Opinions of the United
2003 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit


5-30-2003

USA v. Rivera
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket 02-2919




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Recommended Citation
"USA v. Rivera" (2003). 2003 Decisions. Paper 522.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2003/522


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                                                      NOT PRECEDENTIAL

             UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                  FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT


                            No. 02-2919




                 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                 v.

                     LUIS MANUEL RIVERA,
                                     Appellant




           On Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                   D.C. Criminal No. 01-cr-00323
                    (Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo)




           Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                           May 19, 2003

Before: SCIRICA, Chief Judge, NYGAARD and BECKER, Circuit Judges

                       (Filed: May 30, 2003)




                    OPINION OF THE COURT
SCIRICA, Chief Judge.

          This is a sentencing appeal. Luis Manuel Rivera pled guilty to possession of a

firearm by a convicted felon, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), under a written plea agreement and

was sentenced to a term of 78 months imprisonment.

                                                I.

          On October 20, 2000, police officers conducted a lawful search pursuant to a

search warrant of Rivera’s residence, 349 East Poplar Street, York, Pennsylvania, and

found seven packets of heroin and a loaded 9 mm Intra-Tech semi-automatic pistol in his

basement.

          On August 27, 2001, Rivera pled guilty in state court to felony drug charges,

possession with intent to distribute heroin, and was sentenced to 4-8 years imprisonment.

On December 12, 2001, Rivera pled guilty to the federal offense that underlies this

appeal.1

          Rivera admitted possession of the firearm, claiming a friend had given it to him.

But, in fact, the pistol was reported stolen by the owner a few months earlier. Rivera said

he needed the firearm for protection from one of his drug associates (Jose Avelo) who he

claimed threatened to kill him. Rivera also admitted to possession of the heroin.




   1
       Rivera received a three-level adjustment for acceptance of responsibility.

                                                2
                                              II.

       Rivera challenges his four-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(5),

possession of a firearm in connection with another felony offense.

       U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(5) provides:

       If the defendant used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection
       with another felony offense; or possessed or transferred any firearm or
       ammunition with knowledge, intent, or reason to believe that it would be
       used or possessed in connection with another felony offense, increase by 4
       levels.

       The District Court made a factual finding that Rivera possessed a firearm in

connection with another felony offense, namely, possession of heroin with intent to

distribute.

                                             III.

       Rivera contends the District Court erroneously imposed the four-level sentencing

enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2 K 2.1(b)(5) because there was no connection or

relationship between the firearm and the felony. United States v. Loney, 

(3d. Cir. 2000). Rivera argues he was only “passively in possession of a gun and drugs in

the basement of his residence.”

       The District Court found that “there is enough circumstantial evidence here taking

all these facts together, as harsh as it is, that would support the firearm was used and

possessed in relation to another felony offense; that is the drug distribution.”




                                              3
       The basis for the District Court’s finding was that Rivera’s associate (Avelo) was a

drug trafficker, that Rivera was a distributor of heroin and that he admitted he needed the

firearm for protection from Avelo. The evidence confirmed that Rivera and Avelo

together were engaged in drug trafficking. Furthermore, the heroin and loaded gun were

found in proximity in Rivera’s basement, pursuant to a lawful search. These factors

demonstrate the requisite relationship or association between the gun and the felony, in

this case, possession of heroin with intent to distribute. See Loney, 

.

                                            IV.

       For these reasons, we will affirm the judgment of conviction and sentence.




                                             4
TO THE CLERK:

         Please file the foregoing opinion.




                                              /s/Anthony J. Scirica
                                                     Chief Judge