United States v. Cain , 31 F. App'x 599 ( 2002 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FEB 22 2002
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. No. 01-3263
(D.C. No. 01-CR-10017-01-MLB)
MARK A. CAIN, (D. Kan.)
Defendant-Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before TACHA , Chief Judge, PORFILIO , Circuit Judge, and BRORBY ,
Senior Circuit Judge.
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.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Defendant Mark A. Cain pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of
a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The district court imposed
a four-level enhancement to his sentence under USSG § 2K2.1(b)(5) on the
ground that defendant “used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in
connection with another felony offense.” As a result, the court sentenced
defendant at the low end of the guideline range at a total offense level of 21 and
a criminal history category of IV, imposing fifty-seven months’ imprisonment.
If the four-level increase under § 2K2.1(b)(5) had not been applied, then
defendant would have been sentenced at offense level 17. Defendant appeals
from the imposition of the enhancement.
Defendant’s conviction arose after his co-defendant, Marvin Gray, arranged
to trade a gun for two baggies of cocaine that together weighed approximately
1/8th ounce. The “dealer,” actually an undercover officer, drove to the designated
address. Mr. Gray and Mr. Cain got into the officer’s car, and Mr. Cain gave the
officer a gun in exchange for the cocaine. The pair were attempting to obtain the
cocaine for their personal use. Defendant used approximately 1/16th ounce of
cocaine per day.
The sentencing court found that an enhancement under USSG § 2K2.1(b)(5)
was appropriate for either of two reasons. First, defendant had previously been
convicted of possession of marijuana, so his possession of cocaine in this case
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was a felony rather than a misdemeanor. R., Vol. II, Doc. 59, at 8-9. Second,
defendant could have been charged with distribution of a controlled substance
or conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, either of which is a felony.
Id. at 9.
Defendant argues on appeal that the § 2K2.1(b)(5) enhancement does not
apply because: (1) his prior conviction for possession of marijuana was in
violation of a municipal code, not state law, and cannot be used to make
possession of cocaine in this case a felony; and (2) his prior conviction for
possession of marijuana was too remote in time to be used to make possession of
cocaine in this case a felony; and (3) there was not enough cocaine involved in
this transaction to raise an inference that defendant intended to distribute it, and
there is therefore no evidence to support a conspiracy or distribution charge under
21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846. We review the district court’s interpretation and
application of the sentencing guidelines de novo. United States v. Farrow ,
277 F.3d 1260, 1262 (10th Cir. 2002). “However, we review factual findings
underlying upward adjustments with deference, overturning them only upon
a determination that the findings were clearly erroneous or without factual
support in the record such that our review leaves us with the firm and definite
conviction that a mistake has been made.” Id. (quotation omitted).
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To support a conviction for distribution of a controlled substance under
21 U.S.C. § 841(a), “[t]he defendant need only possess any measurable quantity
of a controlled substance under circumstances which establish his intent to
distribute the substance.” United States v. Poole , 929 F.2d 1476, 1483 (10th Cir.
1991). The evidence in this case showed that Mr. Gray and Mr. Cain arranged to
use a gun to obtain twice as much cocaine as Mr. Cain needed for his personal
use. Therefore, the evidence was legally sufficient to support a charge against
defendant under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846. Therefore, the §2K2.1(b)(5)
enhancement was appropriate.
We need not address defendant’s other arguments.
The judgment of the United States District Court for the District of
Kansas is AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
John C. Porfilio
Circuit Judge
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