IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 00-11214 Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

BARON ELDER, also known as Beno,

Defendant-Appellant.

-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC Nos. 4:98-CV-1085-Y 4:96-CR-25-28-Y -------------------- December 12, 2002

Before JOLLY, JONES, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Baron Elder appeals the district court’s denial of his

motion, which challenged his conviction for

conspiring to possess cocaine base with intent to distribute. He

argues that his sentence is illegal under Apprendi v. New Jersey,

(2000), and that the district court erred in denying

him leave to amend his

motion to add a claim

* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. No. 00-11214 -2-

pursuant to Apprendi. Elder’s argument is unavailing. Apprendi

does not apply retroactively to cases on collateral review. See

United States v. Brown,

(5th Cir. 2002). The

judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.