United States v. Hamilton

Case: 25-40588 Document: 55-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/13/2026

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ____________ United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit

No. 25-40588

FILED August 13, 2026 Summary Calendar ____________ Lyle W. Cayce Clerk United States of America,

Plaintiff—Appellee, versus

Jahtaya O’Dayjah Kiara Hamilton,

Defendant—Appellant. ______________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 9:24-CR-17-1 ______________________________

Before Jones, Ho, and Wilson, Circuit Judges.

Per Curiam: *

Jahtaya O’Dayjah Kiara Hamilton pled guilty to one count of receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm and was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release. On appeal, Hamilton challenges the imposition of a five-level enhancement under U.S.S.G.

§ 2K2.1(b)(5)(C) (2024), based on the district court’s finding that she knew or had reason to believe that her conduct would result in receipt of the Case: 25-40588 Document: 55-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/13/2026

No. 25-40588 firearms by an individual who intended to use or dispose of the firearm unlawfully.

The district court drew a reasonable inference that Hamilton had reason to believe that the firearms were being purchased for an unlawful purpose because she, among other reasons, was paid to transfer 22 firearms clandestinely and leave them in a hotel room. See United States v. Juarez, 626 F.3d 246, 252 (5th Cir. 2010); United States v. Caldwell, 448 F.3d 287, 290 (5th Cir. 2006). Accordingly, the district court did not clearly err in applying the five-level enhancement pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(5)(C). See Caldwell, 448 F.3d at 290. AFFIRMED.