Carter

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAR 19 2026

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 24-4988 D.C. No. Plaintiff - Appellee, 2:20-cr-00250-DMG-1 v.

MEMORANDUM*

FANTRAYA CARTER,

Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Dolly M. Gee, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted February 9, 2026 Pasadena, California

Before: WARDLAW, M. SMITH, and BADE, Circuit Judges.

Fantraya Carter appeals her conviction for possession with intent to

distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).

Carter argues that the district court erred by (1) instructing the jury on her duress

defense using a “person of reasonable firmness” standard and (2) permitting the

government’s rebuttal closing argument, which she contends improperly shifted

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. the burden of proof and denigrated her defense. We have…