# 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 6- 36 45

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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.

Ant on io Lareg us Ro be rts on ,

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 Weste rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i - Kan sa s C it y

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 22 , 20 17
Fil ed : M arch 6, 2 01 8

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re COLLOTON, BENTO N, and KELLY , Cir cu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

COLLOTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

A jury co nv ic te d Ant on io Ro be rts on o f co ns pi racy to po ss es s an d di st rib ut e

10 0 gr am s or m or e of ph en cy cl id in e (“ PCP” ) an d co ns pi racy to co mm i t mo n e y

l au nd eri ng

. The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Ro be rts on to 25 2 m on th s’ im pr is on men t

. Ro be rts on ap pe al s hi s co nv ic ti on s an d se nt en ces

. W e affi rm th e co nv ic ti on s bu t

rem an d fo r a co rrec ti on to Ro be rts on ’s sen te nc e o n t he m on ey lau nd eri ng co un t.I.

Dur in g a ro ut in e tra ffi c st op in 20 08

, Kan sa s st at e tro op ers di sc ov ered a la rg e

q ua nt it y of PCP in a ren ta l car bo un d fo r Kan sa s Ci ty, Mi ss ou ri. The dr iv er of t h e

ve hi cl e was tra ns po rti ng PCP to a m an na m ed W al te r So rrel ls

. In ve st ig at io n sh owe d

th at S o rrel ls rep ack ag ed PCP fo r di st rib ut io n in on e-g ram , two -o un ce, an d ei gh tou nc e qu an ti ti es

. A co op erat in g witn es s exp la in ed ho w So rrel ls refe rred to each of

th es e qu an ti ti es

. So rrel ls so ld on e-g ram qu an ti ti es of PCP in pa ck ag es of Mo re br an d

ci ga r et te s di pp ed in PCP; th es e were kn own as “ di ps .” So rrel ls al so pa ck ag ed two

ou nc es , or 47 .2 gram s, of PCP in reu se d van il la ex tra ct bo tt le s, re ferr ed to as a “ red

to ps .” So rrel ls di st rib ut ed ei gh t-o un ce qu an ti ti es , or 19 8 gr am s, of PCP in le m on an d

li m e jui ce bo tt le s, refe rred to as “ y el lo w to ps ” an d “ gr een to ps .” So rrel ls tra ns ferr ed

PCP t o p eo pl e who wou ld sel l t he dru g a nd pa y hi m th e p ro ceed s.

Afte r ob ta in in g a wire ta p on So rrel ls ’s ph on e, th e go v e r n m en t in te rcep te d

s e v e ral na rco ti cs -rel at ed ph on e cal ls an d te xt m es sa ge s be twee n So rrel ls an d

Ro be rts on du rin g th e su m m er o f 20 11

. An in ve st ig at in g of fic er te st ifi ed th at dr ug

tra ffi ck ers of

te n sp ok e in co de whe n refe rri ng to na rco ti cs

. On Ju ly 21

, fo r ex am pl e,

Ro be rts on req ue st ed an d rece iv ed on e “ CD” fro m So rrel ls

. On Ju ly 22

, he req ue st ed

a “ ti ck et ,” an d a rran ge d t o m eet So rrel ls at a Qui kTri p g as st at io n.

On Ju ly 25

, Ro be rts on req ue st ed fo ur “ gr een jol ly ran ch ers ,” or “ gr een on es ,”

fro m So rrel ls —o ne for

Ro be rts on an d th ree for R ob ert so n’s p art ne r—a nd arra ng ed

to m eet th e fo ll owi ng da y

. On th e m or ni ng of Ju ly 26

, Ro be rts on in crea se d hi s or de r,

req ue st in g “ at le as t two ” fo r hi m se lf an d th ree fo r hi s pa rtn er if th e pa rtn er was “ st il l

read y .” So rrel ls di rect ed hi s as so ci at e, Co le tt e Dou gl as , to co m pl et e th e tra ns act io n
wit h R ob ert so n a t a McDo na ld ’s res ta ur an t. Ro be rts on co nt act ed So rrel ls ag ai n o n Aug us t 2. In th at co nv ers at io n, So rrel ls ag reed to m eet Ro be rts on at a ga s st at io n an d

sa id th at he was g o i n g t o g i v e Ro be rts on “ th e sa m e nu m be r I ga ve y ou on th e la st

on e.” Ro be rts on rep li ed th at “ [i]t’s l ik e se ve n.”

-2

-A week la te r, o n Aug us t 9, Ro be rts on ag reed to pi ck up th ree ei gh t-o un ce

co nt ai ne rs of PCP fro m So rrel ls at hi s ho m e. A de te ct iv e co nd uc te d su rv ei ll an ce

ou ts id e So rrel ls ’s ho m e on th at da t e

. H e sa w Ro be rts on arri ve in a whi te Kia

au to m ob il e an d watc he d as So rrel ls ret rie ve d a pa ck ag e fro m hi s tru ck

, cl im be d in to

th e pa ss en ge r si de of th e K i a , a n d t h e n ex it ed th e Kia wit ho ut th e pa ck ag e. Afte r

Ro be rts on dr ov e away, po li ce at t e mp t e d to st op hi s ve hi cl e, bu t Ro be rts on fle d.

P o l i c e lo cat ed th e Kia aft er it was ab an do ne d. In si de th e car, of fic ers f o u n d

R ob ert so n’s id en ti fic at io n an d se ve ral ci ga ret te s no t y et “ di pp ed ” wit h PCP

. Ro be rts on cal le d S or rel ls th at ni gh t, inf or m in g hi m th at he ha d lo st on e of th e th ree

co nt ai ne rs of P CP an d b ur ie d t he ot he r two

.

In 20 13

, a gr an d jury ch arg ed twen ty de fen da nt s, in cl ud in g Ro be rts on , wit h

tw o c o n s pi racy of

fen se s: co ns pi racy to di st rib ut e an d to po ss es s wit h in te nt to

di st rib ut e on e ki lo gr am or m or e of PCP, 28 0 gr am s or m or e of co cai ne ba se , an d 50 0

gr am s or m or e of co cai ne , in vi ol at io n of 21 U.S.C. § 84 1( a)(1 ), (b )(1 )(A) & (B), an d

co ns pi racy to co m

m it m on ey la un de rin g, in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 19 56 (a)( 1) (A)(i )

& (h ). Afte r a th ree- da y tri al

, a jury fo un d Ro be rts on gu il ty of a le ss er-i nc lu de d dr ug

tra ffi ck in g of

fen se (co ns pi racy to di st rib ut e 10 0 gr am s or m or e of PCP) an d gu il ty of

th e co ns pi racy to c om m it m on ey lau nd eri ng

.

At se nt en ci ng , th e di st ric t co ur t co nc lu de d by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce

th at Ro be rts on was res po ns ib le fo r at le as t on e ki lo gr am of PCP a n d c a lc ul at ed hi s
ba se of fen se le ve l at 30 un de r USSG §§ 2S 1.1 (a)( 1) an d 2D1 .1(c )(5 ). The co ur t th en

ap pl ie d a two -le ve l in crea se un de r USSG § 2S1 .1(b )(2 )(B)

, be cau se Ro be rts on was

co nv ic te d of m on ey la un de rin g co ns pi racy un de r 18 U.S.C. § 19 56

. Fi na ll y , th e co ur t

ap pl ie d a two -le ve l in crea se un de r USSG § 3C 1.2 fo r reck le ss en da ng erm en t du rin g

fli gh t on Aug us t 9. W it h a to ta l of fen se le ve l of 34 an d cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y IV,

Ro be rts on ’s gu id el in e ran ge was 21 0 to 26 2 m on th s. The co ur t se nt en ced hi m to 25 2

m on th s’ im

pr is on m en t o n e ach co un t, t o b e se rv ed co nc ur ren tl y

.

-3

-II.

Ro be rts on fir s t ap pe al s th e di st ric t co ur t’s fin di ng at se nt en ci ng th at he was

acco un ta bl e fo r on e ki lo gr am of PCP. W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s fin di ng of dr ug

qu an ti ty fo r cl ear erro r. U n it ed St at es v. Bra dl ey , 64 3 F.3 d 11 21

, 11 26 (8 th Ci r.

20 11 ). Und er th e se nt en ci ng gu id el in es , a co ns pi racy de fen da nt ’s ba se of fen se le ve l,

i n c lu di ng dr

ug qu an ti ty, is de te rm in ed ba se d on hi s own act s an d “ al l act s a n d

om is si on s of ot he rs th at were

. . . (i) wit hi n t h e s c o p e o f th e joi nt ly un de rta ke n
cri m in al act i v i t y, (ii ) in fu rth eran ce of th at cri m in al act iv it y , an d (ii i) reas on ab ly

fo res e e a bl e in co nn ect io n wit h th at cri m in al act iv it y .” USSG § 1B 1.3 (a)( 1) (B).

W he re no t al l dr

u g s h a v e b e en se iz ed

, th e di st ric t co ur t m ay “ ap pr ox im at e th e

qu an ti ty of dr ug s.” Uni te d S ta te s v. Fra zi er , 2 80 F.3d 83 5, 8 51 (8t h C ir. 2 00 2) . In

th at ev en t, th e m eas ur em en ts ne ed no t be pr eci se , “ so lo ng as th e reco rd refl ect s a
ba si s fo r th e co ur t’s d eci si on .” Uni te d S ta te s v. Roa ch

, 16 4 F.3d 40 3, 4 14 (8t h C ir.

19 98 ).

In th e pr es en te nc e rep or t, th e pr ob at io n of fic e re c o mm en de d th at Ro be rts on

was a c c ou nt ab le fo r 1.3 6 ki lo gr am s of PCP. The pr ob at io n of fic e rel ie d on th ree

tra ns act io ns : (1 ) th e Ju ly 22 in te rcep te d c o mm u n i c at io n sh owi ng th at Ro be rts on

arra ng ed to rece iv e fro m So rrel ls a “ ti ck et ,” whi ch th e pr ob at io n of fic e co ns tru ed to

m ean an ei gh t-o un ce bo tt le of PC P ; ( 2 ) t he Ju ly 2 6 tra ns act io n in whi ch Ro be rts on

rece iv ed two “

jol ly gr een ran ch ers ,” whi ch th e pr ob at io n of fic e co ns tru ed to m ean

two ei gh t-o un ce bo tt le s of PCP; an d (3 ) t h e Aug us t 9 in ci de nt du rin g whi ch

Ro be rts on ob ta in ed th ree ei gh t-o un ce bo tt le s of PCP fro m So r rel ls

. The pr ob at io n

of fic e to ta le d th es e tra ns act io ns to arri ve at 48 ou nc es of PCP, m ul ti pl ie d th e nu m

be r

of ou nc es by 28 .35 gr am s, an d reac he d a su m of 1.3 6 ki lo gr am s of PCP. Ro be rts on
ob jecte d t o t he reco m

m en da ti on

.

At se nt en ci ng , th e di st ric t co ur t fo un d by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce th at

“ th ere was at le as t 1 ki lo of PCP th at was de al t with

, an d I su sp ect th ere was m or e.”

-4

-S. Tr

. 3 1

. Th e c ou rt di d no t sp eci fy th e ba si s fo r it s cal cu la ti on , bu t th e tra ns cri pt

pr ov id es so m e g ui da nc e ab ou t t he co ur t’s l ik el y rat io na le

.

Fi rs t, the co ur

t unde rs too d tha t Ro be rts on was acco un ta bl e un de r th e gu id el in es

fo r qu an ti ti es th at he di d no t po ss es s hi m se lf if th ey were po ss es se d or di st rib ut ed by

ot he r s i n f

ur th eran ce of th e co ns pi racy an d reas on ab ly fo res eeab le to Ro be rts on

. Alt ho ug h th e go ve rn m en t ap pa ren tl y de cl in ed to fo ll ow USSG § 1B 1.3 (a)( 1)

, sa y in g

th at “ we do n’t in th is di st ric t us ua ll y ho ld so m eb od y ” acco un ta bl e fo r th e act s of co

co ns pi rat or s, S. Tr. 44

, th e co ur t reco gn iz ed th at “ co ns pi racy is an in ch oa te of fen se ,”

an d th at th e de fen da nt “ do es n’t act ua ll y ha ve to to uc h it ” if th ere is “ an

ag reem en t .

. . to m ov e th at am ou nt .” S. Tr. 16 . Even whe re the pa rti es st ip ul at e to

cert ai n fact s or , as he re, de cl in e to fo ll ow th e gu id el in es , th e co ur t is no t bo un d by th e

po si ti on of th e pa rti es an d m ay cal cu la te th e gu id el in e le ve ls acco rd in g to th e la w an d

al l re le va nt fact or s. Se e USSG § 6B 1.4 & co m m en t.

Seco nd

, th e pa rti es ev en tu al ly ag ree d tha t th e pr op er weig ht at tri bu ta bl e to PCP

was 24 .75 gr am s pe r ou nc e, no t th e 28 .35 gr am s pe r ou nc e us ed by th e pr ob at io n

of fic e. At on e po in t du rin g th e he ari ng , th e co ur t un de rs to od th e go ve rn m en t to arg ue

th at two ei gh t-o un ce co nt ai ne rs fro m Ju ly 2 6 a mo u n t e d to 45 3.6 gr am s, an d th ree
ei gh t-o un ce co nt ai ne rs fro m Aug us t 9 eq ua le d 68 0.4 gr am s, fo r a to ta l of 1.1 34

ki lo gr am s. S. Tr. 20

. Thi s cal cu la ti on ap pa ren tl y was ba se d on th e pr ob at io n of fic e’s

as su m pt io n th at on e ou nc e of PCP weig h s 2 8.3 5 gr am s. At ot he r po in ts in th e
he ari ng , ho wev er, th e pa rti es ag reed th at 28 .35 gr am s was no t th e pr op er co nv ers io n

rat io

. S. Tr. 13

. A fo ren si c ch em is t te st ifi ed at tri al th at aft er co ns id eri ng th e de ns it y
of PCP, sh e co nc lu de d th at an ei gh t-o un ce co nt ai ne r of PCP weig he d 19 8 gr am s, su ch

th at on e ou nc e of PCP weig he d 24 .75 gr am s. Thi s co nv ers io n rat io is th us su pp or te d
by the reco rd

.

Thi rd

, Ro be rts on ’s po si ti on was th at so m e of th e tra ns act io ns , in cl ud in g th e

tra ns act io n i nv ol vi ng a “ ti ck et ” d is cu ss ed on Ju ly 2 2, i nv ol ve d t wo o un ces of P CP.

-5

-R o b ert so n arg ue d th at So rrel ls di st rib ut ed ei gh t-o un ce qu an ti ti es in th e le m on a n d

li m e jui ce bo tt le s and two -o un ce qu an ti ti es in va ni ll a ex tra ct bo tt le s. He urg ed th at

whe n th e reco rd di d no t sh ow cl earl y whi ch qu an ti ty w a s in vo lv ed in a pa rti cu la r

tra ns act io n, th e co ur t sh ou ld fin d th at R o b e r t so n rece iv ed two ou nc es rat he r th an
ei gh t o un ces . S. Tr. 27

.

Hav in g co ns id ered th e reco rd as a who le

, we co nc lu de th at th e di st ric t co ur t di d

n o t c l earl y err in ho ld in g Ro be rts on acco un ta bl e fo r on e ki lo gr am or m or e of P C P

. Ro be rts on ad m it s th at th ere is su ffi ci en t ev id en ce to s ho w th at he po ss es se d th ree
ei gh t-o un ce co nt ai ne rs , am ou nt in g to 59 4 gra m s of PCP, on Aug us t 9 . The d is pu te

co nc ern s wh et he r th ere was su ffi ci en t ev id en ce to su pp or t a fin di ng th at Ro be rts on

was acco un ta bl e fo r an ot he r 40 6 g ram s.

The reco rd su pp or ts a fin di ng th at Ro be rts on po ss es se d 39 6 gr am s of PCP on

Ju ly 26

. Rec or di ng s of in te rcep te d te le ph on e cal ls i n t ro du ced at tri al sh owe d th at

Ro be rts on req ue st ed “ at le as t two ” “ gr een jol ly ran ch e rs ” or “ gr een on es ” fro m

So rrel ls on Ju ly 2 6. Ro be rts on em ph as iz es th at th e de te ct iv e who wit ne ss ed th e

tra ns act io n te st ifi ed on cro ss -ex am in at io n th at Ro be rts on rece iv ed on ly on e bo tt le

, bu t he la te r ag reed on red ire ct ex am in at io n th at Ro be rts on was ob ta in in g “ m ul ti pl e

it em s” on Ju ly 26

. Bas ed on th is i n c on si st en t te st im on y an d th e reco rd ed

co nv ers at io n ab ou t a tra ns act io n in vo lv in g “ at le as t two ” un it s, it was no t cl ear erro r

fo r th e co ur t t o fi nd th at Ro be rts on ob ta in ed two bo tt le s.

Ro be rts on arg ue s th at be cau se So rrel ls de al t ot he r dr ug s in ad di ti on to PCP, th e ph ras e “ gr een jol ly ran ch er” cou ld ha ve refe rred to so m et hi ng ot he r th an PCP. The

ev id en ce sh owe d, ho wev er, th at So rrel ls so ld PCP in gr een li m e jui ce bo tt le s refe rred

to as “ gr een to ps .” Alt ho ug h Ro be rts on di d no t us e th e ph ras e “ gr een to ps ” in hi s cal l

to So rrel ls on Ju ly 25

, th e co ur t reas on ab ly co u l d i n f e r th at th e te rm s “ gr een jol ly

ran ch ers ” or “ gr een on es ” de sc rib ed th e sa m e gr een li m e jui ce bo tt le s or “ gr een to ps ”

in whi ch So rrel ls so ld ei gh t-o un ce qu an ti ti es of PCP. W he n Ro be rts on as ke d So rrel ls

-6

-fo r “ gr een jol ly ran ch ers ” on Ju ly 25

, So rrel ls co nf irmed th at Ro be rts on was “ ta lk in g
ab ou t th e gr een on es ,” an d th e wom an fro m who m Ro be rts on ob ta in ed th es e “ gr een

on es ” ke pt a su pp ly of So rrel ls ’s PCP at her ho m e. W it ne ss es al so te st ifi ed th at th e ph ras e “ gr een jol ly ran ch er” di d no t refe r to m ari juan a th at So rrel ls di st rib ut ed

. The

ev id en ce th eref

or e su pp or te d th e co ur t’s co nc lu si on th at Ro be rts on ob ta in ed two

gr een li m e jui ce bo tt le s, each co nt ai ni ng ap pr ox im at el y 19 8 gr am s of PCP, on Ju ly

26

.

W it h ev id en ce th at Ro be rts on po ss es se d 59 4 gr am s on Aug us t 9 an d 39 6 gr am s

on Ju ly 26

, th e di st ric t co ur t’s fin di ng of on e k i l o g r a m o r more is su pp or te d if

Ro be rts on is acco un ta bl e fo r on ly te n m or e gr am s of PCP fro m th e co ns pi racy. The re

are at le as t two read y so ur ces o f t h a t a d di ti on al qu an ti ty. Fo r on e, Ro be rts on

co n c e d e d i n th e di st ric t co ur t th at a co de d tra ns act io n on Ju ly 22 th at in cl ud ed

di sc us si on of a “ ti ck et ” in vo lv ed at le as t two ou nc es of PCP. Alt ho ug h th e pr ob at io n

of fic e co ns tru ed th e “ ti c k e t ” to m ean an ei gh t-o un ce co nt ai ne r of PCP, Ro be rts on

arg ue d th at th e co ur t sh ou ld fin d t ha t th e tra ns act io n in vo lv ed on ly a two -o un ce

va ni ll a ex tra ct co nt ai ne r. S. Tr. 27

. Accep ti ng Ro be rts on ’s po si ti on , th e Ju ly 22

tra ns act io n in vo lv ed 49 .50 gr am s, res ul ti ng in a to ta l qu an ti ty of m or e th an on e

ki lo gr am

.

Alt ern at iv el y , t he in te rcep te d co nv ers at io ns on Ju ly 2 5 a nd 26 —t he da te s on
whi ch Ro be rts on arra ng ed to rece iv e two ei gh t-o un ce co nt ai ne rs fo r hi m se lf— sh ow

th at So rrel ls po ss es se d wit h in te nt to di st rib ut e th ree m or e ei gh t-o un ce co nt ai ne rs in

fu rth eran ce of th e co ns pi racy. On Ju ly 25

, Ro be rts on to ld So rrel ls th at Ro be rts on ’s

pa rtn er wan te d “ th ree” of th e “ gr een on es ,” an d So rrel ls sa id

, “ Alri gh t,

. . . I’l l be

read y .” On Ju ly 26

, whe n So rrel ls a s k e d R ob ert so n ho w m an y he “ ne ed ed al l

to ge th er,” Ro be rts on rep li ed th at he ne ed ed “ at le as t two ” fo r hi m se lf an d po ss ib ly

“ th ree” fo r hi s “ pa rtn er” if th e pa rtn er was “ st il l read y .” So rrel ls an swe red

, “ Alri gh t,

bu t y ou sa id two fo r y ou ? ” Bas ed on th i s d i s cu ss io n, th e reco rd su pp or ts a fin di ng

th at Ro be rts on kn ew or reas on ab ly co ul d ha ve fo res een th at So rrel ls po ss es se d wit h

-7

-in te nt to di st r i b u t e t h ree ad di ti on al ei gh t-o un ce qu an ti ti es of PCP th at wou ld be

av ai la bl e fo r Ro be rts on ’s pa rtn er or so m e ot he r cu st om er. Thi s qu an ti ty al so wou ld

su pp or t th e di st ric t co ur t’s fin di ng th at Ro be rts on was acco un ta bl e fo r a to ta l of on e

ki lo gr am or m or e o f PCP.

Fo r th es e reas on s, th e di st ric t c o u r t d i d no t cl earl y err in cal cu la ti ng a ba se

of fen se lev el of 3 0.

III.

Ro be rts on ne xt ch al le ng es t h e d is tri ct co ur t’s ap pl ic at io n of a two -le ve l

in crea se fo r reck le ss en da ng erm en t durin g fl igh t un de r USSG § 3C 1.2

. Sect io n 3C 1.2

cal ls fo r a two -le ve l in crea se if a de fen da nt “ reck le ss ly cre at ed a su bs ta nt ia l ris k of

de at h o r s e r i o us bo di ly i nju ry to an ot he r pe rs on in th e co ur se of fle ei ng fro m a la w

en fo rcem en t of

fic er.” W he re, as he re, a de fen da nt ’s ba se of fen se le ve l is de te rm in ed
by “ th e un de rlyin g of

fen se fro m whi ch th e la un de red fu nd s were de riv ed ,” se e USSG
§ 2S 1.1 (a)( 1)

, an a pp li cat io n no te to § 2S 1.1 pr ov id es th at “ ap pl ic at io n of an y
Ch ap te r Thre e ad

jus tm en t sh al l be de t e r mi n e d b as ed on th e of fen se co ve red by
[§ 2S 1.1 ] (i.e

., th e la un de rin g of cri m in al ly de riv ed fu nd s) an d no t on th e un de rlyin g

of fen se fro m whi c h t h e la un de red fu nd s were de riv ed .” USSG § 2S 1.1

, co m m en t. (n .2(C )).

Rel y in g on th e ap pl ic at io n no te

, Ro be rts on arg ue s th at an ad jus tm en t un de r § 3C 1.2 ap pl ie s on ly i f th e reck le ss en da ng erm en t rel at es t o mo n e y la un de rin g an d

no t to th e un de rlyin g dr ug of fen se

. He co nt en ds th at hi s fli gh t on Aug us t 9 rel at ed

on ly to hi s dr ug of

fen se , an d th at th e co ur t th eref or e erre d in ap pl y in g th e two -le ve l

in crea se un de r § 3 C1 .2.

The gu id el in e co m

m en ta ry pr ov id es th at an ad jus tm en t un de r § 3C 1.2 ap pl ie s

if it is “ ba se d on ” Ro be rts on ’s m on ey la un de rin g of fen se

. In th i s c a s e , t h e di st ric t

-8

-co ur t di d no t cl earl y err in fin di n g t ha t th e ad jus tm en t ap pl ie d un de r th at st an da rd

. The go ve rn m en t’s ev id en ce at tri al sh owe d th at Ro be rts on an d So rrel ls en ga ge d in

a typic al dr ug -fro nt in g sc he m e in vo lv in g m on ey la un de rin g: So rrel ls ad va nc ed PCP

to de al ers li ke Ro be rts on on cred it ; th e de al ers wou ld se ll th e d ru g a nd rei nv es t t he

p ro ceed s in fu tu re dr ug pu rch as es

. The dr ug tra ffi ck in g an d m on ey la u n d e r i n g

co ns pi raci es were th eref

or e in te rtwi ne d, so whe n Ro be rts on fle d, he was ev ad in g

ap pr eh en si on fo r pa rti ci pa ti ng in bo th a m on e y la un de rin g co ns pi racy an d a dr ug

tra ffi ck in g co ns pi racy. Bec au se Ro be rts on fle d fro m of fic ers to av oi d ap pr eh en si on

fo r h i s m on ey la un de rin g of fen se , th e di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y ap pl ie d a two -le ve l

in crea se un de r § 3 C1 .2.

IV.

Ro be rts on al so co nt en ds th at th e di st ric t co ur t’s 25 2- mon th se nt en ce is

su bs ta nt iv el y un reas on ab l e , b u t hi s arg um en t is pr em is ed la rg el y on an in co rrec t

as su mp ti on th at th e co ur t erre d in cal cu la ti ng th e ad vi so ry gu id el in e ran ge

. A

se nt en ce wi th in th e ad vi so ry ran ge is pr es um

pt iv el y reas on ab le , a nd Ro be rts on ha s

no t id en ti fie d co m

pe ll in g reas on s why th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n in

fo ll owi ng th e rec om m en de d g ui de li ne ran ge for th e d ru g t raff ic ki ng co ns pi racy.

As to th e m on ey la un de rin g co ns pi racy, Ro be rts on co rrec tl y po in ts ou t th at th e

co nc ur ren t s en te nc e o f 25 2 m on th s on th at co un t o f co nv ic ti on ex ceed s t he twen tyy ear st at ut or y m ax im

um es ta bl is he d by 18 U.S.C. § 19 56 (a)( 1)

. W e th eref or e va cat e

th e se nt en ce on Co un t Two an d rem an d wit h di rect io ns to li m i t th e te rm of

im pr is on m en t on th at co un t to th e st at ut or y m ax im um of 24 0 m on th s. Se e Uni te d

St at es v. Zo ra n , 6 82 F.3 d 1 0 6 0

, 10 65 n.7 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ); Uni te d St at es v. Her go tt

, 56 2 F .3d 96 8, 9 70 -7 1 (8 th Cir . 20 09 ).

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-V.

Afte r co un se l su bm it te d a n op en in g br ie f on Ro be rts on ’s be ha lf rai si ng th e

arg um en ts de sc rib ed ab ov e, Ro be rts on fil ed a m ot io n fo r le av e to fil e a su pp le m en ta l

pr o s e bri ef wi th ad di ti on al arg um en ts

. The cl erk of co ur t, with ou t in vo lv em en t b y

an y jud ge , en te red an or de r gr an t i n g th is m ot io n, an d Ro be rts on ’s pr o se br ie f was

en te red on th e do ck et

. The go ve rn m en t r e sp on de d to th e br ie f fil ed by co un se l bu t

di d n ot ad dr es s t he arg um en ts rai se d i n R ob ert so n’s pr o s e bri ef.

It is lo ng st an di ng Eig ht h Ci rcu it po l ic y th at whe n a pa rty is rep res en te d by

co un se l, we wil l no t acce pt pr o se br ie fs fo r fil in g. Uni te d St at es v. Co nk li n , 75 0 F.3 d

77 3, 77 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ); Uni te d St at es v. Mar ti n , 59 F.3 d 76 7, 76 8 n.2 (8 th Ci r.

1 9 9 5 ) ; Uni te d St at es v. Pay to n , 91 8 F.2 d 54

, 56 n.2 (8 th Ci r. 19 90 ). W e th eref or e

va cat e th e cl erk ’s or de r gr an ti ng le av e to fil e a p r o s e b rie f an d en fo rce ou r po li cy

ag ai ns t m ul ti pl e fil in gs

. Ro be rts on is no t un fai rly pr ejud ic ed by th is act io n, be cau se

th e pr o s e bri ef was no t fi le d u nt il aft er co un se l h ad sel ect ed th e arg um en ts to rai se

on ap pe al an d fil ed an op en in g br ie f. The m ot io n fo r le av e to fil e a pr o se br ie f

sh ou ld ha ve be en de ni ed

, an d th e effe ct of ou r va cat in g t h e p r e v io us or de r is no
di ffer en t t ha n a de ni al

.

* * *

Fo r th es e reas on s, Ro be rts on ’s co nv ic ti on s an d th e se nt en ce on Co un t One are

affi rm ed , and th e cas e is rem an de d for th e li m it ed pu rp os e of red uc in g th e se nt en ce

on Co un t Two to th e st at ut or y m ax im um of 2 40 m on th s.

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