FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEV EN T HC IRC U IT DEC 19, 2007 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 05- 16380

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 5 - 2 0 4 3 7 - CR- PCH U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s J A R R O D R E E D , T E R E N C E F O R E S T , e t a l., D e f e n d a n ts - A p p e lla n ts .

________________________ A pp ea l s f

rom the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe S outhe rn D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( D e c e m b e r 19, 2007) B ef ore D U B IN A and M A R C U S , C i rc ui tJudg es , and P R O C T O R , * D i stri ctJudg e.

___________________________ *Honora ble R. David Proctor, United States District Judg e for the Northern District of Ala bama, sitti ngby designation.2

P E R C U R I A M: A pp el l ant s J arrod R ee d (“ R ee d”), Ir am m W ri gh t(“ W ri gh t ”) , G re go ry P e ns on ( “ P e ns on” ) , a nd T e rr e nc e F or e s t( “ F or e s t ” ) appe a l the i rva r i ous c onvi c t i ons and sent ence s r el at i ng t o thei r part i ci pat i on i n a sc hem e t o rob an al l eged narcot i cs h o u s e . F o rth e r e a s o n s s ta te d b e lo w , w e a f f irm in p a r t a n d r e v e r s e in p a r t. I . B AC KG RO UN D A ge nt s f r om the B ur e a u of

A l c ohol , T oba c c o, a nd F i r e a rm s ( “ A T F ” ) a nd l ocal l aw enforce m entoffi ce rs i ni t i at ed an i nv es t i gat i on of vi ol entdrug tra ff i cker s i n D a de C ounty , F l or i da . A s pa r tof thi s i nve s t i ga t i on, the A T F s e tup a n ope r a t i on w he r e by S pe c i a l A ge ntE s pi nos a ( “ E s pi nos a ” ) w oul d pos e a s a di s grunt l e d drug c o u r ie rf o rC o lu m b ia n d ru g tr a f

f ic k e r s a n d w o u ld lo c a te in d iv id u a ls w illin g to h e lp hi m rob tw enty t o thi rty ki l og ra m s of c ocai ne fr om a s t as h h ou se . C on fi dent i al I nf orm a ntE r i c C ol l i ns ( “ C ol l i ns ” ) i de nt i f i e d W r i ghta s a pot e nt i a l r obbe ra nd a rr a n g e d a m e e tin g b e tw e e n E s p in o s a a n d W r ig h t. T he fi rs tm ee t i ng betw ee n E spi no sa , W ri gh t , and C ol l i ns occurr ed on M ar ch 31, 2005. T he gove rnm e nti ntr oduc e d i nt o e vi de nc e a vi de o t ape of thi s m e e t i ng, w hi ch show s W ri gh tagre ei ng t o ass i stE spi no so. W ri gh tal so agre ed t o g etothers to a s s is t h im b e c a u s e tw o a rm e d in d iv id u a ls w o u ld b e g u a r d in g th e h o u s e . A s e c ond m e e t i ng be tw e e n E s pi nos a a nd W r i ghtoc c urr e d on A pr i l 8, 2005. P e ns on3

w a s a l s o i n a tt e nda nc e a tthi s m e e t i ng. E s pi nos a , W r i ght , a nd P e ns on di s c us s e d the s p e c if ic s o f th e p la n a n d th e a m o u n t o f c o c a in e in v o lv e d ( tw e n ty to th ir ty ki l ogr a m s ) . A thi r d m e e t i ng be tw e e n E s pi nos a , W r i ght , a nd P e ns on oc c urr e d on M a y 4 , 2 0 0 5 , in w h ic h th e y s c h e d u le d th e r o b b e ry f o rM a y 6 , 2 0 0 5 , a t 7 p .m . O n M a y 6, 2005, C ol l i ns , dr i vi ng a C he vr ol e tT a hoe , pi c ke d up P e ns on a nd W r i ghti n a m a l l pa rki ng l oti n f r ontof a M c D ona l d’ s . A tthe t i m e of the pi c k- up, bo th P enson and W ri gh tw er e hol di ng shop pi ng bags. T here w er e a l so offi ce rs s t a t i one d a tthe m a l l t o s e e i f P e ns on a nd W r i ghtha d pe opl e w a t c hi ng the m . T he o f f ic e r s n o tic e d a C h ry s le rP a c if ic a d r iv e in to th e p a rk in g lo t a n d b a c k in to a s p a c e . B oth the dr i ve r( F or e s t ) a nd pa s s e nge r( R e e d) r e m a i ne d i n the c a runt i l R e e d got ou tand w al ked across the parki ng l ott o the M cD on al d’ s. P enson and W ri gh tw er e s t i l l w a i t i ng t o be pi c ke d up a nd a n of f i c e rt e s t i f

i e d tha tR e e d m a de s om e s or tof a c know l e dgm e ntt o P e ns on a nd W r i ght . A s s oon a s C ol l i ns pi c ke d up P e ns on a nd W r i ght , R e e d hurr i e d ba c k t o the P a c i f i c a a nd ge s tur e d t ow a r ds the T a hoe , a nd the P a c if ic a f o llo w e d th e T a h o e o u t o f th e p a rk in g lo t. T h e P aci fi ca fo l l o w ed th e T ah o e acro ss t o w n u n t i l i ttu rn ed i n t o a w areh o u se pa rki ng l ot . T he P a c i f

i c a c ont i nue d pa s tthe w a r e hous e a nd the n di d a u- turn a nd pa rke d i n f

r ontof the w a r e hous e . A tthi s t i m e , of f i c e r s a rr e s t e d P e ns on a nd W r i ght and att em pt ed t o d et ai n R ee d and F ores t . R ee d and F ores ttri ed t o al l ud e off i ce rs4

b u t c r a s h e d in to a p a rk e d c a r , a t w h ic h tim e o f f ic e r s a rr e s te d R e e da n d F o r e s t. A ft erarre st i ng the four defendant s, offi ce rs se ar ched bo th car s. T he ca r dri ven b y C ol l i ns cont ai ned tw o sho pp i ng bags. O ne bag con t ai ned tw o l oaded r e v o lv e r s a n d a b la c k ja c k e t. T h e o th e rb a g c o n ta in e d g lo v e s , a s k i m a s k , a base bal l hat , and b ox ershort s. A se ar ch of the P ac i fi cayi el ded a l oaded p i st ol as w e l l a s tw o c e l l p h o n e s . Bo th Pe n s o n a n d W r i g h tp o s s e s s e d c e l l p h o n e s . By l oo ki ng atthe ca l l l og s on the ce l l ph on es , the offi ce rs w er e abl e t o d et erm i ne that W r i ghtha d be e n i n c ont a c tw i th one of the c e l l phone s l oc a t e d i n the P a c i f i c a on th a t d a y . F ol l ow i ng tr i a l , a j ury f ound R e e d, W r i ght , P e ns on, a nd F or e s tgui l ty of C ount1 f

orc ons pi r i ng t o obs truc t , de l a y , a nd a f f e c ti nt e r s t a t e c om m e r c e by m e a ns of r obbe ry , i n vi ol a t i on of 18 U . S . C . §§ 1951 ( b) ( 1) , ( b) ( 3) , by pl a nni ng t o t a ke coca i ne fr om al l eged narcot i cs tra ff i cker s by m ea ns of ac tual or threa t ened force , vi ol ence , and fearof i nj ury, i n v i ol at i on of 18 U . S . C . § 1 95 1(a) . T he j ury f

ound R e e d, W r i ght , P e ns on, a nd F or e s tgui l ty of C ount2 f

or c ons pi r i ng t o pos s e s s w i th the i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e f i ve ki l ogr a m s orm or e of c oc a i ne i n vi ol a t i on of

21 U . S . C . §§ 841( a ) ( 1) , ( b) ( 1) ( A ) , a nd 846; W r i ghta nd P e ns on g u i l ty o f Co u n t3 f

o ra tt e mp t i n g t o p o s s e s s w i th i n t e n tt o d i s tr i b u t e f i v e k i l o g r a ms o f c o c a in e o rm o r e in v io la tio n o f 2 1 U .S .C . § § 8 4 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) a n d 8 4 6 a n d 1 8 U .S .C . §5

2 ; Re e d , W r i g h t , a n d Fo r e s tg u i l ty o f Co u n t4 f

o ru s i n g a n d c a rry i n g f

i r e a rms d u r in g a n d in r e la tio n to a c r im e o f v io le n c e a n d a d ru g tr a f f ic k in g c r im e , in vi ol a t i on of

18 U . S . C . § 924( c ) ( 1) ( A ) ; W r i ghtgui l ty of C ount5 f

orpos s e s s i ng a f i r e a rm a nd a m m uni t i on a s a c onvi c t e d f e l on, i n vi ol a t i on of

18 U . S . C . §§ 922( g) ( 1) a nd 924( e ) ; a nd F or e s tgui l ty of C ount6 f

orpos s e s s i ng a f

i r e a rm a nd a m m uni t i on a s a c onvi c t e d f e l on, i n vi ol a t i on of

18 U . S . C . §§ 922( g) ( 1) a nd 92 4(e) . I I . I SSU ES 1. W hether there w as suff i ci entevi dence for aj ury t o fi nd W ri gh tgu i l ty of a H o b b s A ctco n sp i racy. 2 . W h eth erth er e w as su ff icien t ev id en ce to su p p o rt R ee d an d F o re st’s c onvi c t i ons f

orc ons pi r a c y t o pos s e s s c oc a i ne , H obbs A c tc ons pi r a c y , a nd us i ng and carryi ng a f

i re arm du ri ng and i n rel at i on t o a cr i m e of vi ol ence . 3 . W h e th e rth e d is tr ic t c o u r t p r o p e r ly d e n ie dR e e d a n d F o r e s t’s M o tio n to S up pres s E vi dence. 4. W he the rW r i ghta nd P e ns on w e r e pr ope r l y s e nt e nc e d.

I I I . STA N D A R D S O F R EVI EW T h e su ffi ci en cy o f th e ev i d en ce su p p o rt i n g a cri m i n al co n v i ct i o n i s a que s t i on of

l a w , a nd i s r e vi e w e d de no vo ; how e ve r , the e vi de nc e i s e xa m i ne d i n the6

l i gh tm ostfa vo rabl e t o the go vernm ent , and al l i nfer ence s a nd cr edi bi l i ty c ho i ce s m u s t b e in th e g o v e rn m e n t’s f a v o r . U n i ted S ta tes v. S i lvestri , 409 F . 3d 1311, 1327 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). R ul i ng s on m ot i on s t o sup pres s e vi dence i nv ol ve m i xed q uest i on s of l aw and fact . T he di stri ctcourt ’ s f i nd i ng s of f

ac ton a m ot i on t o sup pres s a re re vi ew ed f orc l e a re rr or ; the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s appl i c a t i on of thos e f a c t s i s r e vi e w e d de no vo . U n ite d S ta te s v . T

o ka rs , 9 5 F .3 d 1 5 2 0 , 1 5 3 1 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 6 ) . A d is tr ic t c o u r t’s d e te rm in a tio n o f d ru g q u a n tity to e s tab lis h th e ap p lic ab le b a s e o f f e n s e le v e l u n d e rth e S e n te n c in g G u id e lin e s is r e v ie w e d f o rc le a re rr o r . U ni te d State s v . Si m

ps on , 2 2 8 F .3 d 1 2 9 4 , 1 2 9 8 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 0 ) .

I V . DI S CUS S I ON 1 . Suf f i c i e nc y of the E v i de nc e as to W

r i ght F i rs t , W ri gh tar gu es thatthere w as i nsuffi ci entevi dence t o con vi cthi m of a H ob bs A ctconspi ra cyt o rob because the ent i re sc hem e w as fi ct i on al and n ei ther the drug s nor the drug couri erac tual l y e xi st ed. T hi s a rgum entfa i l s; “ [t ] he fa ctthat the i nt ended v i ct i m s a nd narc ot i cs w er e f i ct i on al i s i rr el evant . ” U ni ted Stat es v. T ay lor , 480 F . 3d 1025, 1027 ( 11th C i r . 2007) ( a f f i rm i ng the H obbs A c tc onvi c t i on of a def endantw ho “ conspi re d t o v i ol ent l y r ob the st as h h ou se of a nar cot i cs organi za t i on ”) .7

S e c ond, W r i ghta r gue s tha tthe r e w a s i ns uf f i c i e nte vi de nc e tha ta t a ki ng agai nston e’ s w i l l , w hi ch i s a n el em entof a H ob bs A ctrobb ery c harge, w as ac tual l y pl anned. W ri gh tal l eges thata t aki ng agai nston e’ s w i l l w as no tpl anned s i nc e E s pi nos a w a s i n on the s c he m e a nd the drugs w e r e t o be t a ke n f r om E s pi nos a . H ow e ve r , the r e c or d c l e a r l y r e ve a l s num e r ous pi e c e s of e vi de nc e f

r om w h ic h a r e a s o n ab le ju r o rc o u ld c o n c lu d e th a t an o n - c o n s e n s u a l ta k in g w a s p la n n e d . T he s e pi e c e s of

e vi de nc e i nc l ude : ( 1) a vi de ot ape d m e e t i ng be tw e e n W r i ghta nd E s pi nos a i ndi c a t i ng tha tthe pl a n w a s t o r ob the s t a s h hous e , notthe c our i e r ; ( 2) E sp i n o sa ad v i si n g W ri g h tth ath e w o u l d n eed t o h av e assi st an ce si n ce th e st ash h o u s e w a s p r o te c te d b y a rm e d g u a r d s ; ( 3 ) W r ig h t s ta tin g th a t h e w o u ld m a k e it

“ l o o k as i f th ey w ere o n th e h o u se o r th ey w ere o n an o th er co u ri er an d th ey j u st happe ne d t o hi ti tw hi l e [ E s pi nos a ] w a s i ns i de ; ” a nd ( 4) W r i ghta nd hi s c oc o n s p ir a to r s a rr iv in g a t th e h o u s e w ith th r e e g u n s . S i nce there w as suff

i ci entevi dence thata non -c on se nsual t aki ng w as p la n n e d a n d th e f

a c t th a t th e d ru g s a n d d ru g c o u r ie rw e r e f ic tio n a l is irr e le v a n t, the r e w a s s uf

f i c i e nte vi de nc e t o c onvi c tW r i ghtof a H obbs A c tc ons pi r a c y t o r ob. 2 . Su f f i ci en cy o f th e E vi den ce a s to th e C o n vi ct i o n s o f R eed a n d Fo rest R eed an d F o restch al l en g e th ei r co n v i ct i o n s fo r co n sp i racy t o p o ssess c oc a i ne , a l l e gi ng tha tthe gove rnm e ntf a i l e d t o pr ove be y ond a r e a s onabl e doubt8

th a t th e y k n e w d ru g s w e r e in v o lv e d in th e r o b b e ry . I n o r d e rto s u p p o r t a c o n v ic tio n f

o rc o n s p ir a c y to p o s s e s s c o c a in e , th e g o v e rn m e n t m u s t p r o v e th a t a conspi ra cyexi st ed, thatthe defendantkn ew of i t , and that , w i th such k no w l edge, h e v o lu n ta r ily jo in e d it. U n ite d S ta te s v . P e r ez - T

o s ta , 36 F . 3d 1552, 1557 ( 11th C i r . 1994) . F ur the rm or e , the gove rnm e ntm us tpr ove be y ond a r e a s onabl e doubt n o to n l y th atR eed an d F o rest“ p art i ci p at edi n an ag reem en tt o b u rg l ari ze a h o u se and rob i t , bu tthatthe spec i fi c purpo se of the robb ery w as t o st ea l coca i ne i n o rder t o d i stri bu t e i t . ” U

ni ted Stat es v. Cha rles , 3 1 3 F .3 d 1 2 7 8 , 1 2 8 4 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 2 ) . I n th is c a s e , b o th p a r tie s a g r e e th a t th e e v id e n c e a g a in s t R e e d a n d F o r e s t is a s f ol l ow s : ( 1) R e e d a nd F or e s tw e r e pos s i bl y e nga ge d i n c ount e r - s ur ve i l l a nc e ; ( 2) R e e d a c know l e dge d P e ns on a nd W r i ghtout s i de of M c D ona l d’ s ; ( 3) R e e d a nd F o r e s t f o llo w e d W r ig h t a n d P e n s o n to th e w a r e h o u s e ; ( 4 ) R e e d a n d F o r e s t tr ie d to l ea ve the sc ene t o avo i d arr es t ; (5) there w as a l oaded g un i n the car use d b y R ee d and F ores t ; and (6) a ce l l ph on e i n the ca r use d b y R ee d and F ores thad b ee n u se d t o t al k t o W ri g h to n th e d ay o f th e arrest. T h u s, th e i ssu e i s w h eth er, g i v en th ese f a c t s , a r e a s onabl e j ur orc oul d ha ve f ound R e e d a nd F or e s tgui l ty be y ond a re as on abl e dou btof conspi ra cyt o p osse ss coca i ne. T h e f a c ts ab o v e in d ic a te a le s s e rle v e l o f k n o w le d g e th a n in p r io rc a s e s in w h ic h th is c o u r t h a s f

o u n d th a t th e r e w a s in s u f f ic ie n t e v id e n c e o f

k n o w le d g e . See9

U ni ted Stat es v. M

art i nez , 83 F . 3d 371 ( 11th C i r . 1996) ( r e ve r s i ng the pos s e s s i on c onvi c t i on of

one of the de f e nda nt s be c a us e the r e w a s i ns uf f i c i e nte vi de nc e tha tthe de f e nda ntkne w tha tdrugs w e r e i nvol ve d i n the r obbe ry i n s pi t e of the f a c ttha tthe d e f e n d a n t ( 1 ) r o d e to th e h o u s e w ith th e p r im a ry d e f e n d a n t w h o h a d c o n s p ir e d w ith a n unde r c ove ra ge nt , ( 2) us e d a c r ow ba rt o e nt e rthe hous e , ( 3) w a s a rm e d w he n he e nt e r e d the hous e , a nd ( 4) a tt e m pt e d t o l e a ve the hous e w i th a s ui t c a s e f ul l of co cai n e). T h u s, th e ev i d en ce attri al w as i n su ffi ci en tt o p ro v e th atR eed an d F o rest sp eci fi cal l y k n ew th atth e p u rp o se o f th e p l an n ed ro b b ery w as t o st eal d ru g s; acco rd i n g l y, w e rev erse th ese co n v i ct i o n s. R ee d and F ores tal so ar gu e thatthere w as i nsuffi ci entevi dence t o con vi ct the m of a H obbs A c tc ons pi r a c y t o r ob a nd t o c onvi c tthe m of us i ng a nd c a rry i ng f i r e a rm s dur i ng a nd i n r e l a t i on t o a c r i m e of vi ol e nc e ordrug tr a f

f i c ki ng. W e do nota ddr e s s the s e a r gum e nt s be c a us e the gove rnm e ntc onc e de d a tor a l a r gum e nt tha ti f w e r e ve r s e the c ons pi r a c y t o pos s e s s c onvi c t i ons w e m us ta l s o r e ve r s e the H o b b s A c t c o n s p ir a c y c o n v ic tio n s a n d f ir e a rm s c o n v ic tio n s . T h e r e f o r e , in a c c o r d a n c e w ith th e g o v e rn m e n t’s c o n c e s s io n , w e a ls o r e v e r s e th e s e c o n v ic tio n s . 3 . Mo t i o n to Su

p p ress R ee d and F ores tal l ege thatthei r a rr es tand the subsequentse ar ch of thei r c ar v io la te d th e irF o u r th A m e n d m e n t r ig h ts , a n d th u s , th e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr e d inTh ough w erevers eCount 1 , 2 , a nd 4 a s toRe e d a

nd F ore st, westi ll mus t add re ss t he ir 1 motion to suppre ss a

rgument, a s it

a ff e c ts F ore st’ s re mainingc onvic tio n— be inga fe lon in po sse ssi on

of a fire arm . 10 de ny i ng the i rm ot i on t o s uppr e s s e vi de nc e a ttr i a l . B oth the gove rnm e nta nd the 1 defe nd ant s a gree thatthere w as no ta val i d sea rc h w arra nt , and thu s, the offi ce rs w h o arrest ed R eed an d F o restm u sth av e h ad p ro b ab l e cau se i n o rd er fo r th e arrest a nd s ubs e que nts e a r c h t o be l a w f ul . P r obabl e c a us e e xi s t s w he n l a w e nf or c e m e nt o f f i c e r s h a v e f

a c t s a n d c i r c u ms t a n c e s w i th i n th e i rk n o w l e d g e s u f f i c i e n tt o f

o rm a r e a s o n ab le b e lie f

th a t as u s p e c t h a s c o m m itte d o ris ab o u t to c o m m it ac r im e . U ni ted Stat es v. Floyd , 2 8 1 F .3 d 1 3 4 6 , 1 3 4 8 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 2 ) . T he f a c t s a nd c i r c um s t a nc e s tha te xi s t e d a tthe t i m e of the a rr e s tw e r e : ( 1) W r ig h t h a d p r e v io u s ly m e n tio n e d th a t h e k n e w o f o th e rin d iv id u a ls w h o w o u ld he l p hi m w i th the r obbe ry ; ( 2) of f i c e r s obs e rve d R e e d a nd F or e s tc onduc t i ng s urve i l l a nc e a tthe m a l l pa rki ng l otw hi l e W r i ghta nd P e ns on w e r e w a i t i ng t o be p ic k e d u p ; ( 3 ) o f

f ic e r s o b s e rv e d R e e d s ig n a l W r ig h t a n d P e n s o n a s h e w a lk e d in to a M c D ona l d’ s i n f

r ontof the m a l l pa rki ng l ot ; ( 4) a s s oon a s W r i ghta nd P e ns on w e r e pi c ke d up by the c onf i de nt i a l i nf

or m a nt , R e e d hurr i e d ba c k t o the c a ra nd poi nt e d a tthe T a hoe i n w hi c h W r i ghta nd P e ns on w e r e pa s s e nge r s ; ( 5) R e e d a nd F ores tthen fol l ow ed the T ahoe t o the sc ene of the arre stand p arked o n the stre et out s i de the w a r e hous e ; a nd ( 6) a f t e rW r i ghta nd P e ns on w e r e a rr e s t e d, R e e d a ndRe e d a nd F ore st raisea dditi on al argumentson a pp e al th at w ene e d n ot add re ss b e c a us e 2 they areonly pertinent to the c onvictions we havealre ady reversed. Re e d a nd F ore st alsoc halleng ethe ir sentenc e s, but w ene e d n ot add re ss t he se 3 challeng es bec ause theonly conviction that remains is Fore st’s firea rm conviction for

which the district court imposed the statutory minimumsentenc e.

11 F o r e s t a tte m p te dto le a v e th e s c e n e b u t c r a s h e d in to a n o th e rc a r . T h u s , th e is s u e is w hether or notthese fa ct s a nd ci rc um st ance s gi ve ri se t o a re as on abl e bel i ef that R ee d and F ores thad com m i tt ed or w er e abo utt o com m i ta c ri m e. W e c on cl ud e thatR ee d’ s a ckno w l edgm entof P enson and W ri gh t , w ho w er e k n o w n p art i ci p an t s i n a ro b b ery sch em e, as w el l as h i s an d F o rest ’ s p u rsu i tacro ss t ow n i n a w aysuch thatthe di stri ctcourtfoun d that“ the od ds ar e s o astrono m i ca l thatthi s w ou l d j ustoccur as a c oi nci dence, ” c re at ed a r ea sonabl e bel i ef thatR ee d an d F o resth ad co m m i tt ed o r w ere ab o u tt o co m m i ta cri m e. T h u s, p ro b ab l e cau se ex i st ed , an d th e d i stri ctco u rtco rrect l y d en i ed th e d efen d an t s’ m o t i o n t o su p p ress. 2 4 . Sent enci ngIs sues P e n s o n a n d W r ig h t b o th a r g u e th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr e d b y f a ilin g to a d e q u a te ly e x p la in th e r e a s o n s f o rth e irs e n te n c e a s r e q u ir e d b y 1 8 U .S .C . § 3553( a ) . I n a ddi t i on, P e ns on a l l e ge s tha tthe di s tr i c tc our te rr e d i n de t e rm i ni ng

3 th e q u a n tity o f

th e d ru g s in v o lv e d , w h ic h u n ju s tly in c r e a s e d h is b a s e o f f e n s e le v e l. S e nt e nc i ng r e qui r e s tw o s t e ps . F i r s t , the di s tr i c tc our tm us tc ons ul tthe S e n te n c in g G u id e lin e s a n d c o rr e c tly c a lc u la te th e r a n g e th a t th e y p r o v id e . U ni ted12

Stat es v. T

al l ey , 43 1 F . 3d 78 4, 78 6 (11 th C i r. 20 05 ). S ec on d, the di stri ctcourt m ustconsi der the fa ct ors s etforth i n 1 8 U . S . C . § 3 55 3(a) i n o rdert o d et erm i ne a r e a s o n ab le s e n te n c e . I

d. P e ns on a nd W r i ghtpoi ntt o 18 U . S . C . § 3553( c ) ( 1) , w hi c h r e qui r e s the di s tr i c tc our tt o s e tf

or th i t s r e a s ons f

ori m pos i ng a s e nt e nc e w he n the s e nt e nc i ng r a n g e e x c e e d s 2 4 m o n th s . F u r th e rm o r e , th e yp o in t to th is c o u r t’s d e c is io n in U ni te d State s v . P ar r ado , 91 1 F . 2d 15 67 , 15 72 (11th C i r. 19 90 ), i n w hi ch the court s t a t e d tha t“ w e c onc l ude tha ta s e nt e nc i ng c our ts houl d— w he n s t a t i ng i t s r e a s ons f o rim p o s in g a p a r tic u la rs e n te n c e a s r e q u ir e d b y § 3 5 5 3 ( c )

— ta ilo rits c o m m e n ts to s h o w th a t th e s e n te n c e im p o s e d is ap p r o p r ia te , g iv e n th e f a c to r s to b e c o n s id e r e d in § 3 55 3(a) . ” P enson and W ri gh tal l ege thatthe com m ent s m ade by the di stri ctcourt a t s e n te n c in g d o n o t m e e t th is s ta n d a r d . I n s e nt e nc i ng P e ns on, the c our the a r d P e ns on’ s s t a t e m e ntof r e m or s e a nd a r gum e nt s f

r om the pa r t i e s r e ga r di ng the § 3553( a ) f a c t or s , w hi c h c onc e rne d the

“ na tur e a nd c i r c um s t a nc e s of the of f e ns e ” a nd P e ns on’ s “ hi s t ory a nd c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s . ” A ddi t i ona l l y , the c our tc ons i de r e d the G ui de l i ne s r a nge a nd the part i es ’ ar gu m entre gardi ng the approp ri at e s ent ence , w hi ch re fl ec t ed another § 35 53 (a ) f ac t or, the “ ki nd of se nt ence s a vai l abl e. ” T he courtthen st at ed thati thad c ons i de r e d the f

a c t s a nd c onc l us i ons s e tf or th i n the pr e - s e nt e nc e i nve s t i ga t i on13

rep o rt , th ereb y i m p l i ci t l y co n si d eri n g th e n atu re an d ci rcu m st an ces o f th e o ffen se and the hi st ory a nd char ac t er i st i cs of P enson, and i tfoun d thatP enson’ s s ent ence m e t th e “g o a ls o f

th e s e n te n c in g r e q u ir e m e n ts o f § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) .” In se nt enci ng W ri gh t , the di stri ctcourtfol l ow ed the prop erprocedure i n that it c a lc u la te d th e G u id e lin e s r a n g e in c o n s u lta tio n w ith th e G u id e lin e s , a n d th e n it expl i ci t l y s t at ed thati tconsi dere d the st at em ent s of both p art i es , i ncl ud i ng l ett er s w ri tt en on W ri gh t ’ s behal f, the advi soryG ui del i nes r ange, and the § 3 55 3(a) f a c t or s . T he c our tf

ur the rs t a t e d tha ti tha d c ons i de r e d the f a c t s a nd c onc l us i ons c ont a i ne d i n the pr e - s e nt e nc e i nve s t i ga t i on r e por t , the r e by i m pl i c i t l y c ons i de r i ng the na tur e a nd c i r c um s t a nc e s of the of f e ns e s a nd the hi s t ory a nd c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s of W ri gh t . F urtherm ore, i n exp l ai ni ng w hy a w i thi n-G ui del i nes s ent ence w as appr opr i a t e , the c our tf

oc us e d on W r i ght ’ s hi s t ory a nd c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s , not i ng pa r t i c ul a r l y tha tW r i ghtha d a “ s e r i ous c r i m i na l hi s t ory ” a nd a “ pr ope ns i ty f or f ir e a rm s .” G i ve n tha t“ nothi ng i n B oo ke ro re ls e w h e r e r e q u ir e s th e d is tr ic t c o u r t to s ta te o n th e r e c o r d th a t it h a s e x p lic itly c o n s id e r e d e a c h o f th e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f

a c to r s o rto d iscu ss ea ch o f th e § 3 5 5 3 (a ) f ac to rs ,” th e d istrict co u rt’s im p o siti o n o f W rig h t’ s s e n te n c e a n d P e n s o n ’s s e n te n c e s a tis f ie d th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f

§ 3 5 5 3 ( c ) . U

ni ted S ta te s v . Sc o tt , 4 2 6 F .3 d 1 3 2 4 , 1 3 2 9 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) .14

P e n s o n f u r th e ra r g u e s th a t th e f

a c ts o f th e c a s e in d ic a te d th a t th ir ty ki l ogr a m s w a s t o be di vi de d a m ong m ul t i pl e pa r t i e s , a nd thus the y a r e not in d iv id u a lly r e s p o n s ib le f o rth e f u ll th ir tyk ilo g r a m s . H o w e v e r , th e ju ry f o u n d a ll thr e e i ndi vi dua l s t o be pa r tof a c ons pi r a c yt o r ob thi r ty ki l ogr a m s of c oc a i ne , a nd th e f a c t th a t n o in d iv id u a l w o u ld r e ta in th e e n tir e th ir ty k ilo g r a m s is irr e le v a n t. T he S ent enci ng G ui del i nes c l ea rl y i nd i ca t e thatcr i m i nal defe nd ant s a re ac coun t abl e f

or “ al l re as on abl y f

ores ee abl e quant i t i es of contraband thatw er e wi th i n th e s c o p e o f

th e c r i m i n a l a c t i v i ty th a t[ th e y ] j o i n t l y u n d e r t o o k . ” 2 U. S . S . G. § 1 B 1. 3 com m ent(n. 2). T here fore , si nce the sc op e of the ac t i vi ty w as t o st ea l thi r ty ki l ogr a m s , the di s tr i c tc our tdi d notc l e a r l y e rri n i t s qua nt i ty de t e rm i na t i on. I V . CONCL US I ON F or the abov e s t at ed re as on s, w e r ever se R ee d’ s a nd F ores t ’ s H ob bs A ct c onvi c t i ons a nd the i rc onvi c t i ons f orpos s e s s i on w i th the i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e a nd u s in g a n d c a rry in g f

ir e a rm s d u r in g a n d in r e la tio n to a c r im e o f v io le n c e . W e a f f i rm W r i ght ’ s c onvi c t i ons , P e ns on’ s c onvi c t i ons , a nd F or e s t ’ s c onvi c t i on f or po ss es si ng a f

i re arm as a c on vi ct ed fe l on . W e a ff i rm the defendant s’ se nt ence s r e l a t i ng t o the c onvi c t i ons w hi c h w e ha ve notr e ve r s e d. A F F I R M E D in p a r t; R E V E R S E D in p a r t.