United States v. Bryant ( 2006 )


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  •                             NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION
    File Name: 06a0853n.06
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    No. 05-5958
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                           )
    )
    Plaintiff-Appellee,                         )
    )
    v.                                                  )    ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
    )    STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
    GEORGE BRYANT,                                      )    EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
    )
    Defendant-Appellant.                        )
    )    OPINION
    Before: GILMAN and GRIFFIN, Circuit Judges; and GWIN, District Judge.*
    RONALD LEE GILMAN, Circuit Judge. A federal grand jury indicted George Bryant,
    Crystal Keel, Scottie Magouirk, and Richard Whited on ten counts relating to the manufacture and
    use of methamphetamine. Following a jury trial in Bryant’s case and guilty pleas in the cases of
    Keel, Magouirk, and Whited, the district court imposed sentences of 100, 188, 151, and 151 months
    in prison, respectively. Bryant raises the following two challenges to his convictions: (1) that the
    evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support them, and (2) that the district court’s allowance
    of certain unobjected-to testimony by a government witness constituted plain error and requires
    reversal. He raises no challenges to the length of his sentence. For the reasons set forth below, we
    AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.
    *
    The Honorable James S. Gwin, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, sitting by
    designation.
    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    I. BACKGROUND
    A.     Procedural background
    A federal grand jury charged Bryant in three counts of the ten-count indictment that also
    named Keel, Magouirk, and Whited. Count One charged all four individuals with a conspiracy to
    knowingly manufacture methamphetamine between January of 2001 and April 22, 2004, in violation
    of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. Under Count Nine, the grand jury charged Bryant
    and Whited with the related crime of aiding and abetting each other in knowingly attempting to
    manufacture methamphetamine on April 22, 2004, in violation of the same three statutes as well as
    18 U.S.C. § 2. Count Ten similarly charged Bryant and Whited with aiding and abetting each other
    on April 22, 2004 in knowingly possessing equipment, chemicals, products, and materials that could
    be used to manufacture methamphetamine, with the additional knowledge that such materials would
    in fact be used to manufacture methamphetamine, all in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(a)(6) and 18
    U.S.C. § 2. Unlike his codefendants, who pled guilty, Bryant demanded a jury trial. A one-day jury
    trial on February 23, 2005 resulted in a verdict of guilty as to all three counts against him. On June
    6, 2005, the district court sentenced Bryant to 100 months in prison. This timely appeal followed.
    B.     Factual background
    The government called only two witnesses at Bryant’s trial: Dale Hesketh, an agent with the
    Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and Josh Melton, an agent with the Commission as well
    as a task-force officer with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Bryant does not
    dispute either agent’s testimony or the physical evidence introduced against him. He instead
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    United States v. Bryant
    contends that, taken together, the testimonial and physical evidence was insufficient to support his
    convictions. The relevant facts are set forth below.
    1.      The search of Whited’s trailer
    Hesketh and Melton went to Whited’s trailer on April 22, 2004 to execute a state arrest
    warrant for Whited. Based on Melton’s work with the DEA, the agents had reason to believe that
    Whited and others were manufacturing methamphetamine on the premises. After Melton found
    Whited alone in a detached garage near the trailer, he placed Whited under arrest. Melton then asked
    Whited for consent to search the premises. Whited agreed, and led the agents to the back door of
    the trailer, which he opened with the assistance of those inside. Upon entering, Hesketh immediately
    noticed Bryant and another man, later identified as Chad Campbell, seated on the floor of a bedroom
    directly in front of where Hesketh was standing. After identifying himself as a law-enforcement
    officer and after asking Bryant and Campbell to stand with their hands up, Hesketh performed a pat
    down of Bryant. Hesketh found and seized a single glass pipe in Bryant’s pocket as well as several
    more glass pipes and a blue plastic envelope elsewhere on Bryant’s person. A lab test later
    determined that the substance in the envelope was methamphetamine.
    Hesketh then escorted Bryant and Campbell to Melton, who was in another room, and
    continued searching the trailer. In the bathroom toilet, Hesketh observed two plastic baggies
    containing what appeared to be white powder. Melton independently observed the baggies and later
    smelled their contents. Both the fine grain of the powder and the pungency of its smell led Melton
    to believe that the baggies contained methamphetamine. Lab tests later determined that the white
    powder was pseudoephedrine, which when crushed is a precursor to the manufacture of
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    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    methamphetamine. The combined weight of the pseudoephedrine in the two baggies was 12.7
    grams.
    Hesketh’s search ultimately uncovered numerous additional methamphetamine paraphernalia,
    all of which were admitted at trial either in their actual physical form or via photograph. These items
    included an unopened bottle of pseudoephedrine, digital scales, crystal iodine, five bottles of
    hydrogen peroxide, coffee filters, rubber tubing, propane torches, a glass pyrex dish containing what
    appeared to Melton to be red phosphorus residue, and an entire box of glass tubes of the type
    commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. A partially used bottle of crystal iodine and the digital
    scales were found in a trash can in the bathroom. Iodine and red phosphorous function jointly as
    reagents in the manufacture of methamphetamine, and digital scales are typically used to measure
    the reagents and the pseudoephedrine precursor to ensure a proper ratio between the two. When
    crystal iodine, a rare substance, is unavailable, hydrogen peroxide can be mixed with a less pure
    tincture of iodine to create the desired crystal form. Coffee filters assist in the manufacturing process
    at numerous stages.        Torches, finally, heat the glass tubes that are used to smoke the
    methamphetamine.
    2.     The interrogation of Bryant
    After having been read his Miranda rights while still at the trailer, Bryant agreed to talk with
    Melton, first in the presence of Whited and then alone. In the presence of Whited, Bryant admitted
    that he had thrown the crystal iodine and the digital scales into the trash can in the bathroom. Bryant
    hesitated, however, when Melton asked whether the white powder in the baggies found in the toilet
    was pseudoephedrine or methamphetamine. Only after consulting with and receiving permission
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    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    to answer from Whited did Bryant admit that the powder was “ephedrine,” shorthand for
    pseudoephedrine.
    Later, outside the presence of Whited, Bryant insisted that he did not own either the crystal
    iodine or the digital scales that he had thrown in the bathroom trash can. He nevertheless told
    Melton that “I’ll take credit for it if it will keep everybody else out of trouble.” Melton responded
    by saying that because their conversation was now private, Bryant “should not claim something
    that’s not yours.” Bryant replied that “what goes on here in the house is, you know, adult decisions,
    and between adults, and the way I look at it, we’re not hurting anybody.” He became “very
    aggravated” with Melton shortly thereafter, telling Melton that “you’re not going to trick me with
    the friendly talk,” whereupon the conversation between the two ended.
    When later asked at trial to provide the context for Bryant’s statements, Melton said that by
    “adult decisions” he understood Bryant to have been referring to the manufacture and use of
    methamphetamine. Bryant did not object to this testimony. Finally, in another conversation with
    Melton that took place sometime after the April 22, 2004 search of Whited’s trailer, Bryant admitted
    that he had consistently used methamphetamine prior to that date in the amount of half an “eight-
    ball” per use, which is approximately 1.75 grams.
    II. ANALYSIS
    A.     The government’s evidence at trial was sufficient to support Bryant’s convictions
    1.      Standard of review
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    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    In arguing insufficiency of the evidence, Bryant “bears a very heavy burden.” See United
    States v. Spearman, 
    186 F.3d 743
    , 746 (6th Cir. 1999). Evidence in a criminal case is deemed
    sufficient if we determine that, “after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    government, any rational trier of fact could have found the elements of the crime beyond a
    reasonable doubt.” United States v. Gardiner, 
    463 F.3d 445
    , 456 (6th Cir. 2006) (citing Jackson v.
    Virginia, 
    443 U.S. 307
    , 319 (1979)). We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    government by drawing all reasonable inferences from the testimony in its favor. United States v.
    Abdullah, 
    162 F.3d 897
    , 903 (6th Cir. 1998).
    2.      Discussion
    The evidence offered against Bryant at trial was more than sufficient to support his
    convictions.    Bryant was convicted under Count One of a conspiracy to manufacture
    methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(C) and 846. In order to establish a
    conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt “the
    existence of an agreement to violate the drug laws and that each conspirator knew of, intended to join
    and participated in the conspiracy.” United States v. Pearce, 
    912 F.2d 159
    , 161 (6th Cir. 1990). The
    government need not prove the existence of a formal agreement; rather, “a tacit or material
    understanding among the parties is sufficient to show a conspiracy.”               
    Id. In addition,
    “[c]ircumstantial evidence alone is sufficient to sustain a conviction and such evidence need not
    remove every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt.” 
    Spearman, 186 F.3d at 746
    (quotation
    marks omitted); see also United States v. Stone, 
    748 F.2d 361
    , 363 (6th Cir. 1984) (“[W]e hold once
    and for all that our court on appeal will reverse a judgment for insufficiency of the evidence only if
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    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    this judgment is not supported by substantial and competent evidence upon the record as a whole,
    and that this rule applies whether the evidence is direct or wholly circumstantial.”). Finally, once
    the government has established the existence of a conspiracy, “evidence connecting a particular
    defendant to the conspiracy need only be slight.” United States v. Gibbs, 
    182 F.3d 408
    , 421 (6th Cir.
    1999) (quotation marks omitted). “A buyer/seller relationship alone is not enough to establish
    participation in the conspiracy, but further evidence indicating knowledge of and participation in the
    conspiracy can be enough to link the defendant to the conspiracy.” 
    Id. at 421-22.
    In the present case, the government offered both physical and testimonial evidence against
    Bryant. The physical evidence consisted of the numerous objects seized or photographed by agents
    Hesketh and Melton during their arrest of Bryant and his codefendants at Whited’s trailer on April
    22, 2004. Among these objects were the finished methamphetamine product found in an envelope
    on Bryant’s person and the ground pseudoephedrine tablets found in the bathroom toilet.
    Agent Melton’s testimony provided additional corroborating evidence that (1) Bryant and his
    codefendants were in fact present at the home when and where Hesketh and Melton discovered the
    physical evidence, (2) Bryant admitted to Melton that he had thrown the ground pseudoephedrine
    into the toilet and a bottle of crystal iodine and a digital scale into the bathroom trash can after the
    agents had arrived at the trailer, (3) Bryant, when asked by Melton to identify the substance in the
    toilet, first looked to Whited for permission before answering Melton’s question, (4) Bryant told
    Melton that “what goes on in the house is, you know, adult decisions, and between adults, and the
    way I look at it, we’re not hurting anybody,” and (5) Bryant refused to answer Melton when the latter
    asked who was manufacturing methamphetamine. Melton opined that these several statements by
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    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    Bryant, when coupled with the physical evidence observed at and retrieved from the trailer, indicated
    “obviously, that the manufacture of methamphetamine was occurring.”
    Contrary to Bryant’s argument, the government offered far more than Bryant’s “mere
    presence” as evidence that he was involved with his codefendants in a conspiracy to manufacture
    methamphetamine. Bryant’s assertion that because “the defendant-appellant was in a trailer where
    items were found which would be used to make meth does not of him make a meth-maker or a
    conspirator” is, although an accurate statement of the law, an entirely insufficient summary of the
    evidence against him. At least one rational juror could have found that, based on the evidence
    presented, Bryant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of conspiring to manufacture
    methamphetamine. This conclusion, moreover, applies equally to the intent-based challenges that
    Bryant raises to his two aiding-and-abetting convictions, in defense of which Bryant offers no legal
    or factual argument beyond the same meritless “mere presence” claim.
    B.     The admission of Agent Melton’s statements did not constitute plain error
    1.      Standard of review
    Bryant further argues that the district court improperly allowed Agent Melton to “decode”
    for the jury certain statements that Bryant had made to Melton at the time of Bryant’s arrest. First,
    Bryant claims that Melton engaged in total speculation when Melton opined that Bryant was
    referring to the manufacture of methamphetamine when Bryant said that “adult decisions” were
    being made in the trailer. Bryant fails to mention, however, that Melton offered this opinion
    specifically in response to the government’s question on direct examination as to the “context” into
    which Bryant’s statement fit.       Second, Bryant claims that Melton, again without proper
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    United States v. Bryant
    “qualifications or special talents,” testified that the phrase “painting a car” meant “collecting drug
    money.” This second claim is meritless for the simple reason that, as the government notes in its
    brief, neither the phrase nor Melton’s interpretation of it is to be found anywhere in the record.
    As to the first instance of “decoding,” we ordinarily review the admission of expert
    testimony, as well as evidentiary decisions generally, under the deferential abuse-of-discretion
    standard. United States v. Bender, 
    265 F.3d 464
    , 472 (6th Cir. 2001). Because Bryant did not object
    to Melton’s allegedly impermissible statements at trial, however, we review Bryant’s challenge to
    their admissibility under the even more deferential plain-error standard. See United States v.
    Swafford, 
    385 F.3d 1026
    , 1030 (6th Cir. 2004), cert. denied, 
    543 U.S. 1169
    (2005). Plain error is
    difficult to demonstrate and exists only where, at a minimum, there is “(1) error, (2) that is plain, and
    (3) that affects substantial rights.” 
    Id. at 1028.
    Even then, a plain-error determination remains
    subject to the discretion of the reviewing court, which may grant relief based upon the forfeited error,
    “but only if (4) the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial
    proceedings.” 
    Id. If we
    determine that no error exists, of course, “our inquiry is at an end.” United
    States v. Thomas, 
    11 F.3d 620
    , 630 (6th Cir. 1993).
    2.      Discussion
    This court “regularly allows qualified law enforcement personnel to testify on characteristics
    of criminal activity, as long as appropriate cautionary instructions are given, since knowledge of such
    activity is generally beyond the understanding of the average layman.” 
    Swafford, 385 F.3d at 1030
    .
    Drug-dealing is one such activity.       See 
    id. (allowing the
    agent to testify as an expert on
    methamphetamine investigations); United States v. Thomas, 
    74 F.3d 676
    , 682 (6th Cir. 1996)
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    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    (“Courts have overwhelmingly found police officers’ expert testimony admissible where it will aid
    the jury’s understanding of an area, such as drug dealing, not within the experience of the average
    juror.”), abrogated on other grounds by Morales v. American Honda Motor Co., 
    151 F.3d 500
    , 515
    (6th Cir. 1998).
    Agent Melton’s testimony easily fits within these precedents. He was and still is a law-
    enforcement officer. His testimony related to characteristics of methamphetamine production and
    drug use generally, both types of criminal activity with which he had considerable familiarity given
    his training and experience as an agent of the DEA. He even testified that he once had taught a
    course about methamphetamine manufacturing to trainees of a Tennessee state agency. The district
    court, moreover, specifically explained that although Melton would be allowed to testify about those
    matters to which his expertise extended, such as the manufacture and production of
    methamphetamine, it would not certify Melton as an expert or “put my particular imprimatur on his
    expertness.” Bryant’s Daubert-reliability argument is accordingly misplaced. In addition, the
    district court issued not one, but two separate limiting instructions to the jury sua sponte, clarifying
    that
    [Agent Melton is] not qualified to offer an opinion about who was doing what. His
    opinion was the opinion that someone was making methamphetamine there, but his
    opinion as to who was doing it this witness cannot render that. That will have to be
    your opinion, your decision.
    The district court later reiterated that
    [y]ou do not have to accept an expert’s opinion. In deciding how much weight to
    give it, you consider the witness’ qualifications and how he reached his conclusions.
    Remember that you alone decide how much of a witness’ testimony to believe, and
    how much weight that it deserves.
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    No. 05-5958
    United States v. Bryant
    Based on the record in this case, we conclude that the admission of Melton’s testimony did not
    constitute error of any kind, much less that of the plain variety.
    III. CONCLUSION
    For all of the reasons set forth above, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.
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