United States v. Justin Pooler

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 10-1848
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
JUSTIN LELAND POOLER,
Appellant
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On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. No. 09-cr-00398-001)
District Judge: Honorable Juan R. Sanchez
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Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
April 26, 2011
Before: BARRY, HARDIMAN and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges
(Filed: April 27, 2011)
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OPINION OF THE COURT
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HARDIMAN, Circuit Judge.
Justin Leland Pooler appeals from his judgment of conviction and sentence. We
will affirm.
I
Because we write for the parties, we recount only those facts necessary for our
decision. We view the facts in the light most favorable to the Government as the verdict
winner. United States v. Abbott, 574 F.3d 203, 204 n.1 (3d Cir. 2009).
On the evening of April 7, 2009, Pooler, David Macon, Jr., and Jaquay Roane1
robbed the Crown Chicken Restaurant in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Roane and Macon
entered the restaurant wearing hooded sweatshirts, while Pooler stood outside as a
lookout. During the robbery, Roane brandished a semi-automatic handgun that had been
provided to him by Pooler, while Macon removed $190 from one of the cash registers.
Macon attempted to open a second register, but was unsuccessful. Macon and Roane
exited the restaurant and, along with Pooler, fled to a mutual friend‟s home. After
arriving at their friend‟s home, they divided the proceeds of the robbery and, later that
evening, Roane returned the firearm to Pooler.
The following day, Roane and Pooler were walking in Coatesville, when they
noticed police activity nearby. Upon observing the police, Pooler slid the firearm that had
been used during the robbery into the pocket of Roane‟s sweatshirt. Shortly thereafter, a
police officer approached the pair and asked them for identification. Roane attempted to
flee, but was quickly apprehended by the police. During the struggle, the handgun
1
At the time of the robbery, Pooler and Macon had achieved the age of majority,
but Roane was seventeen years old.
2
slipped out of his sweatshirt pocket, and was recovered by the officers.
After Roane was arrested, he told the police that he, Pooler, and Macon were
responsible for the April 7th robbery of the Crown Chicken Restaurant. Roane stated that
Pooler had proposed robbing the restaurant and had given Roane the firearm. Two days
after Roane‟s confession, Macon was interviewed and confirmed Roane‟s account of the
incident. The police interviewed Pooler regarding his whereabouts on the evening of the
robbery, and he claimed that he had been at home. His mother, however, reported that
she had been home on the evening of the robbery and Pooler had not been in the house.
In June 2009, a grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Pooler and
Macon with conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) (Count I); interference with interstate commerce by robbery, and
aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951(a) and 2 (Count II); and carrying
and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and aiding and abetting,
in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1) and 2 (Count III). Pooler pleaded not guilty and
proceeded to trial.2 After a two-day jury trial, during which Macon and Roane testified
against him, Pooler was convicted of Counts I and II, and acquitted of Count III. At
sentencing, the District Court imposed a within-Guidelines sentence of 96 months
2
Macon pleaded guilty to all counts alleged in the indictment, and entered into a
plea agreement in which he agreed to testify against Pooler in exchange for consideration
at his sentencing. Roane pleaded guilty to robbery and related offenses in the Chester
3
imprisonment, three years of supervised release, restitution of $190, a fine of $1,500, and
a special assessment of $200. This appeal followed.
II
Pooler challenges both his conviction and sentence. We examine each in turn.3
A
Pooler challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction for
Count I, conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, and Count II,
interference with interstate commerce by robbery.
“Where, as here, a defendant does not preserve the issue of sufficiency of the
evidence by making a timely motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of the
evidence, this Court reviews the sufficiency of the evidence for plain error.” United
States v. Mornan, 413 F.3d 372, 381 (3d Cir. 2005); FED. R. CRIM. P. 52(b). “Under plain
error review, the defendant bears the burden of establishing that the error prejudiced the
jury‟s verdict.” United States v. Wolfe, 245 F.3d 257, 261 (3d Cir. 2001) (citing United
States v. Turcks, 41 F.3d 893, 898 (3d Cir. 1994)). “A conviction based on insufficient
evidence is plain error only if the verdict „constitutes a fundamental miscarriage of
justice.‟” United States v. Thayer, 201 F.3d 214, 219 (3d Cir. 1999) (quoting United
County Court of Common Pleas.
3
The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have
appellate jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742.
4
States v. Barel, 939 F.2d 26, 37 (3d Cir. 1991)).
Pooler argues that the evidence was insufficient to show that he participated in the
robbery of the Crown Chicken Restaurant. He claims that “[a]ll that the Government
proved, at best, was that [he] was present outside of the [restaurant] when one co-
defendant entered the store with a gun and pointed it at hapless individuals and another
co-defendant entered the store and emptied a cash register.” Appellant‟s Br. 22. Pooler‟s
argument is unavailing. At trial, Macon and Roane testified that Pooler devised the plan
for the robbery and acted as a lookout while it took place. Surveillance footage from the
restaurant corroborated their account of the incident, and showed that Pooler entered the
restaurant shortly before the robbery in an apparent effort to gather information about the
location. Although Pooler claims that the testimony of his accomplices was not credible,
in reviewing a sufficiency claim “[w]e do not weigh the evidence or determine the
credibility of the witness.” United States v. Jones, 566 F.3d 353, 361 (3d Cir. 2009).
Rather, we must affirm a verdict if “any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. Under these
circumstances, we hold that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that Pooler
participated in the robbery.
Pooler also argues that there was insufficient evidence to show that he conspired to
rob the restaurant. “[I]n order for us to sustain [Pooler‟s] conviction for conspiracy, the
government must have put forth evidence tending to prove that [he] entered into an
5
agreement and knew that the agreement had the specific unlawful purpose charged in the
indictment.” United States v. Reyeros, 537 F.3d 270, 278 (3d Cir. 2008) (internal
quotation marks omitted). Pooler contends that, “[w]hile there may have been talk of
robbing a store, there is no proof which would have established that [he] actually joined
the agreement.” Appellant‟s Br. 26. Pooler‟s assertion is belied by the evidence. At trial,
both Macon and Roane testified that Pooler not only knew of the robbery, but instigated
it. Moreover, Pooler played an active role in the crime by acting as a lookout while his
accomplices robbed the restaurant. Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to
the Government, we hold that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury‟s
conclusion that Pooler was guilty of conspiracy.4
B
Pooler also challenges the procedural and substantive reasonableness of his
sentence. We review the reasonableness of a sentence for an abuse of discretion. United
States v. Merced, 603 F.3d 203, 214 (3d Cir. 2010). We exercise plenary review over the
District Court‟s interpretation of the Guidelines, and review its factual findings for clear
4
Pooler also seeks a new trial, arguing that the jury‟s verdict was against the
weight of the evidence. Because Pooler failed to file a post-trial motion for a new trial in
the District Court, this issue has been waived on appeal. See Eberhart v. United States,
546 U.S. 12, 18-19 (2005). Even if we assume that Pooler had not waived this claim, a
new trial is only proper where “the record shows that the jury verdict resulted in a
miscarriage of justice or where the verdict, on the record, cries out to be overturned or
shocks our conscience.” Williamson v. Consol. Rail Corp., 926 F.2d 1344, 1353 (3d Cir.
1991). On this record, there is no basis for such an extraordinary form of relief.
6
error. United States v. Grier, 475 F.3d 556, 570 (3d Cir. 2007) (en banc). As the
challenging party, Pooler bears the burden of proving that his sentence is unreasonable.
United States v. King, 454 F.3d 187, 194 (3d Cir. 2006).
Pooler first contends that the District Court erred in denying his request for a two-
level downward adjustment for being a minor participant in the criminal activity pursuant
to USSG § 3B1.2(b). The Guidelines define a “minor participant” as a defendant “who is
less culpable than most other participants, but whose role could not be described as
minimal.” USSG § 3B1.2 app. n.5. Pooler argues that, because he stood outside while
Macon and Roane committed the robbery, his role in the crime was relatively
insignificant. We have previously stated that “district courts are allowed broad discretion
in applying [the minor participant adjustment], and their rulings are left largely
undisturbed by the courts of appeal.” United States v. Isaza-Zapata, 148 F.3d 236, 238
(3d Cir. 1998). In the instant case, the District Court heard testimony from Macon and
Roane that Pooler had been the original proponent of robbing the restaurant. Moreover,
as discussed above, Pooler actively participated in the commission of the robbery by
acting as a lookout. Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err in denying
Pooler‟s request for a downward adjustment.
Pooler next argues that the District Court erred in imposing a two-level
enhancement for using Roane, who was a minor at the time of the offense, to commit a
crime. Section 3B1.4 provides that “[i]f the defendant used or attempted to use a person
7
less than eighteen years of age to commit the offense or assist in avoiding detection of, or
apprehension for, the offense, increase by 2 levels.” The Guidelines define “[u]sed or
attempted to use” as “directing, commanding, encouraging, intimidating, counseling,
training, procuring, recruiting, or soliciting.” Id. app. n.1. We have previously held that
“some affirmative act is necessary beyond mere partnership in order to implicate §
3B1.4.” United States v. Pojilenko, 416 F.3d 243, 247 (3d Cir. 2005). Pooler argues that
Roane was a voluntary participant in the offense, and that he did not engage in an
affirmative act to secure Roane‟s complicity. Pooler‟s argument is contradicted by the
evidence. At trial, Roane testified Pooler initially suggested robbing the restaurant, and
recruited Roane and Macon to help him. Based on this testimony, the District Court
correctly found that Pooler had encouraged Roane to participate in the robbery.
Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err in applying the enhancement
pursuant to § 3B1.4.
Finally, Pooler argues that his 96-month sentence is substantively unreasonable. In
evaluating a challenge to the substantive reasonableness of a sentence, we must affirm
“unless no reasonable sentencing court would have imposed the same sentence on that
particular defendant for the reasons the district court provided.” United States v. Tomko,
562 F.3d 558, 568 (3d Cir. 2009) (en banc). Based on his convictions and criminal
history, Pooler was subject to a Guidelines range of 87 to 108 months imprisonment. At
sentencing, Pooler argued that, due to his youth and the lack of sophistication of his
8
crime, a sentence at the low end of the Guidelines would be “sufficient but not greater
than necessary, to comply with the purposes” of sentencing. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). The
District Court rejected this argument, noting Pooler‟s extensive history of juvenile
adjudications and the seriousness of the crime he committed. Moreover, the Court
reasoned that the use of a gun and Pooler‟s scouting of the location displayed a level of
sophistication that undermined Pooler‟s argument for leniency. Based on these factors,
the Court determined that a sentence in the middle of the Guidelines range was
appropriate. Our review of the record reveals adequate support for the District Court‟s
conclusion and accordingly, we find Pooler‟s sentence to be substantively reasonable.5
III
Based on the foregoing, we will affirm Pooler‟s convictions and sentence.
5
Pooler also argues that the District Court acted unreasonably in imposing a
$1,500 fine against him. Pooler failed to object to the amount of the fine at sentencing;
therefore, we review his claim for plain error. United States v. Torres, 209 F.3d 308, 313
(3d Cir. 2000). At sentencing, the District Court found that Pooler did not have the
ability to pay a fine within his Guidelines range of $12,500 to $125,000. Consequently,
the Court imposed a fine of $1,500 and informed Pooler that he could participate in the
Bureau of Prisons‟ Inmate Financial Responsibility Program to help pay down the fine.
Our review of the record reveals that the District Court adequately considered Pooler‟s
financial characteristics and acted reasonably in imposing the fine. Accordingly, we
reject Pooler‟s claim.
9