United States v. Darren Lavon Smiley

Darren Smiley appeals his conviction and sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He raises the following issues: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction; (2) whether the court properly determined his status as a armed career criminal; (3) whether he possessed the firearm in connection with a crime of violence; and (4) whether the court abused its discretion by departing upward in his sentence. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm.

I. Background

According to the testimony at trial viewed in the light most favorable to the government,…