United States v. Kerome Lendon Paisley

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED
________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
No. 04-10507 APR 28, 2006
________________________ THOMAS K. KAHN
CLERK
D. C. Docket No. 03-00074-FTM-29-DNF
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
KEROME LENDON PAISLEY,
DAMEON FITZGERALD MILLER.
JASON JONES,
GARY LIVINGSTON ALLEN,
Defendants-Appellants.
________________________
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Florida
_________________________
(April 28, 2006)
Before BIRCH and WILSON, Circuit Judges, and ROYAL*, District Judge.
PER CURIAM:
*
Honorable C. Ashley Royal, United States District Judge for the Middle District of
Georgia, sitting by designation.
The appellants, Kerome Paisley, Gary Allen, Jason Jones, and Dameon
Miller were convicted by a jury for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at
least five kilograms of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and
841(b)(1)(A)(ii), and with using and carrying a firearm and possessing a firearm in
furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Paisley,
Allen, and Miller were also convicted of possessing a firearm after being convicted
of a felony in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); and Allen, Jones, and Miller were
convicted of possessing a firearm as aliens unlawfully in the United States, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5).
The district court, following the law at the time, sentenced Appellants under
a mandatory application of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines”).
The court sentenced Paisley to 420 months imprisonment; Miller to 248 months
imprisonment; Jones to 211 months imprisonment; and Allen to life plus 60 months
imprisonment. The court also sentenced each to five years supervised release.
Appellants appeal their convictions and their sentences. They raise the
following errors:
(1) That the district court erroneously denied Miller’s, Jones’s and Allen’s
motions for judgment of acquittal based on insufficient evidence;
(2) That Jones’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request a jury
instruction;
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(3) That the district court erroneously failed to instruct the jury on sentence
entrapment, sentence manipulation, and outrageous government conduct;
(4) That in sentencing Miller, the district court erroneously assessed him one
criminal history point for a prior conviction because the documentation
evidencing the conviction was not certified in accordance with Fed.R.Evid.
1005; and
(5) That the district court erroneously sentenced Paisley, Jones and Allen in
violation of Blakely/Booker.
We affirm.
Background
This case arises out of a government-created reverse sting operation in
which an undercover government agent, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Special Agent Richard Zayas, posed as a disgruntled courier for a Colombian drug
cartel. Zayas represented that he was looking for persons to assist him in robbing
his employers and initiated a plan to rob his employer’s fictitious "stash house"
supposedly housing 20 to 30 kilograms of cocaine and large amounts of cash.
At Zayas' request, a confidential informant (“CI”) introduced Zayas to
Rohan McKay, an individual suspected of being involved with home invasion
robberies in Florida. Zayas informed McKay that the stash house was guarded by
two men, at least one of whom was armed, and contained 20 to 30 kilograms of
cocaine and large amounts of cash. McKay joined with Zayas and the CI to rob
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the stash house. In discussions regarding details of the robbery, it was decided
that McKay would secure a “crew” to assist in robbing the stash house of the
cocaine and cash. It was also planned that McKay, his “crew,” and the CI were to
meet Zayas on May 30, 2003, at a Super 8 Motel in Naples, Florida, from which
they would leave to rob the stash house.
Needing a crew to help rob the stash house, McKay called on the services of
a friend McKay knew had experience in this kind of crime to assist him in
recruiting “experienced people” to help carry out the robbery. That friend called
on Appellant Paisley. Paisley met twice with McKay to go over the details of the
robbery. McKay testified at trial that he told Paisley about the plans to rob the
stash house, specifically stating that they would steal about “30 kilos of coke” and
“about a couple hundred thousand in cash.” Paisley agreed to participate in the
robbery. Paisley brought two of his associates, Appellants Miller and Jones, to
these two initial meetings with McKay. During both meetings, Miller and Jones
stayed in another vehicle while Paisley discussed the details of the robbery with
McKay. McKay testified he never discussed the robbery details with Miller and
Jones.
The morning after Paisley met with McKay, McKay and the CI met with
Paisley and the three other appellants, Miller, Jones and Allen. After stopping at a
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nearby Home Depot for “tie straps” to use as handcuffs, the six then drove to
Naples, Florida in order to meet Zayas at the Super 8 Motel parking lot. McKay
and the CI led in his car, and the four Appellants followed in Paisley’s van. Upon
arrival at the motel, Paisley pulled in near the motel office where Appellant Jones
left the van and went inside the motel lobby, engaging in tactics federal agents
testified were consistent with “counter surveillance.”
While Jones was “casing” the lobby, Paisley parked the van close to Zayas,
who was already parked at the motel. Once Paisley was parked, Zayas got out of
his car and went to the van to discuss the robbery plans with Paisley, Miller, and
Allen. Zayas specifically told the three that there would be two men at the stash
house, that there were 25 to 30 "keys of coke," and explained that when they got
there, one of the two men at the stash house would go back to get the cocaine
while the other would stay with Zayas. Zayas finally stated, "we're going to split it
even, right? Is that cool with all you guys?" No one in the van protested, acted
surprised, or asked for clarification. Zayas looked at each occupant and confirmed
that each one was “straight” with the plan.
After confirming Paisley, Allen, and Miller were “straight” with the plan,
Zayas walked toward the motel lobby and encountered Appellant Jones walking
toward the van. Zayas asked if Jones was "with these guys," and then told Jones
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the robbery plan–that there would be two guys at the house, that one guy had a
gun, the other did not, and that "there's 20 to 25 keys of coke in there." Zayas
asked Jones if he was "cool" and stated, "we're splitting the coke even, bro." Jones
answered "all right."
Immediately after Zayas’s conversation with Jones, law enforcement agents
moved in to arrest McKay and the four Appellants. As the agents moved in,
Appellant Allen attempted to flee but was brought down to the ground with rubber
bullets. A loaded firearm fell from Allen’s waistband, and agents seized a two-
way radio. Agents also seized a two-way radio from Paisley along with a knife.
Agents seized loaded handguns from both Jones and Miller. A search of the van
revealed multiple guns, ammunition, and a blue duffel bag containing flex cuffs
and duct tape.
McKay pled guilty and testified at trial for the government against Paisley,
Miller, Allen, and Jones. A jury found all Appellants guilty as charged.
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Appellants Allen, Miller, and Jones each appeal the district court's denial of
their motions for judgment of acquittal arguing that the evidence was insufficient
to uphold their convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five
kilograms or more of cocaine. We review the district court's denial of a judgment
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of acquittal de novo, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
government, with all reasonable inferences and credibility determinations made in
the government's favor. United States v. Lyons, 53 F.3d 1198, 1200 (11th Cir.
1995). "In order to uphold the district court's denial of a judgment of acquittal and
the jury’s guilty verdict, this Court need conclude only that a reasonable fact
finder could have found that the evidence established the defendant's guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt." Id.In order to sustain Miller’s, Jones’s, and Allen’s convictions for conspiracy
to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, we must find
that the government offered sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that (1) an illegal agreement existed to possess with the intent to distribute
cocaine; (2) the defendant knew of this agreement; and (3) the defendant
knowingly and voluntarily joined the agreement. United States v. Charles, 313
F.3d 1278, 1284 (11th Cir. 2002). In order to satisfy its burden, “the government
need not prove that the defendant knew all of the details or participated in every
aspect of the conspiracy. Rather, the government must only prove that the
defendant knew the essential nature of the conspiracy.” United States v. Garcia,
405 F.3d 1260, 1269 (11th Cir. 2005) (quotations and citation omitted). Whether
the defendant knowingly volunteered to join the conspiracy “may be proven by
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direct or circumstantial evidence, including inferences from the conduct of the
alleged participants or from the circumstantial evidence of a scheme.” Id.(quotations and citation omitted).
Although circumstantial evidence may be used in proving a conspiracy,
more than mere presence at the scene of the crime must be shown. United States
v. Jenkins, 779 F.2d 606, 609 (11th Cir. 1986). However, a jury may find
knowledgeable, voluntary participation from presence when the presence is such
that it would be unreasonable for anyone other than a knowledgeable participant to
be present. United States v. Lynch, 934 F.2d 1226, 1231 (11th Cir. 1991). Though
a showing of knowing participation is required, “culpable participation need not
be great.” Lyons, 53 F.3d at 1201. “Guilt may exist even when the defendant
plays only a minor role and does not know all the details of the conspiracy.” Id.With these principles in mind, and when viewed in the light most favorable
to the government, the evidence in the record is sufficient to uphold each of
Miller’s, Jones’s and Allen’s convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The jury heard evidence that McKay
was looking for “experienced people” to assist in robbing the stash house of
cocaine and cash. In response to his need for “experienced people,” McKay was
introduced to Paisley with whom McKay met and discussed the details of the
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robbery. The day after meeting with McKay, Paisley drove Miller, Jones, and
Allen in his van, loaded with several guns and ammunition to Naples, Florida, to
meet Zayas. Based on this evidence, the jury could have concluded that Miller,
Jones and Allen were three of the “experienced people” recruited to rob the stash
house of the cocaine. Furthermore, in assessing the evidence that the four
Appellants drove together in a van loaded with guns and ammunition to Naples,
Florida, a reasonable jury could infer that Paisley discussed the details of the
robbery with his passengers, Miller, Jones, and Allen. While an inference of a
defendant’s participation from his presence and association with conspirators
alone does not suffice to convict him, the inference is “a material and probative
factor that the jury may consider in reaching its verdict.” Lynch, 53 F.3d at 1201.
(citing United States v. Iglesias, 915 F.2d 1524, 1527 (11th Cir. 1990)).
In addition to the evidence stated above, the evidence specific to Appellant
Miller justifies the Court’s conclusion that the evidence is sufficient to establish
Miller’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Although he was unable to hear the
initial conversations between Paisley and McKay, Miller was present during the
two initial meetings in which Paisley met with McKay to discuss the plan to rob
the stash house. More importantly, Miller was present in the van when Zayas
discussed the plans for the robbery, specifically stating that they were going to
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evenly split the 20 to 30 kilograms of cocaine. Miller neither protested nor acted
surprised when Zayas spoke to them and indicated to Zayas he was “straight” with
the plan. From this evidence alone the jury could have concluded that Miller
knew that the essential nature of the conspiracy was to rob the stash house for the
cocaine. When combined with the evidence that Miller was associated with
Paisley, that he traveled in Paisley’s van loaded with guns and ammunition with
three other men including Paisley, and that authorities seized a loaded handgun
from Miller upon arrest, a rational jury had sufficient evidence to find beyond a
reasonable doubt that Miller knowingly and voluntarily joined the conspiracy to
rob the stash house of 20 to 30 kilograms of cocaine.
Likewise, the evidence is sufficient to uphold Jones’s conviction for
conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Like Miller, Jones was present at the two initial meetings in which Paisley met
with McKay to discuss the details of the robbery. Unlike Miller, Jones was not
present in the van when Zayas set forth the details of the robbery; Jones was
“casing” the lobby. However, Jones had his own encounter with Zayas during
which Zayas asked if Jones was with “these guys” and explained that there would
be two “guys” at the stash house, one with a gun, one without a gun and that there
would be 20 to 25 “keys” in the house. Jones responded “all right” and asked if
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Zayas had talked with the others. Zayas stated that “we’re splitting the coke even
bro” to which Jones again responded “all right.” From this conversation, a
reasonable jury could have concluded that Jones knew the essential nature of the
conspiracy was to rob the stash house of the cocaine and confirmed his prior
commitment to the plan. In addition, there was other circumstantial evidence that
a rational jury could have considered as sufficient evidence that Jones knowingly
and voluntarily joined the conspiracy–that Jones engaged in tactics that federal
agents testified were consistent with “counter-surveillance,” that he was an
associate of Paisley, that he was present in a van with three other men, traveling to
Naples, Florida, loaded with guns and ammunition, and that Jones himself was
found by agents carrying a loaded semiautomatic firearm.
We also conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support Appellant
Allen’s conviction. Unlike Miller and Jones, Allen was not present during
Paisley’s first two initial meetings with McKay. Although Allen became involved
later than Miller and Jones, a defendant may be found guilty of conspiracy even if
he did not join it until after its inception, and even if he played only a minor role in
the total scheme. United States v. Guerra, 293 F.3d 1279, 1285 (11th Cir. 2002)
(citing United States v. Alvarez, 625 F.2d 1196, 1198 (5th Cir. 1980)). Allen was
present in the front passenger seat of the van when Zayas set forth the plans for the
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robbery and stated that they were all going to evenly split the 20 to 30 kilograms
of cocaine. Allen neither protested nor act surprised and indicated to Zayas he
was “straight” with the plan. From this evidence alone the jury could have
concluded that Allen knew that the essential nature of the conspiracy was to rob
the stash house for the cocaine. When combined with the other circumstantial
evidence showing Miller’s association with Paisley, his presence in the van loaded
with guns and ammunition traveling to Naples, Florida, with three other men,
Allen’s attempt to flee when law enforcement agents entered the scene, and his
possession of a loaded handgun and a two-way radio that matched the radio seized
from Paisley, a rational jury had sufficient evidence to conclude beyond a
reasonable doubt that Allen knowingly and voluntarily joined the conspiracy to
rob the stash house of 20 to 30 kilograms of cocaine.
II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Appellant Jones argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance
of counsel by failing to request a jury instruction concerning the legal
impossibility of conspiring with a government agent. See e.g., U.S. v. Kelly, 888
F.2d 732, 740 (11th Cir. 1989) (“it is legally impossible to conspire with a
government agent or informant who actually aims to frustrate the conspiracy.”).
This Court generally does not consider ineffective assistance of counsel claims on
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direct appeal “as there usually has been insufficient opportunity to develop the
record pertaining to the merits of these claims.” United States v. Andrews, 953
F.2d 1312, 1327 (11th Cir. 1992). We conclude that the record in this case is not
sufficient to adequately develop the merits of Jones’s ineffective assistance of
counsel claim, and therefore we do not reach the merits in this appeal.
III. Outrageous Government Conduct, Sentence Manipulation, Sentence
Entrapment
Paisley, Allen, and Jones argue that, in light of the Supreme Court’s
decision in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d
403 (2004), the district court erroneously failed to instruct the jury sua sponte on
outrageous government conduct, sentence manipulation and sentence entrapment.2
Appellants also argue that the district court erred at sentencing because the drug
amount upon which each their offense levels were based–21 to 30
kilograms–resulted from sentence manipulation and sentence entrapment. This
Court in United States v. Sanchez, 138 F.3d 1410 (11th Cir. 1998), rejected the
2
Outrageous government conduct is a “defense that focuses on the tactics employed by
law enforcement officials to obtain a conviction for conduct beyond the defendant’s
predisposition.” United States v. Sanchez, 138 F.3d 1410, 1413 (11th Cir. 1998). Sentence
manipulation focuses on the government’s conduct and requires courts “to consider whether the
manipulation inherent in a sting operation, even if insufficiently oppressive to support an
entrapment defense, or due process claim, must sometimes be filtered out of the sentencing
calculus.” Id. at 1414. Finally, sentence entrapment is the claim that “a defendant, although
predisposed to commit a minor or lessor offense, is entrapped into committing a greater offense
subject to greater punishment.” Id.13
availability of the use of sentence entrapment, sentence manipulation, and
outrageous government conduct, in a case almost identical to the one at hand.
However, Paisley, Allen, and Jones argue that our decision in Sanchez has been
overturned by the Supreme Court’s decision in Blakely, and therefore the jury
verdict against Appellants should be reversed.
Appellants have failed to articulate any connection between Blakely and
Sanchez that would require us to revisit our holding in Sanchez. Blakely, and the
Supreme Court’s later decision in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125
S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), do not address pre-sentence issues like the
ones involved in Sanchez. Blakely and Booker concern constitutional limits on
judicial authority at sentencing and do not otherwise overrule Sanchez. Sanchez
remains good law.
Therefore, the case at hand is directly controlled by our decision in Sanchez.
In Sanchez, several defendants were charged with drug conspiracy crimes arising
out of a government-created reverse sting operation in which the defendants
agreed to invade and steal drugs from a fictitious stash house they were told
contained illegal drugs. Sanchez, 138 F.3d at 1412. The defendants argued
outrageous government conduct and sentence manipulation on the basis that there
were no actual drugs involved and the amount for which they were sentenced was
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set by a government informant. Id. at 1413. This Court found that outrageous
government conduct, while a viable defense in theory, was not shown in Sanchez
or in any other case heard by this Court, and that it would require a showing that
“government involvement in a criminal scheme [was] so pervasive that it would be
a constitutional violation.” Id. This Court stated that “[t]he fact that the
government’s fictitious reverse sting operation involved a large quantity of drugs
does not amount to the type of manipulative governmental conduct warranting a
downward departure in sentencing.” Id. at 1414. We further held that sentencing
entrapment is not recognized as a viable defense as a matter of law. Id.Therefore, Appellants’ arguments are foreclosed by our decision in Sanchez.
IV. Rules of Evidence at Sentencing
At Appellant Miller’s sentencing hearing the probation officer entered into
evidence copies of a non-certified probable cause arrest affidavit and a non-
certified state sentencing order as evidence of a prior drug conviction. Miller
argues the district court erroneously relied on these non-certified documents in
assessing him one additional criminal history point because the documents did not
comply with Fed.R.Evid. 1005. Miller’s argument is without merit.
The Federal Rules of Evidence do not apply at sentencing proceedings. See
Fed.R.Evid. 1101(d)(3). A district judge may rely on a document at sentencing as
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long as it is reliable. United States v. Lynch, 934 F.2d 1226, 1236 (11th Cir. 1991)
(“In resolving any reasonable dispute concerning a factor important to the
sentencing determination, the court may consider relevant information without
regard to its admissibility under the rules of evidence at trial, provided that the
information has sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy.”).
Miller does not argue that the documents relied upon by the district court were
unreliable.
V. Blakely/Booker Sentencing Issues
Paisley, Jones, and Allen raise for the first time on appeal several arguments
that their sentences were imposed in violation of Blakely. While the instant appeal
was pending, the Supreme Court decided Booker, wherein the Court extended the
holding in Blakely to the Guidelines; therefore we consider this appeal under
Booker as well.3
Because the appellants did not raise any constitutional objection to
application of the Guidelines in the district court, we review only for plain error.
3
In their briefs, written before the Supreme Court’s decision in Booker, the Appellants
argued that Blakely rendered the Guidelines unconstitutional. This argument has been foreclosed
by Booker. The Supreme Court in Booker determined that it was the binding nature of the
Guidelines that violated the Sixth Amendment. The Court then excised the provisions of the
Sentencing Reform Act making the Guidelines mandatory and providing for de novo review of
sentences on appeal and, in doing so, effectively made the Guidelines advisory. Booker at 245-
246.
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United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir. 2005). To satisfy the
plain error test, we must find that the district court committed (1) error, (2) that is
plain, and (3) that affects the defendants’ substantial rights. Id. If these three
criteria are met, this Court may, in its discretion, correct the plain error if it (4)
“seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial
proceedings.” Id.We have stated there are two types of Booker error: (1) constitutional error
or Sixth Amendment error–the error of imposing sentence enhancements (other
than prior convictions) that were neither admitted to by the defendant nor found by
jury under a mandatory application of the guidelines; and (2) statutory error–the
error of sentencing a defendant under a mandatory guidelines scheme even in the
absence of a Sixth Amendment enhancement violation. United States v. Williams,
139 Fed. Appx. 215, 218 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam) (citing United States v.
Shelton, 400 F.3d 1325, 1330-31 (11th Cir. 2005)). If either constitutional or
statutory error is found when the district court applies the guidelines as mandatory,
that error is plain because it is contrary to the law at the time of the appeal. Id.(citing Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1299).
Here, because the district court applied the Guidelines as mandatory when
sentencing each of the Appellants, it is clear there was plain error and that the first
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two prongs of the test are met. It is therefore the third prong of the plain error
test–that the error must affect the defendants’ substantial rights–that must be
analyzed. To meet this third prong of the test is a heavy burden. The appellants
must show that “there is a reasonable probability of a different result if the
guidelines had been applied in an advisory instead of binding fashion by the
sentencing judge in this case.” Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1301; see also Shelton, 400
F.3d at 1332. If there is no evidence in the record showing that sentencing judge
would have reached a different result, the appellants have not met their burden of
showing that their substantial rights have been affected and the plain error test
fails. Id.Paisley
Paisley claims the district court committed two Blakely/Booker errors that
entitle him to be resentenced: (1) that the district court erroneously enhanced his
sentence for his role in the conspiracy as a manager or supervisor pursuant to
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b), and (2) that the district court erroneously enhanced his
sentence based on a drug quantity that was not alleged in the indictment nor
proven to a jury. As to the second argument, Paisley specifically contends that
the district court erred under Blakely/Booker by basing his offense level under the
guidelines upon 21 to 30 kilograms of cocaine when the jury found only that he
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was responsible for more than 5 kilograms. Paisley contends that because both the
manager/supervisor role enhancement and the drug quantity enhancement were
neither admitted by Paisley nor proven to a jury, such enhancements were applied
in violation of Blakely, and he is therefore entitled to be retried and/or
resentenced. Paisley’s argument fails.
Paisley satisfies the first two prongs of the plain error test: the district court
applied both enhancements under a mandatory application of the guidelines based
on findings made by the judge that went beyond the facts admitted by Paisley (he
objected to both enhancements in the presentence investigation report) or found by
a jury, and therefore committed both statutory and constitutional Booker error;
these errors are plain. See Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1298-1299. However, Paisley
is not entitled to be resentenced because he has not met his burden in proving the
third prong of the plain error test.
Specifically, Paisley has neither alleged nor shown that he would have
received a lesser sentence had the district court considered the guidelines advisory
as opposed to mandatory. Moreover, the record does not show that the district
court would have been inclined to have imposed a lesser sentence but for the then-
mandatory nature of the guidelines. Paisley, therefore, has not met his burden of
showing a reasonable probability that the result of his sentencing would have been
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different but for the Booker error, and this Court need not apply the fourth prong
of the plain error test. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1301.
Paisley also contends that only the jury may determine the exact amount of
drugs to be attributed to the defendant. This is not the case. The constitutional
Booker error is not the district court’s finding as to drug quantity. Rather the
constitutional error is the district court’s use of that drug quantity in a mandatory
guideline scheme. It is settled that the district court may enhance sentences based
on judicial factfinding of drug quantity. See id. at 1296.
Jones
Jones also argues for the first time on appeal that he should be resentenced
because the district court erroneously enhanced his sentence based on a drug
quantity that was not alleged in the indictment nor proven to a jury in violation of
Blakely/Booker. Like Paisley, Jones satisfies the first two prongs of the plain
error test: the district court’s mandatory application of the Guidelines based upon
the 21 to 30 kilogram drug amount that was not admitted by Jones (he objected to
the drug amount in his PSI report) nor proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt
is constitutional Booker error, and that error is now plain. See Rodriguez, 398
F.3d at 1299. However, Jones fails to satisfy the third prong of the plain error test.
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Specifically, Jones has not proven and the record does not show that he
would have received a lower sentence had the district court considered the
guidelines advisory as opposed to mandatory. He has not met his burden of
showing a reasonable probability that the result of his sentencing would have been
different but for the Booker error, and this Court need not apply the fourth prong
of the plain error test.
Allen
Allen contends he is entitled to be resentenced based on two
Blakely/Booker errors: (1) that the district court erroneously failed to grant him a
downward departure for minimal role pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(B), and (2)
that the district court erroneously enhanced his sentence based on a drug quantity
that was not alleged in the indictment nor proven to a jury. Allen’s arguments also
fail.
In sentencing Allen, the district court did not commit constitutional Booker
error because Allen did not object to his offense level being based on a 21 to 30
kilogram drug amount. The district court did, however, commit statutory Booker
error in sentencing Allen under a mandatory application of the Guidelines.
Nevertheless, Allen is not entitled to be resentenced because the district court
sentenced him to the statutory mandatory minimum sentence. While the record
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does reflect that the Judge had reservations in imposing a life sentence on Allen,
the life sentence is a statutory mandatory minimum under 21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(A)(ii) due to Allen’s criminal history. District courts are still bound by
statutory minimum sentences after Booker. Shelton, 400 F.3d at 1333 n.10. The
statutory Booker error in this instance is harmless because the court can not
impose a lesser sentence due to the statutory minimum. See United States v. Raad,
406 F.3d 1322, 1323, n.1 (2005); see also Shelton, 400 F.3d at 1331 n.7 (“Booker
error is subject to both harmless-error and plain-error review and for that reason
does not always require a remand, and often will not.”).
AFFIRMED.
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