United States v. German Gomez , 548 F. App'x 221 ( 2013 )

Case: 12-41219 Document: 00512465911 Page: 1 Date Filed: 12/10/2013
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
December 10, 2013
No. 12-41219 Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff–Appellee
v.
GERMAN RIOS GOMEZ, also known as Sealed 19,
Defendant–Appellant
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Texas
USDC No. 1:10-CR-70-19
Before BARKSDALE, PRADO, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
German Rios Gomez1 (“Gomez”) pleaded guilty to a single drug charge. He
appeals various aspects of his sentence. We remand to allow the district court
to correct its written judgment to reflect the charge to which Gomez pleaded
guilty. As to Gomez’s other challenges to his sentence, we affirm.
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
1
During his rearraignment, Gomez advised the district court that his name was Gomez
Rios. However, he is referred to as Rios Gomez in pleadings and in the presentence report
(PSR). In his brief, he is referred to as Rio-Gomez. The government submitted a Verification
of Defendant’s Name before the district court. The Verification noted he had been referred to
previously as Gomez-Rios, but that Rios Gomez was the verified name.
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I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In a superseding indictment, Gomez was charged, along with other
coconspirators, with participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 50 grams or more of actual
and methamphetamine ice, and five kilograms or more of cocaine. In that
indictment, the Government gave notice of its intent to seek criminal forfeiture
of a sum of money from all defendants jointly and severally equal to $10,296,000,
representing the amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the offense alleged
in Count I. In a subsequent pleading, the Government advised Gomez that he
was charged in Count I of the superseding indictment, but stated that the
essential elements of the offense required proof of a conspiracy involving only 50
grams or more of methamphetamine ice. The Government, Gomez, and his
counsel signed and filed in the record a Factual Basis and Stipulation wherein
Gomez agreed that the admissions made therein could be used to support his
guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more
of methamphetamine ice. The stipulation reflected that if the case had gone to
trial the Government would have proved the following facts: On or about August
2008, agents began investigating a drug-trafficking organization in Houston,
Texas, that was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine ice and
cocaine in Houston and Beaumont, Texas. In June 2009, agents began
intercepting the phone conversations of Rogelio Pineda (“Pineda”) to determine
who the members of the organization and their supplier were and the amount
of drugs being distributed. The telephone intercepts continued until February
2010, when Pineda was incarcerated. In December 2009, the agents began
intercepting the phone calls of Jesus Pineda-Espinoza, who was the main
supplier of the drugs to Pineda and his successors, and the interceptions
continued until June 2010. During that time, undercover agents participated
in undercover purchases of methamphetamine ice from various members of the
2
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conspiracy and conducted many hours of surveillance. Their investigation
revealed that there were at least 40 persons involved in the organization and
that no less than 113 pounds of methamphetamine ice and 31 kilos or more of
cocaine were possessed with the intent to distribute. Gomez further stipulated
that he was a coconspirator who had agreed to distribute quantities of
methamphetamine ice and/or cocaine and that he was personally responsible for
the possession with intent to distribute and/or the distribution of more than 50
grams of methamphetamine ice while being involved in the conspiracy from
approximately December 2009 until January 2010.
At the conclusion of the rearraignment hearing, the Government advised
the district court that it had filed a motion and a preliminary order for forfeiture
and requested that the district court sign the order. The Government’s motion
reflected that Gomez had been convicted of Count I of the superseding
indictment and erroneously stated that he had entered into a plea agreement2
on January 27, 2011, in which he agreed that the amount of $10,296,000
represented the amount of the proceeds obtained as a result of the offense for
which he had been convicted. The motion further stated that the Government
had not identified the specific assets that were derived from Gomez’s offense of
conviction or any property of Gomez’s that could be forfeited, but that a money
judgment against Gomez in the amount of $10,296,000 was sought based on the
plea agreement and the amount of money determined to be derived from the
offense. A signed preliminary order of forfeiture was filed in the record several
days before the sentencing hearing. The order stated that Gomez had entered
into a plea agreement in which he stipulated that $10,296,000 represented the
amount of proceeds obtained from the offense alleged in Count I of the
superseding indictment. The order further ordered the forfeiture of that sum by
2
The minutes of the rearraignment reflected that there was no plea agreement in
Gomez’s case. He entered a guilty plea without a signed plea agreement.
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Gomez and that the forfeiture would become final at the sentencing and made
part of the sentence. Prior to agreeing to sign the preliminary judgment of
forfeiture, the district court asked defense counsel if there was any objection,
and counsel stated that Gomez had no objection to the preliminary judgment.
During the sentencing hearing, an investigating agent testified that
during a two-week period, he heard Gomez in wire-tapped conversations
referring to at least 18 pounds of methamphetamine ice. Although the agent
acknowledged that he first intercepted a call to which Gomez was a party on
December 29, 2009, he testified that the taped conversations led him to believe
that Gomez was a well-established participant in the criminal activity and not
a newcomer to the business. The agent related that Gomez’s activity ended on
January 10, 2010, when he was arrested. The agent reported that the
conspiracy involved the distribution of 300 pounds of methamphetamine per
year.
After hearing the testimony and the summaries of the intercepted calls,
the district court determined that there “was not much evidence” that Gomez
was involved in the conspiracy before December 2009, and that it would be
difficult to find that he was directly involved before then or that the past activity
was reasonably foreseeable. The district court determined that the
preponderance of the evidence showed that Gomez should be held accountable
for sixteen pounds or 7.26 kilograms of methamphetamine ice.
At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the Government asked the
district court to sign the final forfeiture order, and defense counsel again stated
that he had no objection. The district court granted the motion, which provided
for a personal money judgment against Gomez, finding him jointly and severally
liable with all co-defendants in this case in the amount of $10,296,000. The
written judgment listed as Additional Forfeiture Property a money judgment in
the amount of $10,296,000.
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Contrary to the plea entered at the rearraignment hearing, which reflected
that he was pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute
50 grams or more of methamphetamine ice, the written judgment stated that
Gomez had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of
methamphetamine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine ice, and five grams
or more of cocaine.
II. JURISDICTION
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742, this is an appeal from
a final judgment of conviction and sentence entered into by the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Gomez filed a timely notice of
appeal.
III. DISCUSSION
Gomez purports to raise four issues on appeal, but actually raises five. We
address each in turn.
A. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 Violation
While not specifically listing it as a separate issue, Gomez argues that the
district court failed to comply with Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure
11(b)(1)(J) because it made no attempt to advise him of the possible forfeiture
during his rearraignment or to ensure that he was aware that it might be part
of his sentence. Any variance from the requirements of Rule 11 is harmless if
it does not affect the defendant’s substantial rights. Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(h);
United States v. Reyna, 130 F.3d 104, 107 (5th Cir. 1997); United States v.
Johnson, 1 F.3d 296, 302 (5th Cir. 1993) (en banc) (“[I]f a mistake is made by the
district court during the Rule 11 colloquy, it shall be reviewed for harmless
error.”). This court, when faced with an appellant claiming the district court
failed to comply with Rule 11, applies a two-question harmless error test. Reyna,
130 F.3d at 107. First, did the sentencing court vary from the procedures
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required by Rule 11. Id. If so, did the variance affect the substantial rights of
the defendant. Id.
Here, it is clear that Gomez satisfies the first prong of the test. Federal
Rule 11(b)(1)(J) provides that the district court must inform the defendant about
the potential forfeiture judgment and must determine that he understands that
he may be subject to the forfeiture of his property. Gomez is correct that the
district court did not address this topic during the rearraignment proceeding and
that it was only briefly referenced when the Government sought to have its
motion for a preliminary forfeiture order signed.
As to the second prong, although the district court varied from the
requirements of the rule, Gomez cannot show that the variance affected his
substantial rights because he cannot show that there is a reasonable possibility
that, but for the error, he would not have pleaded guilty. See United States v.
Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83 (2004); Johnson, 1 F.3d at 302 (“To
determine whether a Rule 11 error is harmless (i.e., whether the error affects
substantial rights), we . . . [evaluate whether] the district court’s flawed
compliance with . . . Rule 11 . . . may reasonably be viewed as having been a
material factor affecting [defendant]’s decision to plead guilty.” (some alteration
in original) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)).
The record reflects that the notice of intent to seek a criminal forfeiture in
the form of a money judgment in the amount of $10,296,000 was contained in the
superseding indictment and that Gomez acknowledged reading and discussing
the indictment with his counsel. It further shows that when the Government
sought to have the preliminary judgment of forfeiture signed at the conclusion
of the rearraignment hearing, Gomez’s counsel affirmatively stated that there
was no objection to the judgment despite some inaccuracies in the motion
regarding the existence of a plea agreement. Gomez was aware of the fact that
he could be subject to a $10,296,000 forfeiture judgment as well as a possible
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maximum fine of $4,000,000 but chose to enter the guilty plea. He cannot show
that his rights were substantially affected by the district court’s Rule 11
omission and, thus, he has not shown reversible error with respect to that claim.
See Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. at 83; United States v. Hernandez, 470 F. App’x
333, 334–35 (5th Cir. 2012) (unpublished) (per curiam) (holding that failure to
comply with Rule 11(b)(1)(J) was not plain error because the defendant was
aware of the possible forfeiture prior to the entry of the guilty plea).
B. Oral Pronouncement at Sentencing
Gomez contends that the district court erred in including the order of
forfeiture in the final judgment because it was not orally pronounced at
sentencing. While conceding that the Government asked the district court to
enter the preliminary order of forfeiture at the conclusion of the hearing, he
points out that the motion for forfeiture referred to a plea agreement although
he had no such agreement with the Government. He also complains that there
was no mention of the forfeiture in the PSR or at sentencing. Gomez argues that
review should be under the abuse of discretion standard because the district
court made no mention of forfeiture at sentencing, and he had no opportunity to
object.
Gomez contends that the Government had to prove the connection between
the amount of the proceeds and his specific criminal act by a preponderance of
the evidence. He asserts that, if the district court had pronounced the judgment
of forfeiture orally at sentencing, he would have established that the amount
forfeited should have been based on sixteen pounds of methamphetamine ice
having a value of no more than $448,000. Thus, he states that even if plain error
review is applicable, he can show that the error resulted in substantial harm.
The Government argues that review is for plain error because Gomez did
not challenge the forfeiture order after receiving ample notice of the amount that
the Government would seek and that Gomez agreed to the factual stipulation
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supporting the forfeiture in that amount. It contends that contrary to Gomez’s
argument, the district court included the forfeiture order at the sentencing
hearing, and, thus, the district court did not commit an error under Federal Rule
of Criminal Procedure 32.2.
Gomez did not object to the district court’s failure to make an oral
pronouncement of the forfeiture order at sentencing. Gomez’s contention that
the forfeiture should be reviewed for abuse of discretion because the district
court did not mention the forfeiture during sentencing is without merit because
the district court specifically asked defense counsel if he had any objection to the
proposed forfeiture judgment. Therefore, review is for plain error. See United
States v. Marquez, 685 F.3d 501, 510 (5th Cir. 2012).
The Comprehensive Forfeiture Act (“CFA”), 21 U.S.C. § 853, provides that
a defendant convicted of the crimes such as those at issue here shall forfeit “any
property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds the person obtained, directly
or indirectly, as the result of such violation.” 21 U.S.C. § 853(a)(1). Rule 32.2 of
the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure governs the procedure of a criminal
forfeiture proceeding. See Marquez, 685 F.3d at 509. The indictment or
information must contain notice to the defendant that the government will seek
forfeiture of property. Id. Notably, the notice need not specify the amount of
forfeiture the government seeks. Id.; see also Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(a).
When the Government seeks a personal money judgment, the court “must
determine the amount of money that the defendant will be ordered to pay.” Fed.
R. Crim. P. 32.2(b)(1)(A). “Unless doing so is impractical, the court must enter
the preliminary order [of forfeiture] sufficiently in advance of sentencing to allow
the parties to suggest revisions or modifications before the order becomes final.”
Id. 32.2(b)(2)(B). “The court must include the forfeiture when orally announcing
the sentence or must otherwise ensure that the defendant knows of the forfeiture
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at sentencing.” Id. 32.2(b)(4)(B) (emphasis added). The forfeiture order must be
included in the judgment. Id.
As required by this rule, the record reflects that the district court ensured
that Gomez had knowledge of the forfeiture at sentencing. As previously
discussed, the superseding indictment, which the district court ascertained that
Gomez had reviewed, contained written notice of the possible forfeiture
judgment. Gomez also received oral notice of the preliminary forfeiture
judgment and an opportunity to object to it and any factual inaccuracies therein
at the conclusion of his rearraignment hearing. Gomez did not file any
opposition to the proposed judgment during the six months preceding his
sentencing. The record further shows that the Government filed the Final Order
of Forfeiture on June 17, 2011, and that sentencing was held on June 20, 2011.
The district court gave counsel an opportunity at sentencing to file an objection,
and counsel declined to do so. Thus, the record reflects that Gomez was aware
of the Government’s intent to seek the personal money judgment of $10,296,000
against him and that he expressly declined to challenge it on two occasions.
Gomez’s failure to show that the forfeiture judgment was erroneous cannot be
attributed to the district court’s failure to make an oral pronouncement of the
forfeiture judgment at sentencing. Thus, he did not demonstrate clear or obvious
error that affected his substantial rights. See Marquez, 685 F.3d at 510.
C. Sufficiency of the Evidence to Support the Forfeiture Judgment
Gomez further argues that the evidence was insufficient to support a
forfeiture judgment in the amount of $10,296,000 because the record did not
reflect a factual basis for that amount. He points out that the Bill of Particulars
filed by the Government did not show how the amount of $10,296,000 was
determined, and he contends that the amount is clearly incorrect because he
pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute only 50 grams or more of
methamphetamine ice. Relying on Rule 32.2(b)(2)(C), he argues that, if the
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money is derived from a drug-trafficking offense and the actual property has not
been found or is unavailable, the district court must determine the amount to be
forfeited, and there is no indication in the record that the district court made
this determination.
Gomez further argues that because this is a conspiracy case, the forfeiture
amount is limited to the amount of criminal conduct by his coconspirators that
was foreseeable to him, although he cites no Fifth Circuit case law for this
proposition. He notes that the district court determined that he should only be
held accountable for the transactions that took place during the time period of
his participation in the conspiracy, December 2009 to January 2010, and that
he should be held responsible for only sixteen pounds of methamphetamine ice,
having a total value of $448,000.
The Government argues that because Gomez agreed to the factual basis
and stipulation that set forth facts3 supporting the $10,296,000 forfeiture, the
district court could rely on the evidence in the record as relevant and reliable to
support the forfeiture judgment. The Government further asserts that there was
testimony at sentencing that revealed that the scope of the conspiracy was wider
than originally thought and that it involved the distribution of 300 kilograms of
methamphetamine ice per year.
In his reply brief, Gomez argues that the factual basis was internally
inconsistent and was not based on reliable facts. He points out that it referred
to a non-existent plea agreement, which held Gomez accountable for proceeds
derived from activities that occurred before he began participating in the
3
The stipulated facts encompass a much larger range of offenses than the one to which
Gomez pleaded guilty. For example, the parties stipulated that had the matter proceeded to
trial, the government would have proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, the following stipulated
facts: at least 40 persons were involved in the conspiracy, at least 113 pounds of
methamphetmaine ice and 31 kilos of cocaine were possessed with the intent to distribute, and
that Gomez was a coconspirator. Gomez signed a document acknowledging the above.
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conspiracy and involvement with cocaine, a drug that he did not plead guilty to
possessing with intent to distribute.
Rule 32.2 allows the factfinder’s determination to be based on evidence
already in the record and on any additional evidence submitted by the parties.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(b)(1)(B). The Government must establish the requisite
nexus between the property and the offense by a preponderance of the evidence.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(b)(1); United States v. Gasanova, 332 F.3d 297, 300–01 (5th
Cir. 2003). Gomez did not object in the district court to a lack of evidence to
support the forfeiture judgment. Thus, review is for plain error. See Marquez,
685 F.3d at 510.
Gomez has not provided any persuasive authority showing that his
forfeiture exposure should have been limited to $448,000, the value of the
sixteen pounds of methamphetamine ice that was attributed to him personally.
See Hernandez, 470 F. App’x at 335 (finding that defendant had not cited any
authority showing that forfeiture amount is limited to personal involvement in
the conspiracy and, thus, did not show plain error in determination of forfeiture
amount). It is not clear that this court has adopted the foreseeability concept in
the context of a drug conspiracy forfeiture case or how it will be applied. See
United States v. Olguin, 643 F.3d 384, 398 (5th Cir. 2011) (conducting de novo
review of the application of § 853 but finding it unnecessary to reach the issue
of whether the foreseeability doctrine placed any limitations on forfeiture
liability). However, we need not reach the issue here in light of Gomez’s failure
to object to the Government’s motion and proposed judgment indicating that he
had agreed to liability for $10,296,000.
Evidentiary stipulations or admissions are binding on the parties and
withdraw a fact issue from contention. See United States v. Banks, 624 F.3d 261,
264 (5th Cir. 2010); Martinez v. Bally’s La., Inc., 244 F.3d 474, 476 (5th Cir.
2001). In light of his concessions, we hold that Gomez has not met his burden
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under plain error review of showing that the district court committed clear or
obvious error in holding him accountable for the forfeiture amount contained in
the unopposed judgment. See Hernandez, 470 F. App’x at 335.
D. Excessive Fines Clause
Gomez argues, for the first time on appeal, that the forfeiture judgment
violates the Excessive Fines Clause of the Constitution because it is grossly
disproportionate to the gravity of the offense in violation of the Eighth
Amendment. He points out that the maximum statutory fine under 21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(A) and the maximum fine under the Guidelines was $4,000,000.
Because the maximum fine is less than the forfeiture amount in his case, he
argues that the forfeiture judgment violates the Excessive Fines Clause.
Because Gomez raises his Eighth Amendment argument for the first time
on appeal, we review his forfeiture judgment only for plain error. See United
States v. Helm, 502 F.3d 366, 367 (5th Cir. 2007). To prevail under plain error
review, Gomez would need to prove the district court erred, that the error was
clear or obvious (rather than subject to reasonable dispute), that the error
affected his substantial rights, and that the court should exercise its discretion
to correct the error because it seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public
reputation of judicial proceedings. See Pucket v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135
(2009); United States v. Reyes, 300 F.3d 555, 558 (5th Cir. 2002). Because
Gomez cannot establish that the district court plainly erred, we affirm the
court’s forfeiture order.
The Government argues that no plain error occurred because this court
has held that the Excessive Fines Clause does not apply to the proceeds of drug
trafficking. The Government contends that 21 U.S.C. § 853(a) sets out property
that is subject to forfeiture and distinguishes forfeitures from fines by allowing
the imposition of a fine in addition to the mandatory forfeiture provided for in
the statute. As the government points out, in United States v. Betancourt, 422
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F.3d 240 (5th Cir. 2005), the court emphasized that a forfeiture award is
different from a fine and held that the excessive fines provision of the Eighth
Amendment did not apply to the forfeiture of property acquired with drug
proceeds. Id. at 250. “All proceeds obtained from unlawful conduct and property
traceable to those proceeds are subject to criminal forfeiture.” Id. Gomez replies
that the Government’s reliance on United States v. Betancourt, 422 F.3d 240 (5th
Cir. 2005), is misplaced because it conflicts with prior decided law and thus is
not binding precedent. Even if we adopted Gomez’s position that Betancourt
conflicts with earlier case law, the confusion in the law means that any error by
the district court could not have been clear or obvious. See Puckett, 556 U.S. 135
(noting that to be correctable the error must not be subject to reasonable debate);
see also United States v. Mudekunye, 646 F.3d 281, 295–96 (5th Cir. 2011)
(stating that if an error is debatable it is not plain). Here, at best, the law is
unsettled, foreclosing a finding of plain error. At worst, Betancourt indicates
that Gomez cannot establish that there was an error, and thus he fails at the
first prong. Either way, he cannot prevail on plain error review under his
Excessive Fines Clause challenge.
E. Errors in the Written Judgment
Gomez argues that the judgment should be reformed to reflect the correct
offense of conviction. He points out that it incorrectly reflects that he pleaded
guilty to the allegations involving 500 grams of methamphetamine and five
kilograms of cocaine in addition to the 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
ice. He asserts that the clerical error can be corrected on remand pursuant to
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 36. The Government agrees that the case
should be remanded and the written judgment should be reformed to correct the
technical error that he possessed illegal drugs in addition to the 50 grams of
methamphetamine ice.
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The written judgment incorrectly reflects that Gomez also pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture
or substance containing methamphetamine and five grams of cocaine. The
transcript of the rearraignment proceeding reflects that Gomez pleaded guilty
to a conspiracy involving only 50 grams or more of methamphetamine ice.
A district court “may at any time correct a clerical error in a judgment,
order, or other part of the record, or correct an error in the record arising from
oversight or omission.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 36. A clerical error arises where “the
court intended one thing but by merely clerical mistake or oversight did
another.” United States v. Buendia–Rangel, 553 F.3d 378, 379 (5th Cir. 2008)
(citations and internal quotation marks omitted). This court has noted sua
sponte that it must remand for the purpose of correcting irregularities contained
in the judgment. See United States v. Johnson, 588 F.2d 961, 964 (5th Cir. 1979)
(citing Fed. R. Crim. P. 36). In light of the record of the rearraignment and the
Government’s acknowledgment that the written judgment contains a clerical
error that did not reflect the actual offense of conviction, we remand to the
district court for the limited purpose of correcting the judgment to identify
correctly the offense of conviction.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED
in part and REMANDED for the limited purpose of correcting the written
judgment to correctly identify the offense of conviction.
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