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United States v. Moody

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Jul 8, 2014
575 F. App'x 223 (5th Cir. 2014)

Opinion

No. 13-10707

07-08-2014

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. DIAMOND CHARLES MOODY, Defendant-Appellant


Summary Calendar


Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Northern District of Texas

USDC No. 3:12-CR-339-1

Before DAVIS, SOUTHWICK, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:

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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.

Diamond Charles Moody appeals his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. See 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Relying on National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 132 S. Ct. 2566 (2012) (National Federation), he contends that § 922(g)(1) exceeds Congress's power under the Commerce Clause. He argues that § 922(g)(1) is unconstitutional as applied because his factual resume did not state that his possession of the firearm was an economic activity and failed to reflect that he was engaged in the relevant market at the time of the regulated conduct. Further, he contends that § 922(g)(1) is facially unconstitutional because National Federation interpreted the Commerce Clause to mandate that "Congress may regulate only ongoing economic activity," and his possession of a firearm purchased many years ago does not qualify. Moody raises these arguments to preserve them for further review. The Government moves for summary affirmance, or in the alternative, for an extension of time to file an appellee's brief.

In United States v. Wallace, 889 F.2d 580, 583 (5th Cir. 1989), and decisions following, this court held that § 922(g)(1) was a valid exercise of Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause. See United States v. Alcantar, 733 F.3d 143, 145 (5th Cir. 2013), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 1570 (2014). In Alcantar, we determined that National Federation did not overrule this court's precedent upholding § 922(g)(1). See id. at 146. Whether our review is de novo or for plain error, Moody's challenge to the constitutionality of § 922(g)(1) is foreclosed. See id. at 146 & n.4.

Therefore, we GRANT the Government's motion for summary affirmance, DENY its alternative motion for an extension of time to file an appellee's brief, and AFFIRM Moody's conviction.


Summaries of

United States v. Moody

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Jul 8, 2014
575 F. App'x 223 (5th Cir. 2014)
Case details for

United States v. Moody

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. DIAMOND CHARLES MOODY…

Court:UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

Date published: Jul 8, 2014

Citations

575 F. App'x 223 (5th Cir. 2014)