HOUSTON (AP) — An Alabama man on Texas death row for the drug-related slayings of four people in Houston more than two decades ago has lost a federal court appeal and moved closer to execution.

Arthur Brown, who turns 44 next week, argued he should be provided $7,500 to pay for a mitigation specialist to help with his clemency petition. The specialist estimated the investigation would cost $20,000. A federal district court refused, and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday upheld the lower court’s rejection.