Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-04-02407/USCOURTS-ca8-04-02407-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Arturo Caballero
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

1

The Honorable Howard F. Sachs, United States District Judge for the Western

District of Missouri.

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 04-2407 

___________

United States of America, * 

* 

Appellee, * 

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the Western 

* District of Missouri.

Arturo Caballero, also known * 

as El Charro, *

* 

Appellant. * 

___________

Submitted: June 20, 2005

Filed: August 25, 2005

___________

Before MURPHY, BYE, and SMITH Circuit Judges.

___________

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

Arturo Caballero was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to

distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

in an amount of 500 grams or more in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1)(A) and

846.The district court1

 adopted the recommendations in the Presentence Investigation

Report (PSR) which calculated his total offense level at 42. Caballero was sentenced

to 360 months' imprisonment. For reversal, Caballero argues that the district court

Appellate Case: 04-2407 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/25/2005 Entry ID: 1945429
-2-

erred in admitting evidence of the firearms discovered in his home and at his office.

He also contends that the district court erred at sentencing. We affirm.

I. Background

Caballero was indicted by a federal grand jury of one count of conspiracy to

distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine

in an amount of 500 grams or more in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846

(class A felony). Later, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment

additionally charging Caballero with five counts of distribution of methamphetamine

also in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

Agents of the government executed warrants at Caballero's home and T's Auto

Sales (T's), Caballero's place of business. Special Agent J.J. Brandau seized a .32

caliber handgun from a purse at Caballero's residence and a .22 caliber Smith and

Wesson rifle from an office at T's. At trial, Special Agent Brandau testified that he

seized the firearms from Caballero's residence and business. Caballero objected but

the district court admitted the evidence. 

Caballero was an organizer and leader of a methamphetamine sales and

distribution organization. At trial, several government witnesses provided proof of

Caballero's narcotics sales and the quantities involved. Jane Land testified that she

purchased methamphetamine from Daniel Salinas and Caballero. Land and Salinas

initially went to T's to purchase methamphetamine but had no success. Later, the two

met Caballero at a house on 14th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, where he sold them

approximately two and one-half pounds of methamphetamine. Land positively

identified Caballero from a photo array and identified him at trial. Salinas purchased

approximately twenty pounds of methamphetamine from Caballero on four occasions.

Salinas positively identified Caballero from a photo array and identified him at trial.

Appellate Case: 04-2407 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/25/2005 Entry ID: 1945429
-3-

Joe Andrews testified that he purchased methamphetamine from Caballero in

increments of no less than two pounds at a time. Andrews testified that he purchased

approximately forty pounds of methamphetamine from Caballero. Andrews also

positively identified Caballero in court. Grant Cushman testified that he purchased

three ounces to several pounds of methamphetamine at a time from Caballero. He

indicated that he also purchased methamphetamine from Gabrielle Valle (a/k/a

Julian), who had a narcotics trafficking relationship with Caballero. In fact, Caballero

took Cushman to purchase methamphetamine from Valle. Cushman positively

identified Caballero in court. David F. Bunton, Jr., purchased methamphetamine from

Tino Salazar. Bunton met with Caballero and discussed the sale of methamphetamine

at T's. Caballero was upset with Salazar for stealing a customer and said he was going

to steal Bunton's business from Salazar. Caballero offered to beat Salazar's

methamphetamine price by $500 per pound. Bunton did not purchase

methamphetamine from Caballero, but told Salazar about his conversation with

Caballero. 

The jury returned a guilty verdict on count one of the superseding indictment.

The PSR attributed 31.75 kilograms of methamphetamine to Caballero and calculated

his base offense level at 38 pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1. The PSR also

recommended enhancements for Caballero's role as a leader or organizer, pursuant

to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a), and for his possession of a firearm in connection with a drug

conspiracy, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1). Caballero objected to the base level

in the PSR as not being founded upon reliable evidence. At sentencing, Caballero

renewed his objection and also objected to the role and firearm enhancements.

II. Discussion

A. Firearms Evidence

We review a district court's admission of evidence for abuse of discretion.

United States v. Jordan, 260 F.3d 930, 934 (8th Cir. 2001). The district court

permitted testimony that two firearms were recovered from Caballero's residence and

Appellate Case: 04-2407 Page: 3 Date Filed: 08/25/2005 Entry ID: 1945429
-4-

place of business and permitted the firearms to be admitted as exhibits. Caballero

objected on the grounds that: (1) the presence of the firearms was irrelevant to the

charge against him, but instead bolstered the government's argument that Caballero

was a dangerous drug dealer; and (2) even if relevant, its probative value was

outweighed by its prejudicial impact. Caballero contends that the district court abused

its discretion. We disagree. 

Evidence of firearms possession is admissible and relevant as "tools in the drug

trade" in circumstantially proving involvement in drug trafficking. United States v.

Dierling, 131 F.3d 722, 732 (8th Cir. 1997). "The presence of firearms, generally

considered a tool of the trade for drug dealers, is also evidence of intent to distribute."

United States v. Schubel, 912 F.2d 952, 956 (8th Cir. 1990). During trial, Caballero

cross-examined Special Agent Michael R. Oyler, asking him whether any weapons

were seized. Caballero's questions "opened the door" to the firearms issue. The

government subsequently "walked in" and introduced evidence of Caballero's

weapons as "tools of the trade" over Caballero's objection, which the district court

properly overruled. Significantly, the firearms were seized at the same time and place

as was evidence demonstrating Caballero's participation in methamphetamine

distribution. The introduction of the weapons was relevant under case law, Dierling,

131 F.3d at 732; Schubel, 912 F.2d at 956, and was not unfairly prejudicial. The

district court did not abuse its discretion. 

B. Sentence Enhancement

Caballero's second argument on appeal is that the district court improperly

enhanced his sentence in violation of his Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury

relying upon Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004). Specifically, he contends

the drug quantity contained in the PSR and used by the district court for sentencing

exceeds the 500 grams alleged in the charge and found by the jury. Caballero makes

this argument for the first time on appeal and we therefore review for plain error.

United States v. Pirani, 406 F.3d 543, 549 (8th Cir. 2005). However, we first review

Appellate Case: 04-2407 Page: 4 Date Filed: 08/25/2005 Entry ID: 1945429
-5-

the district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo, United States

v. Mashek, 406 F.3d 1012, 1016 (8th Cir. 2005), and we find no error. 

During sentencing, Ms. Barr, Caballero's attorney, stated "Judge, there is a

minor correction. What we are challenging is any quantities beyond the 500 grams

that were alleged in the charge and found by the verdict. We don't know which 500

grams, but they believe that at least that much." Caballero argues that there is a large

discrepancy between the jury verdict and the PSR regarding the assessed amount of

methamphetamine. Caballero contends that the jury verdict reflects a much smaller

assessment than does the PSR, but that the district court adopted the recommendation

in the PSR.

Our review of the record reveals that the evidence before the jury supported the

quantity findings of the district court. The jury found Caballero guilty of conspiracy

to distribute methamphetamine in an amount of 500 grams or more. To prove

Caballero's drug quantity, the government was required to establish the amounts by

a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. Padilla-Pena, 129 F.3d 457, 468

(8th Cir. 1997). The government established that Caballero was responsible for more

than 500 grams of methamphetamine. 

U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 provided the applicable sentencing provision for Caballero's

offense. Section 2D1.1 cross references § 1B1.3(a), which requires that "all

reasonably foreseeable acts and omissions [of others] taken in furtherance of the

conspiracy" must be considered when determining Caballero's drug quantity

attribution. United States v. Smith, 240 F.3d 732, 737 (8th Cir. 2001). 

Land, Salinas, Andrews, and Cushman all testified to large purchases of

methamphetamine from Caballero. The PSR was more specific as to amounts sold,

adding transactions with Carlos Bernal and Gabriel Valle. According to the PSR,

methamphetamine transactions between Caballero, Land, and Salinas resulted in the

Appellate Case: 04-2407 Page: 5 Date Filed: 08/25/2005 Entry ID: 1945429
-6-

sale of 7.26 kilograms; transactions between Caballero and Bernal resulted in the sale

of .91 kilograms; transactions between Caballero and Cushman' resulted in the sale

of 2.72 kilograms; transactions between Caballero and Valle resulted in the sale of

2.72 kilograms; and transactions between Caballero and Andrews' resulted in the sale

of 18.14 kilograms. The record supports the district court's attribution of 31.75

kilograms of methamphetamine to Caballero based upon the evidence before the jury.

The district court therefore did not make factual findings in violation of Caballero's

Sixth Amendment rights.

 Lastly, Caballero argues that the district court erroneously adopted the PSR

recommendation that characterized him as a leader or organizer. The district court

sentenced Caballero as a leader or organizer of criminal activity involving five or

more participants. U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a). Caballero made no Sixth Amendment

argument below as to the role enhancement. We therefore review for plain error. To

establish plain error, Caballero must show (1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that

affects substantial rights. Pirani, 406 F.3d at 550. If all three conditions are met, then

"an appellate court may then exercise its discretion to notice a forfeited error, but only

if (4) the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial

proceedings." Id.

Caballero can show that there was error and that it was plain under United

States v. Booker, 125 S. Ct. 738, 756–57 (2005) because the district court applied the

Guidelines as mandatory. Pirani at 550. However, given the factual record of this

case and the enhancements imposed, Caballero cannot show that the error affected his

substantial rights by demonstrating that there is a reasonable probability that he

would receive a more favorable sentence. Pirani, at 551. In our review of the record

there is nothing that indicates a more favorable sentence is reasonably probable at

resentencing. We therefore affirm the decision of the district court.

Appellate Case: 04-2407 Page: 6 Date Filed: 08/25/2005 Entry ID: 1945429
-7-

BYE, Circuit Judge, concurring in part, dissenting in part.

I concur the district court did not abuse its discretion by allowing the

government to introduce the firearms into evidence. However, because the record

indicates, at sentencing, the district court expressed its view of a mandatory

application of the guidelines would result in a disproportionate sentence for the

defendant, I believe a reasonable probability does exist Arturo Caballero would

receive a more favorable sentence under an advisory guideline regime. See United

States v. Rodriguez-Ceballos, 407 F.3d 937, 941 (8th Cir. 2005). I therefore would

vacate and remand for resentencing.

______________________________

Appellate Case: 04-2407 Page: 7 Date Filed: 08/25/2005 Entry ID: 1945429