United States v. Sonny Allen

United States Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit

No. 18-31182
Summary Calendar

United States of America,

Plaintiff—Appellee,

versus

Sonny Allen, also known as Shortbread Allen,

Defendant—Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Louisiana
USDC No. 2:12-CR-138-3

Before Higginbotham, Smith, and Oldham, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam:*
Sonny Allen, federal prisoner # 33044-034, has applied for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in this appeal filed years after Allen’s
conviction on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent
to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base, 21 U.S.C. § 846, and four

*
Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 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opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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 Circuit Rule 47.5.4.
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
December 10, 2020

Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
Case: 18-31182 Document: 00515669277 Page: 1 Date Filed: 12/10/2020

No. 18-31182
2
counts of distributing a quantity of cocaine base, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1),
(b)(1)(C), and the imposition of his total sentence of 240 months in prison.
By moving to appeal IFP, Allen challenges the certification that his appeal is
not in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). To
proceed IFP, Allen must demonstrate financial eligibility and a nonfrivolous
issue for appeal. See Carson v. Polley, 689 F.2d 562, 586 (5th Cir. 1982). In
determining whether a nonfrivolous issue exists, this court’s inquiry “is
limited to whether the appeal involves legal points arguable on their merits
(and therefore not frivolous).” Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir.
1983) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
As the district court concluded, and Allen does not challenge, the
notice of appeal does not identify an existing judgment or order from which
Allen is appealing. Allen therefore fails to present a nonfrivolous issue for
appeal, and his request for leave to proceed IFP is DENIED. The appeal is
DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n.24; 5th Cir.
R. 42.2.

Case: 18-31182 Document: 00515669277 Page: 2 Date Filed: 12/10/2020