The opinion
Case: 23-50509 Document: 64-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/01/2024
United States Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
____________ FILED
August 1, 2024
No. 23-50509 Lyle W. Cayce
____________ Clerk
United States of America,
Plaintiff—Appellee,
versus
Bay Travon Wilson,
Defendant—Appellant.
______________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. 7:23-CR-26-1
______________________________
Before Haynes, Willett, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.
Don R. Willett, Circuit Judge:
Bay Travon Wilson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a
firearm and to possessing an unregistered firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(1) and 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), respectively. He appeals his conviction
and sentence, arguing that (1) his conviction for firearm possession by a felon
violates the Second Amendment, and (2) the district court erred in applying
a four-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) for possessing a
firearm in connection with another felony offense, a four-level enhancement
under § 2K2.1(b)(4)(B) for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial
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No. 23-50509
number, and a two-level enhancement under § 2K2.1(b)(1)(A) for possession
of three or more firearms. We AFFIRM.
I
In February 2023, state detectives arranged a controlled purchase of
cocaine from Samuel Barraza-Urias, Wilson’s co-defendant, in Midland,
Texas. While surveilling the purchase location, officers conducted a traffic
stop of a pickup truck. They found Barraza-Urias in the front passenger seat
and Wilson in the back. They also found 160.6 grams of powder cocaine and
three firearms: a short barrel AR-15 rifle, a KelTec semi-automatic pistol, and
a Ruger semi-automatic pistol. Wilson, Barraza-Urias, and the vehicle’s third
occupant were arrested. Barraza-Urias admitted to possessing the Ruger
pistol, which had an obliterated serial number. Both Wilson and Barraza-
Urias admitted to possessing the rifle. Wilson also admitted to possessing the
KelTec pistol. Wilson pleaded guilty to being a felon1 in possession of a
firearm and to possessing an unregistered firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(1) and 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), respectively.
The presentence investigation report (PSR) assigned Wilson a base
offense level of 20.2 It also applied a four-level enhancement under
§ 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) because a firearm was used or possessed in connection with
another felony offense (here, drug trafficking), a four-level enhancement
under § 2K2.1(b)(4)(B) because the Ruger pistol had an obliterated serial
number, and a two-level enhancement under § 2K2.1(b)(1)(A) because the
offense involved three firearms.
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1
Wilson has prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance
(methamphetamine) and tampering with physical evidence.
2
See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(4)(B).
2
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Wilson objected to all three enhancements. He argued that there was
insufficient evidence that he used a firearm in connection with another felony
offense for the § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) enhancement. And he argued that there was
insufficient evidence that he possessed the Ruger pistol and thus that the
enhancements under § 2K2.1(b)(1)(A) and (b)(4)(B) were improper.
The district court overruled Wilson’s objections, applied the
enhancements, and sentenced Wilson to 97 months’ imprisonment and three
years of supervised release on each count, to run concurrently.
Wilson timely appealed.
II
Wilson argues that his 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) conviction should be
reversed because it violates his Second Amendment rights after New York
State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022). Wilson did
not raise this challenge below, so we review for plain error.3 To prevail,
Wilson must show a clear or obvious error that affects his substantial rights.4
If he makes that showing, we may, in our discretion, remedy the error if it
“seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial
proceedings.”5
We have yet to address “the impact of Bruen on the constitutionality
of § 922(g)(1) in a case in which the issue was preserved in the district
court.”6 And “[i]n the plain error context, ‘a lack of binding authority is
_____________________
3
See United States v. Jones, 88 F.4th 571, 572 (5th Cir. 2023) (per curiam), cert.
denied, 144 S. Ct. 1081 (2024).
4
See Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009).
5
Id. (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
6
See Jones, 88 F.4th at 573.
3
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often dispositive.’”7 “Given the absence of binding precedent holding that
§ 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional, and that it is unclear that Bruen dictates such
a result,” Wilson cannot show plain error.8
III
A
Wilson also argues that the district court erred in applying a four-level
enhancement under § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) because there was insufficient
evidence that he committed another felony offense.
Because Wilson preserved this argument by objecting below, “we
review the application of the Guidelines de novo and the district court’s
factual findings—along with the reasonable inferences drawn from those
facts—for clear error.”9 “A factual finding is not clearly erroneous if it is
plausible in light of the record as a whole.”10 We will find clear error only if
“we are left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
committed.”11
The § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) enhancement applies when 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.”12 When the other felony offense
_____________________
7
Id. at 573–74 (quoting United States v. McGavitt, 28 F.4th 571, 577 (5th Cir.
2022)).
8
See id. at 574.
9
See United States v. Alcantar, 733 F.3d 143, 146 (5th Cir. 2013).
10
Id. (citation omitted).
11
United States v. Hagman, 740 F.3d 1044, 1048 (5th Cir. 2014) (citation omitted).
12
U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B).
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involves drug trafficking, the connection between the firearm and the offense
is presumed if the “firearm is found in close proximity to drugs, drug-
manufacturing materials, or drug paraphernalia.”13 The enhancement then
applies “automatically,” reflecting the Sentencing Commission’s judgment
that “‘the presence of the firearm has the potential of facilitating’ these types
of offenses.”14
The district court plausibly found that Wilson was involved in drug
trafficking and that the drugs and firearms were in close proximity. For
purposes of the enhancement, “possession of a controlled substance with an
intent to distribute qualifies as a ‘drug trafficking offense.’”15 Officers found
Barraza-Urias and Wilson together at the location of the controlled buy with
160.6 grams of powder cocaine, an amount “indicative of drug trafficking.”16
Wilson also possessed at least two firearms, which we have repeatedly
_____________________
13
Id. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(B)(ii); see also United States v. Jeffries, 587 F.3d 690, 692–
95 (5th Cir. 2009); United States v. Eaden, 914 F.3d 1004, 1008 (5th Cir. 2019).
14
Jeffries, 587 F.3d at 692 (quoting U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(B)(ii)).
15
United States v. Choulat, 75 F.4th 489, 492 & n.3 (5th Cir. 2023) (citing U.S.S.G.
§ 2L1.2 cmt. n.2), cert. denied, 144 S. Ct. 829 (2024). Possession with intent to distribute
powder cocaine is a federal offense punishable by a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C). Accordingly, this is “another felony offense” for purposes
of the sentencing enhancement. See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(C).
16
See United States v. Huerta, 994 F.3d 711, 715 (5th Cir. 2021); United States v.
Mays, 466 F.3d 335, 341 (5th Cir. 2006) (“[M]ere possession of a quantity of drugs
inconsistent with personal use will suffice for the jury to find intent to distribute.”);
Choulat, 75 F.4th at 492 (concluding that even a “small quantity of drugs,” such as 4 grams
of methamphetamine and 0.16 ounces of marijuana, “can still be trafficked”). The district
court properly adopted these facts from the PSR because they have “sufficient indicia of
reliability,” and Wilson does not present evidence suggesting otherwise. See United States
v. Trujillo, 502 F.3d 353, 357 (5th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted).
5
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recognized are “tools of the trade of drug trafficking.”17 Although Wilson
argues that only Barraza-Urias knew of the drug deal, Wilson would probably
not have driven with Barraza-Urias to the location of a drug deal in a vehicle
containing drugs and firearms if he were not also involved.18 On these facts,
the district court plausibly concluded that Wilson was trafficking drugs. The
drug offense need not be charged to support the enhancement.19 And because
the drugs and firearms were in the same vehicle, the district court properly
found that they were in close proximity.20 The district court therefore did not
clearly err in applying the § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) enhancement.
B
Wilson also argues that the district court erred by applying the two-
level enhancement under § 2K2.1(b)(1)(A) for possession of three or more
firearms and the four-level enhancement under § 2K2.1(b)(4)(B) for
possession of a firearm (the Ruger pistol) with an obliterated serial number.
Wilson concedes that he possessed the KelTec pistol and the AR-15 rifle but
contends that he did not possess the Ruger pistol, without which neither
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17
See Huerta, 994 F.3d at 714–15 (internal quotation marks omitted) (citing United
States v. Cooper, 979 F.3d 1084, 1090 (5th Cir. 2020)); see also United States v. Zapata-Lara,
615 F.3d 388, 390 (5th Cir. 2010).
18
See United States v. Paul, 142 F.3d 836, 840 (5th Cir. 1998) (“[A] jury may find
knowledgeable, voluntary participation from presence when . . . it would be unreasonable
for anyone other than a knowledgeable participant to be present.” (quoting United States v.
Cruz–Valdez, 773 F.2d 1541, 1546 (11th Cir. 1985) (en banc))); cf. Cruz-Valdez, 773 F.2d at
1546 (“[I]t may be quite reasonable for the . . . jury to find that all of the persons on board
a small boat that is packed with marijuana must have known about it.”); United States v.
Smith, 85 F. App’x 5, 6 (5th Cir. 2004) (per curiam) (concluding that the evidence was
sufficient for convictions for conspiracy to distribute and attempted possession with the
intent to distribute because, in part, the defendant “accompanied his co-defendant to the
site of the drug deal”).
19
See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(C); see also Choulat, 75 F.4th at 491.
20
See Alcantar, 733 F.3d at 144, 148.
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enhancement is proper. Wilson objected below, so we apply the same
standard of review that we did to his other enhancement.21
Possession of a firearm “may be actual or constructive.”22 There is no
evidence that Wilson actually possessed the Ruger pistol.23 So we turn to
constructive possession. “‘Constructive possession’ has been defined as
ownership, dominion, or control over the contraband itself, or dominion or
control over the premises in which the contraband” is found.24 When two or
more people jointly occupy a space where the contraband (here, a firearm) is
found, constructive possession requires something more: The government
must point to “some evidence supporting at least a plausible inference that
the defendant had knowledge of and access to the [firearm].”25 This inquiry
is “fact-specific” and driven by “common sense.”26
The district court did not clearly err in finding that Wilson
constructively possessed the Ruger pistol. Although Barraza-Urias said that
the Ruger pistol was his,27 this fact is not dispositive because “[c]onstructive
possession need not be exclusive.”28 Rather, “it may be joint with others, and
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21
See id. at 146.
22
See United States v. Fields, 977 F.3d 358, 365 (5th Cir. 2020) (citation omitted).
23
See Hagman, 740 F.3d at 1048 (“To prove that Hagman had actual possession of
the eleven missing firearms, the government must demonstrate that he exercised direct
physical control over them.”).
24
United States v. Smith, 930 F.2d 1081, 1085 (5th Cir. 1991).
25
United States v. Mergerson, 4 F.3d 337, 349 (5th Cir. 1993).
26
United States v. Wright, 24 F.3d 732, 735 (5th Cir. 1994).
27
See Mergerson, 4 F.3d 337 at 349 (treating ownership by someone else as
suggesting that Mergerson did not constructively possess the firearm).
28
See United States v. McKnight, 953 F.2d 898, 901 (5th Cir. 1992).
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it may be proven with circumstantial evidence.”29 Here, there are sufficient
“circumstantial indicia” that Wilson constructively possessed the pistol.30
That Wilson was riding with Barraza-Urias to the drug deal—together with
drugs they were jointly distributing—suggests that Wilson was more than a
mere passenger. That, coupled with his admission that he possessed two of
the three firearms found in the vehicle, plausibly indicates that he exercised
control over the vehicle and its contents.31 Given Wilson’s role in the drug
deal and the reasonable inference that all of the firearms were intended “to
protect the drugs” that Wilson was helping distribute,32 the district court
could conclude that he knew of and could access all three firearms. Wilson
already admitted to possessing two of the three, and “[t]here is nothing in
the record that suggests [the third firearm (the Ruger pistol)] w[as]
inaccessible to him” or that it was “deliberately hidden from view.”33 The
district court could therefore plausibly infer that Wilson exercised control of
_____________________
29
Id.
30
See Mergerson, 4 F.3d at 349.
31
Cf. United States v. De Leon, 170 F.3d 494, 497 (5th Cir. 1999) (concluding that
the defendant “was more than a casual visitor” to the house because “[i]t [could] be
reasonably inferred from this evidence that [he] had authority to keep personal belongings”
there).
32
See United States v. Mayfield, 832 F. App’x 896, 897 (5th Cir. 2021) (“In cases of
drug distribution, a firearm in close proximity to a quantity of drugs supports the reasonable
inference that possession of the firearm was to protect the drugs kept.”).
33
See United States v. Jones, No. 21-30546, 2022 WL 1010687, at *1 (5th Cir. Apr.
5, 2022) (per curiam); see also Mayfield, 832 F. App’x at 897. Unlike here, there was no
evidence in Jones and Mayfield that the firearms belonged to someone else. See Jones, 2022
WL 1010687, at *1; Mayfield, 832 F. App’x at 897. But, as we have explained, that someone
else possesses or owns the firearm is not dispositive when other circumstances, such as
those discussed above, demonstrate that the defendant also knew of and could access the
weapon.
8
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the car and had access to and knowledge of its contents, including the Ruger
pistol.
Accordingly, the district court did not clearly err in finding that
Wilson constructively possessed the Ruger pistol and in applying the
§ 2K2.1(b)(1)(A) and (b)(4)(B) enhancements.
AFFIRMED.
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Haynes, Circuit Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I concur in much of the majority opinion. However, I respectfully
dissent from the affirmance of the sentencing enhancements based upon the
Ruger semi-automatic pistol. I would reverse and remand on that point for a
resentencing without those enhancements.
I agree with the majority opinion that there is no evidence of actual
possession. So, the question is whether there is sufficient evidence of
constructive possession. In my view, there is not. The only evidence
presented was that Wilson was a passenger in the car where one of the other
passengers, Barraza-Urias, admitted that the Ruger pistol belonged to him.
Simply being a passenger in a car, even with people you know, is not sufficient
to make you a constructive possessor of everything in the car. See United
States v. McKnight, 953 F.2d 898, 901 (5th Cir. 1992); see also United States v.
Reed, 277 F. App’x 357, 361 (5th Cir. 2008) (per curiam) (“[M]ore evidence
than mere physical proximity of the defendant to the [firearm] is required.”
(quotation omitted)). In this case, there is absolutely no evidence of where
the Ruger pistol was—no evidence that Wilson could see it or knew about it.
Nor was there evidence that Wilson owned the car. In fact, Wilson even
admitted to possessing the KelTec semi-automatic pistol and jointly
possessing the short barrel AR-15 rifle, which is a relatively large weapon.
But he disputed having possession (actual or constructive) of the Ruger
pistol, which is comparatively smaller.
The majority opinion concludes that because Wilson possessed the
KelTec pistol and jointly possessed the AR-15 rifle, that means he must have
constructively possessed the Ruger pistol. That makes little sense: just
because you own one gun does not mean you own every gun ever near you.
Just because you own something in the car doesn’t mean you own everything
in the car, particularly when it isn’t your car. Indeed, in United States v.
10
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Mergerson, 4 F.3d 337 (5th Cir. 1993), we made clear that an even higher level
of control was not enough: “mere control or dominion over the place in
which contraband . . . is found by itself is not enough to establish constructive
possession when there is joint occupancy.” Id. at 349. There is no evidence
in the record showing that Wilson had control over the car, which was clearly
jointly occupied. So, the evidence here is even less than what was insufficient
in Mergerson. It is not “common sense” to say that one person owns
everything owned by their colleague, even when they are both criminals.
Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from that portion of the judgment.
11