United States v. Zuniga

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 07a0344n.06
Filed: May 11, 2007
Nos. 06-5008, 06-5010, 06-5011
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
) ON APPEAL FROM THE
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT
) COURT FOR THE EASTERN
v. ) DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
)
HILARIO ZUNIGA, REUBEN SANTIAGO, ) OPINION
ABEL SANTIAGO, )
)
Defendants-Appellants. )
)
)
)
BEFORE: KEITH and COLE, Circuit Judges; and OLIVER, District Judge.*
R. GUY COLE, JR., Circuit Judge. A jury convicted defendants-appellants Hilario
Zuniga, Reuben Santiago, and Abel Santiago (collectively, the Defendants) of various crimes
stemming from the breakup of an organization dedicated to the distribution of large amounts of
cocaine and marijuana. The Defendants appealed their convictions, and this Court affirmed but
remanded their cases for resentencing in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision in United
States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). On remand, the district court imposed the same sentences
as before, and the Defendants again appealed. The Defendants now challenge their sentences only.
All three Defendants argue that the district court violated their Sixth Amendment rights when it
*
The Honorable Solomon Oliver, Jr., United States District Judge for the Northern District
of Ohio, sitting by designation.
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found facts by a preponderance of the evidence that increased their sentences. Additionally, Abel
Santiago challenges the procedural reasonableness of his sentence. For the following reasons, we
AFFIRM.
I. BACKGROUND
The Defendants’ convictions stem from the breakup of an extensive organization dedicated
to the sale of massive amounts of cocaine and marijuana, headquartered at a several-hundred-acre
farm in eastern Tennessee. United States v. Santiago, 135 F. App’x 816, 817 (6th Cir. 2005). An
FBI investigation into the organization—utilizing wire intercepts, persistent surveillance,
confidential informants, and the execution of nineteen search warrants—resulted in the Defendants,
as well as thirteen other individuals, being charged 77-count indictment for conspiracy to distribute,
and distribution of, marijuana and cocaine. Id. at 818. Only the three Defendants proceeded to trial;
the thirteen others pleaded guilty. Id.
A jury convicted Hilario Zuniga of conspiracy to distribute in excess of 1,000 kilograms of
marijuana, conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, and distributing over 100
kilograms of marijuana. Id. at 817. The district court sentenced Hilario Zuniga to 188 months’
imprisonment. Id. The same jury convicted Reuben Santiago of conspiracy to distribute over 1,000
kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, use of a
communication device to facilitate the distribution of a controlled substance, and distribution of a
quantity of cocaine. Id. The district court sentenced Reuben Santiago to 210 months’ imprisonment.
Id. Finally, the jury convicted Abel Santiago of operating a continuing criminal enterprise,
conspiracy to distribute in excess of 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to distribute over five
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United States v. Zuniga
kilograms of cocaine, five counts of distribution of cocaine, and one count of distributing over 100
kilograms of marijuana. Id. The district court sentenced Abel Santiago to 360 months’
imprisonment. Id.
The Defendants appealed, challenging various aspects of their convictions; they did not,
however, challenge their sentences. Id. This Court affirmed their convictions and remanded for
resentencing in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Booker. Id. at 823-24. On remand, the
district court resentenced each defendant to the same term of imprisonment as before.
The district court resentenced Hilario Zuniga to 188 months’ imprisonment. The court
grouped Hilario Zuniga’s three interrelated drug convictions, see U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2(d), and assigned
him a base offense level of 32, holding him accountable for the distribution of at least 1,000
kilograms, but less than 3,000 kilograms, of marijuana. See id. §§ 2D1.1(a)(3), (c)(4). The court
then applied a two-level obstruction-of-justice enhancement, under § 3C1.1, after finding by a
preponderance of the evidence that Hilario Zuniga committed perjury when he “testified at trial that
he had never been involved with marijuana in spite of the fact that he had been convicted in the past
of trafficking in more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana. In addition, . . . marijuana was found in the
brick house, a house that [Hilario Zuniga] frequented.” (JA 391.) The court also applied a two-level
firearms enhancement, under § 2D1.1(b)(1), finding by a preponderance of the evidence that Hilario
Zuniga possessed firearms in connection with the conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine.
(JA 390.) Specifically, the court noted that “a firearm was found in [Hilario Zuniga]’s bedroom
under his pillow,” and “[o]ther firearms were found in his house and in the brick house where the
marijuana was stored.” (JA 390.) These enhancements raised Hilario Zuniga’s total offense level to
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36. Based on a criminal history category of I, the Guidelines suggested a sentencing range of 188
to 235 months’ imprisonment. (JA 391.) The district court sentenced Hilario Zuniga to 188 months’
imprisonment, concluding that the low end of the Guidelines range would appropriately reflect the
seriousness of the offense, provide just punishment, and provide adequate deterrence. (JA 391.)
The district court resentenced Reuben Santiago to 210 months’ imprisonment. The district
court grouped Reuben Santiago’s four interrelated drug convictions, see U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2(d), and
assigned him a base offense level of 32, holding him accountable for the distribution of at least 1,000
kilograms of marijuana and at least five kilograms of cocaine. See id. §§ 2D1.1(a)(3), (c)(4). The
court rejected the Government’s contention that a preponderance of the evidence showed that
Reuben Santiago was responsible for the distribution of an additional 10 kilograms of cocaine, which
would have increased Reuben Santiago’s base offense level to 34. (JA 380, 382.) The district court
did, however, apply a two-level obstruction-of-justice enhancement, under § 3C1.1, after finding by
a preponderance of the evidence that Reuben Santiago sent letters to a witness stating that if she
testified against Reuben or Abel Santiago, she and her child would be hurt. (JA 380-81, 413.) This
finding was based primarily on that witness’s testimony, confirming Reuben Santiago’s credible
threats. (JA 380-81.) With this enhancement, Reuben Santiago’s total offense level increased to 34.
Because Reuben Santiago had a prior conviction for cocaine possession, his criminal history category
was II, suggesting a sentencing range of 168 to 210 months’ imprisonment. (JA 382-83.) The district
court sentenced Reuben Santiago to 210 months’ imprisonment, concluding that the high end of the
Guidelines range was reasonable and would appropriately reflect the seriousness of the offense,
provide just punishment, protect the public, and deter similar criminal conduct. (JA 382-83.)
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The district court resentenced Abel Santiago to 360 months’ imprisonment. Although the
jury found Abel Santiago responsible for the distribution of at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana
and at least five kilograms of cocaine, the district court found by a preponderance of the evidence
that Abel Santiago was responsible for 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine, making his base offense level
36. (JA 362-63.) This finding was based on evidence adduced at trial, showing that Abel Santiago
“was one of the leaders of the conspiracy that distributed thousands of kilos of controlled substances
from Harloff Farms[, and that it] appear[ed] that this drug conspiracy lasted for at least three years.”
(JA 362.) The district court then increased Abel Santiago’s offense level four levels because he was
convicted under 21 U.S.C. § 848 of continuing a criminal enterprise. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.5; (JA 363.)
The court also applied a two-level firearms enhancement, after finding by a preponderance of the
evidence that Abel Santiago possessed firearms in connection with the conspiracy. Specifically, the
court noted that multiple firearms were found in his house during the FBI’s search. (JA 363.) These
enhancements raised Abel Santiago’s total offense level to 42. Based on a criminal history category
of I, the Guidelines suggested a sentencing range of 360 months’ to life imprisonment. (JA 363.)
The district court sentenced Abel Santiago to 360 months’ imprisonment, concluding that the low
end of the Guidelines range would appropriately reflect the seriousness of the offense, provide just
punishment, protect the public, and deter similar criminal conduct. (JA 363-64.)
The Defendants again appealed.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Preponderance-of-the-Evidence Judicial Factfinding
All three Defendants argue that their sentences violate the Sixth Amendment because the
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district court relied on judge-found facts proved to a mere preponderance of the evidence to increase
their sentences. The Defendants all maintain that facts that enhance a sentence must be proved to
a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. We review the constitutionality of a sentence de novo. Costo v.
United States, 904 F.2d 344, 346 (6th Cir. 1990).
The Defendants’ challenge is squarely foreclosed by this Court’s decision in United States
v. Gates, 461 F.3d 703 (6th Cir. 2006). In Gates, this Court held that “judicial fact-finding in
sentencing proceedings using a preponderance of the evidence standard post-Booker does not violate
either Fifth Amendment due process rights, or the Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury.” Id. at
708. It is irrelevant that the Defendants’ convictions were the results of jury verdicts as opposed to
guilty pleas. See, e.g., United States v. Cook, No. 05-2731, 2007 WL 930212 (6th Cir. Mar. 26,
2007) (approving of sentencing enhancement based on preponderance-of-the-evidence judicial
factfinding even though jury convicted defendant); United States v. Lewis, 476 F.3d 369 (5th Cir.
2007) (same); United States v. Luster, 480 F.3d 551 (7th Cir. 2007) (same); United States v.
Thundershield, 474 F.3d 503 (8th Cir. 2007) (same); United States v. Perez-Oliveros, 479 F.3d 779
(11th Cir. 2007) (same). Thus, the Defendants’ constitutional challenge is meritless.
B. Procedural Reasonableness of Abel Santiago’s Sentence
Abel Santiago argues that his sentence was procedurally unreasonable because the district
court failed to consider all of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. As the Sentencing Guidelines are now
advisory, this Court reviews final sentences for reasonableness. United States v. Harris, 397 F.3d
404, 409 (6th Cir. 2005).
“A sentence may be procedurally unreasonable if ‘the district judge fails to “consider” the
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applicable Guidelines range or neglects to “consider” the other factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a),
and instead simply selects what the judge deems an appropriate sentence without such required
consideration.’” United States v. Collington, 461 F.3d 805, 808 (6th Cir. 2006) (quoting United
States v. Webb, 403 F.3d 373, 383 (6th Cir. 2005)).
Here, the district court first properly calculated the Guidelines range and acknowledged its
advisory nature. The court then went on to “throw[] this ingredient into the section 3553(a) mix.”
United States v. McBride, 434 F.3d 470, 476 (6th Cir. 2006). In doing so, the court independently
considered and faithfully applied the relevant § 3553(a) factors. The court began by noting that Abel
Santiago was 44 years old, had one prior conviction, had no history of drug use, and had a high-
school education. (JA 362-63); see 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1). The court also explained the nature and
circumstances of the offense when it described Abel Santiago as the leader of a conspiracy that
distributed thousands of kilograms of marijuana and cocaine for a period lasting at least three years.
(JA 362); see 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1). In sentencing Abel Santiago at the low end of the suggested
range, the court noted that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offense, see id. §
3553(a)(2)(A), provided just punishment, see id. § 3553(a)(2)(A), would protect the public, see id.
§ 3553(a)(2)(C), and would afford adequate deterrence, see id. § 3553(a)(2)(B). (JA 362-64.)
For procedural reasonableness, this is all that this Court requires. See United States v. Davis,
458 F.3d 491, 495 (6th Cir. 2006) (noting that a sentence “satisfies each of [the] procedural
requirements and indeed can fairly be described as a thorough application of the § 3553(a) factors”
where the judge used the appropriate version of the Guidelines and correctly calculated the
Guidelines range, considered the availability of Guidelines departures, and independently considered
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and faithfully applied the relevant § 3553(a) factors). Procedural reasonableness does not require
that a district court provide a rote listing or some other ritualistic incantation of the relevant §
3553(a) factors. See Collington, 461 F.3d at 809; United States v. Williams, 436 F.3d 706, 708-09
(6th Cir. 2006). Nor must a district court explicitly consider each of the § 3553(a) factors; “a
sentence is procedurally reasonable if the record demonstrates that the sentencing court addressed
the relevant factors in reaching its conclusion.” United States v. Trejo-Martinez, 481 F.3d 409, 413
(6th Cir. 2007) (citing McBride, 434 F.3d at 475-76 & n.3). Therefore, Abel Santiago’s sentence
was procedurally reasonable.
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the Defendants’ sentences.
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