United States v. Lucero ( 2007 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES CO URT O F APPEALS
July 13, 2007
TENTH CIRCUIT Elisabeth A. Shumaker
__________________________ Clerk of Court
U N ITED STA TES O F A M ER ICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
No. 06-1414
v. (D.Ct. No. 05-cr-00374-EW N-10)
(D . Colo.)
ADAM LUCERO, a/k/a “Gadam,”
Defendant-Appellant.
____________________________
OR D ER AND JUDGM ENT *
Before TA CH A, Chief Circuit Judge, and BARRETT and BROR BY, Senior
Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Appellant Adam Lucero pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th
Cir. R. 32.1.
and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance,
in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. 1 He now appeals his 110-month
sentence on grounds the district court erred in determining he was not a minor
participant in the drug trafficking activity and failing to hold an evidentiary
hearing to determine the quantity of drugs attributable to him. W e exercise
jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742 and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm M r.
Lucero’s sentence. 2
I. Factual Background
Based on an investigation concerning several individuals involved in drug
trafficking, authorities obtained evidence establishing M r. Lucero conspired to
purchase quantities of cocaine or crack cocaine from both Victor Valdez and
Christopher G arduno for resale to customers. As later stipulated to by M r.
Lucero, one transaction involved one-half ounce of crack cocaine 3 delivered to
1
The indictment brought forty drug trafficking and related charges against
tw enty-three defendants; count one implicated M r. Lucero.
2
This appeal is related to another appeal before this court, United States v.
Trujillo, No. 06-1501, in which M anuel Trujillo was also indicted regarding the
same drug trafficking investigation. However, our dispositions on each case are
written separately given the facts and sentencing issues involved are
comparatively distinct.
3
One ounce is 28.35 grams, resulting in one-quarter ounce being the
equivalent of approximately 7.09 grams and one-half ounce the equivalent of
approximately 14.18 grams. See United States Sentencing Guidelines
(continued...)
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him from M r. Valdez on July 6, 2005. Specifically, M r. Lucero stipulated that
during his telephone conversation with M r. Valdez on July 6, 2005, M r. Valdez
advised he w as “cooking” or manufacturing crack cocaine for delivery to M r.
Lucero later that day, and that evening at 9:30 M r. “Valdez delivered the half-
ounce of crack” to him. R., Supp. Vol. 3 (Plea A greement at 5 (¶ 14)). M r.
Lucero also stipulated M r. Garduno delivered to him one-quarter ounce of crack
on August 4, 2005, one-quarter ounce of crack on August 8, 2005, and one-half
ounce of crack on August 15, 2005. 4
II. Procedural Background
Following his arrest, the final superseding indictment charged M r. Lucero
with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five
kilograms or more of cocaine and fifty grams or more of “crack cocaine,” in
violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(ii), and (b)(1)(A)(iii), and § 846. In
his plea agreement, M r. Lucero agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy
to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, a Schedule II controlled
3
(...continued)
(“G uidelines” or “U .S.S.G.”) § 2D1.1 (M easurement Conversion Table).
4
As a result, the drug quantity amount stipulated to by M r. Lucero, and
confirmed by authorities during the investigation, totaled at least forty-two and
one-half grams of cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, purchased by M r.
Lucero from M r. V aldez and M r. G arduno.
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substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846, but stipulated his plea
did not include an admission he was involved in obtaining the drug quantities
contained in the indictment. Instead, M r. Lucero noted he was pleading to the
lesser included conspiracy offense of five grams or more of cocaine base as set
forth in 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B)(iii). For the purpose of relevant conduct under
U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B), he stipulated the total drug quantity for which he was
accountable was between thirty-five and fifty gram s of cocaine base, which, under
the Guidelines, supports a base offense level of 30. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(5) (Drug
Quantity Table). He also stipulated he purchased crack cocaine for redistribution
to others.
During the change of plea hearing, M r. Lucero again admitted he purchased
crack cocaine for redistribution to others. A discussion ensued concerning the
types and quantities of drugs M r. Lucero purchased. During that discussion, and
despite his stipulation otherw ise, M r. Lucero informed the court that with regard
to his purchase from M r. Valdez the government was mislabeling it as crack when
it was in fact powder cocaine. Following the district court’s questioning on this
subject, M r. Lucero ultimately stated, “I take accountability, Your Honor, for 35
grams or more of crack, between 35 and 50. But I never purchased more than 50
grams, Your Honor.” R., Supp. Vol. 2 at 61-62. At the conclusion of the hearing,
M r. Lucero did not withdraw his stipulation he was accountable for thirty-five to
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fifty grams of crack cocaine and acknowledged he still w ished to plead guilty.
Following the district court’s acceptance of M r. Lucero’s guilty plea, a
probation officer prepared a presentence report and arrived at a base offense level
of 30, based on thirty-five to fifty grams of crack cocaine attributed to M r. Lucero
as a result of his stipulation to that amount. The probation officer recommended
a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, but recommended against
M r. Lucero’s request for a two-level reduction for being a minor participant,
explaining M r. Lucero operated as an independent distributor of cocaine and the
fact this did not make him substantially less culpable than the other participants.
W ith a total offense level of 27 and a criminal history category of VI, the
resulting advisory Guidelines range calculation totaled 130 to 162 months
imprisonment.
Thereafter, M r. Lucero filed a motion for a reduction of sentence,
requesting a two-level offense reduction based on his claim he was a minor
participant in the drug trafficking organization under U .S.S.G. § 3B1.2. In
making his argument, M r. Lucero summarily claimed that “in comparison to the
other co-defendants, [he] was a minor participant because he was less culpable
and less involved than the other participants,” and “his role was far less than
others in the case who received lesser sentences.” R., Supp. Vol. 3 (M otion at 2
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(¶¶ 5-6). In response, the probation officer continued to maintain no mitigating
role adjustment was warranted and that M r. Lucero failed to assert any additional
facts which would establish his minor role.
For reasons not fully disclosed in the record, two sentencing hearings were
continued with no sentence imposed. 5 At the third and last sentencing hearing,
M r. Lucero’s counsel argued the transaction between M r. Lucero and M r. Valdez
resulted in M r. Lucero being responsible for only twenty to thirty-five grams of
crack cocaine, and not the thirty-five to fifty grams he stipulated to in his plea
agreement and at the time of the change of plea hearing, which would reduce his
base offense level from 30 to 28 for a lesser sentence. In support, counsel offered
into evidence an unsworn, handwritten statement from M r. Valdez, who, counsel
explained, could not appear that day to testify. 6 The district court declined to
accept the statement, noting it lacked credibility given it was an unsworn
5
At least one hearing was continued in order to determine if M r. Lucero
was the individual arrested and convicted of the shoplifting charge included in his
criminal history report. Even though it was later determined M r. Lucero was not
the person who committed the crime, his criminal history points did not change as
it w as not assessed when calculating his criminal history category.
6
M r. Valdez’s handwritten statement, which was provided to the district
court at the sentencing hearing and signed by “Victor Valdez,” states: “To w hom
it may concern, To clarify for all parties involved, I, Victor V aldez, on July 6th
2005 delivered a half ounce (14 grams) of cocaine, not cocaine base, to Adam
Lucero at a residence in Denver, CO at approximately 9:30 p.m.” R., Supp. Vol.
3 (U ndated Valdez Statement).
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statement from a convicted felon and gang member. In addition, the district court
noted the untimeliness of counsel’s quantity challenge, pointing out it was not
raised at the two prior sentencing hearings. Nevertheless, the district court asked
whether counsel wanted to continue the sentencing hearing again in order to
present M r. Valdez for testimony. After conferring with M r. Lucero, counsel
stated, “H e prefers to go forward, Your Honor.” R., Supp. Vol. 1 at 5. The court
then advised, “the offense level will be 30 if he goes forward, period, end of
discussion,” and then asked, “why wasn’t it brought to the Court’s attention long
ago?” Id. After counsel conferred with M r. Lucero, counsel stated the issue was
raised at the change of plea hearing, to w hich the court responded, “Look, there
was no objection to the base offense level in the presentence report, was there? So
don’t tell me it’s not new.” Id. at 5-6. In response, counsel stated, “Y our Honor,
we’re prepared to proceed forw ard.” 7 Id. at 6.
In imposing the sentence, the district court noted the minor participant
7
Later, in his statement to the court and in regard to the disputed Valdez
transaction, M r. Lucero stated:
I was just trying to state what I feel is a fact, what I know is a fact
about that specific transaction. But I appreciate that you give [sic]
me the opportunity to speak with you. And the last thing I w ant to
do is mess up a good thing, so I’m ready to accept whatever is
handed down to me today.
R., Supp. Vol. 1 at 8.
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adjustment applied “if the defendant is less culpable than most other participants.”
Id. at 9. The district court then stated:
Here the defendant ... bought quantities of crack cocaine from the co-
defendant, Christopher Garduno, for redistribution purposes. He was
not under the direction and control of Christopher Garduno. He did it
on his ow n. He operated as an independent distributor.
Based upon this information, it does not appear that the
defendant was less culpable than other participants, and the Court will
make no role adjustment. 8
Id.
After adopting the factual findings in the presentence report and relying on
the advisory Guidelines calculations, the district court noted the Guidelines
sentencing range was 130 to 162 months imprisonment. Before imposing the final
sentence, the district court stated it had considered the sentencing factors in 18
U.S.C. § 3553, including the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history
and characteristics of M r. Lucero, and the need for the sentence to reflect the
seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment
for the offense, afford adequate deterrence, protect the public, and provide M r.
Lucero with needed rehabilitation, professional supervision, and educational,
vocational or other correctional treatment.
8
In its related sentencing memorandum, the district court reiterated the
same reasoning on why the two-point minor participant adjustment under
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 cmt. n.5 did not apply to M r. Lucero.
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After announcing the factors it considered, the district court granted the
government’s motion for a downward departure on grounds M r. Lucero provided
substantial assistance, although it indicated it did so without enthusiasm because
no evidence demonstrated M r. Lucero’s remorsefulness about his conduct. In
sentencing M r. Lucero, the district court noted that other than the facts contested
with respect to the role adjustment, neither the government nor M r. Lucero
challenged any other aspect of the presentence report. Finally, after finding no
misrepresentation of M r. Lucero’s criminal history, the district court sentenced
him to 110 months incarceration.
III. Discussion
On appeal, M r. Lucero continues to contest the district court’s finding he
was not a minor participant in the drug trafficking organization and alleges the
district court erred in refusing to conduct an evidentiary hearing after M r. Lucero
challenged the factual accuracy of the drug amount attributed to him.
A. Drug Quantity Evidentiary Hearing Claim
Regarding his contention the district court erred in failing to conduct an
evidentiary hearing on the contested drug amount, M r. Lucero claims the district
court erroneously determined no dispute arose over the amount of drugs involved
in his case even though M r. Lucero objected to the factual accuracy of the drug
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amount used in the presentence report. In support, he refers to M r. Valdez’s
statement submitted to the district court 9 but attaches to his appellate brief a typed
and notarized affidavit from Mr. Valdez for our review. 10
“W e review the denial of an evidentiary hearing for an abuse of discretion.”
United States v. Smith, 413 F.3d 1253, 1282 (10th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S.
Ct. 1093 (2006). In this case, M r. Lucero is raising a Booker issue, contending an
evidentiary hearing was necessary to establish beyond a reasonable doubt the facts
in support of the drug quantity used for sentencing purposes. However, the
Supreme Court reaffirmed in United States v. Booker that where, like here, the
9
W hile the undated, unsw orn, and handwritten statement is contained in
the record on appeal as an attachment to the presentence report, it is unclear when
it was provided to the probation officer. In addition, it is unsworn; was not
admitted into evidence or accepted as credible evidence by the district court at the
sentencing hearing; and contradicts the evidence obtained by authorities during
the investigation and M r. Lucero’s own stipulation on the type of cocaine he
purchased from M r. V aldez.
10
W e note M r. Valdez’s “new” typed, sworn affidavit is a document never
provided to the district court. Generally, even in a criminal trial, “[t]his court
will not consider material outside the record before the district court.” See United
States v. Kennedy, 225 F.3d 1187, 1191 (10th Cir. 2000). M oreover, even if w e
exercised equitable power to supplement the record on appeal, M r. Valdez’s
affidavit, when considered together with evidence obtained by the authorities and
M r. Lucero’s own stipulation, leaves us w ith the conclusion the affidavit would
not establish beyond any doubt the proper resolution of the pending issue or lead
us to believe the interests of justice would best be served by allowing
supplementation of the record or remand for an evidentiary hearing. Id. at 1192-
93.
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defendant makes an admission of the relevant facts, no such finding is required.
Specifically, it held “[a]ny fact (other than a prior conviction) which is necessary
to support a sentence exceeding the maximum authorized by the facts established
by a plea of guilty or a jury verdict must be admitted by the defendant or proved to
a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.” Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 244 (2005) (emphasis
added).
In this case, M r. Lucero’s guilty plea was supported by a plea agreement in
which he explicitly stipulated: 1) he purchased “crack” cocaine from M r. Valdez;
and 2) he was accountable for a drug quantity of thirty-five to fifty grams of
cocaine base for the purpose of calculating his base offense level. At his change
of plea hearing, he continued his stipulation, stating, “I take accountability, Your
Honor, for 35 grams or more of crack, between 35 and 50. But I never purchased
more than 50 grams, Your Honor.” R., Supp. Vol. 2 at 62. W hile he raised some
disagreement over the type of drug he purchased from M r. Valdez, M r. Lucero did
not withdraw his stipulation he purchased cocaine base from him or that he was
accountable for thirty-five to fifty grams of crack cocaine.
Following his change of plea hearing, the record discloses M r. Lucero never
filed a formal objection to the drug quantity used in the presentence report.
Admittedly, at his sentencing hearing M r. Lucero contended he should be
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responsible for only twenty to thirty-five grams of cocaine base, as supported by
the unsworn, undated and handwritten statement from M r. Valdez. 11 However, he
did not pursue the issue and instead indicated he preferred to go forward, both
after the district court denied admission of the statement and offered to conduct an
evidentiary hearing to accommodate M r. Valdez’s testimony, and again, after it
advised M r. Lucero the base offense level w ould stand at 30 if he went forw ard.
Based on these circumstances, it is clear the district court did not abuse its
discretion in failing to conduct an evidentiary hearing on the drug quantity.
B. M inor Participant Objection
Regarding his contention he was a minor participant, M r. Lucero now
expounds on that contention, claiming he was less culpable than most other
defendants because he: 1) had less drug amounts attributed to him than the other
defendants; 2) was not the focus of the undercover investigation; 3) w as not a
supervisor or manager within the organization; 4) had no knowledge about the
scope or structure of the organization; and 5) had no knowledge about other
participants at or above his level. However, M r. Lucero provides no specific
11
Nothing in the record indicates M r. Lucero filed a formal objection to
the quantity or type of cocaine applied in determining the base level amount. Our
determination is further evidenced by the district court’s inquiry on why the
quantity issue had not been brought to the court’s attention long ago and its
observation no previous objection was raised on the base offense level in the
presentence report.
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information to support these contentions.
Section 3B1.2 of the G uidelines provides a range of adjustments for a
defendant who “plays a part in committing the offense that makes him
substantially less culpable than the average participant.” U .S.S.G. § 3 B1.2 cmt.
n.3(A). M ore specifically, § 3B1.2(b) allows the trial court to reduce a
defendant’s offense level by two levels if he or she was a “minor participant in any
criminal activity.” Commentary to § 3B1.2 also establishes “[a] defendant who is
accountable ... only for the conduct in which the defendant personally was
involved and who performs a limited function in concerted criminal activity is not
precluded from consideration for an adjustment ....” Id. at cmt. n.3(A ).
W e review for clear error the district court’s refusal to award a defendant a
minor role reduction under U .S.S.G. § 3B1.2. See United States v. Virgen-
Chavarin, 350 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 (10th Cir. 2003). Under this standard, “[w]e
will not disturb a district court’s finding of fact unless it is without factual support
in the record, or if after reviewing the evidence we are left with the definite and
firm conviction that a mistake has been made.” United States v. Santistevan, 39
F.3d 250, 253-54 (10th Cir. 1994) (quotation marks and citations omitted). The
district court’s decision on whether to apply a minor role adjustment is “heavily
dependent upon the facts of the particular case,” and “in weighing the totality of
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the circumstances, [it] is not required to find, based solely on the defendant’s bare
assertion, that such a role adjustment is warranted.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 cmt. n.3(C).
The defendant bears the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence,
that he is entitled to a reduction under § 3B1.2. See Virgen-Chavarin, 350 F.3d at
1131. “A defendant’s own testimony that others were more heavily involved in a
criminal scheme may not suffice to prove his minor or minimal participation, even
if uncontradicted by other evidence.” United States v. Salazar-Samaniega, 361
F.3d 1271, 1278 (10th Cir. 2004).
In this case, in pleading for a minor role reduction, M r. Lucero summarily
told the district court that “in comparison to the other co-defendants, [he] was a
minor participant because he was less culpable and less involved than the other
participants,” and that “his role was far less than others in this case who have
received lesser sentences.” R., Supp. Vol. 3 (M otion at 2 (¶¶ 5-6)). On appeal,
M r. Lucero continues to assert self-serving statements, but provides no specific
evidence to contradict the district court’s determination that no minor role
adjustment was warranted given he purchased quantities of crack cocaine for
redistribution purposes and was not under the direction and control of the seller,
but acted an as an independent distributor for redistribution purposes. Because
M r. Lucero’s self-serving assertions are clearly insufficient to meet his burden of
establishing entitlement to a minor role reduction, we cannot say the district court
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erred in failing to grant a minor role adjustment under U .S.S.G. § 3B1.2. In
addition, it is clear from his own stipulation that M r. Lucero acted as an
independent distributor of drugs by buying crack cocaine from M r. Valdez and M r.
Garduno and reselling it on his own to others. Clearly, such conduct does not lend
itself to a “minor role” in assessing the relevant drug trafficking conduct and it
was not error to conclude M r. Lucero was not less culpable than most other
participants.
Finally, we have reviewed for reasonableness the length of M r. Lucero’s
sentence, as guided by the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). See United States v.
Kristl, 437 F.3d 1050, 1053 (10th Cir. 2006) (per curiam). 12 In this case, it is
clear M r. Lucero’s sentence was properly calculated and a rebuttable presumption
exists as to its reasonableness, which M r. Lucero has not overcome. Id. at 1053-
55.
12
W e require reasonableness in two respects: “the length of the sentence,
as well as the method by which the sentence was calculated.” Kristl, 437 F.3d at
1055 (emphasis omitted). If the district court, as here, “properly considers the
relevant Guidelines range and sentences the defendant within that range, the
sentence is presumptively reasonable.” Id.-15-
IV. Conclusion
For these reasons, we A FFIRM M r. Lucero’s sentence.
Entered by the C ourt:
W ADE BRO RBY
United States Circuit Judge
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