United States v. Maytubby , 272 F. App'x 749 ( 2008 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
July 7, 2008
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
TENTH CIRCUIT Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
No. 07-6072
MICHAEL DEWAYNE MAYTUBBY, (W.D. Oklahoma)
also known as Tecc Loc, also known (D.C. No. 5:06-CR-00136-M-1)
as Tecc,
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before MURPHY, McKAY, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, and upon the court’s own
motion, this panel determined 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). An order was previously entered submitting this case on the briefs.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the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.
Michael Maytubby was convicted of eight drug and firearm related charges.
In calculating his offense level under the Sentencing Guidelines, the district court
included drug quantities that had previously been suppressed at trial. Maytubby
appeals the district court’s inclusion of the suppressed quantities in the
calculation of his offense level. Taking jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), this court holds that the district court properly
considered the suppressed drug quantities.
I. Background
Maytubby was charged in an eleven-count indictment on a variety of drug
trafficking and firearm offenses. He filed a motion to suppress evidence gathered
in two separate searches of his home, which occurred on July 6, 2005, and
October 17, 2004, and a search of his vehicle. The district court denied the
motion as to the October 17 search and the search of the vehicle. It granted the
motion, however, to suppress evidence seized in the July 6 search, concluding the
search was conducted in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Counts nine, ten,
and eleven of the indictment related to the events of July 6. Count nine charged
Maytubby with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, and
marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Counts ten and eleven charged
firearms violations under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(3), 924(c)(1)(C)(I). After the
evidence was suppressed, counts nine, ten and eleven were dismissed. A jury
convicted Maytubby on the eight remaining charges.
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The presentence report (PSR) included in its Sentencing Guidelines
calculations the drug quantities seized in the July 6 search, which were
suppressed by the district court at trial. Maytubby objected to the inclusion of the
July 6 quantities in his sentencing memorandum and at his sentencing hearing.
The district court overruled his objection, determining, based on United States v.
Ryan, 236 F.3d 1268, 1272 (10th Cir. 2001), that evidence suppressed at trial may
be considered by the sentencing court. Maytubby filed a notice of appeal.
II. Discussion
On appeal, Maytubby asks this court to reverse his sentence based on a
miscalculation of the Guidelines range. See United States v. Todd, 515 F.3d
1128, 1135 (10th Cir. 2008) (“When a district court does err in calculating the
applicable Guidelines range, we must remand for resentencing . . . .”).
Specifically, he argues the district court erred in including the suppressed drug
quantities from the July 6 search in its calculation of the Guidelines range. He
claims the dictionary definition of the word “suppress” demonstrates that
suppressed evidence no longer legally exists and cannot be considered by the
court under any circumstances. When considering the calculation of a Guidelines
range, this court reviews legal questions, such as the one presented here, de novo.
United States v. Tom, 494 F.3d 1277, 1281 (10th Cir. 2007).
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In United States v. Ryan, this court held a district court does not err in
relying on evidence obtained during an illegal search during sentencing. 1 236
F.3d at 1272. Maytubby acknowledges the holding in Ryan is directly on point in
this case, but argues that this court can disregard that holding because Ryan did
not address the dictionary definition of the word “suppress.” This argument is
without merit. “Under the doctrine of stare decisis, this panel cannot overturn the
decision of another panel of this court.” United States v. Meyers, 200 F.3d 715,
720 (10th Cir. 2000). Absent en banc reconsideration or superseding Supreme
Court authority, this court is bound by our prior precedent. Id.; see also United
States v. VanDam, 493 F.3d 1194, 1198 n.2 (10th Cir. 2007) (holding the panel
could not overrule Ryan absent en banc reconsideration or supervening Supreme
Court precedent). Accordingly, we apply Ryan and hold the district court did not
err when it considered previously suppressed drug quantities in calculating the
applicable Guidelines range.
1
There is an exception to this rule when there is evidence the officers’
illegal conduct was undertaken with the intent to secure an increased sentence.
United States v. Ryan, 236 F. 3d at 1272. Maytubby, however, does not argue the
officers conducting the July 6 search intended to increase his sentence.
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III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, this court AFFIRMS the sentence imposed by
the district court.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Michael R. Murphy
Circuit Judge
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