FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

J UNE 17, 2010

J OHN L EY

CL ERK [ D O N O T P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 9

- 1 0 2 8 5

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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. D o c k e t N o

. 0 6

- 0 0 0 8 6

- C R

- H L M

- 4

U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A

,

P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l e e

,

v e r s u s

C A R A C H U R E B E N I C I O B A Z A

,

a

. k

. a

. B e n n y

,

E L I U D R I O S E S C O B A R

,

a

. k

. a

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,

D e f e n d a n t s

- A p p e l l a n t s

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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l s f

r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e N o r t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f G e o r g i a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

( J u n e 1 7

, 2 0 1 0 )

B e f o r e B L A C K

, H U L L a n d A N D E R S O N

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

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P E R C U R I A M :I

.

A p p e l l a n t s

- D e f

e n d a n t s C a r a c h u r e B e n i c i o B a z a

, a / k / a B e n n y ( “ B a z a ” ) a n d

E l i u d R i o s E s c o b a r

, a / k / a E l i u ( “ E s c o b a r ” )

, a l o n g w i t h s i x o t h e r c o

- c o n s p i r a t o r

d e f e n d a n t s

, w e r e i n d i c t e d f o r : ( 1 ) c o n s p i r a c y t o p o s s e s s w i t h i n t e n t t o d i s t r i b u t e a t

l e a s t 5 k i l o g r a m s o r m o r e o f a m i x t u r e c o n t a i n i n g c o c a i n e

, b e g i n n i n g n o l a t e r t h a n

F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 6 a n d c o n t i n u i n g u n t i l a p p r o x i m a t e l y D e c e m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 0 6

, i n v i o l a t i o n

o f 2 1 U

. S

. C

. § § 8 4 1 ( a ) ( 1 )

, ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( i i ) a n d 8 4 6 ( C o u n t 1 ) ; a n d ( 2 ) c o n s p i r a c y t o

t r a n s p o r t a n d a t t e m p t t o t r a n s p o r t f u n d s f r o m a p l a c e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o

M e x i c o w i t h t h e i n t e n t t o p r o m o t e t h e c a r r y i n g o n o f s p e c i f i e d u n l a w f

u l a c t i v i t y

,

b e g i n n i n g i n o r a b o u t F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 6 a n d c o n t i n u i n g u n t i l a p p r o x i m a t e l y D e c e m b e r

1 1

, 2 0 0 6

, i n v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 1 9 5 6 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( A )

, ( h ) ( C o u n t 2 )

. T h e i n d i c t m e n t

a l s o c o n t a i n e d a f

o r f e i t u r e c o u n t

, l i s t i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 1

. 4 m i l l i o n i n U

. S

.

c u r r e n c y s e i z e d i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e o f f e n s e s

.

D e f e n d a n t s B a z a a n d E s c o b a r p r o c e e d e d t o t r i a l o n b o t h c o u n t s

. T h e

g o v e r n m e n t ’ s w i t n e s s e s i n c l u d e d u n i n d i c t e d c o

- c o n s p i r a t o r A l e j a n d r o R i v a s

N a j e r a

, U

. S

. D r u g E n f

o r c e m e n t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n a g e n t s

, a n d p o l i c e o f f i c e r s

. T h e

g o v e r n m e n t a l s o i n t r o d u c e d e v i d e n c e o f

, i n t e r a l i a

, s e i z e d d r u g m o n e y a n d

t r a n s c r i p t s o f t e l e p h o n e c a l l s o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h w i r e t a p s

. A f t e r a f i v e

- d a y t r i a l

, t h e

2j u r y c o n v i c t e d D e f e n d a n t s B a z a a n d E s c o b a r o n C o u n t s 1 a n d 2

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

s e n t e n c e d B a z a t o 3 6 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t o n C o u n t 1 a n d 2 4 0 m o n t h s ’

i m p r i s o n m e n t o n C o u n t 2

, t o r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y ; 5 y e a r s ’ s u p e r v i s e d r e l e a s e o n

C o u n t 1 a n d 3 y e a r s ’ s u p e r v i s e d r e l e a s e o n C o u n t 2

, t o r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y ; a n d a

$ 2 0 0 s p e c i a l a s s e s s m e n t

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s e n t e n c e d E s c o b a r t o 1 2 1 m o n t h s ’

i m p r i s o n m e n t o n C o u n t s 1 a n d 2

, t o r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y ; 5 y e a r s ’ s u p e r v i s e d r e l e a s e

o n C o u n t 1 a n d 3 y e a r s ’ s u p e r v i s e d r e l e a s e o n C o u n t 2

, t o r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y ; a n d a

$ 2 0 0 s p e c i a l a s s e s s m e n t

.

I I

.

O n a p p e a l

, D e f

e n d a n t s B a z a a n d E s c o b a r b o t h r a i s e m u l t i p l e i s s u e s a s t o

t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n s

. D e f

e n d a n t B a z a a p p e a l s h i s s e n t e n c e

, b u t D e f e n d a n t E s c o b a r

d o e s n o t c h a l l e n g e h i s s e n t e n c e

. T h e i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d f o r a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w a r e :

B a z a a n d E s c o b a r

1

. W h e t h e r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g D e f e n d a n t s ’ m o t i o n s t o

s u p p r e s s e v i d e n c e a n d s t a t e m e n t s o b t a i n e d d u r i n g t h e o f f i c e r s ’

D e c e m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 0 6 t r a f f i c s t o p a n d s e a r c h o f E s c o b a r ’ s p i c k

- u p t r u c k

a n d a r r e s t o f B a z a a n d E s c o b a r

, w h o h a d $ 2 8 9

, 8 8 0 i n c a s h c o v e r e d i n

c l e a r p l a s t i c w r a p i n s i d e t w o t h i r t e e n

- g a l l o n g a r b a g e b a g s w i t h r e d t i e

3s t r i n g s i n t h e b e d o f E s c o b a r ’ s p i c k

- u p t r u c k ; a n d 1

2

. W h e t h e r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n a d m i t t i n g c e r t a i n e x p e r t a n d l a y

t e s t i m o n y o n t h e p a t t e r n s a n d p r a c t i c e s o f d r u g

- s m u g g l i n g

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e m e a n i n g o f v a r i o u s c o d e d w o r d s

. 2

B a z a

1

. W h e t h e r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n a l l o w i n g t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o

w i t h d r a w w h a t B a z a r e f e r s t o a s a “ s t i p u l a t i o n ” a n d a d m i t e v i d e n c e

t h a t e x p a n d e d t h e s c o p e o f t h e s u p p r e s s i o n h e a r i n g w i t h o u t n o t i c e t o

d e f e n s e c o u n s e l ; 3

2

. W h e t h e r t h e e v i d e n c e a d e q u a t e l y s u p p o r t e d t h e s e n t e n c i n g c o u r t ’ s

f i n d i n g t h a t B a z a w a s a c c o u n t a b l e f o r 1 9 5 k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e f o r

p u r p o s e s o f c a l c u l a t i n g B a z a ’ s a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e ; a n d 4

“We re view the district cour t’s denial of a

motion to s uppress e vidence as a mixed 1

question of law a

nd fac t.” United States v. Ponce- Aldona, 579 F .3d 1218, 1221 (11th Cir. 2009),

cer t. denied, 130 S. Ct. 1094 (2010). We review the district court’s le g al conc lusions de novo,

and its findings of

fac t for cle ar e rror , construing the fa cts in the light most favor able to the

preva iling par

ty . I d. Fur

thermore , we “ may

aff irm the denial of a

motion to s uppress on a

ny

g round supported by

the re cord.” United States v. Cara ballo, 595 F.3d 1214, 1222 ( 11th Cir.

2010).

We review the admissibilit y of expert testimony

for a buse of discr etion and ca

nnot 2

reve rse “ unless the ruling is manifestly err oneous.” U nited States v. Fra zier, 387 F.3d 1244,

1258 (11th Cir. 2004) (e n banc)

.

We review a district cour t’s decision re g arding the admissibilit y of evide nce f

or abuse of 3

discretion. United States v. Schlei, 122 F .3d 944, 990 (11th Cir. 1997).

We state the standar d of re view for this iss ue and the next below. See infra note s 7 & 9. 4

43

. W h e t h e r B a z a ’ s s e n t e n c e v i o l a t e s B o o k e r b e c a u s e i t w a s b a s e d o n a

d r u g q u a n t i t y o f 1 9 5 k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e

, w h i c h a m o u n t w a s n o t

s p e c i f i c a l l y c h a r g e d i n t h e i n d i c t m e n t o r p r o v e n t o a j u r y b e y o n d a

r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

.

E s c o b a r

1

. W h e t h e r t h e e v i d e n c e w a s s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t E s c o b a r ’ s

c o n v i c t i o n s ; 5

2

. W h e t h e r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g E s c o b a r ’ s m o t i o n f o r a

n e w t r i a l u n d e r F e d e r a l R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e 3 3

, w h i c h m o t i o n

w a s b a s e d l a r g e l y o n t h e c l a i m t h a t c o

- c o n s p i r a t o r R i v a s

- N a j e r a ’ s

t e s t i m o n y w a s u n r e l i a b l e

. 6

I I I

.

A f t e r c a r e f u l l y r e v i e w i n g t h e r e c o r d i n t h i s c a s e

, r e a d i n g t h e p a r t i e s ’ b r i e f s

,

a n d h a v i n g t h e b e n e f

i t o f o r a l a r g u m e n t

, w e c o n c l u d e t h a t a l l o f t h e D e f e n d a n t s ’

i s s u e s l a c k m e r i t a n d o n l y t h r e e i s s u e s w a r r a n t f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n

.

A

. S u p p r e s s i o n M o t i o n s

“We re view de novo w hether there is sufficient evide nce in the r ecor d to support a jury ’s 5

verdic t . . . , viewing the evidenc e in the lig ht most favorable to the g overnme nt, and dra wing all

rea sonable fa ctual infe renc es in favor of the jury ’s ver dict.” United States v. B eckle s, 565 F.3d

832, 840 (11th Cir.), ce rt. denied, 130 S. Ct. 272 (2009).

Denial of a motion for a ne w trial is revie wed f or abuse of discre tion. United States v. 6

Day , 405 F.3d 1293, 1297 n.6 ( 11th Cir. 2005).

5A s t o t h e s u p p r e s s i o n i s s u e

, D e f e n d a n t s h a v e n o t s h o w n e r r o r i n t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t ’ s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t ( 1 ) t h e r e w a s p r o b a b l e c a u s e t o s u p p o r t t h e s t o p a n d

s e a r c h o f E s c o b a r ’ s p i c k

- u p t r u c k f o r d r u g p r o c e e d s

, a n d

, a l t e r n a t i v e l y

, ( 2 ) t h e r e

w a s p r o b a b l e c a u s e t o s t o p E s c o b a r ’ s p i c k

- u p t r u c k f o r c a r r y i n g a n u n s e c u r e d l o a d

,

i n v i o l a t i o n o f O

. C

. G

. A

. § 4 0

- 6

- 2 4 8

. 1

, a n d t h a t

, a f t e r t h a t t r a f

f i c s t o p

, t h e p o l i c e

o b t a i n e d v a l i d c o n s e n t t o s e a r c h t h e v e h i c l e

. T h e r e c o r d a m p l y s u p p o r t s e a c h

f i n d i n g

, a n d t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t e r r i n i t s l e g a l c o n c l u s i o n s

.

B

. B a z a ’ s S e n t e n c e

B a z a h a s n o t s h o w n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n s e n t e n c i n g h i m

, p u r s u a n t t o

U

. S

. S

. G

. § 2 D 1

. 1 ( c ) ( 1 )

, b a s e d o n i t s f i n d i n g t h a t t h e c o n s p i r a c y i n v o l v e d 1 9 5

k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e b e c a u s e r e l i a b l e a n d s p e c i f i c e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t s t h i s f i n d i n g

. 7

A t t r i a l

, c o

- c o n s p i r a t o r R i v a s

- N a j e r a t e s t i f

i e d t h a t s o m e t i m e a f

t e r M a r c h

2 0 0 6 h e m a d e s i x t r i p s f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o M e x i c o a n d b a c k

, c a r r y i n g

c o c a i n e i n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o n e a c h t r i p

, a n d t h e n t r a n s p o r t i n g m o n e y b a c k i n t o

M e x i c o

. R i v a s

- N a

j e r a e s t i m a t e d h e t r a n s p o r t e d a t o t a l o f o v e r 2 0 0 k i l o g r a m s o f

c o c a i n e d u r i n g t h o s e s i x t r i p s

. B a z a p a i d R i v a s

- N a j e r a $ 1 9 9

, 0 0 0 f

o r t h e s e s i x

When the district court make s a finding as to the quantity of drug s to establish the base 7

offe nse leve l in its calc ulation of the advisory g uidelines rang e, we revie w that drug quantity

finding for c lear

err or. United States v. Simpson, 228 F.3d 1294, 1298 (11th Cir. 2000).

6s h i p m e n t s

. B a z a a l s o a r r a n g e d f o r t h e p i c k

- u p a n d d r o p

- o f f o f t h e v a n R i v a s

8

N a j e r a u s e d f

o r m o s t o f t h e t r i p s

, t o l d R i v a s

- N a j e r a w h e r e t o p i c k u p t h e d r u g s

, a n d

a c c o m p a n i e d h i m o n o n e o f t h e t r i p s

. I n a d d i t i o n

, R i v a s

- N a j e r a t e s t i f

i e d t h a t B a z a

c o o r d i n a t e d d r u g p i c k

- u p s a n d d r o p

- o f f s w i t h c o

- c o n s p i r a t o r J e s u s P i n e d a a n d t h a t

P i n e d a w o u l d w a i t a t t h e d r o p

- o f f p o i n t t o e n s u r e t h e d r u g s w e r e d e l i v e r e d a n d

t h e n w o u l d l o a d t h e v a n w i t h m o n e y

. W i r e t a p a n d s u r v e i l l a n c e e v i d e n c e s h o w e d

P i n e d a w a s i n t e n d i n g t o m a k e a s h i p m e n t i n l a t e O c t o b e r 2 0 0 6

. D E A S p e c i a l

A g e n t C r o s b y J o n e s t e s t i f i e d P i n e d a w a s a r r e s t e d o n O c t o b e r 2 5

, 2 0 0 6 a n d f o u n d

w i t h 5 5 k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e h i d d e n i n t h e v e h i c l e i n w h i c h h e w a s t r a v e l i n g

.

R i v a s

- N a j e r a w a s a r r e s t e d o n O c t o b e r 2 7

, 2 0 0 6 a n d f o u n d w i t h $ 4 8 9

, 0 0 0 i n c a s h i n

h i s v a n o n h i s w a y b a c k t o M e x i c o

.

B a z a ’ s p r e s e n t e n c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e p o r t ( “ P S I ” ) c i t e d R i v a s

- N a j e r a ’ s

t e s t i m o n y a b o u t t h e s i x t r i p s a n d s t a t e d t h a t

, b a s e d o n a “ c o n s e r v a t i v e e s t i m a t e o f

3 0 k i l o g r a m s ” f

o r e a c h t r i p

, B a z a s h o u l d b e h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r 1 8 0 k i l o g r a m s o f

c o c a i n e

. T h e P S I a l s o s t a t e d t h a t

, g i v e n t h a t B a z a w a s c a u g h t w i t h $ 2 8 9

, 8 8 0 i n

c a s h

, a n d e s t i m a t i n g t h a t o n e k i l o g r a m o f c o c a i n e w a s e q u a l t o $ 1 9

, 0 0 0 “ a s u s e d i n

On Rivas-Na

jera ’s first trip, he tra

nsported over

30 kilogr ams of coc aine a nd was pa id 8

$27,000; on his second trip, he tra nsported over

30 kilogr ams and wa s paid $32,000; for the

third, fourth, and f

ifth trips, he was pa id $35,000 for ea ch (the re w as no testimony about the

specific drug quantities transported on the third, fourth, and f ifth trips); and on the six th trip, he

transporte d 45 kilogr ams and wa s paid $35,000.

7o t h e r s i m i l a r c o n t r o l b u y s

, ” t h e $ 2 8 9

, 8 8 0 i n c a s h s e i z e d f r o m B a z a s h o u l d b e

c o n s i d e r e d t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f 1 5 k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e

. T h e P S I a d d e d t h e s e t w o

f i g u r e s ( 1 8 0 a n d 1 5 k i l o g r a m s ) a n d d e t e r m i n e d B a z a ’ s o f f e n s e i n v o l v e d 1 9 5

k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e

.

A t s e n t e n c i n g

, B a z a o b

j e c t e d t o t h e 1 9 5

- k i l o g r a m d r u g a m o u n t t h e P S I

a t t r i b u t e d t o h i m

, a r g u i n g t h e P S I s h o u l d n o t h a v e c r e d i t e d R i v a s

- N a j e r a ’ s

t e s t i m o n y b e c a u s e h e h a d m a n y r e a s o n s t o l i e a n d b e c a u s e B a z a w a s n e v e r f o u n d

w i t h a n y d r u g s

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t o v e r r u l e d B a z a ’ s o b j e c t i o n s a n d a d o p t e d t h e

1 9 5

- k i l o g r a m a m o u n t r e c o m m e n d e d b y t h e P S I

. U s i n g t h i s 1 9 5

- k i l o g r a m a m o u n t

,

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f

o u n d B a z a ’ s t o t a l o f

f e n s e l e v e l w a s 4 2

, w h i c h

, w i t h a c r i m i n a l

h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I

, y i e l d e d a n a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 3 6 0 m o n t h s ’ t o l i f e

i m p r i s o n m e n t o n C o u n t 1 a n d u p t o 2 4 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t o n C o u n t 2

. A s

s t a t e d a b o v e

, t h e c o u r t s e n t e n c e d B a z a t o 3 6 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t o n C o u n t 1

a n d 2 4 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t o n C o u n t 2

, t o r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y

.

B e c a u s e R i v a s

- N a

j e r a w a s a c o

- c o n s p i r a t o r a n d c o n s i d e r i n g R i v a s

- N a j e r a ’ s

t e s t i m o n y a b o u t B a z a ’ s s i g n i f i c a n t r o l e i n a r r a n g i n g R i v a s

- N a j e r a ’ s d r u g

s m u g g l i n g t r i p s

, t h e r e c o r d a m p l y s u p p o r t s t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t B a z a c a n b e h e l d

r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r t h e o v e r 2 0 0 k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e t r a n s p o r t e d d u r i n g t h e s i x t r i p s

.

S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. A n d r e w s

, 9 5 3 F

. 2 d 1 3 1 2

, 1 3 1 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 2 ) ( s t a t i n g t h a t

,

8f

o r s e n t e n c i n g p u r p o s e s

, a d e f e n d a n t c o n v i c t e d o f a c o n s p i r a c y o f f e n s e m a y b e

h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r a c t s o f o t h e r s t h a t w e r e r e a s o n a b l y f o r e s e e a b l e a n d i n

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e c o n s p i r a c y ) ; s e e a l s o U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. M a x w e l l

, 3 4 F

. 3 d 1 0 0 6

,

1 0 1 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 4 ) ( e v a l u a t i n g t h e “ s i m i l a r i t y

, r e g u l a r i t y

, a n d t e m p o r a l

p r o x i m i t y ” b e t w e e n t h e o f f e n s e o f c o n v i c t i o n a n d t h e u n c h a r g e d c o n d u c t t o

d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e u n c h a r g e d c o n d u c t i s r e l e v a n t c o n d u c t f o r p u r p o s e s o f

c a l c u l a t i n g a d e f

e n d a n t ’ s b a s e o f

f e n s e l e v e l )

. A n d i n l i g h t o f R i v a s

- N a j e r a ’ s

t e s t i m o n y a b o u t B a z a ’ s c l o s e w o r k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J e s u s P i n e d a

, B a z a a l s o

c a n b e h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a n a d d i t i o n a l 5 5

- k i l o g r a m s h i p m e n t o f c o c a i n e

t r a n s p o r t e d b y P i n e d a

. O t h e r t h a n R i v a s

- N a j e r a ’ s c o o p e r a t i n g w i t h t h e

g o v e r n m e n t t o r e c e i v e a f a v o r a b l e s e n t e n c e

, B a z a p o i n t s t o n o o t h e r s p e c i f i c r e a s o n

w h y h i s t e s t i m o n y s h o u l d b e d i s c r e d i t e d

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. R o d r i g u e z

, 3 9 8 F

. 3 d

1 2 9 1

, 1 2 9 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 5 ) ( s t a t i n g t h a t

, w h e r e a s e n t e n c i n g c o u r t b a s e s i t s d r u g

q u a n t i t y f

i n d i n g o n i t s d e c i s i o n t o c r e d i t o n e w i t n e s s ’ s “ c o h e r e n t a n d f a c i a l l y

p l a u s i b l e ” t e s t i m o n y t h a t i s n o t c o n t r a d i c t e d b y e x t r i n s i c e v i d e n c e

, t h a t f i n d i n g

“ c a n v i r t u a l l y n e v e r b e c l e a r e r r o r ” ) ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

.

A c c o r d i n g l y

, a p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f e v i d e n c e s h o w s B a z a c a n b e h e l d

r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r a t l e a s t t h e s e t w o d r u g q u a n t i t i e s o f 2 0 0 a n d 5 5 k i l o g r a m s o f

c o c a i n e

, t o t a l i n g 2 5 5 k i l o g r a m s

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. L a w r e n c e

, 4 7 F

. 3 d 1 5 5 9

,

91 5 6 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 5 ) ( c o n c l u d i n g t h e g o v e r n m e n t m u s t e s t a b l i s h a q u a n t i t y o f

d r u g s b y a p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e e v i d e n c e a n d b y “ r e l i a b l e a n d s p e c i f i c ” e v i d e n c e ) ;

U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. Z a p a t a

, 1 3 9 F

. 3 d 1 3 5 5

, 1 3 5 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 8 ) ( s t a t i n g a f i n d i n g a s

t o t h e q u a n t i t y o f d r u g s t o e s t a b l i s h t h e b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l i s p e r m i s s i b l e i f i t i s

“ b a s e d o n f

a i r

, a c c u r a t e

, a n d c o n s e r v a t i v e e s t i m a t e s o f t h e q u a n t i t y o f d r u g s

a t t r i b u t a b l e t o a d e f

e n d a n t

, ” b u t i t c a n n o t b e “ m e r e l y s p e c u l a t i v e ” )

. T h u s

, B a z a h a s

s h o w n n o e r r o r i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s f i n d i n g a t t r i b u t i n g t o h i m 1 9 5 k i l o g r a m s o f

c o c a i n e

.

B a z a a l s o a r g u e s h i s s e n t e n c e v i o l a t e s U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. B o o k e r

, 5 4 3 U

. S

.

2 2 0

, 1 2 5 S

. C t

. 7 3 8 ( 2 0 0 5 )

, b e c a u s e i t i s b a s e d o n a d r u g a m o u n t n o t p r o v e n t o t h e

j u r y

. T h i s a r g u m e n t l a c k s m e r i t t o o

. B o o k e r r e q u i r e s f a c t s t o b e s u b m i t t e d t o a 9

j u r y a n d p r o v e n b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t o n l y w h e n t h o s e f a c t s a r e u s e d t o

i n c r e a s e a d e f

e n d a n t ’ s s e n t e n c e a b o v e t h e s t a t u t o r y m a x i m u m s e n t e n c e

. B o o k e r

5 4 3 U

. S

. a t 2 3 2

, 1 2 5 S

. C t

. a t 7 4 9 ; s e e a l s o A p p r e n d i v

. N e w J e r s e y

, 5 3 0 U

. S

. 4 6 6

,

4 9 0

, 1 2 0 S

. C t

. 2 3 4 8

, 2 3 6 2

- 6 3 ( 2 0 0 0 )

. B a z a w a s c o n v i c t e d o f c o n s p i r a c y w i t h

i n t e n t t o d i s t r i b u t e a t l e a s t 5 k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e u n d e r 2 1 U

. S

. C

. § 8 4 1

, w h i c h

c a r r i e s a s t a t u t o r y m a x i m u m o f l i f e i m p r i s o n m e n t

. 2 1 U

. S

. C

.

Challeng es under

Booke r to a district cour

t’s enhanc ing a

sentenc e base d on fac ts not 9

proven to a

jury bey ond a re asonable doubt are revie wed de novo. United States v. Paz, 405

F.3d 946, 948 ( 11th Cir. 2005). Even if such a Booke r er

ror oc curs, we will rever se only if that

err or is harmful. I d.

1 0§ 8 4 1 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( i i ) ( I I )

. B e c a u s e t h e s t a t u t o r y m a x i m u m w a s l i f e i m p r i s o n m e n t a n d

B a z a w a s s e n t e n c e d t o 3 6 0 m o n t h s

, i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o r e l y

o n f a c t s t h a t w e r e u s e d t o i n c r e a s e B a z a ’ s s e n t e n c e a b o v e t h e s t a t u t o r y m a x i m u m

.

T h e r e i s n o B o o k e r e r r o r i n B a z a ’ s s e n t e n c e

.

I V

.

I n c o n c l u s i o n

, w e a f

f i r m D e f e n d a n t B a z a ’ s c o n v i c t i o n s a n d s e n t e n c e o n

C o u n t s 1 a n d 2 a n d D e f e n d a n t E s c o b a r ’ s c o n v i c t i o n s o n C o u n t s 1 a n d 2

.

A F F I R M E D

.

1 1