United States v. Reyes-Gonzales

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
August 26, 2014
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
__________________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v. No. 14-1030
(D.Ct. No. 1:12-CR-00272-RBJ-8)
JOSE REYES-GONZALES, (D. Colo.)
Defendant - Appellant.
______________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before PORFILIO and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges, and BRORBY, Senior
Circuit Judge.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to honor the parties’ request for a decision on the briefs without oral
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
submitted without oral argument.
Appellant Jose Reyes-Gonzales pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to
distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the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.
§§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and 846, and one count of conspiracy to engage in money
laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A), (B), and (h). He now
appeals his 147-month concurrent sentences, contending the district court erred in
applying a two-level enhancement based on his alleged role as an organizer or
leader in a criminal activity under United States Sentencing Guidelines
(“Guidelines” or “U.S.S.G.”) § 3B1.1(c). He also claims the district court
incorrectly deemed him ineligible for safety valve relief under U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2.
We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3742 and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and
affirm Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s sentences.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
From July 2010 to June 2012, law enforcement officials, including the Drug
Enforcement Administration, Denver Police Department, and North Metro Task
Force (hereinafter agents), investigated the sale and distribution of cocaine in
Colorado, Wyoming, and certain Midwestern states. Following several controlled
buys, agents began surveillance of Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s home and obtained a
wiretap for his phone, as well as surveilled and wiretapped other conspirators’
homes and/or phones. Through the course of their investigation, agents learned
Mr. Reyes-Gonzales used his garage as the center of the drug conspiracy
operation from which he and others distributed over fifty kilograms of cocaine to
individuals in Colorado, Wyoming, and the Midwest. Mr. Reyes-Gonzales and
the others in the conspiracy obtained the cocaine in Mexico, transported it from
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Mexico to Colorado in hidden vehicle compartments, and unloaded it at Mr.
Reyes-Gonzales’s garage in Bennett, Colorado, from where it was distributed to
co-defendants who sold kilogram and/or ounce quantities to their customers. The
cash proceeds from these drug sales were also hidden in compartments and
shipped back to Mexico in order to purchase more cocaine. During the course of
the conspiracy, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales and another co-defendant, Gilbert Tobar-
Ortiz, coordinated the transportation of money and cocaine between Colorado and
Mexico, recruited drivers to make the trips between Colorado and Mexico, and
sold and/or supplied the cocaine to other co-defendants who distributed it. The
co-defendants in the conspiracy included at least two individuals who were
drivers, as well as Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s girlfriend, Alma Rivera-Torres.
Following his indictment, and in exchange for removing several other
criminal counts against him, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales pled guilty to one count of
conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of
conspiracy to engage in money laundering. In pleading guilty, Mr. Reyes-
Gonzales stipulated to certain facts surrounding the conspiracy, including that Mr.
Tobar-Ortiz and he “recruited drivers to make the trips back and forth between
Colorado and Mexico.” He also stipulated he used his garage to receive
shipments of cocaine hidden in vehicle compartments, loaded cash in the same
compartments to purchase more cocaine in Mexico, and he and Mr. Tobar-Ortiz
coordinated two separate shipments of cocaine that were ultimately seized by law
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enforcement. The parties also acknowledged the government’s contention Mr.
Reyes-Gonzales qualified as an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor under
§ 3B1.1 for the purpose of increasing his base offense level; Mr. Reyes-
Gonzales’s disagreement with such a characterization; and his “right to challenge
[such an increase] at sentencing.” Finally, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales acknowledged his
right to appeal the sentence imposed, but, in exchange for the concessions made
by the government, he:
knowingly and voluntarily waive[d] [his] right to appeal any matter
in connection with [the] prosecution, conviction, or sentence unless it
[met] one of the following three criteria: (1) the sentence imposed is
above the maximum penalty provided in the statute of conviction; (2)
the Court, after determining the otherwise applicable sentencing
guideline range, either departs or varies upwardly; or (3) the Court
determines that the offense level is greater than 37 and imposes a
sentence based upon that offense level determination.
During his plea hearing, a lengthy discussion ensued concerning this
waiver. However, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales and his attorney verified Mr. Reyes-
Gonzales understood his right to appeal and elected to waive that right, with his
counsel explaining substantial negotiations occurred, sufficient consideration
supported the waiver, and that he did not “believe that the appellate waiver in this
case would ever, ever result in a miscarriage of justice or any of the four factors
... outlined in Hahn as reasons to allow an appeal process to go forward.”
Government counsel also requested acceptance of the appeal waiver, explaining,
in part, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales was pleading guilty in exchange for nine counts
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being dismissed and certain other benefits the government would provide him for
his plea. Based on this and Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s colloquy concerning his rights
and relinquishment thereof, the district court accepted the plea agreement.
Prior to sentencing, the probation officer prepared a presentence report
calculating Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s base offense at level 38, increasing it by two
levels under U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1(b)(2)(B) and four levels under § 3B1.1(a) for being
an organizer or leader, and decreasing it by three levels for acceptance of
responsibility, for a total offense level of 41. This, together with a criminal
history category of I, resulted in a recommended advisory Guidelines range of
324 to 405 months’ incarceration. However, the probation officer also noted the
government’s agreement to file for a § 5K1.1 departure based on Mr. Reyes-
Gonzales’s substantial assistance and its recommendation for a sentence at the
low end of a re-calculated Guidelines range of 147 to 183 months’ imprisonment.
Both by written objection and at the sentencing hearing, Mr. Reyes-
Gonzales objected to the four-level increase for his role in the offense under
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1, stating the co-defendants were his “customers” and not under
his direction or control. He also argued for a safety valve reduction under
U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2, for a final Guidelines range of 135 to 168 months’
imprisonment. At the sentencing hearing, government counsel explained that,
contrary to the presentence report, it believed the calculation of Mr. Reyes-
Gonzales’s Guidelines range should involve a lower base offense level of 36,
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which, when adjusted upward only two levels for his role as an organizer and/or
leader under § 3B1.1(c), upward two levels under § 2S1.1(b)(2)(B), and
downward three levels for his acceptance of responsibility, resulted in a total
offense level of 37 and a Guidelines range of 210 to 262 months’ imprisonment.
Counsel explained it believed only a two-level, rather than a four-level, increase
was warranted under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c) for Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s role as a
leader and/or organizer because his conduct may not have involved five or more
participants and was not extensive, as required for a four-level increase under
§ 3B1.1(a). In support of the enhancement, government counsel explained Mr.
Reyes-Gonzales admitted to facts supporting an enhancement for his role as a
leader and/or organizer in his plea agreement and that, during his colloquy at the
hearing on this plea agreement, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales admitted those facts are true.
The government nevertheless presented the testimony of an agent involved
in the investigation who testified Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s residence was at the
center of the conspiracy to transport drugs and money between Mexico and
Colorado, and five months of surveillance and wiretap interception revealed he
gave orders, including to Mr. Tobar-Ortiz, on coordinating or facilitating the
transportation of drugs and money; instructions to his girlfriend, Ms. Rivera-
Torres, on how to distribute drugs and collect money when he was not at home;
hired at least one driver he paid to transport the drugs and money; and obtained
the vehicles used in the conspiracy. In describing the conspiracy, the detective
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explained, “Everything happened at Mr. [Reyes]-Gonzales’s residence in Bennett,
Colorado.”
The government also continued to move for a § 5K1.1 downward departure
for Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s substantial assistance, stating it was seeking a thirty
percent reduction of the Guidelines range under § 5K1.1 for substantial
assistance. As a result, it explained the Guidelines range of 210 to 262 months’
should be reduced to 147 to 183 months’ imprisonment and requested sentences
imposed at the low end of that range.
In sentencing Mr. Reyes-Gonzales, the district court determined the
conspiracy was substantial, involving a number of participants importing
substantial quantities of cocaine from Mexico and selling it to customers in
Colorado and elsewhere to the detriment of the community. 1 It then found, based
on a preponderance of the evidence, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales was an organizer or
leader of the criminal activity, as supported by the plea agreement itself,
including the fact he used his garage as the focal point for the receipt and
distribution of cocaine, and, together with Mr. Tobar-Ortiz, recruited drivers to
make the trips back and forth to Mexico. Besides Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s
1
In ruling on the government’s § 5K1.1 motion and rendering its sentence,
the district court stated it considered all the pertinent documents, including the
presentence report and addendum; Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s objection thereto; the
government’s motion for a downward departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1; the plea
agreement; Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s statements to the court; the witnesses’
testimony, including Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s son’s testimony; counsels’ arguments;
and the probation officer’s recommendation.
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stipulations in the plea agreement, it also pointed to other evidence corroborating
Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s role as an organizer or leader, including witness testimony,
stating:
We have fairly extensive testimony from Detective Browning,
including that, according to his investigation, which included video
surveillance and wiretap intercepts, among others, ... that everything
happened at [Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s] residence. ... [He] gave orders
and instructions to Gilbert [Tobar-]Ortiz regarding facilitation of the
importation of drugs from Mexico and the destination of the return
dollars.
The district court also credited the detective’s testimony that, based on his
investigation into the conspiracy, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales coordinated the vehicles,
paid drivers, and gave instructions to his girlfriend, Ms. Rivera-Torres. It noted
that while some conflicting evidence existed concerning Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s
qualification as a leader or organizer, such as his and others’ statements, it had
“no difficulty” finding, based on the “direct” and “circumstantial” evidence
submitted, that he qualified for the aggravating role enhancement.
While the district court noted its belief Mr. Reyes-Gonzales probably led or
organized five or more participants, it nevertheless stated it was “going to give
[him] the benefit of lenity and the benefit of the doubt” and impose only a two-
level increase for his role as a leader or organizer. Because Mr. Reyes-Gonzales
qualified as an organizer or leader, it also noted he was not eligible for the safety
valve reduction under U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(4). The district court then determined,
after a reduction for acceptance of responsibility, the offense level was 37,
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resulting in a Guidelines range of 210 to 262 months’ imprisonment.
It then stated it had considered the nature and circumstances of the offense,
including the fact he was a leader or organizer, dealt in very large amounts of
cocaine, and was extensively involved in a serious crime; and also considered his
history and characteristics, including his insignificant criminal history, the fact he
acquired permanent residence in the United States, raised a very nice and
articulate son, suffered the death of his wife, and had been gainfully employed as
a truck driver. It also noted that while he generally had shown respect for the
law, a need for punishment and deterrence existed, as well as safety, given
“[d]istribution of narcotics within our community is dangerous and a community
safety problem.” After this, and considering the government’s § 5K1.1 motion
for a thirty percent reduction in his sentence, the district court sentenced Mr.
Reyes-Gonzales, albeit “a little bit reluctantly,” to the low end of the Guidelines
range to concurrent 147-month sentences.
II. Discussion
On appeal, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales argues the district court erred in applying
the two-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c) for his alleged leadership
or organizational role in the offense, arguing “there was no valid finding that Mr.
Reyes-Gonzales supervised a subordinate participant in the conspiracy.”
Specifically, he contends no evidence established he supervised Mr. Tobar-Ortiz
or his girlfriend, Ms. Rivera-Torres, or that he organized or led Mr. Agayo-
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Montes (a driver), Mr. Antonio Ortiz (a driver), or Ms. Esperanza Ortiz (found
with Antonio Ortiz in the transportation of cocaine). With regard to the safety
valve reduction, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales provides little or no argument in support
thereof, other than to mention in his statement of the issues that the district court
“deemed [him] ineligible for ‘safety valve’ relief” after committing reversible
error in finding him an organizer or leader. The government contends Mr. Reyes-
Gonzales waived his right to appeal his sentence, as contained in his plea
agreement, and that his role as an organizer or leader is supported by the evidence
in the record.
In cases involving written plea agreements, we have adopted a three-prong
analysis for determining whether an appellate waiver is enforceable, in which we
examine whether: 1) the disputed appeal falls within the scope of the waiver of
appellate rights; 2) the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his appellate
rights; and 3) enforcing the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice. See
United States v. Rodriguez-Rivera, 518 F.3d 1208, 1214 (10 th Cir. 2008) (relying
on United States v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315, 1325 (10 th Cir. 2004) (en banc)). Under
the third prong, a miscarriage of justice occurs in situations where: 1) the district
court relied on impermissible factors, such as race; 2) ineffective assistance of
counsel resulted in connection with the negotiation of the waiver; 3) the sentence
exceeds the statutory maximum; or 4) the waiver is otherwise unlawful. See
Hahn, 359 F.3d at 1327. This list is exclusive, and an appellate waiver will not
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result in a miscarriage of justice unless one of these four situations occurs. See
United States v. Shockey, 538 F.3d 1355, 1357 (10 th Cir. 2008). As to the fourth
situation concerning a waiver being “otherwise unlawful,” we do not look to
“whether another aspect of the proceeding may have involved legal error,” but
look only “to whether the waiver is otherwise unlawful.” Id. (internal quotation
marks omitted).
Here, the record shows Mr. Reyes-Gonzales entered his plea agreement
knowingly and voluntarily and waived his right to appeal any matter in
connection with his sentence unless: 1) his sentence was above the maximum
statutory penalty; 2) the district court, after determining the otherwise applicable
Guidelines range, either departed or varied upwardly; or 3) it determined the
offense level was greater than 37 and imposed a sentence based on that
determination. None of these circumstances exist, nor has Mr. Reyes-Gonzales
shown enforcement of the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice or that
his appeal otherwise falls into one of the recognized waiver exceptions. For this
reason alone, Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s appeal fails.
Even if we considered Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s appeal on the merits, it would
still fail. 2 Guidelines § 3B1.1(c) recommends a two-level increase in a
2
We review sentences for reasonableness, including a procedural
component, encompassing the method by which a sentence was calculated, as well
as a substantive component, which relates to the length of the resulting sentence.
United States v. Smart, 518 F.3d 800, 802 (10 th Cir. 2008). In determining
(continued...)
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defendant’s offense level if he “was an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor”
in the criminal activity. In determining if a defendant qualifies as an organizer or
leader, the Guidelines recommend the sentencing court consider:
the exercise of decision making authority, the nature of participation
in the commission of the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, the
claimed right to a larger share of the fruits of the crime, the degree of
participation in planning or organizing the offense, the nature and
scope of the illegal activity, and the degree of control and authority
exercised over others. There can, of course, be more than one person
who qualifies as a leader or organizer of a criminal association or
conspiracy.
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1 cmt. n.4. In addition to the criteria in the commentary to
§ 3B1.1, we have held functioning as a “leader” requires control over underlings,
particularly in the form of recruitment and direction, while no control is necessary
to qualify as an “organizer.” United States v. Wardell, 591 F.3d 1279, 1304 (10 th
Cir. 2009). To qualify as an “organizer,” one need only devise “a criminal
scheme, providing the wherewithal to accomplish the criminal objective, and
2
(...continued)
whether the district court correctly calculated the recommended Guidelines range
through application of the Guidelines, we review de novo the district court’s legal
conclusions and any factual findings for clear error, giving due deference to the
district court’s application of the Guidelines to the facts. See United States v.
Kristl, 437 F.3d 1050, 1054 (10 th Cir. 2006). “We review for clear error the
district court’s finding that the defendant acted as a leader or organizer for the
purposes of § 3B1.1.” United States v. James, 592 F.3d 1109, 1113 (10 th Cir.
2010) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Under this standard, we will not
reverse the district court’s finding unless, on the entire evidence, we are left with
the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Id. (internal
quotation marks omitted). If a sentence is properly calculated and is within the
Guidelines range, it is entitled to a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness. See
Kristl, 437 F.3d at 1054.
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coordinating and overseeing the implementation of the conspiracy even though
the defendant may not have any hierarchical control over the other participants.”
Id.Here, the district court considered the criteria in Guidelines § 3B1.1 to
conclude Mr. Reyes-Gonzales qualified as a leader or organizer. In so doing, it
found the plea agreement itself established he used his garage as the focal point
for the receipt and distribution of cocaine and, together with Mr. Tobar-Ortiz,
coordinated at least two shipments of cocaine and recruited drivers to make the
trips back and forth to Mexico. It also relied on the testimony of the detective
who conducted an investigation into the conspiracy and testified, based on
surveillance and wiretapping, that everything happened at Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s
residence and that he coordinated the vehicles, paid drivers, and gave instructions
to his girlfriend on selling cocaine from his residence in his absence. While, as
Mr. Reyes-Gonzales argues, other evidence was offered disputing whether he
organized or led those in the conspiracy, it is evident the district court did not
credit such evidence and, instead, credited the government’s direct and
circumstantial evidence that he acted as a leader or organizer.
Given the comprehensive reasoning provided by the district court, we need
not repeat its discussion on the evidence in support of the enhancement applied,
other than to agree Mr. Reyes-Gonzales acted as a leader of at least one or more
participants in the conspiracy when he recruited and paid at least one driver, gave
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instructions to that driver, coordinated the shipments of cocaine involving drivers
and their vehicles, and directed his girlfriend on the sale of narcotics when he was
not at home. It is also evident he operated or managed the conspiracy by not only
providing the wherewithal to accomplish the criminal objective through the use of
his garage and obtaining vehicles but also coordinating and overseeing the
implementation of the conspiracy when he coordinated the vehicles and their
loads coming in and out of his garage. Cf. United States v. Lora-Solano, 330 F.3d
1288, 1295 (10 th Cir. 2003) (upholding managerial enhancement where
defendant’s home was center of criminal activity). For these reasons, the district
court did not err in its findings nor are we left with the definite and firm
conviction a mistake has been committed. Nor did the district court err in
concluding Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s role as an organizer or leader in the conspiracy
disqualified him for a safety valve reduction. See U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(4).
Because Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s concurrent sentences are correctly
calculated, they are procedurally reasonable. Because his sentence is within the
applicable Guidelines range, we apply a presumption of substantive
reasonableness which Mr. Reyes-Gonzales has failed to rebut in light of the
sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
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III. Conclusion
For these reasons, we AFFIRM Mr. Reyes-Gonzales’s concurrent 147-
month sentences.
Entered by the Court:
WADE BRORBY
United States Circuit Judge
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