United States Court of Appeals FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT _____________

No. 96-4278EM _____________

United States of America, * * Appellee, * Appeal from the United States * District Court for the Eastern v. * District of Missouri. * Pablo M. Collins, * [UNPUBLISHED] * Appellant. * _____________

Submitted: January 21, 1998 Filed: February 3, 1998 _____________

Before FAGG, BEAM, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges. _____________

PER CURIAM.

Pablo M. Collins appeals his convictions for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base and carrying a firearm in relation to that drug-trafficking crime. Collins contends the district court committed error in admitting evidence of an earlier drug crime against a co-defendant and improperly instructed the jury on carrying a firearm in relation to a drug crime. Collins also contends the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions. A review of the record shows that Collins's claims are without merit. Because the appeal involves the straightforward application of settled principles of law, a discussion of the issues will serve no useful purpose. We thus affirm Collins's convictions without an extended opinion. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. A true copy.

Attest:

CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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