United States v. James Lester Valiant A/K/A Lester J. Valiant

FAGG, Circuit Judge.

A jury found James Lester Valiant guilty of the following offenses: (1) possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (1982); 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C) (Supp. IV 1986); (2) use of a firearm in carrying out a drug-trafficking crime, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Supp. V 1987); and (3) possession of a firearm by a felon, 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(e) (Supp. V 1987). Valiant appeals and we affirm.

Valiant was driving a Cadillac recklessly down the interstate when Dale Schmidt, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, observed him. Schmidt and…