,              
    Plaintiff-Appellee,
    v.                               No. 02-4189
    JOHN MARK JOHNSON,
    Defendant-Appellant.
    
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of North Carolina, at Asheville.
    Lacy H. Thornburg, District Judge.
    (CR-01-11)
    Submitted: November 25, 2002
    Decided: December 20, 2002
    Before NIEMEYER and KING, Circuit Judges, and
    HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
    Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
    COUNSEL
    Kyle King, Asheville, North Carolina, for Appellant. Robert J. Con-
    rad, Jr., United States Attorney, Brian S. Cromwell, Assistant United
    States Attorney, Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellee.
    Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
    Local Rule 36(c).
    2                     UNITED STATES v. JOHNSON
    OPINION
    PER CURIAM:
    John Mark Johnson appeals his conviction for conspiracy to pos-
    sess with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 
    21 U.S.C. §§ 841
    (a)(1), 846 (2000) (count one), and possession of a firearm dur-
    ing and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in violation of 
    18 U.S.C. § 924
    (c)(1) (2000) (count two). Johnson was convicted fol-
    lowing a jury trial in the Western District Court of North Carolina and
    sentenced to ninety-seven months of imprisonment on count one and
    sixty months imprisonment on count two, to be served consecutively,
    followed by a three-year term of supervised release. On appeal, John-
    son contends that there was insufficient evidence to find him guilty
    beyond a reasonable doubt on either count. Finding no reversible
    error, we affirm.
    We must uphold Johnson’s conviction on appeal if any rational
    trier of fact, when viewing the evidence in the light most favorable
    to the Government, could find the defendant guilty beyond a reason-
    able doubt. See Jackson v. Virginia, 
    443 U.S. 307
    , 319 (1979); United
    States v. Burgos, 
    94 F.3d 849
    , 862 (4th Cir. 1996) (en banc). Johnson
    argues there was insufficient evidence that a conspiracy existed at the
    time of his arrest and that his drug conspiracy conviction should,
    therefore, be reversed. Johnson further argues that since there was
    insufficient evidence of a drug trafficking crime, his conviction for
    possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
    should also be reversed. We have reviewed the record and conclude
    that there was sufficient evidence to find that a conspiracy to possess
    with intent to distribute cocaine existed beginning in the fall of 1999
    up until the time of Johnson’s arrest. Furthermore, a .22 caliber Colt
    handgun was found in Johnson’s possession at the time of his arrest,
    when he also had a distribution quantity of cocaine in his possession.
    This evidence is sufficient to support his convictions. Accordingly,
    we affirm.
    We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal conten-
    tions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and
    argument would not aid the decisional process.
    AFFIRMED
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 02-4189

Citation Numbers: 53 F. App'x 269

Judges: Niemeyer, King, Hamilton

Filed Date: 12/20/2002

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 11/6/2024