United States v. Moore , 239 F. App'x 137 ( 2007 )

File Name: 07a0440n.06
Filed: June 22, 2007
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
No. 06-5807
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. ON APPEAL FROM THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT
JOHN HENRY MOORE, COURT FOR THE WESTERN
DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
Defendant-Appellant.
/
Before: MARTIN and BATCHELDER, Circuit Judges; O’MEARA, District Judge.*
BOYCE F. MARTIN, JR., Circuit Judge. Defendant James Henry Moore appeals the district
court’s imposition of a four-level enhancement to his Sentencing Guidelines range for use of a
firearm in connection with another felony, pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(5) of the United States Sentencing
Guidelines. For the reasons outlined below, we AFFIRM the decision of the district court.
I.
On October 17, 2005, a grand jury returned an indictment against Moore charging him with
the following: (1) possession of a short-barreled rifle, in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 5822, 5861(c) and
5871; (2) possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 5841,
*
The Honorable John Corbett O’Meara, United States District Judge for the Eastern District
of Michigan, sitting by designation.
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5861(d) and 3871; (3) possession of a machine gun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and
924(a)(2); and (4) possession of an unregistered machine gun, in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 5841,
5861(d) and 5871. The firearms providing the basis for these charges were discovered during a
search of Moore’s residence conducted on September 10, 2004. On March 6, 2006, Moore pled
guilty to all four counts.
Following entry of his guilty plea, the Probation Officer prepared a presentence report (PSR).
The PSR provided that during the search, officers seized not less than twenty-eight assorted firearms,
of which Moore claimed ownership. These firearms were found inside a large gun safe in the closet
of the master bedroom. Twenty-five of these firearms, although not registered to Moore, were
otherwise “legal.” This smorgasbord of weaponry included shotguns, rifles, and pistols, such as a
Glock 9mm pistol and a Hi-Point 995 Carbine semi-automatic rifle. Moore also possessed three
illegal firearms that were classified as machine guns under 18 U.S.C. § 5845(b), meaning that they
were either assembled and/or modified so that they were capable of firing automatically more than
one shot by a single pull of the trigger. Officers also found a small green safe inside the closet
containing 1.73 kilograms of marijuana.1 In a metal box sitting just above the marijuana safe,
officers found another firearm and a cylindrical device that was later identified as a metal barrel
extension.2 Numerous other firearms-related items, including ammunition, were also seized from
1
This marijuana, along with other items seized during the search of Moore’s home, formed
the basis of charges brought against him in state court. These charges were dismissed after Moore
pled guilty to the instant federal offenses.
2
It is not clear whether this metal box was locked.
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Page 3
Moore’s home. Moore stated at his sentencing hearing that he alone had access to the gun safe, and
that he kept the key to the safe on his person.
The PSR contained the following guidelines calculation.3 First, the four counts were grouped
and treated as one, for which Moore received a base offense level of eighteen. Two levels were
added because Moore possessed three to seven firearms. Pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(5), another four
levels were added based on a finding that these firearms were possessed in connection with another
felony offense, to wit, possession of a controlled substance.4 The PSR recommended a three-level
reduction for acceptance of responsibility, resulting in a total offense level of twenty-one. Because
Moore had no criminal history, he was placed into a criminal history category of I. Moore filed a
motion in response to the PSR, which contained, inter alia, an objection to the four-level
enhancement pursuant to § 2K2.1(b)(5).
A sentencing hearing was held on June 6, 2006. After the district judge relayed to the parties
the guidelines calculation provided in the PSR, counsel for Moore argued his objection to the §
2K2.1(b)(5) enhancement. In order to assist the district court in making its determination, Brent
Booth, one of the officers who executed the search warrant, testified at the sentencing hearing
regarding the quantity of marijuana and firearms found at Moore’s home. In addition, the
3
Moore was sentenced under the 2005 edition of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
4
Section 2K2.1(b)(5) of the 2005 Sentencing Guidelines provides, in pertinent part: “If the
defendant used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense;
or possessed or transferred any firearm or ammunition with knowledge, intent, or reason to believe
that it would be used or possessed in connection with another felony offense, increase by 4 levels.”
Application Note 4 explains that “‘[f]elony offense,’ as used in subsection (b)(5), means any offense
(federal, state, or local) punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, whether or not
a criminal charge was brought, or conviction obtained.”
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government produced a forensic report identifying the substance found at Moore’s home as
marijuana. Ultimately, the district court overruled Moore’s objection to the four-point enhancement.
After dealing with another objection not at issue in this appeal, the district judge considered the
government’s § 5K1.1 motion based upon Moore’s substantial assistance in another case, and
granted another three-level reduction in offense level. This resulted in a total offense level of
eighteen, which when paired with Moore’s criminal history category of I, yielded a guidelines range
of twenty-seven to thirty-three months.5 The district judge then conducted a thorough analysis of
the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and ultimately settled on twenty-seven months’
imprisonment — the lowest sentence within the guidelines range. This sentence was to be followed
by two years’ supervised release.
II.
The issue on appeal is whether the district court erred in imposing a four-level enhancement
for use of a firearm in connection with another felony under § 2K2.1(b)(5) of the Sentencing
Guidelines. As noted above, a district court may impose a four-point enhancement pursuant to §
2K2.1(b)(5) “if the defendant used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with
another felony offense.”
“We review for clear error the district court’s factual findings, and accord ‘due deference’
to the district court’s determination that the USSG § 2K2.1(b)(5) enhancement applies.” United
States v. Burke, 345 F.3d 416, 426-27 (6th Cir. 2003). A court should apply this four-point
5
Had Moore’s objection to the four-point enhancement been sustained, he would have had
a total offense level of 14, which would have given him a guidelines range of fifteen to twenty-one
months.
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enhancement only if the government can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the
defendant possessed or used the firearm in connection with another felony. United States v. Hardin,
248 F.3d 489, 496 (6th Cir. 2001).
In order to apply § 2K2.1(b)(5)’s four-point enhancement, the district court need not find
that the defendant used the gun; rather, it is enough that he possessed the gun in connection with any
felony. Id. at 498. Although the Sentencing Guidelines do not define the meaning of the phrase “in
connection with,” the approach this Court has adopted is to define the phrase as equivalent to the “in
relation to” language of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). That section provides various mandatory minimum
sentences for “any person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking
crime . . . for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, uses or carries a
firearm, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm . . . .” Id. at 497. As we have
stated:
The phrase “in relation to” . . . at a minimum, clarifies that the firearm must have
some purpose or effect with respect to the drug trafficking crime; its presence or
involvement cannot be the result of accident or coincidence. . . . Instead, the gun at
least must “facilitate, or have the potential of facilitating,” the drug trafficking
offense.
Id. at 497-98 (quoting Smith v. United States, 508 U.S. 223, 238 (1993)).
This Court has adopted the so-called “fortress theory” in the context of § 2K2.1(b)(5), which
provides that firearms are used “during and in relation to” a drug offense where “it reasonably
appears that the firearms found on the premises controlled or owned by a defendant and in his actual
or constructive possession are to be used to protect the drugs or otherwise facilitate a drug
transaction.” Hardin, 248 F.3d 500; see also United States v. Huffman, 461 F.3d 777, 788 (6th Cir.
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2006) (“This court has articulated the ‘fortress theory’ as a means of satisfying § 2K2.1(b)(5), which
applies where a defendant has used a firearm to protect the drugs, facilitate a drug transaction, or
embolden himself while participating in felonious conduct.”).
We note that Moore did not specifically object to the PSR’s allegation that 1.73 kilograms
of marijuana were found in his home. Because Moore did not object to this allegation, the district
court was permitted to accept it as true. United States v. Levy, 250 F.3d 1015, 1018 (6th Cir. 2001).
Further, there is no dispute that Moore possessed these firearms, as he claimed ownership over them
and entered guilty pleas related to his possession of four of the firearms. Thus, the sole question we
must address is whether these firearms were possessed “in connection with” Moore’s drug offense.
In explaining his reasons for applying the § 2K2.1(b)(5) enhancement, the district judge
found that Moore’s possession of 1.73 kilograms of marijuana constituted a “felony offense” for
purposes § 2K2.1(b)(5). Specifically, the district judge found that Moore possessed this marijuana
with intent to distribute it to others, noting that this quantity of marijuana is far more than the
average user can smoke. The district judge ruled that there was enough evidence to establish that
the firearms were possessed in connection with this drug offense. He explained:
In this case, because the drugs were in close proximity, within, apparently, a few feet
of these — of the controlled substances, the court cannot find that it was unlikely that
these drugs were connected with the firearms. If someone had broken into the
defendant’s house, the court has to ask itself, would the defendant — could the
defendant have gotten to that firearm quickly to use the firearm to protect his drug
stash or perhaps protect his money or even his life from a disgruntled or an unhappy
drug buyer. It seems clear that these firearms were in such close proximity that they
could have been used for that.
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Because we find that the government was able to establish by a preponderance of the
evidence that these firearms were used in connection with Moore’s drug offense, we believe that the
district court did not err in applying this enhancement. First, as the district judge noted, the guns
were found not just in the same room, but in the same closet, just a few feet away from the
marijuana. See Hardin, 248 F.3d at 498-99 (“The fact that the firearm was found in the same room
where the [drugs] w[ere] stored can lead to the justifiable conclusion that the gun was used in
connection with the felony.”); id. at 500 (holding that the fortress theory was applicable where it
“reasonably appear[ed]” that the gun was used to protect the drugs, given that the drugs and firearm
were found in the same location).
While we realize that the marijuana was in a separate safe from that which housed a majority
of the guns, we cannot ignore the type and quantity of guns found. Moore did not merely possess
a hunting rifle or two. See Hardin, 248 F.3d at 496 (“There could be a factual scenario . . . where
the firearm is an unloaded hunting rifle located in a closet, and the enhancement might not apply.”).
Rather, Moore possessed twenty-eight firearms, including short-barreled rifles, several semi-
automatic weapons, and three illegal machine guns. See Huffman, 461 F.3d at 788 (holding that a
relevant factor to consider in determining the applicability of the fortress theory is whether the type
of firearm found (in that case, an automatic assault rifle) is one that is commonly used by drug
dealers); United States v. Wyatt, 102 F.3d 241, 243 (7th Cir. 1996) (explaining that the guns
found—a short-barreled rife and a handgun—were the types of guns used in the drug-dealing
business), cited in Hardin, 248 F.3d at 499; see also United States v. Mackey, 265 F.3d 457, 462 (6th
Cir. 2001) (noting that the type of weapon is a relevant factor when determining whether it was
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possessed in furtherance of a drug crime under § 924(c)). Further, not one of these firearms was
registered to Moore, as required by 18 U.S.C. § 5841. See Mackey, 265 F.3d at 462 (noting that the
legality of a gun is a relevant factor to consider in order to determine whether it was possessed in
furtherance of a drug crime under § 924(c)).
In support of his claim, Moore argues that he merely collected these guns. This argument
is on the one hand perfectly reasonable, as given the sheer quantity of firearms found at his home,
we have little doubt that Moore was quite the gun enthusiast. But the mere fact that Moore
accumulated this arsenal for one purpose—i.e., it was his hobby—does not foreclose our finding that
he also possessed the guns for the purpose of facilitating his drug offense. See Hardin, 248 F.3d at
498 (holding that a firearm could be used both to protect the defendant’s spouse and to facilitate the
defendant’s drug trafficking crimes). Further supporting this dual purpose is the fact that, as noted
above, the types of guns Moore possessed were those that are commonly found in connection with
drug crimes. See United States v. Massey, 462 F.3d 843, 846 (7th Cir. 2006) (affirming the district
court’s decision to not apply a § 2K2.1(b)(5) enhancement where, although the defendant possessed
twenty-one guns, there was only one pistol; the rest were rifles and shotguns, which supported the
defendant’s contention that he was a sportsman and gun collector). We acknowledge that the fact
that the firearms (or at least most of them, as far as we can tell) were locked in a separate cabinet
makes this a weaker case for the government than others we have seen. However, based on the
factors mentioned above—the quantity, types, and registration statuses of the guns, and their
proximity to a large amount of marijuana—we affirm the judgment of the district court.
III.
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In sum, we find that the government has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that
Moore possessed these firearms in connection with the marijuana he possessed with intent to
distribute. Based on the types and quantity of firearms found in Moore’s possession, and proximity
of these firearms to a sizeable amount of marijuana, it reasonably appears that these firearms were
to be used to protect or otherwise facilitate a drug transaction, and therefore, the fortress theory is
satisfied. See Hardin, 248 F.3d at 500. The decision of the district court to apply the four-point
enhancement in § 2K1.1(b)(5) is AFFIRMED.