United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                   ___________

                                   No. 02-2551
                                   ___________

United States of America,               *
                                        *
             Appellee,                  *
                                        *
      v.                                * Appeal from the United States
                                        * District Court for the Western
Everett Smith,                          * District of Missouri.
                                        *    [UNPUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                 *
                                   ___________

                          Submitted: December 26, 2002

                              Filed: January 3, 2003
                                   ___________

Before BOWMAN, WOLLMAN, and BYE, Circuit Judges.
                        ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Everett Smith pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute more than
5 grams of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B), and the
district court1 sentenced him to 75 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised
release. On appeal, counsel has moved to withdraw under Anders v. California, 

(1967), and has filed a brief arguing that Smith should not have received a



      1
      The Honorable Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr., United States District Judge for the
Western District of Missouri.
2-level dangerous-weapon enhancement because it was clearly improbable that the
weapon Smith possessed was connected with the offense.

      We find that the 2-level enhancement was not erroneous, as it is undisputed
that Smith possessed a loaded handgun during the drug transaction underlying his
offense. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment. (n.3) (adjustment should be applied if
weapon was present unless clearly improbable it was connected with offense); United
States v. Cave, 

, 1079 (8th Cir. 2002) (district court’s factual
determinations leading to enhancement are reviewed for clear error and legal
conclusions are reviewed de novo); United States v. Fladten, 

, 1086
(8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam) (government need not show defendant used or even
touched weapon to show connection; court’s finding that defendant transported gun
to house, along with drugs and drug paraphernalia, supported 2-level enhancement).

      Following our independent review, see Penson v. Ohio, 

(1988), we
find no nonfrivolous issues. Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed. We also grant
counsel’s motion to withdraw.

      A true copy.

            Attest:

                     CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.




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