Filed: Oct. 29, 2004
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT October 29, 2004 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-30264 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus SHARONDA D. GILLARD, also known as Sealed Defendant #2, Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana USDC No. 02-CR-98-2 - Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Shar
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT October 29, 2004 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-30264 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus SHARONDA D. GILLARD, also known as Sealed Defendant #2, Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana USDC No. 02-CR-98-2 - Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Sharo..
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United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT October 29, 2004
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 04-30264
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
SHARONDA D. GILLARD,
also known as Sealed Defendant #2,
Defendant-Appellant.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Louisiana
USDC No. 02-CR-98-2
--------------------
Before WIENER, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Sharonda D. Gillard appeals her jury convictions and
concurrent 97-month sentences for conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine
base. Gillard contends that the district court erred when it
denied her motions for a judgment of acquittal. She asserts that
the evidence was not sufficient to establish that she had the
requisite criminal knowledge and intent.
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 04-30264
-2-
We review de novo the district court’s denial of a judgment
of acquittal and apply the same standard as in a general review
of the sufficiency of the evidence. See United States v. Payne,
99 F.3d 1273, 1278 (5th Cir. 1996). We must determine “whether
viewing the evidence and the inferences therefrom ‘in a light
most favorable to the jury’s guilty verdicts, a rational trier of
fact could have found [Gillard] guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.’”
Id. (citation omitted).
The evidence established that Gillard distributed crack
cocaine to a confidential informant and an undercover Drug
Enforcement Agent. The evidence proved Gillard’s knowledge of
the offenses, her intent to participate in the conspiracy, and
that Gillard committed acts in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Because the evidence of Gillard’s guilt was sufficient, the
district court did not err in denying a judgment of acquittal.
See
id.
Gillard challenges the district court’s refusal to instruct
the jury on the defenses of entrapment and duress. We review de
novo the district court’s refusal to provide a requested jury
instruction. United States v. Gutierrez,
343 F.3d 415, 419 (5th
Cir. 2003).
To be entitled to an entrapment instruction, a defendant
must produce evidence of (1) a “‘lack of predisposition to commit
the offense and (2) some governmental involvement and inducement
more substantial than simply providing an opportunity or
No. 04-30264
-3-
facilities to commit the offense.’”
Id. The critical inquiry is
whether the criminal intent originally resided in the defendant
or whether the Government planted the seed of criminality.
Id.
Gillard’s testimony demonstrated her predisposition to act
in concert with her co-defendant to distribute crack cocaine so
that she could obtain crack cocaine for her own use. Gillard
does not argue that she lacked the predisposition to commit the
offenses on May 30, 2002, the date that the drug transaction
occurred. The evidence shows that Gillard committed the offenses
without provocation from the Government. Gillard has not shown
that she was entitled to an entrapment instruction. See
Gutierrez, 343 F.3d at 419.
Gillard asserts that the jury should have been instructed on
the defense of duress; she argues that the jury should have been
allowed to decide whether, in light of her desperate situation,
her conduct was reasonable and whether she had a reasonable
alternative to the illegal acts. Gillard did not produce
evidence that when she committed the offenses, she was under an
imminent and impending threat of serious injury or death, nor did
she provide proof that she did not negligently place herself in
the situation and that she had no reasonable alternative to
violating the law. See United States v. Posada-Rios,
158 F.3d
832, 873 (5th Cir. 1998). Accordingly, Gillard did not make the
showing that is required to obtain an instruction on duress.
Id.
at 874.
No. 04-30264
-4-
Gillard asserts that the district court erred when it denied
her motion for a mistrial after prejudicial audio-taped evidence
was presented to the jury during deliberations. Gillard has not
shown that, viewed in light of the entire record, the
objectionable evidence had an impact on the jury and was
prejudicial. United States v. Honer,
225 F.3d 549, 555 (5th Cir.
2000). Accordingly, Gillard has not shown that the district
court abused its discretion.
Id.
Gillard asserts that the district court clearly erred by
denying a reduction under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 for her minor role in
the offenses. We review the district court’s finding on a
defendant’s role in an offense for clear error. United States v.
Deavours,
219 F.3d 400, 404 (5th Cir. 2000).
The evidence established that Gillard was as culpable as the
others who were involved in the offenses. Gillard has not shown
that the district court’s decision to deny the reduction was
clearly erroneous.
Id.
Finally, as Gillard concedes, her argument that her sentence
was imposed in violation of Apprendi v. New Jersey,
530 U.S. 466
(2000), and Blakely v. Washington,
124 S. Ct. 2531, 2537 (2004),
is foreclosed by circuit precedent. 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). The judgment of the district
court is AFFIRMED.
No. 04-30264
-5-
We, however, REMAND to the district court with an
instruction to correct a clerical error in the judgment pursuant
to FED. R. CRIM. P. 36 to reflect that Gillard was convicted in
Count One of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
cocaine base.
AFFIRMED and REMANDED with instruction.