United States v. Steven Peterson

UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
No. 95-5407
STEVEN DESMOND PETERSON, a/k/a
Primo,
Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
No. 95-5449
CHARLES EDWARD HERRING, JR., a/k/a
Foo Foo, a/k/a Charles Edward
Johnson,
Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. No. 95-5518
ANTHONY LAVON MILES, a/k/a Tony,
Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
No. 95-5519
SHANE FELLS, a/k/a Q, a/k/a Quasim
Yusef Johnson,
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at Fayetteville.
Malcolm J. Howard, District Judge.
(CR-94-46-H)
Argued: January 28, 2000
Decided: March 24, 2000
Before WILKINSON, Chief Judge, and MICHAEL
and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges.
_________________________________________________________________
Affirmed in part and vacated in part by unpublished per curiam opin-
ion.
_________________________________________________________________
COUNSEL
ARGUED: William Lee Davis, III, Lumberton, North Carolina, for
Appellant Peterson; Wayne James Payne, Shallotte, North Carolina,
for Appellant Miles; Alvin Garnell Matthews, Fayetteville, North
Carolina, for Appellant Herring; Danny Thomas Ferguson, Winston-
Salem, North Carolina, for Appellant Fells. Anne M. Hayes, Assistant
United States Attorney, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee. ON
BRIEF: Janice McKenzie Cole, United States Attorney, Emily B.
Berndt, Third Year Law Student, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appel-
lee.
2
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).
_________________________________________________________________
OPINION
PER CURIAM:
Shane Fells, Steven Desmond Peterson, Charles Edward Herring,
and Anthony Lavon Miles appeal from their convictions on various
drug-related charges. We affirm in part and vacate in part.
I. BACKGROUND
Ten defendants were charged in a 40-count indictment arising from
a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Several of the defendants pleaded
guilty, and the case proceeded to trial against the remaining defen-
dants, including the Appellants in this case.
At trial, the government presented evidence establishing the exis-
tence of a drug-trafficking organization operating primarily out of the
Hollywood Heights area in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Fells, who
lived in Greensboro, North Carolina, generally arranged for the acqui-
sition of cocaine powder in New York. From Fells, the cocaine was
given to Peterson, Fells's brother, who was in charge of the Fayette-
ville distribution network. Peterson parcelled out the cocaine, usually
in the form of crack cocaine, to other members of the conspiracy, who
in turn distributed it to other sellers or sold it at the street level. The
jury convicted each of the Appellants on various counts of the indict-
ment.
The Appellants challenge certain errors they contend occurred dur-
ing the trial and sentencing proceedings. We address the trial issues
first and then the sentencing issues.
II. TRIAL ISSUES
A.
Fells contends that the district court erred by denying his motion
to suppress the evidence found during the execution of what he con-
3
tends was an illegal search warrant. According to Fells, the affidavit
in support of the warrant application did not establish probable cause
to believe that the evidence sought would be located at the house to
be searched. Fells also contends that the "good faith" exception estab-
lished by the Supreme Court in United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897,
913 (1984), is inapplicable to this case.
Probable cause exists when "there are reasonably trustworthy facts
which, given the totality of the circumstances, are sufficient to lead
a prudent person to believe that the items sought constitute fruits,
instrumentalities, or evidence of crime and will be present at the time
and place of the search." United States v. Suarez, 906 F.2d 977, 984
(4th Cir. 1990). "In determining whether a search warrant is sup-
ported by probable cause, the crucial element is not whether the target
of the search is suspected of a crime, but whether it is reasonable to
believe that the items to be seized will be found in the place to be
searched." United States v. Lalor, 996 F.2d 1578, 1582 (4th Cir.
1993). "We review legal conclusions involved in the district court's
suppression determination de novo but review factual findings under-
lying the legal conclusions subject to the clearly erroneous standard."
United States v. Rusher, 966 F.2d 868, 873 (4th Cir. 1992).
Based on the affidavit of ATF Special Agent J.D. Newman, the
magistrate issued a warrant authorizing the search of a residence
located at 1709 Fleming Road in Greensboro. In his affidavit New-
man stated he was a member of an on-going multi-jurisdiction investi-
gation of Fells, Peterson, and others suspected of trafficking drugs.
Newman stated that the investigation revealed that Fells supplied the
cocaine to be distributed in Fayetteville through Peterson and that the
investigation connected Fells and Peterson to a murder where shots
were fired from a silver Toyota Cressida.
Newman further stated that on the day before his application for
the warrant, he assisted in the execution of a state arrest warrant for
Fells. Fells was arrested while he was driving a car in which Crystal
Whitney was a passenger. Newman interviewed Whitney, who told
him that Fells lived at 1709 Fleming Road and had a safe in the
house. When Newman went to that address with Whitney, he saw a
silver Toyota Cressida in the driveway. Whitney told Newman that
the car belonged to Peterson, and that the car was brought to the
4
house after Peterson "had gotten into trouble with the law." In his affi-
davit Newman also outlined his training and experience in investigat-
ing narcotics trafficking and stated that, based on his experience, he
knew that drug traffickers frequently keep large amounts of cash, as
well as books or records documenting their drug transactions, in their
residences, often in safes.
In our view, the facts alleged in the affidavit establish probable
cause to believe that evidence of drug trafficking would be found at
1709 Fleming Drive. The presence at that address of the Toyota Cres-
sida, which was believed to have been involved in a drug-related mur-
der, created a substantive connection between the residence and the
crimes being investigated. In addition, the magistrate could reason-
ably infer from the nature of the items to be seized, which included
books, records, and other documentary evidence of drug trafficking,
and from Agent Newman's statement about the normal practices of
drug dealers, that such items would be kept at Fells's residence. See
United States v. Anderson, 851 F.2d 727, 729 (4th Cir. 1988) (A
"nexus between the place to be searched and the items to be seized
may be established by the nature of the item and the normal infer-
ences of where one would likely keep such evidence."); United States
v. $149,442.43 in United States Currency, 965 F.2d 868, 874 (10th
Cir. 1992) ("[C]ourts often rely on the opinion of police officers as
to where contraband may be kept. Where a suspect has no place of
business separate from his residence, it is reasonable for an officer to
conclude that evidence may be at the suspect's residence." (citation
omitted)). The affidavit, therefore, established a sufficient nexus
between the place to be searched and the items to be seized.
Moreover, even if the warrant were defective, Leon's "good faith"
exception would apply. In Leon, the Supreme Court held that evi-
dence obtained by "officers reasonably relying on a warrant issued by
a detached and neutral magistrate" is admissible. Leon, 468 U.S. at
913. This exception, however,
does not apply in four situations: first, when the warrant is
based on an affidavit containing "knowing or reckless fal-
sity"; second, when the magistrate has simply acted as a
"rubber stamp" for the police; third, when the affidavit does
not "provide the magistrate with a substantial basis for
5
determining the existence of probable cause"; and finally,
when the warrant is so "facially deficient" that an officer
could not reasonably rely on it.
United States v. Wilhelm, 80 F.3d 116, 121 (4th Cir. 1996). In this
case, there is no allegation that the affidavit contained any false or
misleading information, or that the magistrate abandoned his judicial
role by rubber-stamping the warrant. Nor is the warrant itself facially
deficient. Even if the allegations of the affidavit were insufficient to
establish a nexus between Fells's residence and the group's drug
activities, they are "not so lacking in probable cause that the officers'
reliance upon [the warrant] was objectively unreasonable." Lalor, 996
F.3d at 1583. The district court, therefore, properly denied the sup-
pression motion.
B.
Peterson and Herring challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to
support certain of their convictions. A jury's verdict in a criminal case
"must be upheld on appeal if there is substantial evidence in the
record to support it." United States v. Wilson, 198 F.3d 467, 470 (4th
Cir. 1999). Substantial evidence is evidence that, when viewed in the
light most favorable to the government, "a reasonable finder of fact
could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a conclusion of a
defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Bur-
gos, 94 F.3d 849, 862 (4th Cir. 1996) (en banc).
1.
Peterson first contends that the evidence was insufficient to support
his conviction for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. See
21 U.S.C.A. § 848(c) (West 1999). To sustain a conviction for engag-
ing in a continuing criminal enterprise ("CCE"), the government must
prove that:
(1) defendant committed a felony violation of the federal
drug laws; (2) such violation was part of a continuing series
of violations of the drug laws; (3) the series of violations
were undertaken by defendant in concert with five or more
6
persons; (4) defendant served as an organizer or supervisor,
or in another management capacity with respect to these
other persons; and (5) defendant derived substantial income
or resources from the continuing series of violations.
United States v. Wilson, 135 F.3d 291, 303 (4th Cir. 1998). Peterson
contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his CCE convic-
tion because the government failed to prove that he managed or
supervised the enterprise or that he derived substantial income from
the enterprise.
As to the managerial element, we conclude that the government
presented substantial evidence that Peterson served as a manager,
supervisor, or organizer of five or more persons. The government
presented the testimony of Antonio Duerson, Robert Jordan, Tyrone
Whitehead, Ronald Andrews, and Donald Melvin, all of whom testi-
fied that they distributed crack cocaine they received from Peterson.
The government's evidence established that Peterson was often
involved in trips to New York, where the group obtained its cocaine,
and that it was Peterson who determined which sellers would get what
quantity of drugs for distribution.
Duerson testified that Andrews, Jordan, Herring, and others all
worked for Peterson, and that Peterson recruited Duerson to work for
him as well. Duerson testified that after a safe containing approxi-
mately $10,000 in drug proceeds was stolen from Andrews's house,
Duerson became Peterson's "head man." J.A. 202-03. Ronald
Andrews testified that after the safe was stolen, Peterson told him he
had to "work off" the money. J.A. 799. At Peterson's direction,
Andrews, Peterson, Duerson, Whitehead and others set about robbing
other drug dealers to earn back the money.
This evidence, particularly when considered with Peterson's own
statement to a postal inspector that "there is no one in this above me,"
is more than sufficient to support the managerial element necessary
for a CCE conviction. See United States v. Johnson, 54 F.3d 1150,
1155 (4th Cir. 1995) (concluding that the managerial element was sat-
isfied in a case where the government's evidence demonstrated that
the Appellants "managed the transportation of large quantities of
crack from New York and Washington, D.C., to central Virginia, and
7
distributed that crack to several dealers directly supervised by [the]
Appellants" and the evidence established that each Appellant super-
vised the work of more than five dealers).
We likewise conclude that the government presented sufficient evi-
dence that Peterson derived "substantial income" from the drug traf-
ficking. The government's evidence established that the drug ring
distributed many kilograms of cocaine and that a majority of the
drugs ultimately distributed in Fayetteville, as well as the proceeds
from those sales, passed through Peterson's hands. Various members
of the operation described numerous drug transactions involving thou-
sands of dollars each. The government also presented evidence estab-
lishing that Peterson owned a BMW and another car worth twice as
much as the BMW and that Peterson had a bank account in the name
of another person to prevent the authorities from seizing it. Taken
together, this evidence is more than sufficient to satisfy the govern-
ment's burden of proving that Peterson derived substantial income
from his drug trafficking activities. See United States v. Webster, 639
F.2d 174, 182 (4th Cir. 1981) (rejecting defendant's argument that the
evidence was insufficient to prove that he received substantial income
from his continuing criminal enterprise: "[G]iven the quantity of
drugs which were shown to have been moving in and out of Web-
ster's possession, the jury would have been justified in concluding
that he had received tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands
of dollars from his drug business. The evidence was thus more than
sufficient for conviction.").
2.
The jury also convicted Peterson of intentionally killing Chanovan
Martin in furtherance of the CCE. See 21 U.S.C.A. § 848(e)(1)(A)
(West 1999). To sustain a conviction for intentional killing in further-
ance of a CCE, the government must prove that the defendant was
engaged in or working in the furtherance of the CCE; that the defen-
dant intentionally killed the victim or commanded, induced, procured
or caused the victim's intentional killing; and that there was a sub-
stantive connection between the killing and the CCE. See United
States v. Tipton, 90 F.3d 861, 887 (4th Cir. 1996). Peterson contends
that the evidence did not establish that the killing was done in further-
8
ance of the CCE, that it was commanded or procured by Peterson, or
that it was intentional.
As mentioned above, Peterson and other members of the group
decided to rob drug dealers as a way to earn money for the organiza-
tion and to recoup the money that was lost when the safe was stolen.
Those who committed the robberies generally were armed, and many
wore bullet-proof vests. The robberies were often violent, with sev-
eral victims being pistol-whipped or shot. On one occasion, the group
even took a hostage. Although some of these robberies were success-
ful, many were not. Martin was killed by Antonio Duerson during one
of the group's robberies-gone-awry.
On the night Martin was killed, Peterson, Duerson, Andrews, and
one or two others went looking for someone to rob. Andrews wore a
bullet-proof vest and a ski mask, while the others wore "dark uni-
forms" with bandannas over their faces. After an unsuccessful attempt
to rob one group, the men drove to another area of town. The men
pulled their cars in front of a group of people and jumped out of the
cars, demanding that the people "give it up." J.A. 282. Peterson and
Andrews, who were both armed, focused on one of the victims, while
Duerson "covered" two other victims. Andrews and Peterson's victim
apparently would not cooperate, and Peterson shot him in the hip
while Andrews pistol-whipped him. When Duerson heard the shot
fired, he turned and looked in that direction. Duerson testified that
when he turned back around, Martin "was right there, and I shot." J.A.
282. On cross-examination, Duerson stated that the shooting was "a
spur-of-the-moment thing, I was excited and I was just scared." J.A.
357.
Because Peterson conceived of the robberies as a means of replac-
ing the money the drug ring lost when the safe was stolen and
directed other members of the group to participate in the robberies,1
_________________________________________________________________
1 An incident with Alvin Purdie illustrates the degree of Peterson's con-
trol over the robberies. Purdie owed Peterson money, and, at Peterson's
direction, Purdie and others set out in search of someone to rob. Purdie
apparently was somewhat hesitant to commit the robbery, and the group
came back empty-handed. Peterson became angry when he learned of the
failed robbery and hit Purdie with a pistol, telling him to "go out there
and get my money." J.A. 278. Purdie's group went out again that night
and managed to take some money and jewelry from three men on the
street.
9
the jury could reasonably conclude that Martin's killing had a sub-
stantive connection to the CCE and was in furtherance of the CCE.
See United States v. Jones, 101 F.3d 1263, 1267 (8th Cir. 1996) (In
a case where the defendant was convicted of engaging in a narcotics-
related CCE, evidence that the defendant killed his victim because the
victim stole drugs from the defendant was sufficient to show that the
killing was in furtherance of the CCE.); cf. United States v. Cooper,
19 F.3d 1154, 1165 (7th Cir. 1994) ("Consistent with its common
meaning, working `in furtherance' of a continuing criminal enterprise
means working to promote or advance the interests of a continuing
criminal enterprise.").
Likewise, the government presented substantial evidence from
which the jury could reasonably conclude that Peterson commanded,
induced, procured, or caused Martin's killing. Count 6 of the indict-
ment, which charged Peterson and Duerson with the intentional kill-
ing of Martin, also alleged a violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 2(a) (West
1969), which provides that "[w]hoever commits an offense against the
United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures
its commission, is punishable as a principal." See United States v.
Walker, 142 F.3d 103, 113 (2d Cir.) ("[A]iding and abetting liability
[is] available" for CCE-murder.), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 219 (1998).
"A defendant is guilty of aiding and abetting if he has `knowingly
associated himself with and participated in the criminal venture.'"
Burgos, 94 F.3d at 873. To prove the defendant's association with the
criminal venture, "the Government must establish that the defendant
participated in the principal's criminal intent, which requires that a
defendant be cognizant of the principal's criminal intent and the law-
lessness of his activity." Id. If nothing else, the evidence that Peterson
hatched the robbery scheme, was actively involved in the attempted
robbery that led to Martin's death, and in fact fired the first shot is
evidence that Peterson procured, induced, or aided and abetted Duer-
son's killing of Martin, a killing that was certainly foreseeable given
the group's prior activities.
We also conclude that the government presented more than enough
evidence from which the jury could conclude that the killing of Mar-
tin was intentional. While Duerson testified that the killing was "spur-
of-the-moment," that would not prevent the jury from concluding that
10
the killing was intentional. Duerson testified that he pulled the trigger,
and there is no suggestion that the gun misfired or that he pulled the
trigger accidentally.
Peterson, however, contends that Duerson pleaded guilty to
second-degree murder, and that his liability, therefore, "should not be
any greater than that of the principal actor that is alleged to have been
aided and abetted." Brief of Appellants at 38. This argument is with-
out merit. Duerson and Peterson were charged in the same count of
the indictment with intentionally killing Martin in furtherance of a
CCE. The record reveals that Duerson pleaded guilty to the murder
charge and that the government agreed to dismiss the remaining
charges against him. As to the murder charge, there is simply no indi-
cation that the government accepted a guilty plea to anything other
than the charge as alleged in the indictment.
Accordingly, we conclude that the government presented sufficient
evidence to support Peterson's CCE and CCE-murder convictions.
3.
Herring contends that the government's evidence was insufficient
to support his convictions for conspiracy to possess cocaine and
cocaine base with intent to distribute, see 21 U.S.C.A. § 846 (West
1999), and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of
cocaine base, see 21 U.S.C.A. § 841(a)(1) (West 1999). To prove a
conspiracy to possess narcotics with intent to distribute, the govern-
ment must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:"(1) an agreement
to possess [narcotics] with intent to distribute existed between two or
more persons; (2) the defendant knew of the conspiracy; and (3) the
defendant knowingly and voluntarily became a part of this conspir-
acy." Burgos, 94 F.3d at 857. To prove the possession charge, the
government must establish that Herring knowingly and intentionally
possessed cocaine base with the intent to distribute it. See United
States v. Williams, 41 F.3d 192, 199 (4th Cir. 1994). In our view, the
government presented evidence from which a reasonable jury could
find beyond a reasonable doubt the presence of each element of the
charges.
Duerson testified that Herring was involved with Peterson and that
he, Herring, and Robert Jordan accompanied Fells and Peterson on a
11
trip to New York to obtain cocaine. Jordan testified that on the way
back to Fayetteville from New York, the cocaine was hidden inside
the sunroof of one of the cars. While driving through Fort Bragg, Her-
ring instructed Jordan to remove the cocaine from the sunroof, and
they discussed what to do if they were stopped by police. According
to Duerson, Herring was present when Fells converted the cocaine
powder obtained on that trip into cocaine base. Duerson also testified
that he was in Greensboro on another occasion when Herring returned
from a different trip to New York and turned over the cocaine to
Fells. Peterson received a portion of that cocaine, and Herring in turn
received a portion from Peterson.
Duerson testified that part of his responsibility during the time he
was Peterson's "right-hand man" was to distribute the drugs "to peo-
ple in our group," and Duerson included Herring in his list of the
members of the group. J.A. 276. Tyrone Whitehead, another member
of the conspiracy, testified that he obtained cocaine base from Peter-
son and that from time to time he distributed some of his portion to
Herring, while Donald Melvin testified that he occasionally purchased
cocaine base from Herring. Duerson also testified that Herring, Peter-
son, and Ron Andrews went together to Duerson's house because
they suspected that Duerson may have been involved in the theft of
the safe. In addition, the government's evidence established that Her-
ring was involved in at least one of the group's attempts to rob other
drug dealers.2
Contrary to Herring's argument, this evidence establishes much
more than Herring's mere presence while crimes were being commit-
_________________________________________________________________
2 In his brief, Herring takes issue with some of this evidence, contend-
ing it was contradicted by testimony of other witnesses or that the wit-
nesses themselves were not credible. However, it is"[t]he jury, not the
reviewing court, [that] weighs the credibility of the evidence and
resolves any conflicts in the evidence presented, and if the evidence sup-
ports different, reasonable interpretations, the jury decides which inter-
pretation to believe." United States v. Murphy, 35 F.3d 143, 148 (4th Cir.
1994) (citation omitted); see also United States v. Burns, 990 F.2d 1426,
1439 (4th Cir. 1993) ("[T]he testimony of a defendant's accomplices,
standing alone and uncorroborated, can provide an adequate basis for
conviction.").
12
ted. Instead, we believe that a jury could reasonably conclude from
this evidence that Herring was a knowing and willing member of the
conspiracy who engaged in activities in furtherance of the conspiracy.
See United States v. Collazo, 732 F.2d 1200, 1205 (4th Cir. 1984)
("To sustain [a] conspiracy conviction, there need only be a showing
that [the] defendant knew of the conspiracy's purpose and some
action indicating his participation. These elements can be shown by
circumstantial evidence such as [the defendant's] relationship with
other members of the conspiracy, the length of this association, [the
defendant's] attitude, conduct, and the nature of the conspiracy."
(citation omitted)).
As to the possession convictions, however, Herring contends that
there was no evidence to show that he possessed cocaine base in
March, April, October, or November 1993, the time periods specified
in the counts of the indictment for which Herring was convicted.
Understanding this argument to be raising the question of a variance
between the indictment and the proof presented at trial, we find no
reversible error.
"The rule against variance protects defendants by insuring that the
indictment provides them with adequate notice to prepare a defense
and describes the crime with sufficient particularity to protect them
from multiple prosecutions for the same offense. Absent prejudice to
one of those interests, variance is harmless error." United States v.
Brewer, 1 F.3d 1430, 1437 (4th Cir. 1993) (citation omitted). Because
the indictment sufficiently notified Herring of the crimes against
which he was required to defend and because Herring does not con-
tend that he was prejudiced by the variance, any error was harmless.
See United States v. Odom, 736 F.2d 104, 118 (4th Cir. 1984) ("Any
variance between indictment and proof which does not modify the
elements of the crime charged will not invalidate a conviction unless
it prejudices the defendant.").
Moreover, "[p]roof that a crime occurred reasonably near the date
charged in the indictment is sufficient unless time is a material ele-
ment of the offense or the actual date of the offense implicates the
statute of limitations or follows the indictment." Brewer, 1 F.3d at
1437. Duerson's testimony indicates that he became involved with the
drug ring sometime around March 1993. His first trip to New York,
13
which included Herring, took place around April 1993. Duerson par-
ticipated in a total of four or five trips between April 1993 and Octo-
ber 1993, when Duerson was arrested for the murder of Chanovan
Martin, including one trip made sometime between August and Octo-
ber. This evidence, particularly when considered with Duerson's testi-
mony that Herring was one of the members of the group to whom he
generally distributed the cocaine obtained in New York, sufficiently
establishes that Herring possessed cocaine or aided and abetted the
possession of cocaine on multiple occasions reasonably near the dates
alleged in the indictment. See id. Because the date of possession is not
a material element to the charge of possession with intent to distrib-
ute, the actual date of occurrence does not implicate the statute of lim-
itations, and the transactions at issue all preceded the indictment, the
evidence was sufficient to sustain Herring's convictions for posses-
sion with intent to distribute.
C.
Both Herring and Miles contend that the district court deprived
them of their right to a fair trial when the court departed from its neu-
tral role and made disparaging comments to their attorneys. "The law
is well settled that the behavior and bearing of a judge during a jury
trial must be such that the entire trial will be conducted in a general
atmosphere of impartiality." United States v. Cassiagnol, 420 F.2d
868, 878 (4th Cir. 1970). We review the district court's conduct for
an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Castner, 50 F.3d 1267,
1272 (4th Cir. 1995).
1.
During cross-examination of Ronald Andrews, Herring's attorney
asked a series of questions attempting to establish that no drugs were
sold from Andrews's house during the period of October to Novem-
ber 1993, the period alleged in one of the counts of the indictment for
which Herring was convicted. The district court interrupted the ques-
tioning and asked the attorney, "Does this have one earthly thing to
do with the case, Mr. Matthews?" J.A. 874. The attorney responded
that the questions were relevant, and the court then told the attorney
to proceed. After a lunch break, Herring's attorney resumed the line
of questioning. Herring contends that he was prejudiced by the district
14
court's question. According to Herring, the court departed from its
role as a neutral party and "etched into the minds of the jurors" that
the questions and answers were irrelevant. Brief of Appellants at 51.
We find no error.
"[I]n a federal court the judge has the right, and often an obligation,
to interrupt the presentations of counsel in order to clarify misunder-
standings or otherwise insure that the trial proceeds efficiently and
fairly." United States v. Cole, 491 F.2d 1276, 1278 (4th Cir. 1974)
(per curiam). While there are, of course, limits to this right, we have
no doubt that, in this case, the district court did not abuse its discre-
tion by asking a single question intended to ensure that the jury was
presented only with relevant evidence. See United States v. Howard,
115 F.3d 1151, 1156 (4th Cir. 1997) (finding that the district court did
not abuse its discretion by questioning the defendant's attorney about
the "point" of his statements during opening argument or criticizing
the attorney for getting "a little far afield" because the court was
merely "seeking to ensure that information presented by counsel in an
opening statement was neither misleading nor diversionary").
2.
Paris Hopkins, who had pleaded guilty to unrelated drug and weap-
ons charges and agreed to cooperate with the government as part of
his plea agreement, testified that he bought crack cocaine from Miles
10 or 15 times. During cross-examination, counsel for Miles ques-
tioned Hopkins about his plea agreement and the potential sentences
he was facing, suggesting that Hopkins's cooperation with the gov-
ernment might lead to a reduced sentence. After the United States
attorney established on redirect that Hopkins had already been sen-
tenced, counsel for Miles asked, "The question that [the United States
attorney] asked about sentencing, you can come back under?" J.A.
1179. When Hopkins answered that he had not been promised any-
thing, counsel for Miles asked, "You haven't been promised anything,
but that's what you are trying to do?" J.A. 1179. After Hopkins
responded, the district court stated, "Those questions are the dumbest
questions in the world." J.A. 1179. Counsel for Miles moved to strike
15
the remark, and counsel for Peterson moved for a mistrial, which the
court denied. The court did, however, give a curative instruction.3
Miles argues on appeal that the district court erred by denying the
mistrial motion. According to Miles, the court departed from its
impartial role and prejudicially "imposed upon the jury what the trial
judge thought about counse[l]." Brief of Appellants at 43.
Viewing the record as a whole, we are convinced that Miles
received a fair trial. See United States v. Polito, 856 F.2d 414, 418
(1st Cir. 1988) ("Charges of partiality should be judged not on an iso-
lated comment or two, but on the record as a whole. In the last analy-
sis, litigants are entitled to a fair trial, but not necessarily a perfect or
a monochromatic one." (citations omitted)). Therefore, although the
statement perhaps was ill-advised, we cannot conclude that this single
comment warrants reversal, particularly since a curative instruction
was immediately given to the jury. See United States v. Billups, 692
F.2d 320, 327 (4th Cir. 1982) ("[W]e have examined the entire record
and conclude that while the court's remarks may have been improvi-
dent, they did not deprive Billups of a fair trial before an impartial
judge and jury, and that the judge's curative instructions served to
assist the jury in giving proper weight to his comments." (citations
omitted)); United States v. Francisco, 35 F.3d 116, 120 (4th Cir.
1994) (per curiam) ("[W]e find that the limiting instruction given by
the district court eliminated any danger of the prosecutor's comments
prejudicially affecting Francisco's substantial rights so as to deprive
her of a fair trial." (footnote omitted)).
D.
Fells and Peterson both were convicted of conspiracy to traffic in
cocaine and cocaine base and engaging in a continuing criminal enter-
prise. They contend, and the government agrees, that the conspiracy
convictions must be vacated because the conspiracy served as a predi-
cate offense for the CCE convictions and that convicting them on
_________________________________________________________________
3 The court instructed the jury that "[i]t is improper for me to inject
myself in the proceeding. Mr. Payne's questions were proper and I direct
you to disregard anything that I may have said or done." J.A. 1184. There
was no objection to the curative instruction.
16
both charges is a double jeopardy violation. See Rutledge v. United
States, 517 U.S. 292, 300 (1996); United States v. Johnson, 54 F.3d
1150, 1162-63 (4th Cir. 1995). Accordingly, we vacate Fells's and
Peterson's conspiracy convictions and sentences.
Peterson also contends that Counts III and IV of the indictment are
duplicate charges and that he cannot be convicted on both charges.
The government again agrees. Accordingly, we vacate Peterson's
conviction and resulting sentence on Count IV of the indictment.
III. SENTENCING ISSUES
A.
Herring, Fells, and Peterson all challenge their sentences on the
grounds that the district court erred in determining the quantity of
drugs attributable to them for sentencing purposes. 4 Quantities attrib-
utable to defendants convicted of conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs
are determined by examining "the quantity of[drugs] reasonably fore-
seeable to each coconspirator within the scope of his agreement."
United States v. Irvin, 2 F.3d 72, 78 (4th Cir. 1993). The government
must prove the quantity of drugs for which a defendant should be held
accountable by a preponderance of the evidence. See United States v.
Gilliam, 987 F.2d 1009, 1013 (4th Cir. 1993). This court reviews
determinations of reasonable foreseeability and drug quantities for
clear error. See United States v. Banks, 10 F.3d 1044, 1057 (4th Cir.
1993).
1.
Herring contends that the district court erred when determining the
quantity of drugs attributable to him. However, because Herring did
not include in the joint appendix the transcript of his sentencing hear-
ing, his challenge is not reviewable. See 4th Cir. R. 30(b) ("In all
criminal appeals seeking review of the application of the sentencing
_________________________________________________________________
4 Although Miles initially challenged the determination of the quantity
of drugs attributable to him, this Court granted Miles's motion to dismiss
his appeal as to that issue.
17
guidelines, appellant shall include the sentencing hearing transcript
and the presentence report in the appendix.").
Nonetheless, the record reveals that when sentencing Herring, the
district court adopted "the factual findings and guideline application
in the presentence report." J.A. 1625. The presentence report ("PSR")
attributed 3,290 grams of cocaine base to Herring, yielding a base
offense level of 38 under the sentencing guidelines. See United States
Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2D1.1(c)(1) (1995). The only drug-
quantity findings in the PSR about which Herring specifically com-
plains are the 1,428-gram finding in paragraph 5 of the PSR and the
100-gram finding in paragraph 6. Even if we deducted those amounts
from the quantity attributed to Herring by the district court, 1,762
grams of cocaine base would still be attributable to Herring, a quan-
tity yielding the same base offense level under the guidelines. Any
error in attributing the challenged quantities to Herring, therefore,
would be harmless. See United States v. Sampson , 140 F.3d 585, 593
(4th Cir. 1998).
2.
Fells and Peterson were convicted of engaging in a continuing
criminal enterprise and received life sentences pursuant to section
848(b), which makes a life sentence mandatory for a"principal
administrator, organizer, or leader" of a drug-related CCE if the quan-
tities of drugs involved are "at least 300 times the quantity of a sub-
stance described in subsection 841(b)(1)(B) of this title." 21 U.S.C.A.
§ 848(b) (West 1999). The quantities in section 841(b)(1)(B) that are
relevant to this case are 500 grams of cocaine powder and 5 grams
of cocaine base. Thus, life sentences were proper for Fells and Peter-
son only if 150 kilograms of cocaine powder or 1.5 kilograms of
cocaine base can properly be attributed to them.
(a)
Peterson contends that the district court erred by attributing to him
13.2 kilograms of cocaine base.5 Peterson argues that the district court
_________________________________________________________________
5 The judgment entered in Peterson's case indicates that the district
court adopted the factual findings contained in Peterson's PSR, which
18
erred by adopting the PSR because the PSR relied on statements that
were against the weight of evidence presented at trial and on out-of-
court statements from co-conspirators that contradicted their trial tes-
timony. Peterson also contends that the PSR included conduct for
which he was acquitted by the jury.
When making sentencing determinations, the district court may
consider any reliable and relevant information, including hearsay. See
United States v. Jones, 31 F.3d 1304, 1316 (4th Cir. 1994); United
States v. Bowman, 926 F.2d 380, 381 (4th Cir. 1991). It is clear from
the sentencing hearing that the district court relied, at least in part, on
its recollection of the trial testimony when determining the quantity
of drugs attributable to Peterson. Therefore, even if we treat as unreli-
able all of the information in the PSR about which Peterson com-
plains, any error in utilizing that information would be harmless as
long as the testimony presented at trial supports the district court's
quantity determination. See United States v. Johnson, 925 F.2d 1115,
1118 (8th Cir. 1991) (concluding that the district court's error in rely-
ing on hearsay contained in the PSR was harmless where the trial tes-
timony supported the district court's findings); see also United States
v. Narviz-Guerra, 148 F.3d 530, 537 (5th Cir. 1998).
After reviewing the record, we find sufficient evidence to support
the district court's drug-quantity determination as to Peterson. As pre-
viously discussed, Antonio Duerson testified that he went on 4 or 5
New York trips and that the group generally obtained 2 kilograms of
cocaine each trip. Because Duerson testified that a portion of the
drugs obtained in New York was sometimes given to a man named
"Bell" in Charlotte, we will assume that the Fayetteville group only
received 1 kilogram from each of 4 New York trips. See Sampson,
140 F.3d at 592 ("Where witnesses' estimates of drug amounts are
uncertain, however, a district court is well advised to sentence at the
_________________________________________________________________
attributed 13.2 kilograms of cocaine base to Peterson. However, during
the sentencing hearing, the district court determined only that "there was
more than 1.5 kilograms involved in the Steven Peterson case." J.A.
1532. Because 1.5 kilograms is the threshold for the imposition of the
mandatory life sentence under section 848(b), whether the district court
actually attributed the full 13.2 kilograms to Peterson is largely irrelevant
for purposes of this appeal.
19
low end of the range to which the witness testified."). The testimony
of Duerson and others established that the drugs from New York were
given to Fells, who gave them to Peterson. Once the cocaine powder
was converted into cocaine base, Peterson then distributed it among
the other members of the group. Thus, a very conservative view of
Duerson's testimony places into Peterson's hands the cocaine base
derived from 4 kilograms of cocaine powder. This evidence is more
than adequate to support the district court's determination that Peter-
son was responsible for more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base.6 See
United States v. Ricco, 52 F.3d 58, 63 (4th Cir. 1995) (approving dis-
trict court's assumption for sentencing purposes that 100 grams of
cocaine powder yields 88 grams of cocaine base).
Peterson's contention that he was sentenced based on conduct
occurring during the period for which the jury acquitted him is with-
out merit. While acquitted conduct may be considered when imposing
a sentence under the guidelines, it may not be considered when
imposing the mandatory sentences established by section 841.7 See,
e.g., United States v. Estrada, 42 F.3d 228, 232 n.4 (4th Cir. 1994)
("[U]nlike the relevant conduct provisions of the sentencing guide-
lines that permit the court to consider quantities that are not a part of
the offense of conviction, the quantity of narcotics attributed to the
defendant for purposes of determining the applicability of the manda-
tory minimum provisions of § 841(b) is based only on specific
offense of conviction conduct."). In this case, the jury did not convict
_________________________________________________________________
6 We note that when counsel for Peterson was asked by the district
court during sentencing whether he could make an argument to bring the
quantity attributable to Peterson below 1.5 kilograms, counsel responded,
"I can't say that I could, Your Honor." J.A. 1532. The government con-
tends that this statement amounts to approval by Peterson of the quantity
finding, thus rendering his challenge to the finding reviewable only for
plain error. Because we have found that any error, plain or otherwise,
was harmless, whether we otherwise would have applied the clear error
standard of review or the narrower plain error standard is immaterial.
7 The life sentences in this case were mandated by section 848 rather
than section 841. However, because the sentencing portion of section 848
refers to the quantities set out in section 841(b)(1)(B), we will assume for
purposes of this discussion that the cases interpreting section 841 are
applicable.
20
Peterson for drug activity occurring after October 1993. Duerson,
however, was arrested for Chanovan Martin's murder in October
1993. Duerson's testimony implicating Peterson, therefore, did not
involve the time period for which the jury acquitted Peterson, and
Duerson's testimony can be considered when determining the quan-
tity of drugs attributable to Peterson.
We therefore conclude that the evidence presented at trial was suf-
ficient to support the district court's conclusion that Peterson was
responsible for more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base. Accordingly,
we affirm Peterson's life sentence.
(b)
Fells also contends that the district court erred in determining that
more than 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base were attributable to him.8
Fells contends that the evidence presented at trial established that he
supplied only cocaine powder to the group, and that the district court,
therefore, erred by converting that powder into cocaine base for pur-
poses of imposing the mandatory life sentence. We disagree.
In United States v. Irvin, 2 F.3d 72 (4th Cir. 1993), this Court held
that, when sentencing a defendant to the mandatory minimum sen-
tences provided for in section 841, the district court could not con-
sider the quantity of drugs for which the conspiracy as a whole was
responsible. Instead, the court must "determine the quantity of narcot-
ics reasonably foreseeable to each coconspirator within the scope of
his agreement." Id. at 78. If that quantity is sufficient to trigger the
mandatory minimum sentence under section 841, then the court must
impose that sentence "absent a higher sentencing range resulting from
the application of the sentencing guidelines." Id._________________________________________________________________
8 Fells's PSR held him accountable for 17.8 kilograms of cocaine base.
The judgment in Fells's case reveals that the district court adopted the
PSR, except that the court declined to consider one of Fells's prior con-
victions. As noted in the discussion of Peterson's sentence, whether the
district court attributed the full 17.8 kilograms to Fells is largely unim-
portant, given that the mandatory life sentence is triggered by a finding
of 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base.
21
In this case, the district court concluded that the cocaine powder
supplied to the Fayetteville organization was converted into and dis-
tributed as cocaine base. The court based this conclusion on the trial
testimony of Andrews, Duerson, and Jordan, all of whom the court
found "testified truthfully and accurately." J.A. 1590. The district
court determined that a preponderance of the evidence at trial estab-
lished that "Fells was the mastermind, the chief executive officer of
this overall conspiracy. The Court reasonably concludes that he was
knowledgeable of all aspects and foresaw all aspects[of the conspir-
acy]." J.A. 1595.
Fells does not argue that the court erred in determining that the
conversion of all the cocaine powder into cocaine base was reason-
ably foreseeable to him. Moreover, our own review of the record, par-
ticularly of Duerson's testimony describing the various trips to New
York, reveals more than adequate support for this conclusion.
Fells, however, relying on United States v. Harris, 39 F.3d 1262(4th Cir. 1994), contends that the district court improperly aggregated
the quantities of cocaine powder and cocaine base in order to reach
the threshold quantity necessary for the imposition of the life sen-
tence. We disagree. In Harris, the police seized quantities of cocaine
powder and cocaine base from the apartment of one of the defendants
during the execution of a search warrant. See id. at 1266. Individually,
the quantity of neither the cocaine powder nor the cocaine base was
sufficient to trigger the mandatory sentences of section 841(b). When
sentencing the defendant, however, the district court converted the
seized powder into cocaine base and added that to the amount of
cocaine base seized. The combined amount was sufficient to trigger
the mandatory sentence. Id. at 1271. This court vacated the sentence,
concluding that, unlike the Sentencing Guidelines, section 841 "`pro-
vides no mechanism for aggregating quantities of different controlled
substances to yield a total amount of narcotics.'" Id. at 1271-72 (quot-
ing Irvin, 2 F.3d at 76 n.5). In this case, however, there was no aggre-
gation of different seized controlled substances. Instead, the district
court simply concluded that the aim of the conspiracy was to distrib-
ute cocaine base and that it was reasonably foreseeable to Fells that
the cocaine powder he supplied would be converted into cocaine base
for distribution.
22
Accordingly, we affirm Fells's life sentence. See, e.g., United
States v. Randall, 171 F.3d 195, 210 (4th Cir. 1999) ("A district
court's approximation of the amount of drugs is not clearly erroneous
if supported by competent evidence in the record."). Given our dispo-
sition of this issue, we need not consider Fells's challenge to the
PSR's conversion into cocaine base, rather than cocaine powder, of
the money in the stolen safe.
B.
Finally, Fells and Peterson contend that, under Solem v. Helm, 463
U.S. 277 (1983), their life sentences are disproportionate to the
offenses committed, thus violating the eighth amendment. We dis-
agree.
In Solem, the Supreme Court held that "a criminal sentence must
be proportionate to the crime for which the defendant has been con-
victed." Id. at 290. To determine whether a sentence is proportionate
to the crime committed under Solem, the reviewing court must con-
sider: "(1) the gravity of the offense and the harshness of the penalty,
(2) the sentences imposed on other criminals in the same jurisdiction,
and (3) the sentences imposed for commission of the same crime in
other jurisdictions." United States v. Kratsas, 45 F.3d 63, 66 (4th Cir.
1995).9
Drug trafficking is an extremely serious crime with far-reaching
effects. Fells and Peterson were high-level participants in a drug ring
that for an extended period of time distributed large quantities of
crack cocaine, a highly addictive and destructive drug. Thus, the seri-
ousness of the crime supports a severe sentence. In addition, "a life
_________________________________________________________________
9 In Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957 (1991), the Supreme Court
rejected a claim that a mandatory life sentence without parole constituted
cruel and unusual punishment for a defendant convicted of possessing
more than 650 grams of cocaine. As we noted in Kratsas, the Supreme
Court's decision in Harmelin makes it somewhat unclear as to whether
Solem's three-part proportionality test should still be applied in noncapi-
tal cases. See Kratsas, 45 F.3d at 67. Nonetheless, this Circuit has contin-
ued to use the Solem factors in cases involving a sentence of life without
the possibility of parole. See id.23
sentence for a major drug violation is not disproportionate in compari-
son with other sentences under the Guidelines," United States v.
D'Anjou, 16 F.3d 604, 613 (4th Cir. 1994), and states within this cir-
cuit impose "similarly severe sentences for narcotics violations of the
magnitude involved here." Id. Therefore, after considering the Solem
factors, we have no difficulty concluding that the life sentences
imposed on Fells and Peterson were not disproportionate to the crimes
they committed. See id. ("Life without parole is the second most seri-
ous penalty available. Nevertheless, `given that drug dealers them-
selves sentence many individuals to a lifetime of addiction and
dependency, a life sentence for repeatedly dealing drugs cannot be
considered disproportionately cruel and unusual.'" (quoting United
States v. Meirovitz, 918 F.2d 1376, 1381 (8th Cir. 1990)).
IV. CONCLUSION
Fells's and Peterson's conspiracy convictions and sentences are
hereby vacated, as is Peterson's conviction and sentence on Count IV
of the indictment. The Appellants' remaining convictions and sen-
tences are hereby affirmed.
AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED IN PART
24