USA v. Renee Williamson, No. 11-50334 (5th Cir. 2011)
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Case: 11-50334 Document: 00511693552 Page: 1 Date Filed: 12/13/2011 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS United States Court of Appeals FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT Fifth Circuit FILED No. 11-50334 Summary Calendar December 13, 2011 Lyle W. Cayce Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. RENEE FLEMING WILLIAMSON, Defendant-Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 7:08-CR-221-2 Before GARZA, SOUTHWICK, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Renee Fleming Williamson appeals her 210-month sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. She challenges the district court s denial of a three-level downward adjustment for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. We affirm a sentencing court s decision not to award a reduction under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 unless it is without foundation. United States v. Solis, 299 F.3d 420, 458 (5th Cir. 2002) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Because Williamson failed to * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. Case: 11-50334 Document: 00511693552 Page: 2 Date Filed: 12/13/2011 No. 11-50334 raise the issue before or during sentencing, plain error review applies. See United States v. Flora-Ochoa, 139 F.3d 1022, 1023 (5th Cir. 1998). The district court did not err in relying upon the timing of Williamson s plea in making the determination under § 3E1.1. See § 3E1.1 & cmt. (n.1(h) & n.6) (2008); United States v. Diaz, 39 F.3d 568, 572 (5th Cir. 1994). Nor was it error to find her guilty plea untimely for purposes of § 3K1.1 when she pleaded guilty on the morning of trial after denying responsibility for four months following her arrest. See Diaz, 39 F.3d at 572; see also United States v. Wilder, 15 F.3d 1292, 1299 (5th Cir. 1994) (holding that district court s denial of acceptance of responsibility in reliance, in part, on the timing of the defendant s plea on the eve of trial not erroneous). We also find no plain error in denying the adjustment despite the early weakness of the Government s case, as the weakness resulted from Williamson s concealment of key evidence. See § 3E1.1, cmt. (n.1(E)); Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 129 S. Ct. 1423, 1429 (2009). The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. 2
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