# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls
For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 5- 39 50

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Vict or Defawn Jo ne s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa - Des M oi ne s

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Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 23 , 20 16 Fil ed : Dec em

be r 9, 2 01 6 [Un pu bl is he d]

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Befo re RI LEY, Chi ef J ud ge , MURPHY an d S MITH, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

PER CURI AM.

Vict or Defawn Jo ne s ap pe al s hi s 18 8- m on th se nt en ce fo r po ss e ss io n wit h

in te nt to di st rib ut e 50 0 gr am s or m or e of a mi xt ur e or su bs ta nc e co nt ai ni ng

m et ha m ph et am in e an d 50 gra m s o r m or e o f act ua l m et ha m ph et am in e. Jo ne s ar gu esth at t h e d i s t r i c t co ur t erre d in (1 ) cal cu la ti ng hi s ba se of fen se le ve l as 34 ba se d on 1

it s dr ug -q ua nt it y fin di ng , an d (2 ) at tri bu ti ng th ree cri m in al hi st or y po in ts to Jo ne s ba se d o n a pri or st at e ro bb ery se nt en ce. We affir m

.

I. Bac kg ro un d

Jo ne s was arre st ed at an in fo rm an t’s ho us e fo ll o w i n g co nt ro ll ed

, reco rd ed

te le ph on e cal ls ov er th e co ur se of th e pr io r week be twee n th e in fo rm an t an d Jo ne s. Offi cers ha d th e in fo rm an t or de r m et ha m ph et am in e fro m Jo ne s. Offi cers se iz ed two

pa ck ag es of m et ha m

ph et am in e f

r o m th e ro om whe re th ey arre st ed Jo ne s. The fir st

p a c k ag e co nt ai ne d si x ou nc es of m et ha m ph et am in e an d was fo un d in Jo ne s’s ba g. The se co nd pa ck ag e co nt ai ne d on e ki lo gr am of m et ha m ph et am in e an d was fo un d in

a d es k d rawer

.

Jo ne s pl ead ed gu il ty to po ss es si on wit h in te nt to di st rib ut e 50 0 gr am s or m or e of a m ix tu re or su bs ta nc e co nt ai ni ng m et ha m ph et am in e an d 5 0 g ram s or m or e of

act u a l m et ha m

ph et am in e, in vi ol at io n of 21 U.S.C. § 84 1( a)(1 ) an d (b )(1 )(A). At

se nt en ci ng , he ad m it te d to po ss es si ng wit h in te nt to di st rib ut e th e si x- ou nc e pa ck ag e of m et ha m

ph et am in e bu t de ni ed po ss es si ng th e ad di ti on al ki lo gr a m of

m et ha m ph et am in e. He ob

jecte d to th e pr es en te nc e in ve st ig a t i o n rep or t’s (PSR )

in cl us io n of th is am ou nt in th e dr ug -q ua nt it y cal cu la ti on

. The PSR ha d rep or te d 1,0 74 .70 gra m s o f act ua l m et ha m ph et am in e b as ed on lab or at or y an al y si s.

To es ta bl is h dr ug qu an ti ty, th e go ve rn m en t pr es en te d th e te st im on y of Offi cer
Ant ho ny B a l la nt in i of th e Des Mo in es Po li ce Dep art m en t, a si x- y ear ve te ran of

na r co ti cs in ve st ig at io ns an d th e le ad in ve st ig at or in th e cas e. Offi cer Bal la nt in i

te st ifi ed th at he rece iv ed in fo rm at io n fro m Offi cer Nich ol as Berr y of th e Tri Co un ty

Dru g Enfo rcem en t Task Fo rce fo ll owi ng Offi cer Berr y ’s arre st o f Bri an Aus bo rn

.

The Hon or ab le Jo hn A. Ja rv ey , Ch ie f Ju dg e, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r 1
th e So ut he rn Dis tri ct of I owa

.

-2

-Upo n hi s arre st
, Aus bo rn ha d in hi s po ss es si on on e po un d of m et ha m ph et am in e an d

ov er $1 0,0 00 in cas h. Ausb or n id en ti fie d hi s m et ha m ph et am in e so ur ce as “ Tam ari ”
who li ve d on D i e h l St reet in Des Mo in es , Io wa. Offi cer Bal la nt in i la te r id en ti fie d

“ Tam ari ” as Tab ari Mi ll er. Offi cer Berr y rel ay ed te xt m es sa ge s to Offi cer Bal la nt in i

th at he ha d se en on A u s b or n’s cel l ph on e be twee n Aus bo rn an d Mi ll er. The se te xt

m es sa ge s sh owe d th at Aus bo rn ob ta in ed a two -p ou nd qu an ti ty of m et ha m ph et am in e fro m Mi ll er in earl y Sep te m be r 20 13 fo r $3 2,0 00

. Aus bo rn on ce m et Mi ll er’s so ur ce, who Aus bo rn de sc ri bed as a li gh t-s ki nn ed bl ack m al e of po ss ib le His pa ni c or ig in who

dr ov e a wh it e tr uc k.

Offi cer Bal la nt in i ob ta in ed a se arch warra nt fo r Mi ll er’s res id en ce. Dur in g th at

se arch

, of fic ers di sc ov ered ev id en ce co ns is te nt wit h m et ha m ph et am in e di st rib ut io n. Mi ll er co op erat ed an d id en ti fie d Jo ne s as hi s so ur c e

. M il le r pr ov id ed Jo ne s’s

te le ph on e nu m

be r to Offi cer Bal la nt in i an d sai d th at Jo ne s dro ve a bl ack BMW an d

a whi te tru ck

. Acco rd in g to Offi cer Bal la nt in i, th e ev id en ce sh owe d th at Mi ll er was th e m id dl e m an fo r dr ug tra ns act io ns be twee n Jo ne s an d Aus bo rn

. Offi cer Bal la nt in i

le arn ed fro m Mi ll er th at Mi ll er ha d be en pu rch as in g m et ha m ph et am in e f

r o m Jo ne s si nc e F eb ru ary 20 13

, “ st art in g of f wit h an ou nc e or two
, m ov in g [h is ] way up to a

po un d t o t wo p ou nd s an d t he lat es t b ei ng a ki lo .”

Mi lle r subs eq

ue ntl y m ad e co nt ro ll ed

, reco rd ed te le ph on e cal ls to Jo nes. O ff ic er Bal l a n t i ni was pr es en t du rin g th os e ph on e cal ls an d in st ru ct ed Mi ll er “ to or de r th e

qu an ti ty of m et ha m

ph et am in e th at he no rm al ly or de red fro m

. . . Jo ne s.” Dur in g th es e cal ls

, Mi ll er an d Jo ne s us ed co de wor ds an d ne ve r ex pr es sl y r e f e r r e d to

m et ha m ph et am in e or m on ey

. Dur in g th e fir st co nt ro ll ed cal l, Jo ne s as ke d Mi ll er if he

wan te d “ t h e f

u l l or de r.” Acco rd in g to Offi cer Bal la nt in i, Jo ne s’s refe ren ce to th e

“ reg ul ar” or “ fu ll ” or de r m ean t two po un ds of m et ha m ph et am in e. Dur in g th e se co nd

co n t r o l l e d c al l, Mi ll er as ke d Jo ne s to “ try an d ge t m e m or e th an th at .” Offi cer Bal la nt in i te st ifi ed th at “ ge t[t in g] a li tt le m or e ” m ean t “ on e ki lo gr am .” Jo ne s to ld

-3

-Mi ll er th at “ Fri da y I’ll be he av y .” The pl an w a s f o r Jo ne s to co nt act Mi ll er on Thu rs da y , pri or to hi s re tu rn to Iowa on Fri da y

.

O f f i c e r Bal la nt in i ob ta in ed a se arch warra nt to de te rm in e th e lo cat io n o f

Jo ne s’s cel l ph on e. As a res ul t, Offi cer Bal la nt in i le arn ed th at Jo ne s’s cel l ph on e was lo cat ed in Katy, Tex as

. Offi cers us ed th e lo cat io n in fo rm at io n to tra ck th e m ov em en ts
of Jo ne s’s cell ph on e tra ve li ng no rth to ward Iowa . After Jo ne s retu rn ed to Io wa, on Sep te m be r 27

, 20 13

, an of

fic er sa w hi m st op at a ga s st at io n of f th e in te rs ta te

. Jo ne s

was dr iv in g hi s whi te tru ck an d pu ll in g an en cl os ed tra il er. The pa tro l of fic er st op pe d

Jo ne s fo r a tra ffi c vi ol at io n an d ob ta in ed Jo ne s’s co ns en t to s e a r c h h i s tru ck an d

tra il er; ho wev er, t he ve hi cl e se arch pro ve d u ns uc ces sf ul

. 2

Su bs eq ue nt ly, Offi cer Bal la nt in i ch eck ed Jo ne s’s cel l ph on e lo cat io n a fin al

ti m e an d sa w th at it was ne ar Mi ll er’s res id en ce. Offi cer Bal la nt in i an d Offi cer
Mat hi s dr ov e to Mi ll er’s res id en ce, whe re th ey sa w Jo ne s st an di ng by hi s whi te tru ck

3

pa rk ed in Mi ll er’s dr iv eway at 5: 46 p

. m

. Mi ll er was no t ho m e. Offi cers co nt act ed

Mi ll er an d in st ru ct ed hi m to m eet wit h Jo ne s an d te ll Jo ne s th at Mi ll er co ul d no t ge t
in to uc h wi th Aus bo rn an d t ha t t he de al ha d t ak en to o l on g a nd wou ld no t h ap pe n.

Mi ll er m et wit h Jo ne s at Mi ll er’s res id en ce. Mi ll er cal le d Offi cer Mat hi s, who

was po si ng as Bri an Aus bo rn

. Mi ll er ta lk ed to Offi cer Mat hi s “ ab ou t th e de al th at was

su pp os ed to go do wn earl ie r in th e da y ,” bu t “ Offi cer Mat hi s ke pt ex pl ai ni ng to [ Mi ll er] th at th e de al was of f.” Mi ll er was sp eak in g in co de

, an d th e o f f i c e r s h a d

Offi cer Bal la nt in i be li ev ed th at a se co nd ve hi cl e tra ns po rti ng th e 2

m et ha m ph et am in e fro m Tex as to Des Mo in es was tra ve li ng wit h Jo ne s. Thi s was th e

m an ne r in whi ch Jo ne s ha d pr ev io us ly tra ns po rte d dr ug s. Offi cers di d fin d th ree cel l ph on es , two of whi ch Jo ne s le t of fic ers lo ok th ro ug h. On on e of th es e ph on es , Offi cer Bal la nt in i s aw te xt m es sa ge s b et ween Jo ne s an d M il le r m at ch in g t he tex t m es sa ge s th at Mi ll er p rev io us ly des cri be d t o Off ic er Ba ll an ti ni

.
Offi cer M at hi s’s fi rs t n am e is no t g iv en in th e rec or d. 3

-4

-d i f

f i cu lt y un de rs ta nd in g wha t Mi ll er was co m m un ic at in g. Afte r Mi ll er m et wit h

Jo ne s, offi cers fo ll owe d Mil le r to a pr ed et erm in ed lo cat io n; no on e fo ll owe d Jo ne s.

At ab ou t 9: 00 p.m ., Off

i c e r Bal la nt in i m et wit h Mi ll er at th e pr ed et erm in ed

lo cat io n. Mi ll er ex pl ai ne d th at “ he was tryin g to te ll [th e of fic ers ] th at th e dr ug s were al read y at th e ho us e, th at th e ki lo was t h e r e an d th at it was in th e of fic e whe re th e de al s no rm al ly go do wn.” Add it io na ll y , Mi ll er rev eal ed th at “ Jo ne s ha d an ot he r

po un d of m et ha m

ph et am in e in hi s bl ack ba g an d th at he ne ed ed a sc al e to br eak do wn th e ad di ti on al po un d.” Afte r ob ta in in g a sc al e fo r Mi ll er to gi ve to Jo ne s, of fic ers th en

ret ur ne d to th e pr ed et erm in ed lo cat io n nea r Mi ll er’s resi de nc e an d had Mi ll er m ak e

a reco rd ed ph on e cal l t o Jo ne s. Mi ll er to ld Jo ne s “ th e du de is go in g to ha ve y ou r

m on ey ,” an d Jo ne s rep li ed th at he wou ld ret ur n in 35 m in ut es an d no lo ng er ne ed ed

th e sc al e.

Offi c e r Bal la nt in i ha d “ pi ng ed ” Jo ne s’s ph on e an d le arn ed th at he was at a ho te l in Des Mo in es

. As a res ul t, on e of fic er went to th e ho te l to se t up su rv ei ll an ce

on th e whi te tru ck lo cat ed in th e pa rk in g lo t. Ano th er of fic er co nd uc te d su rv ei ll an ce

on Mi ll er’s res id e n c e fro m a sh ed ne ar th e rear of th e res id en ce. Offi cer Bal la nt in i

“ pi ng ed ” th e p ho ne ag ai n a nd no ti ced th at th e ph on e was in th e v ic in it y of M il le r’s

res id en ce, whi ch cau gh t Offi cer Bal la nt in i by su r p r is e be cau se Jo ne s’s whi te tru ck

w a s s t i l l p a rk ed at th e ho te l. The of fic er in th e sh ed sa w Jo ne s arri ve at Mi ll er’s

res id en ce at 10 :1 5 p.m ., ap pr ox im at el y 75 m in ut es aft er of fic ers ha d la st se en Jo ne s.
Jo ne s was dr iv in g a bl ack BMW. Jo ne s carr ie d a bl ack ba g wit h ha nd le s in to Mi ll er’s

res id en ce.

Offi cer Bal la nt in i su bs eq ue nt ly ap pr eh en de d Jo ne s at Mi ll er’s res id en ce wit h

th e m et ha m

ph et am in e du rin g a st ag ed warra nt ex ecu ti on

. Offi cer Bal la nt in i

di sc ov ered Jo ne s ne ar th e dr ug s. He sa w “ Jo ne s qu ic kl y tu rn an d m ak e a m ot io n li ke

he was th ro win g so m et hi ng .” Offi cer Bal la nt in i fo un d a bl ack ba g wit h ha nd le s an d

th e si x- ou nc e qu an ti ty of m et ha m ph et am in e un de r a de sk to th e le ft of th e do or way

.

-5

-The ki lo gr am of m et ha m ph et am in e, whi ch Mi ll er sa id th at Jo ne s le ft du rin g an earl ie r vi si t, was lo cat ed in th e bo tt om dr awer of th at de sk

. Acco rd in g to la b rep or ts
, th e two

pa ck ag es of m et ha m

ph et am in e co nt ai ne d a to ta l o f 1 ,07 4.7 0 gr am s of act ua l

m et ha m ph et am in e.

On an ot he r de sk in t h e s a me r oo m , an of fic er di sc ov ered pl as ti c ba gg ie s, a di gi ta l sc al e, an d on e of Jo ne s’s cell ph on es

. Jo ne s had $5 ,74 5 in U.S. cu rren cy , hi s wall et , a nd a d d i t i o n a l c el l ph on es on hi s pe rs on at th e ti m e of hi s arre st . I n Jo ne s’s

ve hi cl e, of

fic ers reco ve red a ba nk rece ip t with Jo ne s’s nam e an d add res s fr om May

21 , 2 01 3, sh owi ng an av ai la bl e ba la nc e of $1 1,5 77

. 60 . Th ey reco ve red 12 se pa rat e $1 ,00 0 m on ey ba nd s st am pe d “ Ju ly 17

, 20 13 .” Offi cer Bal la nt in i te st ifi ed th at Jo ne s

“ di dn ’t ha ve an in co m e to su pp or t $1 2,0 00 .” Offi cers al so fo un d rece ip t s s h owi ng $2 9,5 00 in de po si ts du rin g Sep te m be r 20 13

. Rev ie win g b a n k acco un t reco rd s fo r
Jo ne s an d hi s wife

, Offi cer Bal la nt in i di sc ov ered fiv e se pa rat e de po si ts of $5 ,00 0 or

m or e (to ta li ng at le as t $2 5,0 00 ) in to Jo ne s’s wife ’s ba nk acco un t in A u g us t an d Sep te mb e r 20 13

. Bo th Aus bo rn an d Mi ll er to ld of fic ers th at Jo ne s ha d be en di st rib ut in g m et ha m

ph et am in e si nc e Feb ru ary 20 13

, an d Offi cer Bal la nt in i te st ifi ed

th at “ [c]ash is a co m

m on de no m in at or in dru g t raff ic ki ng .”

Offi c e r B a l l a nt in i te st ifi ed th at th e st reet va lu e of on e ou nc e of

m et ha m ph et am in e in 20 13 was “ [a]bo ut $1 ,50 0.” Acco r d i n g t o Offi cer Bal la nt in i,

Mi ll e r t o l d hi m th at Jo ne s ha d so ld al l bu t si x ou nc es of th e on e-p ou nd qu an ti ty of

m et ha m ph et am in e (te n ou nc es ), whi ch Jo ne s ha d le ft at Mi ll er’s res id en c e th e fir st
ti m e th at he vi si te d. Mi ll er to ld of fic ers th at Jo ne s sa id th e cas h th at he was arre st ed

wit h ($ 5,7 45 ) cam e fro m th e earl ie r sa le o f met h a mph et am in e. Offi cer Bal la nt in i

te st ifi ed th at te n ou nc es of m et ha m ph et am in e wou ld ha ve so ld fo r m or e th an $5 ,70 0,

a n d he st at ed th at Jo ne s m ay ha ve “ fro nt ed ” m et ha m ph et am in e di st rib ut ed earl i e r

. W hi le o f f i c e r s f ou nd so m e U.S. cu rren cy du rin g th e fir st se arch of Jo ne s’s tru ck

earl ie r in th e da y , th ey di d no t fin d an am ou nt ne ar $5 ,00 0. Mi ll er an d Aus bo rn in di cat ed th at Jo ne s pr ev io us ly fro nt ed m et ha m ph et am in e to Mi ll er, who co ll ect ed

-6

-m on ey fro m Aus bo rn an d th en pa id Jo ne s. Mi ll er was ex pe ct ed to pa y Jo ne s $3 2,0 00

fo r th e two po un ds of m et ha m ph et am in e. And th e ki lo gr am of m et ha m ph et am in e th at
Mi ll er h ad pre vi ou sl y

ob ta in ed fro m

Jo ne s co st $3 6,0 00

.

Fo ll owi ng Offi cer Bal la nt in i’s te st im on y , Jo ne s ur ge d th e di st ric t co ur t to us e

a ba se of fen se le ve l of 30 ba se d up on th e si x ou nc es of m et ha m ph et am in e th at Jo ne s ad m it te d to po ss es si ng wit h in te nt to di st rib ut e. Bu t th e di st ric t co ur t a t t r i b u t ed th e

e n t i re 1,0 74 .70 gr am s of m et ha m ph et am in e to Jo ne s. In su pp or t of it s fin di ng , t h e di st ric t co ur t s ta te d:

He as th e so ur ce was in de pe nd en tl y id en ti fie d by Mr. Aus bo rn an d Mr. M il le r who pr ov id ed de ta il ed in fo rm at io n co nc ern in g th e so ur ce’s id en ti ty. Add to th at th e reco rd ed ph on e ca ll s, th e cel lp ho ne in fo rm at io n, th e se iz ur e of th e ki lo an d hi s cas h an d th e fact th at it ’s co ns is te nt wit h th e pl an al l al on g le nd s th e co ur t to be li ev e th at th e go ve rn m en t ha s de m on st rat ed th at he was th e so ur ce fo r th e ki lo an d th at
, in ad di ti on to th e si x o un ces , is att rib ut ab le to hi m

.

Bas ed on it s dr ug -q ua nt it y fin di ng , th e di st ric t co ur t cal cu la te d a ba se of fen se le ve l o f 34

.

Jo ne s al so ch al le ng ed th e th ree cri m in al hi st or y po in ts th at th e PSR at tri bu te d

to hi m for hi s p rio r st at e ro bb ery se nt en ce. Jo ne s ha d be en se nt en ced to 25 y ears in

pr is on fo r fir st -d eg ree ro bb ery in Io wa on May 31

, 19 88

. W hi le in carc erat ed fo r th at
of fen se , J o n es co m

m it te d an d pl ead ed gu il ty to co ns pi racy to co m m it as sa ul t wit h

in te nt to co m

m it a se rio us in

jury in vi ol at io n of I o w a la w. Jo ne s was se nt en ced on
Mar ch 4, 19 97

, to se rv e two y ears in pr is on on th e co ns pi racy ch arg e. Pu rs ua nt to

Io wa Co de § 90 1.8

, th at s e n t e nc e was im po se d co ns ecu ti ve to Jo ne s’s ro bb ery

se nt en ce. Jo ne s ag reed wit h th e PSR’s reci ta ti on of th e da te s th at Jo ne s was i n c arce rat ed

. He ch al le ng ed on ly th e at tri bu ti on of cri m in al hi st or y po in ts to t h e

-7

-ro bb ery co nv ic ti on ba se d up on whe n Jo ne s’s te rm of in carc erat io n fo r th e ro bb ery

was act ua ll y

di sc ha rg ed

.

The Io wa Dep art m en t of Co rrec ti on s (IDOC) reco rd s s h o w t he sa m e rel eas e da te s fo r th e ro bb ery an d co ns pi racy co nv ic ti on s: wor k rel eas e on Nov em be r 4, 19 99 ;

pa ro le on May 26

, 20 00 ; an d di sc ha rg e on Mar ch 14

, 20 02

. At se nt e n c i n g , t h e

pr ob at io n of

fic er te st ifi ed th at sh e sp o k e w i t h a rep res en ta ti ve fro m th e IDOC who

st at ed th at be cau se th e se nt en ci ng fo r th e co nv ic ti on s in pa rag rap hs 32

an d 33 were im

po se d co ns ecu ti ve ly, th ere’s no t a th eo ret ic al di sc ha rg e da te fo r th e ro bb ery co nv ic ti on in p a r a g r ap h 32

. So th e de fen da nt ’s di sc ha rg e da te fo r bo th th e ro bb ery an d co ns pi racy to co m m it as sa ul t are May 26 o f 20 00 , th e d at e th at he was p aro le d.

Afte r co ns id erat io n of th is in fo rm at io n and ar gum en ts of th e pa rti es , th e di st ric t

co ur t fo un d th at th e pr ob at io n of fic e co rrec tl y at tri bu te d th ree cri m in al hi st or y po in ts
fo r th e ro bb ery co nv ic ti on

. Thi s pr ov id ed fo r a to ta l of 12 cri m in al hi st or y po in ts an d

a cri m in al hi st or y

cat eg or y of V.

The di st ric t co ur t, us in g a ba se of fen se le v el of 34

, le ss two le ve ls fo r

acce pt an ce of res po ns ib il it y , an d a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of V, id en ti fie d Jo ne s’s
ad vi so ry Gui de li ne s ra ng e as 18 8 t o 2 35 m on th s’ im pr is on m en t. J on es arg ue d fo r a do wnwar d va ria nc e to a se nt en ce ne ar 12 0 m on th s, th e st at ut or y mini m um

. The

go ve rn m en t req ue st ed a fiv e-m on th up w a r d va ria nc e fro m th e ad vi so ry Gui de li ne s

ran ge , res ul ti ng in a se nt en ce o f 24 0 m on th s.

The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Jo ne s to 18 8 m on th s’ im pr is on m en t— th e bo tt om of th e Gui de li ne s ra ng e.

-8

-II. Dis cu ss io n

On app eal

, Jo ne s argu es th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in (1 ) cal cu la ti ng Jo ne s’s
ba se of fen se le ve l as 34 ba se d on it s dr ug -q ua nt it y f i n d i n g of 1,0 74 .70 gr am s of

m et ha m ph et am in e, an d (2 ) at tri bu ti ng th ree cri m in al hi st or y po in ts to Jo ne s ba se d on hi s p rio r st at e ro bb ery se nt en ce.

A. Dru g- Qua nt it

y Det er min at io n
J o n e s a rg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t’s dr ug -q ua nt it y de te rm in at io n was ba se d

so le ly up on Mi ll er’s un rel ia bl e he ars ay

. Jo ne s m ai nt ai ns th at Mi ll er’s st at em en ts th at
Offi c e r B al la nt in i rel ay ed at tri al were no t co rro bo rat ed an d th at ov erwh el m in g

ev id en ce refu te s th e rel ia bi li ty of th e st at em en ts

. Acco rd in g to Jo ne s, th e ev id e nc e sh owe d th at he was go in g to pu rch as e si x ou nc es of m et ha m ph et am in e an d was no t
th e so ur c e o f t h e m et ha m ph et am in e se iz ed

. Jo ne s as se rts th at if th e go ve rn m en t

wan te d to rel y on Mi ll er’s ve rs io n of ev en ts
, i t s h o u ld ha ve of fere d Mi ll er’s swo rn

te st im on y at se nt en ci ng an d pe rm it te d Jo ne s’s co un se l to cro ss -ex am in e Mi ll er. Jo ne s ad di ti on al ly arg ue s th at Aus bo rn ’s he ars ay st at em en ts were in su ffi ci en t to es ta bl is h

dr ug qu an ti ty be cau se Aus bo rn ne ve r m en ti o n ed an y th in g ab ou t th e on e-k il og ram

pa ck ag e o f m et ha m

ph et am in e.

W e rev ie w fo r cl ear erro r a di st ric t co ur t’s dr ug -q ua nt it y de te rm in at io n. Uni te d

St at es v. Co lb er t , 82 8 F.3 d 71 8, 72 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ). W e “ rev ers [e] ‘onl y if th e en ti re

reco rd de fin it el y an d fir m ly co nv in ces us th at a m is ta ke ha s be en m ad e.’” Id

. (q uo ti ng
Uni te d S ta te s v. Go nz al ez –Ro dr ig ue

z , 23 9 F .3d 94 8, 9 53 (8t h C ir. 2 00 1) ).

Sect io n 6 A1.3 (a) o f th e Gui de li ne s p ro vi de s t ha t

[w]hen an y fact or im

po rta nt to th e se nt en ci ng de te rm in at io n is

reas on ab ly in di sp ut e, th e pa rti es sh al l be gi ve n an ad eq ua te op po rtu ni ty
to pr es en t in fo rm at io n to th e co ur t reg ard in g th at fact or

. In res ol vi ng an y di sp ut e co nc ern in g a fact or im po rta nt to th e se nt en ci ng de te rm in at io n, th e co ur t m ay co ns id er rel ev an t in fo rm a t i o n w it ho ut reg ard to it s

-9

-ad m is si bi li ty un de r th e ru le s of ev id en ce ap pl ic a b l e at tri al

, pr ov id ed

t h a t th e in fo rm at io n ha s su ffi ci en t in di ci a of rel ia bi li ty to su pp or t i t s pr ob ab le accu racy.

“ In de te rm in in g th e rel ev an t fact s, se nt en ci ng jud ge s are no t res tri ct ed to in fo rm at io n th at wou ld be ad m is si bl e at tri al .” U.S.S.G. § 6 A1.3 cm t. As a res ul t, th e co ur t m ay

co ns id er “ [a]ny in f

o r mat io n

. . . , so lo ng as it ha s su ffi ci en t in di ci a of rel ia bi li ty t o

su pp or t it s pr ob ab le accu racy.” Id

. Thi s m ean s th at “ [r]eli ab le he ars ay ev id en ce m ay be co ns id ered .” Id

. Bu t th e co ur t is p r o h i bi te d fro m co ns id eri ng “ [u ]nrel ia bl e al le ga ti on s.” Id

. W e ha ve he ld “ th at th e Gui de li ne s’ st an da rd fo r th e co ns id erat io n of

he ars ay te st im on y at se nt en ci ng m eet s th e ap pr op ria te co ns ti tu ti on al te st an d fu lfi ll s th e Co nf ro nt at io n Cl au se ’s ba si c pu rp os e of pr om ot in g th e in te gr it y of th e fact fin di ng

pr oc es s.” Uni te d St at es v. W is e , 97 6 F.2 d 39 3, 40 2 (8 th C ir. 19 92 ) (ci ti ng W hi te v. Ill in oi s , 50 2 U.S. 3 46 , 35 6– 57 (19 92 )).

“ A di st ric t co ur t m ay rel y on he ars ay ev id en ce fo r se nt en ci ng pu rp os es , as lo ng

as it ha s su ffi ci en t in di ci a of rel ia bi li ty to su pp or t it s pr ob ab le a c c ur acy.” Uni te d

St at es v. Mor al e

z , 80 8 F.3 d 36 2, 36 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) (q uo ta ti on om it te d)

. “ [A]

se nt en ce ba se d on he ars ay w i ll be su st ai ne d if th e te st im on y is rel ia bl e en ou gh .”

Uni te d St at es v. Tu cker

, 28 6 F.3 d 50 5, 51 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 02 ) (ci ti ng U

. S.S.G. § 6A1 .3(a ) (2 00 0) ). “ Te s t i mo n y b y a la w e nf or cem en t of

fic er reg ard in g st at em en ts

m ad e by co -d efen da nt s m ay be su ffi ci en t to at tri bu te dr ug qu an ti ti es to a de fen da nt .”

Uni te d St at es v. Alva re

z , 1 68 F.3 d 10 84 , 10 88 (8t h C ir. 1 99 9) (ci ti ng Uni te d St at es
v. Ken yo n , 7 F.3 d 7 83 , 78 5 (8 th Cir . 19 93 )).

W e co nc lu de th at Offi cer Bal la nt in i’s te st i mo n y reg ard in g st at em en ts th at
Mi ll er an d Aus bo rn m ad e is su ffi ci en t to at t r i b u te 1,0 74 .70 gr am s of

m et ha m p h e t a mi n e to Jo ne s. Se e id

. Fi rs t, Aus bo rn an d Mi ll er pr ov id ed cred ib le

in fo rm at io n to la w e nf

or cem en t ab ou t Jo ne s’s id en ti ty. Aus bo rn de sc rib ed Mi ll er’s

so ur ce as a li gh t-s ki nn ed bl ack m al e who d ro ve a whi te tru ck

. Co ns is te nt wit h

-1 0-Aus bo rn ’s st at em en t, Mi ll er id en ti fie d Jo ne s as th e so ur ce of hi s su pp ly w ho dro ve

a whi te tru ck . Mil le r al so pro vi de d l aw en fo rcem en t wi th Jo ne s’s co rrec t t el ep ho ne

n um be r. Law en fo rcem en t co rro bo rat ed th is in fo rm at io n whe n it ob ta in ed a s e a r c h

warra nt to de te rm in e Jo ne s’s cel l ph on e lo cat io n an d di sc ov ered hi m dr iv in g a whi te

tru ck th at ul ti m at el y

arri ve d a t M il le r’s res id en ce o n S ep te m be r 27 , 20 13

.

Seco nd

, Mi ll er an d Aus bo rn pr ov id ed co ns is te nt an d cred ib le in fo r m at io n

co nc ern in g dr ug qu an ti ti es of m et ha m ph et am in e. Tex t m es sa ge s on Aus bo rn ’s cel l ph on e be twee n Aus bo rn an d Mi ll er sh owe d th at Aus bo r n ob ta in ed a two -p ou nd

qu an ti ty of m et ha m

ph et am in e fro m Mi ll e r i n earl y Sep te m be r 20 13 fo r $3 2,0 00

. Co ns is te nt wit h th es e te xt m es sa ge s, Offi cer Bal la nt in i le ar n e d f r om Mi ll er th at
Mi ll er ha d b een pu rch as in g m et ha m ph et am in e fro m Jo ne s si nc e Feb ru ary 20 13

,

“ st art in g of

f wit h an ou nc e or two
, m ov in g [h is ] way up to a po un d to two po un ds an d

th e la te st be in g a ki lo .” Rec or de d ph on e co nv ers at io ns be t w e e n Mi ll er an d Jo ne s

co rro bo rat ed th es e d ru g q ua nt it ie s.

Thi rd

, th e reco rd ed cal ls al so co rro bo rat ed Mi ll er’s an d Aus bo rn ’s st at em en ts
th at Jo ne s was th e so ur ce of th e su p p l y. I n t h e se co nd reco rd ed cal l, Mi ll er as ke d

Jo ne s “ wha t’s t he ti ck et on th at ? ” Offi cer B al la nt in i tes ti fie d th at “ wha t’s the ti ck et

on th at ” m ean s “ th e li st ed pr ic e fo r it

, fo r th e qu an ti ty of dr ug s.” Mi ll er’s qu es ti on to

Jo ne s m ak es no se ns e if M il le r were t he so ur ce o f th e su pp ly. In st ead

, th is qu es ti on de m on st rat es th at Mi ll er was pu rch as in g t he dru gs fro m Jo ne s.

Fo ur th

, Jo ne s’s act io ns at th e ti m e th at la w en fo rcem en t en t e r e d Mi ll er’s

res id en ce co rro bo rat e th e in fo rm at io n th at Mi ll er pr ov id ed

. Jo ne s act ed co ns is te nt ly

wit h th e pl an th at he an d Mi ll er ha d m ad e du rin g th e reco rd ed te l e p h o n e c a l l s by

sh owi ng up at Mi ll er’s res id en ce. Mi ll er ha d to ld la w en fo rcem en t th at th e dr ug de al s wit h Jo ne s “ no rm al ly go do wn” in th e of fic e, an d he st at ed th at th e of fic e is whe re th e ki lo gr am of m et ha m

ph et am in e was th at Jo ne s ha d pr ev io us ly de li ve red

. Mi ll er “ al so

st at ed th at

. . . Jo ne s ha d an ot he r po un d of m et ha m ph et am in e in hi s bl ack ba g an d th at

-1 1-he ne ed ed a sc al e to bre ak do wn t he ad di ti on al po un d.” W he n J on es arri ve d fo r th e

se co nd ti m e at Mi ll er’s resi de nc e, th e of fic er hid de n in th e sh ed saw Jo ne s carrying

a bl ack ba g wit h ha nd le s. And

, whe n la w en fo rcem en t ex ecu te d th e ru se se arch

warra nt
, Offi cer Bal la nt in i fo un d Jo ne s “ in th e of fic e whe re th e dr ug s were lo cat ed .”
Offi cer Bal la nt in i th en ob se rv ed “ Jo ne s qu ic kl y tu rn an d m ak e a m ot io n li ke he was th ro win g so m et hi ng .” Offi cers su bse que ntl y dis co ve re d Jone s’ s bla ck bag un de rn eat h

th e de sk whe re th e ki lo gr am of m et ha m ph et am in e was lo cat ed

. The si x- ou nc e ba gg ie

of m et ha m

ph et am in e ap pe ared to ha ve fal le n ou t of th e bl ack ba g. Bo th th e si x- ou nc e ba gg ie an d th e ki lo gr am of m et ha m ph et am in e were pa ck ag ed in th e sa m e type of Zip lo c b ag gi es wit h t he same col or m ark s.

W e th us co nc lu de th at th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t cl earl y err in m ak in g it s dr ug

qu an ti ty det erm in at io n.

B. Cr imi na l Hi st or y
Jo ne s al so arg ue s th at th e d i s t ric t co ur t in co rrec tl y de te rm in ed hi s cri m in al

hi st or y cat eg or y by co un ti ng a se nt en ce th at was im po se d an d co m

pl et ed pr io r to th e
15 -y ear lo ok -b ack pe rio d of U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .2(e )(1 ). Acco rd in g to Jo ne s, in 19 88

, he

was se nt en ced in Io wa st at e co ur t fo r a ro b b e r y of fen se

. W hi le in carc erat ed

, Jo ne s

was co nv ic te d of a se pa rat e of fen se , wh ic h ex te nd e d h i s p e r io d of in carc erat io n by

two y ears

. Und er ap pl ic ab le Io wa la w, Jo ne s as se rts th at he was req ui red to co m pl et e hi s ro bb ery se nt en ce be fo re he be ga n th e two -y ear se nt en ce, whi ch m ean t th at Jo ne s’s

ro bb ery se nt en ce end ed in May 19 98

, m or e th an 15 y ears be fo re t he in st an t o ffen se (Sep te m be r 27

, 20 13 ). Jo ne s co nt en ds th at al th ou gh th e IDOC ne v e r mar k ed a th eo ret ic al di sc ha rg e da te in 19 98 fo r th e ro bb ery se nt en ce, th e di st ric t co ur t sh ou ld

ha ve no ne th el es s fo ll owe d th e ap pl ic ab le st at e la w in co ns tru in g Jo ne s’s se nt en ci ng hi st or y

. Und er th at co ns tru ct i o n , Jo ne s as se rts
, th e di st ric t co ur t sh ou ld no t ha ve

at tri bu te d th ree cri m in al hi st or y po in ts to hi s cri m in al hi st o r y b a s e d on th e ro bb ery

se nt en ce, res ul ti ng in a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of I V rat he r th an V.

-1 2-Sect io n 4A1 .1(a ) of th e Gui de li ne s a d v i s es th e co ur t to “ [a]dd 3 po in ts [in

de te rm in in g th e de fen da nt ’s cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y ] fo r each pr io r se nt en ce of

im pr is on m en t ex ceed in g on e y ear an d on e m on th .” Se e al so U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .1(a ) cm t.
n.1 (“ Thre e po in ts are ad de d fo r each pr io r se nt en ce of im pr is on m en t ex ceed in g on e

y ear a nd on e m on th .”). In tu rn , U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .2(e )(1 ) pr ov id es :

Any pr io r se nt en ce of im

pr is on m en t ex ceed in g on e y ear an d on e m on th th at was im

po se d wit hi n

fi ft een yea rs of th e de fen da nt ’s co m m en cem en t of th e in st an t of

fen se is co u n t e d. Als o co un t an y pr io r se nt en ce of im pr is on m en t ex ceed in g on e y ear an d on e mo n th

, whe ne ve r im po se d, th at res ul te d in th e de fen da nt be in g in carc erat ed du rin g an y pa rt of su ch fi ft een -yea r p er io d

.

(Em ph as es ad de d.) The is su e is whe th er Jon es ’s in carc erat io n for rob be ry ex te nd ed

in to th e 1 5- y ear l oo k- ba ck pe rio d u nd er § 4A1 .2(e )(1 ).

Here, b ot h p art ie s ag ree th at th e in st an t offe ns e oc cu rred in Sep te m be r 20 13 ; th eref or e, th e rel ev an t lo ok -b ack pe rio d wou ld i nc lu de Sep te m be r 19 98 . J on es was

pa ro le d fro m hi s ro bb ery se nt en ce on May 26

, 20 00 —wel l wit hi n th is 15 -y ear lo ok

ba ck pe rio d. Bu t Jo ne s ob jecte d to th e PSR’s us e of th at co nv ic ti on fo r cri m in al

hi st or y po in ts
, arg ui ng th at hi s ro bb ery se nt en ce was di sc ha r g e d on May 26

, 19 98 —n ot May 26

, 20 00 —b ecau se he ha d to co m pl et e hi s ro bb ery se nt en ce pr io r to
be gi nn in g hi s co ns pi racy se nt en ce. Bec au se Jo ne s ob jecte d to th e PSR’s att rib ut io n of th ree cri m in al po in ts to hi m ba se d on th e ro bb ery se nt en ce, th e g o v e r n ment

p r e s en te d th e te st im on y of th e pr ob at io n of fic er to pr ov e th e ne ces sa ry fact s. S e e
Uni te d St at es v. W

ad de ll

, 83 1 F.3 d 95 8, 96 0– 61 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ) (“ W he n a de fen da nt
ob jects to fact s in a pr es en te nc e rep or t, a di st ric t co ur t m ay no t rel y on th os e fact s to

se nt en ce th e de fen da nt un le ss th e go ve rn m en t fir st pr ov es th e fact s b y a

pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce.” (ci ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Bow er s , 74 3 F.3 d 11 82

, 11 84 (8 th Cir . 20 14 )). The pro ba ti on off ic er t es ti fie d:

-1 3-I sp ok e wit h a rep res en ta ti ve of th e Io wa Dep art m en t of Co rrec ti on s on

Sep te mb e r 1 5

, 20 15

, an d th at rep res en ta ti ve st at ed th at be cau se th e

se nt en ci ng fo r th e co nv ic ti o n s in pa rag rap hs 32 [ro bb ery] an d 33 [co ns pi racy to co m

m it as sa ul t] were im

po se d co ns ecu ti ve ly, th ere’s no t

a th eo ret ic al di sc ha rg e da te fo r th e ro bb ery co nv ic ti on in pa rag rap h 32

. So th e de fen da nt ’s d i sc ha rg e da te fo r bo th th e ro bb ery an d co ns pi racy to co m m it ass au lt are M ay

26 of 2 00 0, t he da te th at he was p aro le d.

“ Co ur ts

. . . ha ve lo ok ed to st a t e l a w t o d e f in e whe n a st at e se nt en ce ha s

ex pi red .” Uni te d St at e s v. Ren fr ew , 9 57 F.2 d 52 5, 52 6 (8 th Ci r. 19 92 ). Io wa la w i n effe ct at th e ti m e of Jo ne s’s Mar ch 4, 19 97 co ns pi racy se nt en ci ng st at ed

, in rel ev an t

pa rt:

If a pe rs on is se n t e n c ed

. . . f or a cri m e co m

m it te d whi le co nf

in ed in a de te nt io n faci li ty or pe na l in st it ut io n, th e s e n t e nc in g jud ge sh al l or de r th e se nt en ce to b e g i n a t th e ex pi rat io n of an y ex is ti ng se nt en ce. If th e pe rs on is pr es en tl y in th e cu st od y of th e di rect or of th e Io wa de pa rtment of co rrec ti on s, t he sen te nc e sh al l b e se rv ed at th e faci li ty or in st it ut io n in whi ch th e pe rs on is al read y co nf in ed un le ss th e pe rs on is tra ns ferr ed by th e di rect or

. If co ns ecu ti ve se nt en ces ar e sp eci fi ed in th e or de r of

co mmit men t, th e se ver al te rms sh al l be co ns tr ue d as on e co nt in uo us
te rm o f i mpr is on men t

.

Io wa Co de § 90 1.8 (1 99 5) (emp h a s is ad de d)

. In tu rn , th e Io wa st at ut e ad dr es si ng cal cu la ti on of se nt en ce r e d u ct io ns in effe ct at th e ti m e of Jo ne s’s co ns pi racy

se nt en ci ng pro vi de d:

90 3A.7 Sep arat e se nt en ces

.

W he n an in m at e is co m m it te d un de r se ve ral c o n vi ct io ns wit h

co ns ecu ti ve se nt en c e s , th ey sh al l be co ns tru ed as on e co nt in uo us

se nt en ce in th e g ran ti ng or f or fei ti ng of g oo d c on du ct ti m e.

Io wa Co de § 9 03 A.7 (1 99 5) (em ph as is ad de d)

.

-1 4-The st at ut es in effe ct at th e ti m e of Jo ne s’s co ns pi racy se nt en ci ng m ak e cl ear, 4

c on si st en t wit h th e pr ob at io n of fic er’s te st im on y an d th e IDOC do cu m en ts
, th a t

Jo ne s’s co ns ecu ti ve se nt en ces fo r ro bb ery an d co ns pi racy co ns ti tu te d on e co nt in uo us

te rm of im

pr is on m en t. The refo re, he was no t pa ro le d fro m hi s ro bb ery se nt en ce un ti l May 26

, 20 00

. Thi s da te fal ls wit hi n th e 15 -y ear lo ok -b ack pe rio d of U

. S

. S.G. § 4A1 .2(e ). As a res ul t, we ho ld th at th e di st ric t co ur t co rrec tl y cal cu la te d Jo ne s’s
cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y by at tri bu ti ng th ree cri m in al hi st or y po in ts to hi s pr io r st at e

ro bb ery se nt en ce.

III. Co nc lu si on Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm

th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Sect io ns 90 1.8 an d 90 3A.7 were bo th am en de d on May 7, 19 97

, af te r Jo ne s’s 4
Mar ch 4, 1 99 7 c on sp ira cy sen te nc in g.

-1 5-