IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

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No. 01-11589

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

JOHN TURNER,

Defendant-Appellant.

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Appeal from the United States District Court

For the Northern District of Texas

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January 27, 2003

Before KING, Chief Judge, and DeMOSS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

EDITH BROWN CLEMENT, Circuit Judge:

John Turner (“Turner”) appeals his conviction for violating 21 U.S.C. § 846, participating in

a conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana, and a separate count under 21 U.S.C. §

846, for a separate conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. On appeal, Turner argues

that the district court erred by: (1) ruling that there was sufficient evidence to support a finding that

Turner conspired to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine; (2) applying a 2-level increase

to Turner’s offense level based on the five kilograms of cocaine allegedly involved in the conspiracy;

and (3) applying a sentencing enhancement for Turner’s role as an “organizer, leader, manager, or
2

supervisor” under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1. We disagree and affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

Over a two-year period, variouslaw enforcement agenciesjointlyinvestigated an alleged drug

conspiracy located in Arlington, Texas. The conspiracy began in January 1997 and continued until

November 8, 2000. Two businesses were tied to the drug conspiracy as legitimate fronts for the drug

distributors. The first business, “That Sounds Good,” was a car stereo shop owned by one of the

alleged co-conspirators, Nathan Henderson (“Henderson”). Turner owned the second business,

“Platinum Sounds,” a CD store located adjacent to Henderson’s stereo shop in the same strip mall.

Henderson, Turner, and a third alleged co-conspirator, Julius Robinson (“Robinson”), organized a

scheme to sell and distribute marijuana to Turner’s friend in Missouri, Alex Jones (“Jones”). 

Henderson and Turner typically shipped and received packages containing controlled

substances from their business location in the strip mall. They received packages containing drug

money at the same location, and on some occasions, at Turner’s home address. Leteisha Barnett

(“Barnett”), an employee of Platinum Sounds and That Sounds Good, signed for the packages on

behalf of Henderson and Turner when they came to the store. In exchange for lending Barnett money

for her apartment, Henderson enlisted Barnett to store marijuana in her apartment. Turner,

Henderson, andRobinsonwould often go to Barnett’s apartment to package and store marijuana, and

Henderson eventually had her lease a storage unit for the marijuana. On at least a few occasions,

Turner had Barnett deliver packages of marijuana to the UPS facility at the Dallas-Fort Worth

Airport.

Alleged co-conspirator, Victor Jiminez (“Jiminez”), was one of the major suppliers of

marijuana to Henderson and Robinson, and was the cocaine supplier to Robinson. Jiminez sold
1To support this assertion, the Government offered the following series of calls:

First Call: 5:03 p.m.

Turner: I said, them niggas [unintelligible] my other shit?

Robinson: Uh, shit. Yeah, I think so, man. Uh, uh, but you gotta have cash in hand though, before I even call

‘em.

* * * 

Turner: [Unintelligible] like a half, and I need to check the uh, numbers on it, man.

Robinson: Okay, uh, let me, let me call him and see. Alright?

Turner: A’right.

Second Call: 6:16 p.m.

Robinson: I got . . . I got a dude down here man, one of my homies down here man, want a half a t-shirt.

Jiminez: Uh, but my homeboy, he’s out of town right now.

Robinson: Yeah?

Jiminez: Yeah, but uh . . . I could probably check with my cousin on that.

Robinson: Yeah, check on that for me. So, it’s for sure this time, it’s cash at hand, I just want to know what the

ticket is.

Jiminez: Okay.

3

Turner and Henderson a total of nearly 2,000 pounds of marijuana. Jiminez recalled selling cocaine

to Robinson three or four times, for a total quantity of approximately four kilograms. According to

Jiminez, Robinson also asked to purchase cocaine from him on three or four other occasions, but he

was unable to satisfy Robinson’s request. On one of these occasions, Robinson requested one-half

of a kilogram of cocaine, but Jiminez refused because he normally only dealt in kilogram quantities.

During these transactions, the alleged co-conspirators used certain code words. For instance, to refer

to one kilogram of cocaine, they would use the terms, “the other” or “a T-shirt”. 

In June 2000, a series of phone calls took place between Turner and Robinson and between

Robinson and Jiminez. The Government intercepted and recorded the calls. The DEA case agents

who listened to all of the intercepted calls found that Turner’s conversation with Robinson about

cocaine and Turner’s conversationwithHenderson about marijuana demonstrated hisfamiliaritywith

the other’s drug-dealing terminology and that it appeared to be more than just an isolated

transaction.1 As a result of these conversations, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for
Robinson: You don’t know what the ticket is?

Jiminez: No, I sure don’t, I’ll give him a call right now.

Robinson: Okay.

Third Call: 7:22 p.m.

Robinson: Hello?

Turner: So what he say, man?

Robinson: He’s supposed to be giving me a call back, man. He checking on the prices.

Fourth Call: 7:31 p.m.

Robinson: What’s up, Vic?

Jiminez: Nothin’ much, dawg. They got some but it don’t all come back, it don’t drop.

Robinson: It don’t?

Jiminez: Naw, it’s good for the other.

Robinson: Oh, okay. Well, thanks for telling me, man.

Fifth Call: 7:35 p.m.

Turner: Yeah.

Robinson: Hey, has . . . he . . . he called me back, man.

Turner: Okay.

Robinson: He say . . . he said it he ain’t coming back, man.

Turner: Oh, okay.

Robinson: It’s good for tootin’, and that’s it. You know what I’m saying? So . . .

Turner: Huh?

Robinson: I say . . . he said it’s just good for tootin’. It . . . it ain’t good for cooking[.]

Turner: Yeah.

2The penalty for this offense is found at 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B).

3The penalty for this offense is found at 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A).

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Turner’s residence. When executed, the search netted guns, cell phones, and $8,500 in cash, but no

illegal substances.

Turner was indicted with thirty-six other people. The indictment ultimately charged Turner,

in count 1, with participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana in

violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846,2and in count 2, with a separate conspiracy to distribute over five

kilograms of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846.3

Turner waived his right to trial by jury. At trial, several co-defendants testified that Turner

was involved in selling marijuana. While none of the co-defendants testified that they had personal
4See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(4). The PSR attributed 1,600 kilograms of marijuana and 5

kilograms of cocaine to Turner. The PSR converted the 5 kilograms of cocaine to 1,000

kilograms of marijuana, resulting in a total of 2,600 kilograms of marijuana.

5See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c).

5

knowledge of Turner selling cocaine, Henderson revealed that he heard from Robinson (who did not

testify at Turner’strial) that Turner wasinvolved in selling cocaine. Another individual testified that

Turner would refer persons in search of cocaine to Robinson.

The district court convicted Turner on both counts. In Turner’s Presentence Report (“PSR”),

the ProbationOfficemade the following findings:(1) Turner wasresponsible for approximately2,600

kilograms of marijuana, resulting in a base offense level of 32;4and (2) Turner’s management of

Leteisha Barnett warranted a two-level increase for his role as an “organizer, leader, manager or

supervisor.”5 Turner’s total offense level of 34 combined with his Category IV criminal history score

resulted in a guideline imprisonment range of 210 to 262 months. The court sentenced Turner to:

(1) 262 monthsin prison on counts 1 and 2 (to run concurrently); (2) five years ofsupervised release

on counts 1 and 2; and (3) a special assessment of $200. He timely filed a notice of appeal.

II. ANALYSIS

A. Sufficiency of the Evidence to Support the Cocaine Conspiracy Conviction

1. Standard of Review

This Court’s standard of review in “evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a

conviction after a bench trial is whether the finding of guilt is supported by substantial evidence, i.e.,

evidence sufficient to justify the trial judge, asthe trier offact, in concluding beyond reasonable doubt

that the defendant is guilty.” United States v. Mathes, 151 F.3d 251, 252 (5thCir. 1998). This Court

should not weigh evidence, norshould it determine the credibility of witnesses; thisCourt must “view
6To support its contention, the Government points to evidence that they recorded Turner

seeking one-half of a kilogram of cocaine from Robinson, who, in turn, sought to buy it from

Jiminez. Jiminez, in turn, testified that he sold Robinson at least four kilograms and discussed the

sales of many more possible kilograms with him. 

6

all evidence in the light most favorable to the government and defer to allreasonable inferences drawn

by the trial court.” Id. This Court will acquit a defendant if “the evidence viewed in the light most

favorable to the prosecution gives equal or nearly equal circumstantial support to a theory of guilt

and a theory of innocence.” United States v. Brown, 186 F.3d 661, 664 (5th Cir. 1999). 

2. Discussion

On appeal, Turner asserts that the Government did not provide an adequate factual basis to

support his conviction of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According

to Turner, the evidence does not demonstrate: (1) an agreement between Turner and Robinson

existed to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine;(2) that Turner knew of any such agreement

pertaining to more than five kilograms of cocaine; or (3) that Turner voluntarily participated in the

distribution ofmore than five kilograms of cocaine. Conversely, the Government contends that given

its burden of proof under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), the evidence was sufficient

to show that Turner was guilty of conspiring to distribute cocaine, and that the conspiracy involved

more than five kilograms of cocaine.6 The Government maintains that it is sufficient for it to prove

that the conspiracy as a whole involved more than five kilograms of cocaine, despite the lack of

evidence that Turner was directly involved with the requisite amount of cocaine. Turner contends

that even given this reframing of the issue, the Government only has evidence of 4.5 kilograms of

cocaine, and the evidence supporting an additional amount of cocaine is legally insufficient.

To prove that a defendant is guilty of conspiring to distribute illegal drugs under 21 U.S.C.
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§ 846, the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt: “(1) the existence of an agreement

between two or more persons to violate narcotics laws, (2) knowledge of the conspiracy and intent

to join it, and (3) voluntary participation in the conspiracy.” United States v. Peters, 283 F.3d 300,

307 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 122 S.Ct. 2612 (2002). The Government need not prove an overt act

to show participation in a conspiracy. United States v. Bermea, 30 F.3d 1539, 1552 (5th Cir. 1994).

Mere presence or association alone, however, are notsufficient to prove participation in a conspiracy.

Id. at 1551 (citing United States v. Cardenas, 9 F.3d 1139, 1157 (5th Cir. 1993)). Nevertheless, a

court may consider a defendant’s presence or association with a conspiracy as evidence of

participation along with other circumstantial evidence. See Cardenas, 9 F.3d at 1157. “As long as

it is not factually insubstantial or incredible, the uncorroborated testimony of a co-conspirator, even

one who has chosen to cooperate with the government in exchange for non-prosecution of leniency,

may be constitutionally sufficient evidence to convict.” United States v. Westbrook, 119 F.3d 1176,

1190 (5th Cir. 1997). 

In this case, because the indictment alleges Turner’sinvolvement in a conspiracy to distribute

a quantity greater than five kilograms of cocaine, thereby triggering punishment within the statutory

range of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A), a fourth element applies under Apprendi. United States v.

DeLeon, 247 F.3d 593, 596 (5th Cir. 2001) (citing United States v. Doggett, 230 F.3d 160, 164-65

(5thCir. 2000) (“Ifthe government seeks enhanced penalties under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A) or (B),

the [drug] quantity must be stated in the indictment and submitted to the [fact finder] for a finding

of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”)).

Turner maintains that the Government failed to carry its burden of proof with regard to the

fourth element by failing to show that more than five kilograms of cocaine were attributable to
8

Turner’s participation in the conspiracy. The Government submits that this case raises an issue of

first impression in this circuit: whether in drug conspiracies post-Apprendi, the drug quantityelement

must be proven as to each alleged co-conspirator or whether it merely must be proven to the

conspiracy as a whole. This issue is dispositive because, while there is legally sufficient evidence

linking the entire conspiracy to more than five kilograms of cocaine, evidence linking Turner directly

to that amount is non-existent.

a. The Government’s Burden of Proof under Apprendi

The First Circuit addressed the precise issue of whether the Government hasto prove that the

requisite drug quantity is attributable to an individual co-conspirator inDerman v. United States, 298

F.3d 34 (1st Cir. 2002). In Derman, the habeas petitioner alleged that the court violated Apprendi

because the jury charge should have submitted to the jurors not only the question of drug quantity

vis-a-vis the conspiracy but also the “individualized question of what drug quantity was attributable

to him as a coconspirator.” Id. at 42. The First Circuit disagreed with the petitioner’s broad

interpretation of the Government’s burdens under Apprendi. 

HarmonizingApprendiwith the Supreme Court’s earlier decision in Edwards v. United States,

523 U.S. 511 (1998), the Derman court expounded upon the substance ofthe government’s burdens

in conspiracy cases post-Apprendi:

[I]n a drug conspiracy case, the jury should determine the existence vel non of the

conspiracy as well as any facts about the conspiracy that will increase the possible

penalty for the crime of conviction beyond the default statutory maximum; and the

judge should determine, at sentencing, the particulars regarding the involvement of

each participant in the conspiracy. This means that once the jury has determined that

the conspiracy involved a type and quantity of drugs sufficient to justify a sentence

above the default statutory maximum and has found a particular defendant guilty of

participation in the conspiracy, the judge lawfully may determine the drug quantity

attributable to that defendant and sentence him accordingly . . . . The rule, then, is
7

It is also instructive that, even after Apprendi, this Court has not required the

Government to individually attribute the requisite drug quantity to each co-conspirator, and has

affirmed drug conspiracy convictions based on the Government attributing the requisite drug

quantity to the drug conspiracy as a whole. E.g., United States v. Baptiste, 309 F.3d 274, 278

(5th Cir. 2002).

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that the government need only allege and prove to the jury the bare facts necessary

to increase the statutory sentencing maximum for the conspiracy as a whole.

Derman, 298 F.3d at 42-43 (emphasisin original) (citations omitted). The Derman court determined

that Apprendi error did occur, not because the charge did not instruct the question of drug quantity

attributable directly to the petitioner, but because the jury was not instructed to determine the

quantity of marijuana plants involved in the conspiracy. Id. at 43.

Applying the Derman rule to this case, the Government’s burden was to prove the existence

of a conspiracy, Turner’s involvement in it, and the requisite drug quantity (here, more than five

kilograms) involved in the conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. Once the Government makes this

showing, at sentencing, it need only prove the drug quantity attributable to Turner by a

preponderance of the evidence (provided that his sentence falls within the statutory maximum made

applicable by the fact finder’s conspiracy-wide drug quantity determination).7

b. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Realizing the exact nature ofthe Government’s burdens, substantial direct and circumstantial

evidence exists to support the district court’s finding of a drug conspiracy under § 846. See

generally, United States v. Greenwood, 974 F.2d 1449, 1457 (5th Cir. 1992) (“Because secrecy is

the norm in an illicit conspiracy, the elements of the offense may be established solely by

circumstantial evidence.”). 

First, theGovernment provided circumstantialevidence ofanagreement betweentwo ormore
8

In its brief, the Government relies on the “slight evidence” rule in arguing that Turner was

a voluntary participant in the drug conspiracy. This Court overruled the “slight evidence” rule in

United States v. Malatesta, nevertheless, this test persistently reappears. 590 F.2d 1379, 1382

(5th Cir. 1979) (en banc) (“The ‘slight evidence’ rule as used and applied on appeal in conspiracy

cases since 1969 should not have been allowed to worm its way into the jurisprudence of the Fifth

Circuit. It is accordingly banished as to all appeals hereafter to be decided by this court.”). When

reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support any criminal conspiracy conviction, the

standard of review is clearly based on substantial evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to

the Government. Id.

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persons to violate federal narcotics laws. As “[t]he gravamen of a drug conspiracy offense is the

agreement to violate a drug law[,] [a]n express, explicit agreement is not required; a tacit agreement

will suffice.” Id. The Government’s proffered evidence showed that Jiminez sold distribution

quantities of cocaine to Robinson and on other occasions, Robinson unsuccessfully requested

additional quantities of cocaine from Jiminez. This evidence is sufficient to demonstrate at least a

tacit agreement to violate federal narcotics laws.

The taped telephone conversations provide sufficient evidence to satisfythe finaltwo elements

of a drug conspiracy. The Robinson-Turner and Robinson-Jiminez conversations suggest that Turner

made a request for cocaine from Robinson (knowing that Robinson could respond to his request);

that Turner knew that Robinson received the cocaine from a third party; and that Turner wasfamiliar

with the terms oftransactions under theRobinson-Jiminez agreement. Turner, Robinson, and Jiminez

communicated over the phone in such a manner that it circumstantially demonstrates knowledge of

the agreement. 

Turner’s voluntary participation in the agreement is also evident. Given that “[c]oncert of

action may indicate . . . voluntary participation” in a drug conspiracy, United States v. QuirozHernandez, 48 F.3d 858, 866 (5thCir. 1995), Turner’srequest for cocaine fromRobinson represents

the type of concerted action that would indicate Turner’s voluntary participation in the conspiracy.8
11

The only debatable issue regarding the district court’s finding of guilt is whether there is

substantial evidence to establish that the drug conspiracy involved more than five kilograms of

cocaine. The Government only provided direct evidence of the involvement of 4.5 kilograms of

cocaine. The conspiracy’s tie with Robinson is critical here. The Government asserts that Jiminez

and Robinson’s conversations about transactionsthat did not materialize create the inference that the

conspiracy involved at least five kilograms. We agree. Because Jiminez dealt in one-kilogram

quantities only, any additional request by Robinson of Jiminez would have pushed the total drug

quantity involved in the conspiracy over five kilograms. Viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the Government, which this Court must do, the inference that more than five kilograms

were involved is reasonable. Therefore, the evidence was sufficient to show Turner’s involvement

in a conspiracy in which more than five kilograms of cocaine were involved.

B. Turner’s Base Offense Level and Sentencing Enhancements

1. Standard of Review

This Court reviews for clear error a district court’s factual determination regarding, for

sentencing purposes, the quantity of drugs used to establish a base offense level, United States v.

Johnston, 127 F.3d 380, 403 (5th Cir. 1998), and whether a defendant was an organizer, leader,

manager, orsupervisor in the commission ofthe offense, United States v. Thomas, 120 F.3d 564, 574

(5th Cir. 1997). The district court’s findings of fact can be reversed only if this court finds clear

error. E.g., United States v. Richardson, 943 F.2d 547, 549 (5th Cir. 1991). Such fact findings are

not clearly erroneous if they are “plausible in light of the record as a whole.” Johnston, 127 F.3d at

403. 

2. The 2-Point Increase to Turner’s Base Offense Level
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Turner contends that, based on the trial testimony and the information on which the PSR

relies, the district court erred in imposing a 2-point increase to his base offense level for his alleged

involvement with five kilograms of cocaine. He maintains that, under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3, the

distribution of five kilograms of cocaine, which the PSR counted as 1,000 kilograms of marijuana,

was outside the scope of relevant conduct attributable to him. At most, Turner contends, only onehalf of a kilogram of cocaine could actually be attributed to him. Turner does not argue, however,

that the district court erred in attributing 1,600 kilograms of marijuana to him. The Government

concedesthat it was error to hold Turner responsible for five kilograms of cocaine. Notwithstanding

this error, the Government contends that the sentence should be affirmed because the error had no

effect on his base offense level, and therefore was harmless.

When det ermining the base offense level of a co-conspirator, the Sentencing Guidelines’

“reasonable foreseeability” requirement necessitates a consideration of when the co-conspirator joined

the conspiracy, what drug quantities were within the scope of the conspiratorial agreement, and of

those drug quantities, the quantities that were reasonably foreseeable, prospectively only, by the

defendant. United States v. Carreon, 11 F.3d 1225, 1236 (5th Cir. 1994). “‘The base offense level

of a co-conspirator at sentencing should reflect only the quantity of drugs he reasonably foresees it

isthe object ofthe conspiracy to distribute after he joinsthe conspiracy.’” Id. (quoting United States

v. O’Campo, 973 F.2d 1015, 1025-26 (1st Cir. 1992)).

As the Government concedes, because of the scant evidence indicating that Turner was

involved with five kilograms of cocaine or reasonably foresaw that the object of the conspiracy was

to distribute that particular quantity of cocaine, the district court clearly erred in attributing five

kilograms of cocaine to Turner.
13

The critical question, then, is whether the district court’s attribution of the cocaine quantity

to Turner warrants a reversal of the court’s application of a base offense level of 32. Significantly,

the court also found that 1,600 kilograms of marijuana could be directly attributed to Turner. Such

a finding is not clearly erro neous. Consequently, Turner suffered no prejudice as a result of the

district court’s erroneousfactualfinding with regard to the cocaine; because even ifthe five kilograms

of cocaine (equivalent to 1,000 kilograms of marijuana) were subtracted from the overall drug

amount, a base offense level of 32, which covers a range from 1,000 to 3,000 kilograms ofmarijuana,

would still apply. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(4) (2001). Because the district court’s error was

harmless, we affirm its application of a base offense level of 32. 

3. Sentencing Enhancement for Turner’s Role in the Conspiracy

Finally, Turner contendsthat the district court erred by increasing Turner’s base offense level

by two points for his role as an “organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor” in the marijuana

conspiracy under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c). Turner argues that he was not a manager or a supervisor

because: (1) Barnett’s part icipation in the conspiracy originated with Henderson’s request–not

Turner’s; and (2) Turner did not “profit more” than anyone else from Barnett’s participation in the

conspiracy. The Government maintains that the district court did not clearly err in finding that Turner

had a managerial or supervisory role in the conspiracy because the evidence showed that: (1) Turner

directed the activities of Barnett in sending and accepting packagesfor him concerning his marijuana

distribution; (2) Barnett stored marijuana for Turner; and (3) Turner paid Barnett for these services.

Based on the evidence, the district court did not clearly err in finding that Turner could be

characterized as having a managerial or supervisory role in the marijuana conspiracy under §

3B1.1(c). When the evidence demonstrates that a defendant directed another in his drug trafficking
14

activities, as Turner directed Barnett in numerous ways, sentence enhancement under § 3B1.1(c) is

appropriate. United States v. Posada-Rios, 158 F.3d 832, 881 (5th Cir. 1998). As the commentary

to § 3B1.1(c) explains, “[t]here can, of course, be more than one person who qualifies as a leader or

organizer of a criminal association or conspiracy.” As such, it is still possible to characterize Turner

as a manger orsupervisor even though Henderson initiallyrecruited Barnett and materially benefitted

from her storage of the marijuana. Therefore, the district court did not clearly err in enhancing

Turner’s sentence for his role as a manager or supervisor in the marijuana conspiracy.

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the district court did not err in finding that there

wassufficient evidence to show that Turner wasinvolved in a conspiracy to distribute more than five

kilograms of cocaine, and that Turner was a manager orsupervisor in the marijuana conspiracy under

§ 3B1.1(c). While the district court clearly erred in attributing five kilograms of cocaine to Turner

for purposes of sentencing, the error was harmless. We therefore affirm.