United States v. Larry M. McDonald

BRORBY, Circuit Judge.

Mr. McDonald (Defendant) appeals his convictions of possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. See 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(l)(B)(iii); 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1).

Defendant assigns error to four matters: (1) the trial court’s allowance of expert testimony; (2) the failure to give certain instructions; (3) the trial court’s ex parte communication with a juror; and (4) the sufficiency of the evidence relating to the firearm charge. We affirm.

I. Background

Defendant was…