United States v. Sanchez , 431 F. App'x 664 ( 2011 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
June 22, 2011
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
__________________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
No. 10-7041
v. (D.Ct. No. 6:09-CR-00037-RAW-1)
(E.D. Okla.)
RODOLFO SANABRIA SANCHEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
_____________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before MURPHY, BRORBY, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in 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 Rodolfo Sanabria Sanchez appeals his conviction for possession
with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He alleges the
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the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.
government’s evidence did not support the jury’s verdict he possessed and
intended to distribute the methamphetamine found in his home. He also
challenges his 235-month sentence, arguing it is procedurally and substantively
unreasonable and that the district court erred in denying him a downward variance
based on the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors. We exercise jurisdiction
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm Mr. Sanchez’s
conviction and sentence.
I. Factual Background
Testimony and other evidence provided by the government at trial
established Mr. Sanchez became the subject of a narcotics investigation
conducted by Arizona law enforcement and a Cherokee County, Oklahoma Drug
Task Force (Oklahoma Task Force). The investigation began in March 2009,
after an Arizona highway patrol officer stopped Jason Bollen – an admitted drug
user from California – and seized two pounds of methamphetamine wrapped in
two heat-sealed plastic FoodSaver bags located in the gas tank of the vehicle he
drove. Following his arrest, Mr. Bollen agreed to cooperate with Arizona law
enforcement and told them he was transporting the methamphetamine from a
California supplier, Faustino Soto, who furnished him the car, to Mr. Sanchez in
Oklahoma and that he previously made the trip transporting narcotics between
them on at least three other occasions.
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After Mr. Bollen agreed to cooperate, Arizona authorities transported him,
his vehicle, and the methamphetamine to Cherokee County, Oklahoma, where
agents with the Oklahoma Task Force took over the investigation. Mr. Bollen
provided them information about his past deliveries to Mr. Sanchez and led them
to his residence. Agents then obtained an anticipatory search warrant to be
executed only on Mr. Bollen’s delivery of the methamphetamine to Mr. Sanchez.
For the purpose of facilitating Mr. Bollen’s drug delivery, agents resealed
the bags of methamphetamine and put them back into the gas tank. They then
equipped Mr. Bollen with an audio recording device, and shortly before noon on
March 13, 2009, they and Mr. Bollen went to Mr. Sanchez’s home. However, no
delivery occurred because Mr. Sanchez was not there.
At that time, Mr. Bollen informed agents Mr. Sanchez also owned a ranch
and took them to that property where they saw the maroon-colored Jeep Cherokee
Mr. Bollen had previously described as Mr. Sanchez’s vehicle. Again, no
delivery occurred because Mr. Bollen feared altering the delivery location would
cause Mr. Sanchez to question the change in their routine.
At approximately six p.m. the same day, Mr. Bollen and agents returned to
Mr. Sanchez’s residence. Mr. Bollen exited his vehicle and walked over to Mr.
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Sanchez who was feeding his chickens. Sometime after Mr. Bollen entered the
house, agents saw him return to his vehicle, get into the rear driver’s side, emerge
with a white plastic bag which contained the two bags of methamphetamine, and
reenter the residence. Later, Mr. Bollen again exited the house, got back into his
vehicle for a moment, and then went back into the house. Sometime thereafter, he
exited the house and drove away. Within minutes after his departure, agents
executed the search warrant and found Mr. Sanchez and his girlfriend inside. Mr.
Bollen later testified Mr. Sanchez’s girlfriend was present whenever he was there
but left the room when he and Mr. Sanchez discussed money or drugs.
The audio recording played at trial revealed most of Mr. Bollen’s
conversation with Mr. Sanchez. During their conversation, Mr. Sanchez asked
Mr. Bollen whether he had been there earlier and dropped a cigarette butt he
found on the ground near the residence as well as whether he had been stopped or
pulled over by law enforcement on his trip. He also asked several questions on
when Mr. Bollen arrived in town and whether he made any stops during his trip.
An early conversation during the audio recording also revealed Mr.
Bollen’s desire to leave that evening to go back to California, but Mr. Sanchez
asked whether he could wait until the next day. When Mr. Bollen said he could
not, the following exchange ensued:
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Mr. Sanchez: Then you can’t come back for the money later or what?
Mr. Bollen: Oh, you mean take the ... shit out now and just come
back in the morning maybe for the money?
Mr. Sanchez: Yeah, that’s what [] tell you.
Mr. Bollen: Oh, okay. Early in the morning though? Can we do it
early?
Mr. Sanchez: No.
Mr. Bollen: No?
Sanchez: Late. Always.
Mr. Bollen: If that’s what we have to do that’s what we have to do
you know, but.
Mr. Sanchez: It’s always like that.
Mr. Bollen: Yeah, that’s true.
Mr. Sanchez: Or maybe you can come back and come back later for
the money. ... Yeah, because you know, I don’t have all the money.
Mr. Bollen: Yeah, yeah. I know how it goes, yeah.
Mr. Sanchez: I have to do something tomorrow.
Supp. App. at 60-62. Mr. Bollen later testified it was normal practice during his
prior deliveries to Mr. Sanchez to wait a day or two for payment.
Following their conversation about the money, Mr. Bollen told Mr. Sanchez
he was going to “go get the shit over there,” which he later explained meant
removing the methamphetamine from the gas tank. The following conversation
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ensued:
Mr. Bollen: Have you got a couple of plastic bags?
Mr. Sanchez: What?
Mr. Bollen: A couple of plastic bags?
Mr. Sanchez: You’re gonna pick it up right now?
Mr. Bollen: Yeah.
Mr. Sanchez: You want me to put that (inaudible) right there okay?
Mr. Bollen: Yeah, it’s okay. It’s quick.
Mr. Sanchez: Yeah?
Mr. Bollen: I’m quicker than Guero, yeah.
Mr. Sanchez: Don’t forget to open ... the switch.
App. at 192; Supp. App. at 62-63.
At trial, Mr. Bollen explained when he said he was “quicker than Guero” he
meant he could remove the drugs from the gas tank faster than someone they
knew by the name of “Guero.” With respect to Mr. Sanchez’s reference to “the
switch,” Mr. Bollen explained he was referring to depressurizing the gas tank by
pulling the gas door handle and removing the cap before removing the bags of
methamphetamine floating in the tank. In order to remove the bags, Mr. Bollen
testified he had to remove the back seat, fuel pump cover, and the fuel pump. He
also testified it took him ten to fifteen minutes to remove the methamphetamine
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bags from the gas tank and that he placed the gas-laden bags into a clean white
plastic bag Mr. Sanchez gave him; he then took it into the residence and placed it
behind Mr. Sanchez’s front door.
During the audio conversation, Mr. Sanchez also questioned Mr. Bollen
about whether he was selling to someone else, to which Mr. Bollen explained he
was too afraid to sell to anyone else. Mr. Bollen also testified he delivered a cell
phone chip to Mr. Sanchez as provided by Mr. Soto. According to Mr. Bollen, he
brought Mr. Sanchez a similar cell phone chip before, and the normal procedure
was for Mr. Sanchez to get rid of his old cell phone chip when Mr. Bollen brought
him a new one. The audio recording established the following conversation about
the cell phone chip:
Mr. Sanchez: You bring the ... chip or he send something?
Mr. Bollen: [T]he chip. It’s in the car. Let me go get it. Yeah, for
the phone. ... He’s supposed to call you ... he said today or tonight
or tomorrow he’s going to be calling you. Let me go grab it. ... I
guess that’s the number. He’s supposed to call you either tonight or
tomorrow. So I guess you’re supposed to put that in your phone.
Mr. Sanchez: This is in my phone?
Mr. Bollen: Yeah.
Mr. Sanchez: Okay.
Supp. App. at 70.
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While discussing the cell phone chip, Mr. Sanchez also initiated a
discussion regarding his concerns about having any phone conversations because
of a friend who was “busted”:
Mr. Sanchez: Yeah, I don’t wanna use this phone because, uh, about
four months ago, five months ago ... my friend ... got busted and ...
he was calling me on the phone. ... Not too much not too much and
we don’t talk shit.
....
The day he was, uh, calling is not and I never talk nothin’ about
nothin’. Never.
Mr. Bollen: Yeah, yeah, right.
Mr. Sanchez: Never. So I take care of it now.
Mr. Bollen: It’s better safe than sorry. Yeah, you know.
....
Mr. Sanchez: That’s the reason this is second one you bring me.
Mr. Bollen: Yeah, that’s right. I did bring one once, yeah.
....
Mr. Sanchez: If I use my friend’s phone and then ... something
happened, they gonna call .... They’re gonna know it’s this ... phone
was connected with, uh, another phone and they tried to listen to the
... conversations on that phone and they can come and get me .... I
told them bring me one every time you come, bring me one.
Mr. Bollen: Yeah, that’s better and why not.
Mr. Sanchez: And I throw away this one.
Supp. App. at 72-76. Mr. Bollen later testified he went and got Mr. Sanchez the
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cell chip from his vehicle, which explained his exiting the house a second time to
go to his vehicle.
In addition to the audio recording, evidence obtained in executing the
warrant corroborated the information Mr. Bollen gave to authorities as well as his
testimony at trial. For instance, Mr. Bollen testified he routinely transported drug
money from Mr. Sanchez back to Mr. Soto in California in heat-sealed bags and
used Mr. Sanchez’s vacuum sealing machine and bags to seal that money.
During the search, agents discovered a FoodSaver – a vacuum heat-sealing
machine – as well as plastic bags in Mr. Sanchez’s kitchen. An agent also
testified, based on his past enforcement experience, that these types of bags are
used by drug dealers to transport drugs and money for the purpose of avoiding
detection by law enforcement.
Mr. Bollen also told authorities that during a prior trip, in December, he
left his telephone number on the back of a piece of paper on a weather guide he
used on the trip; agents discovered the same piece of paper, found in a stack of
bills on Mr. Sanchez’s dining room table, which was dated December 25, 2008,
and provided the weather for that day on the I-40 corridor, which included
California and Oklahoma. Agents also found Mr. Bollen’s telephone number
written inside a notebook discovered in the residence.
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Mr. Bollen also told agents he had seen a shotgun to the right side of Mr.
Sanchez’s front door on his previous trips to the house. When agents executed
the warrant, they found the same shotgun, as later identified by Mr. Bollen,
propped against the wall near the front door. On entering the residence, agents
immediately noticed a strong odor of gasoline and found the bundles of
methamphetamine in a white bag behind the front door. Various documents found
in the home showed Mr. Sanchez lived in the residence as Mr. Bollen indicated,
including Mr. Sanchez’s passport, the notebook, utility bills in his name, and
financial papers. Certain evidence also indicated Mr. Sanchez’s girlfriend resided
in the house.
With respect to the quantity of drugs he delivered, Mr. Bollen initially
informed authorities he believed he was transporting two or two and one-half
pounds of methamphetamine; similarly, a later field test indicated the packages
contained approximately two pounds of methamphetamine and the subsequent
laboratory test revealed they contained methamphetamine weighing 1.97 net
pounds without packaging. Mr. Bollen also testified a typical drug addict like
himself uses between a quarter gram to a gram of methamphetamine a day, and on
previous trips, Mr. Sanchez gave him some of the methamphetamine he delivered,
but only after Mr. Sanchez cut it with an unknown product to reduce the potency.
In demonstrating the methamphetamine delivered to Mr. Sanchez was intended to
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be “cut” with another product for distribution, rather than for personal use, a
government criminalist testified the methamphetamine delivered to Mr. Sanchez
was eighty-five percent pure and explained most street-level quantities ready for
consumption are only thirty percent pure. While agents did not find any money in
the residence, Mr. Bollen testified that on past occasions, Mr. Sanchez gave him
between $35,000 and $40,000 for each delivery.
Following his arrest, a grand jury indicted Mr. Sanchez on one count of
possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C.
§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). Thereafter, Mr. Sanchez moved to suppress the
evidence seized from the residence, alleging the search was illegal, in violation of
his Fourth Amendment rights, because the warrant contained insufficient
information for a search and Mr. Bollen’s informant statements, contained in the
affidavit supporting the warrant, lacked reliability. Following an evidentiary
hearing, the district court denied Mr. Sanchez’s motion to suppress.
At trial, the government presented witness testimony, the audio recording,
and other physical evidence, including photographs taken on execution of the
warrant. Mr. Sanchez did not testify or introduce witness testimony or any other
evidence in his defense, but moved for a directed verdict at the close of the
government’s case, which the district court denied. At the conclusion of the trial,
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the district court provided the jury with multiple jury instructions, including
various instructions on the weight the jury should give testimony by an
accomplice, informant, and drug abuser, advising the jurors to consider such
testimony with caution and great care and not to convict Mr. Sanchez on
unsupported testimony unless they believed such testimony beyond a reasonable
doubt. It also instructed the jury that, in weighing such testimony, it should
consider if it was affected by self-interest, an agreement with the government,
interest in the outcome, or prejudice against the defendant. Following its
deliberations, the jury found Mr. Sanchez guilty of possession with intent to
distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and the district court
sentenced him to 235 months imprisonment and sixty months supervised release.
II. Discussion
A. Conviction
1. Issues on Appeal
Mr. Sanchez now appeals his conviction, claiming the government provided
insufficient evidence to support a conviction for either possession or intent to
distribute the methamphetamine and surmising “no reasonable juror could have
found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” In support, he claims the audio
tape of his conversation with Mr. Bollen is “clearly insufficient to establish either
[his] possession of methamphetamine or his intent to distribute it” and that the
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trial testimony of Mr. Bollen “lack[s] even a scintilla of credibility and
reliability.” While he fails to provide further discussion in support of his
argument the tape recording did not support his conviction, Mr. Sanchez contends
Mr. Bollen’s testimony lacks credibility and reliability given the trial evidence
established he: (1) is a long-term drug addict and trafficker; (2) who has drug
debt; (3) is awaiting felony charges in Arizona as a result of the stop related to his
transportation of the instant methamphetamine; (4) has prior convictions for
forgery, attempted burglary, and possession of methamphetamine; and (5)
admitted Arizona authorities promised him felony probation rather than jail time
in exchange for his cooperation. He also suggests Mr. Bollen’s statements and
testimony are unreliable based on his: (1) denial he was transporting drugs when
initially stopped; (2) contradictory statement Mr. Soto owned the vehicle he
drove, even though Mr. Bollen testified he was the registered owner who paid for
its liability insurance; and (3) misstatement to authorities, as contained in the
warrant, he was transporting 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine when it was only
1.97 pounds.
In arguing he did not possess the methamphetamine, Mr. Sanchez
acknowledges Mr. Bollen delivered the narcotics to the house but contends no
evidence showed: (1) Mr. Bollen gave it directly to him or that he knew it was in
the house; (2) the bags of methamphetamine contained Mr. Sanchez’s
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fingerprints; or (3) agents found other drugs in the house. 1 He also points out
numerous documents recovered in the search belonged to other people, including
his girlfriend, thereby suggesting the methamphetamine was delivered to them
instead.
Even if sufficient evidence established he possessed the methamphetamine,
Mr. Sanchez contends no evidence established his intent to distribute it. In
support, he points out the FoodSaver vacuum sealer and bags found in his kitchen
are normal household items used for storing things like fruit, which Mr. Bollen
testified he previously brought to Mr. Sanchez from California. He also points
out agents did not find a product used to “cut” the methamphetamine for street
distribution in the house and no evidence established: (1) his phone was ever
used to call Mr. Bollen; (2) a phone chip existed or was found in the search; (3) a
connection existed between himself and those in California involved with the
methamphetamine, including evidence of any wire transfers, phone records, or
receipts; or (4) he enjoyed a lifestyle consistent with the sale of
1
On appeal, Mr. Sanchez states Mr. Bollen testified he did not know
whether Mr. Sanchez knew he placed the drugs in his residence and, in support,
relies on two pages of the trial transcript. However, the testimony to which he
cites is not of Mr. Bollen but an agent who was not in the house at the time Mr.
Bollen delivered the methamphetamine and who merely confirmed the bags of
methamphetamine did not contain Mr. Sanchez’s fingerprints. However, as
counsel suggests, the record does show Mr. Bollen testified Mr. Sanchez was in
the bathroom when he placed the bags of methamphetamine behind the front door,
and he did not know whether Mr. Sanchez knew that was where he placed them.
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methamphetamine, including the possession of large sums of money. He also
contends no evidence, including gas and hotel receipts or other records,
established Mr. Bollen made prior deliveries to him.
2. Applicable Law
We review the sufficiency of the evidence to support a jury’s verdict and
the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal de novo. See United States v.
Vigil, 523 F.3d 1258, 1262 (10 th Cir. 2008). “In conducting this review, ... we ask
whether, taking the evidence – both direct and circumstantial, together with the
reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom – in the light most favorable to the
government, a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.” United States v. Serrata, 425 F.3d 886, 895 (10 th Cir. 2005)
(quotation marks omitted).
In making this inquiry, we do not “weigh conflicting evidence nor consider
the credibility of witnesses,” which is left to the jury, but “simply determine
whether the evidence, if believed, would establish each element of the crime.”
United States v. Delgado-Uribe, 363 F.3d 1077, 1081 (10 th Cir. 2004) (quotation
marks and citation omitted). Thus, the testimony of a drug addict is a credibility
issue to be resolved by the jury as the fact finder, see United States v. Martinez,
877 F.2d 1480, 1482 (10 th Cir. 1989), and we have held even an accomplice’s
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“uncorroborated” testimony may be sufficient to sustain a conviction. See United
States v. Magallanez, 408 F.3d 672, 682 (10 th Cir. 2005). In addition, we have
generally held jury instructions on the weight to be given in evaluating the
testimony of drug addicts, informants and accomplices, and those granted
immunity are sufficient to guide the jury in making such credibility
determinations, 2 and we “presume jurors attend closely to the language of the
instructions in a criminal case and follow the instructions given them.” United
States v. Almaraz, 306 F.3d 1031, 1037 (10 th Cir. 2002).
In order for a jury to convict for the crime of possession with the intent to
distribute methamphetamine under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), it must find the
government established the defendant: (1) possessed a controlled substance; (2)
knew he possessed a controlled substance; and (3) intended to distribute it. See
United States v. Harris, 369 F.3d 1157, 1163 (10 th Cir. 2004). Possession may be
actual or constructive, and to prove possession the evidence must show the
defendant “knowingly held ownership, dominion or control over the object and
premises where the contraband was found.” Id. (quotation marks omitted). When
the location of narcotics is jointly occupied, “the government must present direct
or circumstantial evidence to show some connection or nexus individually linking
2
Cf. United States v. Valdez, 225 F.3d 1137, 1141 (10 th Cir. 2000); United
States v. Cook, 949 F.2d 289, 294-95 (10 th Cir. 1991); United States v. Smith, 692
F.2d 658, 660-61 (10 th Cir. 1982).
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the defendant to the contraband.” United States v. Valadez-Gallegos, 162 F.3d
1256, 1262 (10 th Cir. 1998). This requires “some evidence supporting at least a
plausible inference that the defendant had knowledge of and access to the ...
contraband.” Id. (quotation marks omitted).
In determining whether the evidence, if believed, “would establish each
element of the crime,” Delgado-Uribe, 363 F.3d at 1081, “we will not reverse a
conviction ... unless no rational trier of fact could have reached the disputed
verdict,” Serrata, 425 F.3d at 895 (quotation marks omitted). “The evidence
necessary to support a verdict need not conclusively exclude every other
reasonable hypothesis and need not negate all possibilities except guilt. Instead,
the evidence only has to reasonably support the jury’s finding of guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Id. (quotation marks omitted).
3. Analysis
Applying our standard of review and the applicable legal principles, it is
clear the jury in this case credited Mr. Bollen’s testimony even though they knew
he was: (1) an accomplice to the trafficking crime; (2) the informant who led
agents to Mr. Sanchez; and (3) an admitted drug addict, who received a plea
bargain for his cooperation. The jury also credited his testimony even though it
was instructed to consider it with caution and great care. They were also
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instructed, in weighing Mr. Bollen’s testimony, to consider if it was affected by
an agreement with the government. We presume the jurors in this case followed
these instructions when they found Mr. Sanchez guilty. In addition, even though
Mr. Sanchez’s counsel had an opportunity to cross-examine Mr. Bollen in an
attempt to discredit his testimony, the jury nevertheless found his testimony
credible.
Not only did the jury credit Mr. Bollen’s testimony, which alone may have
been sufficient for the jury’s conviction, but it is clear other evidence contributed
to its credibility finding, including the fact the information Mr. Bollen gave to
authorities in advance of the search was accurate, including, but not limited to,
information concerning where Mr. Sanchez’s house and ranch were located, what
type of vehicle he drove, and where his firearm was located. It is also evident the
jury, in convicting Mr. Sanchez, relied on the audio recording, which fully
corroborated Mr. Bollen’s testimony he delivered the methamphetamine to him.
More specifically, the recording establishes Mr. Sanchez was inordinately
suspicious of Mr. Bollen’s activities, including when he arrived in town, whether
he had been at the residence earlier, if he was selling to anyone else, and if law
enforcement had any interaction with him or might locate or bust him, as
demonstrated by his comments about the risk of using cell phones and his desire
to obtain a new cell phone chip from Mr. Bollen, assumably for the purpose of
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avoiding detection. The recording also shows Mr. Sanchez knew Mr. Bollen was
going to obtain something out of the vehicle’s gas tank because he reminded him
not to forget to open the switch for the purpose of depressurizing the tank and
provided Mr. Bollen with a white plastic bag for him to retrieve the gas-laden
bags. In addition, the strong odor of gas detected by agents as they entered the
residence would lead a jury to presume Mr. Sanchez could also smell the same
odor for the purpose of knowing Mr. Bollen placed the gas-laden bags of
methamphetamine in his house. He also discussed with Mr. Bollen when he could
obtain payment before leaving for California. Thus, the jury could reasonably
conclude their conversation concerned the delivery of, and payment for, the
methamphetamine Mr. Bollen removed from the vehicle and placed in his house,
even if agents discovered no money or cell phone chip inside the residence, no
records establishing Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Bollen ever communicated by phone,
and none of Mr. Sanchez’s fingerprints on the bags of methamphetamine.
The government’s evidence also showed Mr. Sanchez constructively
possessed the methamphetamine. Documentation found in the house showed Mr.
Sanchez resided at the house, and even if others also resided there, the audio tape,
together with Mr. Bollen’s testimony, established a connection or nexus
individually linking Mr Sanchez – not anyone else – to the contraband. Thus,
when considering the audio recording, Mr. Bollen’s testimony, and the other
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evidence, it is clear a plausible inference existed Mr. Sanchez had knowledge of
and access to the contraband for the purpose of the jury reasonably concluding he
constructively possessed the methamphetamine.
While Mr. Sanchez contends the FoodSaver and bags are common
household items, Mr. Bollen’s testimony established he previously used them to
seal the money he received from Mr. Sanchez for the purpose of avoiding
detection by law enforcement. His testimony was corroborated by an agent who
testified that vacuum-sealed plastic bags are commonly used for transporting
drugs and money to avoid detection by law enforcement. Thus, while a
FoodSaver machine may normally be intended for innocent kitchen use, the
evidence necessary to support Mr. Sanchez’s verdict did not need to negate such a
possibility. Instead, the jury could reasonably conclude from all the evidence
presented Mr. Sanchez used the FoodSaver machine and bags for activities
involved in the distribution of methamphetamine.
In addition, Mr. Bollen testified Mr. Sanchez previously “cut” the pure
methamphetamine for his use, and expert testimony established the 1.97 pounds
of methamphetamine was eighty-five percent pure, leading to the expert’s opinion
it was intended to be cut for distribution and was of a quantity not likely to be
intended for personal use. Agents also found the firearm behind Mr. Sanchez’s
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front door near the methamphetamine which, as the jury was instructed, is another
factor from which one may infer intent to distribute contraband. 3 Thus, based on
the evidence presented, the jury could make a reasonable inference Mr. Sanchez
not only possessed the methamphetamine, but intended to distribute it, regardless
of whether agents found any other drugs or cutting products in the residence.
As to Mr. Sanchez’s claim Mr. Bollen’s statements and testimony lacked a
“scintilla” of reliability, he bases it on the fact Mr. Bollen initially denied he was
transporting drugs, gave contradictory statements as to the ownership and
registration of the vehicle he drove, and misstated the amount of
methamphetamine he believed he was transporting. These few inconsistencies are
overshadowed by the overwhelming evidence corroborating Mr. Bollen’s
statements and testimony, including the audio recording. More importantly, the
jury knew of these inconsistencies and nevertheless found Mr. Bollen’s testimony
credible.
Based on the direct and circumstantial evidence submitted to the jury,
together with the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom, which we view in
3
Certain items, including plastic bags or baggies and firearms, are
commonly regarded as tools of the drug trade. See United States v. Burkley, 513
F.3d 1183, 1189 (10 th Cir. 2008); United States v. Triana, 477 F.3d 1189, 1195
(10 th Cir. 2007).
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the light most favorable to the government, it is clear a reasonable jury could find
beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Sanchez possessed and intended to distribute
methamphetamine. See Serrata, 425 F.3d at 895. Thus, the government provided
sufficient evidence to prove the elements required to convict Mr. Sanchez of the
crime charged. See id.
B. Sentencing
1. Presentence Report and Hearing
Following Mr. Sanchez’s conviction at trial, a probation officer prepared a
presentence report calculating Mr. Sanchez’s sentence under the applicable 2008
United States Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines” or “U.S.S.G.”). The probation
officer set the base offense level at 36, under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, based on the drug
quantity attributable to Mr. Sanchez, which consisted of the 759.424 grams of
methamphetamine seized from his home and another 2,721.6 grams of
methamphetamine for the three other two-pound, or 907.2-gram, deliveries Mr.
Bollen testified he previously made to Mr. Sanchez. The probation officer also
added a two-level increase under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) based on the fact a
shotgun was found approximately five feet from the seized methamphetamine, for
a total offense level of 38. A total offense level of 38, together with a criminal
history category of I, resulted in a Guidelines range of 235 to 293 months
imprisonment. The probation officer also determined no factors existed
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warranting a departure under the Guidelines or a variance under the 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a) sentencing factors.
Prior to and at sentencing, Mr. Sanchez objected to the drug quantity used
to calculate the Guidelines range and the two-level enhancement for possession of
a dangerous weapon. He also moved for a downward variance from the
Guidelines range on grounds he was a first-time offender and no evidence
established he had not been gainfully employed, was a burden on society, was
previously incarcerated, or exhibited violent behavior or extreme conduct.
The district court denied Mr. Sanchez’s drug quantity objection, explaining
it could approximate the quantity of methamphetamine based on relevant conduct
because the amount seized did not reflect the prior two-pound deliveries he
received from Mr. Bollen. It then found by a preponderance of the evidence Mr.
Sanchez was accountable for possessing the 759.424 grams of methamphetamine
seized by authorities, as well as 2,721.6 grams, consisting of 907.2 grams of
methamphetamine for each of the three other deliveries Mr. Bollen made to him,
for an offense level of 36, as recommended by the probation officer in calculating
his Guidelines range. It also overruled Mr. Sanchez’s objection to the probation
officer’s recommendation for a two-level increase under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1)
for his possession of a firearm, for a total offense level of 38. In so doing, it
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rejected Mr. Sanchez’s argument the gun was unconnected to the offense charged.
At the conclusion of Mr. Sanchez’s sentencing hearing, the district court
imposed a sentence at the low end of the Guidelines range, of 235 months
imprisonment and sixty months supervised release. In denying the requested
variance, it explicitly stated it considered the parties’ arguments, including Mr.
Sanchez’s objections and variance request, the presentence report, its authority to
vary from the advisory Guidelines, and the sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a). In discussing the § 3553(a) factors, the district court stated it
considered the nature and circumstance of the offense and Mr. Sanchez’s
characteristics and criminal history, including his educational level, family
responsibilities, employment history, and legal immigration status. It concluded a
sentence of 235 months imprisonment would reflect the seriousness of the
offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment for the offense,
afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct, protect the public from Mr.
Sanchez’s future crimes, provide effective correctional treatment, and was
“reasonable and sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to meet the objectives
set forth in 18 [U.S.C. §] 3553(a).”
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2. Issues on Appeal
On appeal, Mr. Sanchez contends the district court imposed a procedurally
and substantively unreasonable sentence. He renews his argument his sentence is
procedurally unreasonable because the district court overruled his objection to the
application of U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 with respect to the quantity of drugs used in
calculating his offense level as well as the two-level increase for his possession of
a firearm found in proximity to the methamphetamine. Mr. Sanchez contends the
district court erred in denying his request for a downward variance and his
sentencing is substantively unreasonable in light of his: (1) lack of formal
education and training or vocational skills; (2) lack of prior criminal convictions
or association with violent offenses; (3) desire for drug abuse treatment which he
has never received; (4) large, close family including six children living in
California with his ex-wife; (5) belief that deportation will have a drastic and
lasting impact on his family; (6) gainful employment raising chickens and selling
cars; and (7) legal, permanent immigrant resident status. In support, he refers to
other circuit court cases which merely recognize a district court’s discretion to
“depart” downward from the Guidelines on grounds of cultural assimilation into
American society and change of familial situation in the event of deportation. 4
4
Relying on United States v. Castillo, 386 F.3d 632 (5 th Cir. 2004); United
States v. Lipman, 133 F.3d 726 (9 th Cir. 1998).
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3. Legal Principles
We begin our discussion by clarifying that a sentence above or below the
recommended Guidelines range based on an application of Chapters Four or Five
of the Guidelines is referred to as a “departure,” while a sentence above or below
the recommended Guidelines range through application of the sentencing factors
in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) is called a “variance.” United States v. Atencio, 476 F.3d
1099, 1101 n.1 (10 th Cir. 2007), overruling on other grounds recognized by
United States v. Kaufman, 546 F.3d 1242, 1270 (10 th Cir. 2008). While Mr.
Sanchez uses the nomenclature downward “departure” in his appeal, the record on
appeal demonstrates only that he relied on the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, which
are applied for a variance, in arguing the circumstances of his history and
characteristics warranted a sentence below the Guidelines range. 5 We retain
jurisdiction to review a sentence for reasonableness under the § 3553(a) factors,
taking into account Mr. Sanchez’s asserted grounds for departure when
conducting a reasonableness review. See United States v. Chavez-Diaz, 444 F.3d
1223, 1229 (10 th Cir. 2006).
5
To the extent Mr. Sanchez did argue for a downward departure, we lack
“jurisdiction ... to review a district court’s discretionary decision to deny a motion
for downward departure on the ground that a defendant’s circumstances do not
warrant the departure” ... “unless the court unambiguously states that it lacks such
discretion,” United States v. Sierra-Castillo, 405 F.3d 932, 936 (10 th Cir. 2005),
which does not appear to be the case here.
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We review a sentence for reasonableness, giving deference to the district
court under an abuse of discretion standard. See United States v. Smart, 518 F.3d
800, 802, 805-06 (10 th Cir. 2008). “Our appellate review for reasonableness
includes both a procedural component, encompassing the method by which a
sentence was calculated, as well as a substantive component, which relates to the
length of the resulting sentence.” Id. at 803. In determining whether the district
court properly applied the Guidelines in calculating the sentence, we review its
legal conclusions de novo and its factual findings for clear error, see United
States v. Kristl, 437 F.3d 1050, 1054 (10 th Cir. 2006) (per curiam), including its
determination on the quantity of drugs for which a defendant is held accountable
under the Guidelines, see United States v. Foy, 641 F.3d 455, 2011 WL 1957680,
at *9 (10 th Cir. May 23, 2011). In turn, “[a] challenge to the sufficiency of the
§ 3553(a) justifications relied on by the district court implicates the substantive
reasonableness of the resulting sentence.” Smart, 518 F.3d at 804.
If the sentence is within the correctly-calculated Guidelines range, we may
apply a presumption of reasonableness. See Kristl, 437 F.3d at 1054. The
defendant or the government may rebut this presumption by demonstrating the
sentence is unreasonable when viewed under the § 3553(a) factors. See id. at
1054-55. The § 3553(a) factors include not only “the nature of the offense” but
the history and “characteristics of the defendant, as well as the need for the
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sentence to reflect the seriousness of the crime, to provide adequate deterrence, to
protect the public, and to provide the defendant with needed training or treatment
....” Id. at 1053; see also 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). We give due deference to the
district court’s decision whether the § 3553(a) factors, as a whole, justify a
variance. See Smart, 518 F.3d at 808.
a. Procedural Reasonableness
With these principles in mind, we turn to the procedural reasonableness of
Mr. Sanchez’s sentence, rejecting his argument the district court erred in
calculating the quantity of methamphetamine used to increase his offense level
under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1. “In the aftermath of Booker, we have routinely
permitted a district court to enhance a defendant’s sentence using uncharged
conduct proven to the court by a preponderance of the evidence.” United States v.
Rodriguez-Felix, 450 F.3d 1117, 1131 (10 th Cir. 2006). We have held the drug
quantities used by the district court to calculate the applicable Guidelines range
are clearly erroneous only when its findings are without factual support in the
record or we are left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake was
made. See United States v. Todd, 515 F.3d 1128, 1135 (10 th Cir. 2008).
Here, the district court’s finding on the quantities of methamphetamine
attributable to Mr. Sanchez are supported by Mr. Bollen’s testimony, which it
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clearly deemed credible. Because the quantity of methamphetamine for such
relevant conduct has factual support in the record, the district court’s
approximation on the quantity of methamphetamine used to calculate Mr.
Sanchez’s sentence was not clearly erroneous; neither are we otherwise left with a
definite and firm conviction a mistake was made.
With respect to the two-level increase under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for
possession of a firearm, we similarly reject Mr. Sanchez’s argument physical
proximity to the methamphetamine alone is insufficient for a two-level increase in
his offense level. Section 2D1.1(b)(1) provides for a two-level enhancement “[i]f
a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) was possessed” during the drug
trafficking offense and reflects the “increased danger of violence when drug
traffickers possess weapons.” U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 & cmt. n.3. Commentary to
§ 2D1.1(b)(1) also states the enhancement applies “if the weapon was present,
unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was connected with the offense.”
U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, cmt. n.3. We have held possession under § 2D1.1(b)(1) “may
be satisfied by showing mere proximity to the offense.” United States v. Smith,
131 F.3d 1392, 1400 (10 th Cir. 1997). We have also said this burden is satisfied
when the government demonstrates a “temporal and spatial relation existed
between the weapon, the drug trafficking activity, and the defendant.” United
States v. Williams, 431 F.3d 1234, 1237 (10 th Cir. 2005) (quotation marks
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omitted). To meet this burden, the government need only show the weapon was
found in the same location where the drugs were stored. See id. Here, the
government presented evidence, including photographs, showing the
methamphetamine was only a few feet away from the shotgun. For these reasons,
the district court did not err in attributing the firearm to Mr. Sanchez for the
purpose of applying the two-level enhancement for possession of a dangerous
weapon.
b. Substantive Reasonableness
Having determined Mr. Sanchez’s sentence is procedurally reasonable, we
turn to its substantive reasonableness. Because his sentence is within the
correctly-calculated Guidelines range, we apply a presumption of reasonableness
which Mr. Sanchez must rebut by demonstrating his sentence is unreasonable in
light of the sentencing factors in § 3553(a). In imposing a sentence at the low
end of the Guidelines range, the district court explicitly stated it considered Mr.
Sanchez’s objections and arguments, its authority to vary from the advisory
Guidelines, and the sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
Because the district court properly considered the § 3553(a) factors in
addressing Mr. Sanchez’s arguments, we do not discern any form of substantive
error. Moreover, Mr. Sanchez has not demonstrated his family circumstances,
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gainful employment; legal immigrant resident status; or lack of prior criminal
history, formal education, training, or drug treatment are sufficiently compelling
for the purpose of making his 235-month sentence unreasonable. They are but a
few of the factors the district court considered when it viewed the § 3553(a)
factors as a whole and determined the serious nature of his offense in trafficking
an exceedingly large amount of methamphetamine, together with other § 3553(a)
sentencing factors, warranted a sentence within the Guidelines range. Under
these circumstances, we cannot say Mr. Sanchez sufficiently rebutted the
presumption his sentence is substantively reasonable.
III. Conclusion
For the reasons contained herein, we AFFIRM Mr. Sanchez’s conviction
and sentence.
Entered by the Court:
WADE BRORBY
United States Circuit Judge
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