United States Court of Appeals FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT ___________ No. 99-3915 ___________ United States of America, * * Appellee, * Appeal from the United States * District Court for the District v. * of Nebraska. * Christine Freeman, * [UNPUBLISHED] * Appellant. * ___________ Submitted: May 16, 2000 Filed: May 25, 2000 ___________ Before LOKEN, FAGG, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges. ___________ PER CURIAM.

Having entered a guilty plea to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Christine Freeman appeals the guidelines sentence imposed by the district court. Freeman contends the district court improperly denied her motion for a downward departure. We disagree. The district court clearly expressed an awareness of its authority to depart downward, and its discretionary decision not to do so is unreviewable. See United States v. Johnson, 169 F.3d 569, 573 (8th Cir. 1999). We thus affirm the judgment of the district court. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

We also deny Freeman's motion for appointment of new appellate counsel.

A true copy.

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

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