Case ID: f-appx_265/html/0708-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PAUL KELLY, JR, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee, v. Gabrial J. LOBATO, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 07-8033.
    United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
    Feb. 15, 2008.
    Stuart S. Healy, III, Office of the United States Attorney, Cheyenne, WY, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Donald E. Miller, Graves, Miller & Kingston, Cheyenne, WY, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Gabrial J. Lobato, Tucson, AZ, pro se.
    Before KELLY, ANDERSON, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
    
    
      
       After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
    
   ORDER AND JUDGMENT

PAUL KELLY, JR, Circuit Judge.

Defendant-Appellant Gabrial J. Lobato pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(A). Mr. Lobato was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment, five years’ supervised release, and a $1,500 fine. After Mr. Lobato timely filed a notice of appeal, his counsel filed an Anders brief and motion to withdraw. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Mr. Lobato was served with a copy of the Anders brief but did not file a response. The government contends that this case should be remanded to the district court for a further hearing on the application of an enhancement used to calculate the sentence. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), we have independently reviewed the record and we deny counsel’s motion to withdraw and remand to the district court for resentencing.

The Anders brief addresses whether the district court erred by imposing a three-level enhancement pursuant to § 3Bl.l(b). In considering whether the enhancement is supported by a preponderance of the evidence, Mr. Lobato argues that the court failed to resolve a factual dispute concerning whether Mr. Lobato acted as a manager or supervisor in a conspiracy involving five or more participants. The presentence investigation report (“PSR”) found that a § 3Bl.l(b) enhancement was warranted because Mr. Lobato managed or supervised at least two people and the overall conspiracy involved at least five or more participants. After receiving the PSR, Mr. Lobato objected to its factual findings, claiming that he did not manage or supervise five or more people. The probation office rightly responded that § 3Bl.l(b) only requires that a defendant manage or supervise at least one person so long as the conspiracy involves at least five people. See U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(b) & cmt. n. 2. Armed with the correct understanding of § 3Bl.l(b), Mr. Lobato objected at sentencing to the PSR, see Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(i)(l)(D), claiming that he did not manage or supervise anyone. The district court considered the merits of Mr. Lobato’s objection, but overruled it based solely upon the facts presented in the PSR. The government concedes this constituted error because Mr. Lobato’s factual objection was sufficient to invoke the district court’s Rule 32 fact-finding obligation. See Fed. R.Crim.P. 32(i)(3)(B); United States v. Guzman, 318 F.3d 1191, 1198 (10th Cir.2003).

Mr. Lobato also argues that the enhancement effectively denied him his three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. However, as the application of advisory Guidelines enhancements and adjustments are cumulative, this argument is wholly frivolous. See U.S.S.G. §§ lBl.l(c), (e) & cmt. n. 4(B).

Because counsel’s motion to withdraw was based on his belief that Mr. Lobato had no meritorious arguments on appeal and because the government concedes error, we DENY counsel’s motion to withdraw. We REMAND to the district court to VACATE Mr. Lobato’s sentence and resentence him in accordance with this order and judgment. 
      
       This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R.App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
     
      
      . The district court imposed Mr. Lobato's sentence using the 2006 version of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.” or "Guidelines”). With a total offense level of 38 and a criminal history category of VI, the advisory guideline range was 360 months to life. The total offense level included a three-level enhancement pursuant to § 3 B 1.1(b) for an aggravating role as a manager or supervisor in a conspiracy involving five or more people, and a three-level reduction pursuant to § 3El.l for acceptance of responsibility.
     
      
      . This error was not harmless as a three-level reduction in Mr. Lobato’s offense level would yield a Guidelines range of 292 to 365 months.