FILED U.S. COURT OF A P P E A LS E LE V EN T HC IR C U IT MAY 14, 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. 06- 14496 N on -A rgum entC al endar

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- A p p e lle e , v ersu s C A T H L E E N P A T T E R S O N , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe S outhe r n D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( M ay 14, 2007) B efo re M A R C U S , W IL S O N an d P R Y O R , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: Ca th l e e n Pa t t e r s o n a p p e a l s h e r c o n v i c t i o n s , i mp o s e d a f t e r a j u r y v e r d i c t , a nd 151- m onth s e nt e nc e f

orc ons p i r a c y t o pos s e s s w i th the i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e one ki l ogr a m orm or e of

he r oi n, i n vi ol a t i on of

21 U
. S
. C
. §§ 8 4 1 (a) ( 1) , ( b) ( 1) ( A ) , a nd2

a tte m p t to p o s s e s s w ith in te n t to d is tr ib u te o n e k ilo g r a m o rm o r e o f h e r o in , in vi ol a t i on of

21 U
. S
. C
. § § 841( a ) ( 1) , ( b) ( 1) ( A ) , a nd 846. O n a ppe a l , P a t t e r s on
ra i se s three cl ai m s. F i rs t , she a rgues th atthe evi dence di d n otsupp ortthe di stri ct court ’ s “ del i bera t e a vo i dance” j ury i nstruct i on . S ec on d, she a sser t s the di stri ct
c o u r t v io la te d h e rS ix th A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s d u r in g ju r y d e lib e r a tio n s b y im p r o p e r ly
r e s pondi ng t o the j ur y ’ s que s t i on c onc e r ni ng the a m ountof h ero i n i nvol ve d i n the
un derl yi ng offe nses . F i nal l y, P att er son chal l enges the di stri ctcourt ’ s deni al of a
m i nor - r ol e r e duc t i on a ts e nt e nc i ng. A f t e rthor ough r e vi e w of the r e c or d a nd
c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f

th e p a r t i e s ’ b r i e f

s , w e a f f i r m. I. W e r e vi e w j ur y i ns truc t i ons de novo t o de t e r m i ne w he the rthe y m i s s t a t e the l a w orm i s l e a d the j ur y t o the pr e j udi c e of

th e o bj e c t i ng pa r ty . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. C hand l er , 99 6 F
. 2d 10 73 , 10 85 (11t h C i r. 19 93 ). “ W e w i l l no t r ever se a
c onvi c t i on unl e s s w e f i nd tha ti s s ue s of

l a w w e r e pr e sen t ed i na c c ur a t e l y orthe
c ha r ge i m pr ope r l y gui de d the j ur y i n s uc h a s ubs t a nt i a l w ay a s t o vi ol a t e due p r o c e s s .” U n ite d S ta te s v . P e r e z - T o s ta , 3 6 F .3 d 1 5 5 2 , 1 5 6 4 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 4 )
. O r di na r i l y w e r e vi e w a c our t ’ s r e s pons e t o a j ury q u est i on f ora n a bus e of di sc re t i on . U ni t ed S t at es v. W ri gh t , 39 2 F
. 3d 12 69 , 12 79 (11t h C i r. 20 04 ). H ow ever , w here , as here , an appel l antpres ent s di ff er en tar gu m ent s on app ea l3

r e g a r d in g w h y th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s a c tio n w a s i m p r o p e r , o u rr e v ie w is f o rp la in
er ror. Id. “T o d em on stra t e pl ai n err or, [P att er son] m ustshow : (1) a n err or; (2) that i s pl ai n; (3) thataf

fe ct s the defendant ’ s s ub st ant i al ri gh t s. If th e d ef en dantsa t i sf

i es th o s e th r e e p r o n g s , w e m a y th e n e m p lo y o u r d i s c r e tio n to n o te th a t e r r o ro n ly if it
se ri ou sl y a ff

ec t s the fa i rnes s, i nt egri ty, or pu bl i c r eput at i on of j ud i ci al p r o c e e d in g s .” I d . a t 1 2 7 9
- 8 0 ( in te r n a l c ita tio n a n d q u o ta tio n m a r k s o m itte d )
. W e r evi ew a di stri ctcourt ’ s f ac tual det er m i nat io n re gardi ng w hether a defe nd anti s e l i gi bl e f

or a r educt i on for ro le i n t he offens e f or cl ea r e rr or. U ni t ed S ta te s v . D e V a r o n , 1 7 5 F .3 d 9 3 0 , 9 3 4 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 9 ) ( e n b a n c )
. II. T he r e l e va ntf

a c t s a r e the s e . O n D e c e m be r22, 2005, P a t t e r s on a nd
c o d efen d an t s L i z z a C e pe da , M a r i t z a R i ve r a , a nd R ubby R i os , w e r e c ha r ge d i n a
m u lti- c o u n t in d i c t m e n t a r is in g o u t o f th e irin v o lv e m e n t in s m u g g lin g h e r o in , w h ile tra veli ng on crui se shi ps, fr om A ruba t o P ortE vergl ades i n F ortL auderdal e, F lo r id a . P a tte r s o n w a s c h a r g e d w ith th e f o llo w i n g c r im e s : ( 1 ) c o n s p ir in g to pos s e s s w i th the i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e one ki l ogr a m orm or e o f he r oi n, i n vi ol a t i on of 2 1 U .S .C . § § 8 4 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) , ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) , a n d 8 4 6 ( C o u n t 1 ) ; a n d ( 2 ) a tte m p tin g to p o s s e s s w i th the i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e one ki l ogr a m orm or e of he r oi n, i n vi ol a t i on of 21 U
. S
. C
. §§ 841( a ) ( 1) , ( b) ( 1) ( A ) , a nd 846 ( C ount5 ). A ft er i ni t i a l l y pl e a di ng4

g u i l ty, p u rsu an tt o a p l ea ag reem en t , P at t erso n w i th d rew h er p le a a n d th e case p r o c e e d e d to a ju r y tr ia l. P r i ort o tr i a l , the gove r nm e nts ubm i t t e d a m ot i on a nd s uppor t i ng
m e m or a ndum of

l a w r e que s t i ng tha tthe di s tr i c tc our tgi ve a j u ry i ns truc t i on on

“ del i bera t e i gn orance” or “co nsci ou s a vo i dance. ” T he go vernm entar gu ed that b e c a u s e th e r e w a s e v id e n c e o f b o th a c tu a l k n o w le d g e a n d d e lib e r a te ig n o r a n c e , it
s h o u ld b e a llo w e d to p u r s u e b o t h th e o r ie s . T h e g o v e r n m e n t a ls o f ile d a R u le 40 4(b) N ot i ce of Int entt o o ff erextri nsi c- ac tevi dence. D ur i ng the tr i a l , S pe c i a l A ge ntS e l w y n S m i th, of the Im m i g rat i on a nd C ust om s E nforcement ( “ IC E ”) , t es t i fi ed thati n D ec em ber 2 00 5, he and o ther l aw enforce m entagent s bo ar d ed a c rui se shi p t hathad j ustar ri ved atP ortE vergl ades
a f t e rh a v i n g tr a v e l e d t o A ru b a . Th e i rp u rp o s e w a s t o p e r f o r m r a n d o m c u s t o ms
s e a r c he s f

ori l l e ga l na r c ot i c s . D ur i ng th ei r search of the r oom oc c upi e d by P att er son’ s c od ef

endant s, M ar i t za R i vera and L i zz a C epeda, the agent s di sco v er ed h ero i n h i d d en w i th i n v a r io u s p erso n al i t em s, i n cl u d i n g p erfu m e b o t t l es, san d al s, p an t s, an d a C D c a s e . S ubs e que ntl a bor a t or y a na l y s i s r e ve a l e d tha tthe ne tw e i ght
o f th e h e r o in to ta le d 3 .1 k ilo g r a m s . A f te rR iv e r a a n d C e p e d a w e r e r e a d th e irM ir a n d a r ig h ts , th e y to ld th e a g e n ts th a t a m a n n a m e d “C a r lo s ,” w h o liv e d in C o lo m b ia , h a d p a i d f o rth e irc ru is e to5

A ruba w here they o b tain ed h er oi n from a m an nam ed “ M auri ci o. ” T hey had been prom i s e d $ 10 , 00 0 e a c h f ortr a ns po r t i ng the he r oi n i nt o the U ni t e d St a t e s . Th ey bo th agreed t o coo pera te w i th l aw enforce m entand t o con du cta c on trol l ed d e liv e r y o f

th e h e r o in in th e S o u th F lo r id a a r e a . R iv e r a s u b s e q u e n tly p la c e d c a lls t o C ar l os and M auri ci o, i nd i ca t i ng thatshe a nd C epeda w ere fig h ti n g , and t hatthey
n e e d e d s o m e o n e to p ic k u p th e d ru g s s o o n . C a r lo s to ld R iv e r a to c a ll “L a M o n a ,”
w h o la te rw a s id e n tif

ie d a s c o - d e f

e n d a n t R io s , to a r r a n g e f o ra p ic k
- u p . T he r e a f t e r , a n u n d e r c o v e r a g e n t , a c t i n g a s Ce p e d a , c a l l e d Ri o s , w h o s a i d s he
w ou l d com e t o a M i am i h o tel a n d tran sportC epeda and t he drug s t o t he N ew Y or k/N e w J e r s e y a r e a , w he r e C e pe da c oul d s e c ur e h er $10, 000 pa y m e ntf orthe
s m uggl i ng j ob. D efe nda ntP a t t e r s on dr ove R i os t o the M i a m i hot e l w he r e the unde r c ove ra ge ntha d c h ecke d i nt o a r oom . P a t t e r s on w a i t e d i n he rc a ri n the pa rk in g lo t w h i l e R i os m etw i th t he un derc ov eragenti n t he ho t el room . A ft er
e nt e r i ng the r oom , R i os i ns pe c t e d the c ont e nt s of a ba g the unde r c ove rof f i c e rga ve t o h e r . A s p a r to f

th e c o n tr o l l e d b u y , l a w e n f o r c e me n th a d f

i l l e d th e b a g w i th i t e ms
c ont a i ni ng f

a ke he r oi n. A s R i os pul l e d the i t e m s out of the ba g, l aw en fo r c e m e nt
e n te r e d th e r o o m a n d a r r e s te d h e r . P att er son, w ho w as st i l l w ai t i ng in h er cari n t he parki ng l ot , al so w as arrest ed
. In P at t erso n ’ s ca r , th e arresti n g o ffi cers d i sco v ered car ren t al d o cu m en t s,6

sui t ca se s w i th c l ot hes, and a heat se al i ng m ac hi ne. T he re nt al d o cu m en ts i nd i ca t ed thatP att er son h ad re nt ed the ca r a tM i am i Int er nat i on al A irp orton the sa m e day tha tthe m e e t i ng a tthe hot e l ha d be e n a r r a nge d. T he a ge nt s a l s o di s c ove r e d a W e s t e r n U n i on m one y tr a ns f e r , i n the a m ountof

$920, pa y a bl e t o P a t t e r s on, a nd
a n o th e r , in th e a m o u n t o f $ 9 0 0 , p a y a b le to R io s . W he n s he w a s a r r e s t e d, R i os a gr e e d t o c oope r a t e w i th l a w enf or c e m e nta nd
a dm i t t e d tha ts he ha d t a ke n thr e e c rui ses , tw o of w hi c h e nt a i l e d s m uggl i ng drugs i nt o t he U ni t ed S t at es . A gent s lea rn ed from crui se -l i ne re cords thatP att er son h ad pu rc hase d th e ti ck et s f or R i os’ s s ec on d crui se , and, i m m edi at el y a ft erthe crui se , P at t erso n h ad ren t ed a car fo r 1 0 d ays an d d ro v e i to v er 3 , 0 0 0 m i l e s . P at t erso n al so ha d pur c ha s e d a hot e l ro o m i n N e w J e r s e y thr e e da y s a f t e rs he r e nt e d the c a r , a nd 1 5 p h o n e c a l l s w e r e ma d e t o “ Co n s u e l o ’ s ” phone num b e rf r o m th e h o t e l r o o m. T he c rui s e - l i ne r e c or ds a l s o i ndi c a t e d tha t i n S e pt e m be r 2005, R i os a nd P a t t e r s on
w enton anot her c rui se t o A ruba. S pe c i a l A ge ntL oni F org as h, the unde r c ove rI C E a ge ntw ho pos e d a s C e pe da dur i ng the i nve s t i ga t i on, t e s t i f i e d tha tw he n s he m e tw i th R i os i n t h e h o t el r oom p r io rto R io s ’s a r r e s t , R io s to ld h e rn o t to b e n e r v o u s b e c a u s e th e m o s t d if f ic u lt pa r tof the drug s m uggl i ng sch em e - - ge t t i ng thr ough the P or t- - w a s ove r . R i os
a l s o s a i d tha ts he a nd “ thi s othe rl a dy [ w ho] a l w a y s t rav el e d t oge the rha ve done7

thi s i n t he pastand .
. . thaton thi s tri p t hey w er e a ctual l y g o in g to g etthe m on ey -- th a t w e w e r e g o in g to g e t th e m o n e y a s s o o n a s w e a r r iv e d in N e w Y o r k .” T he gove r nm e nta l s o pr e s e n t e d the t e s t i m ony of c ode f e nda nt s C e pe da a nd R i o. C epeda t es t i fi ed thatdu ri ng the D ec em ber 200 5 crui se , s he and R i vera had
a t t e nde d a m e e t i ng w i th M a ur i c i o a ta M c D ona l d’ s i n A ruba , a t w h i ch t i m e he ga ve the m ba gs c ont a i ni ng the he r oi n. T he y w e r e t ol d tha tthe y w o ul d r e c e i ve i n st ru ct i o n s f

r om C a r l os onc e the c rui s e w a s ove r , a nd tha tthe y w e r e goi ng t o be p a id b e tw e e n $ 8 ,0 0 0 a n d $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 f o rth e tr ip
. R i os t e s t i f

i e d tha ts he ha d know n P a t t e r s on f ora l m o st t h re e y e a r s , dur i ng
w hi c h the y ha d t a ke n c rui s e s i n S e pt e m be r2004, A pr i l 2005, a nd S e pt e m be r2005. W h e n R io s m e t P a tte r s o n , “C a r lo s ” h a d a s k e d h e r( R io s ) to r e c ru it o th e rp e o p le to p a r tic ip a te in th e d ru g s m u g g lin g c o n s p ir a c y . P a t t e r s o n w a s a n a p p e a lin g r e c ru it beca use of herl oo ks and t he fa ctthatshe w as A m er i ca n and used a w heel chai r, thu s a l l ow i ng her t o ent erthe coun try w i tho utbei ng se ar ched. R i os char ac t er i ze d P a t t e rso n’ s w he e l c ha i r - bound s t a tus a s a “ bi g pl us . ” R i os a ppr oa c he d P a t t e r s on
a n d a s k e d h e rto c o m e to A ru b a to m e e t M a u r ic io . P a tte r s o n p u r c h a s e d th e tic k e ts for the Se pt e mbe r20 04 c rui s e w i th h e rc r e di tc a r d, a nd “ Ca r l os ” r e i mbur s e d h er . W he n the tw o w om en arri v ed i n A ruba , the y m e tM a ur i c i o a ta M c D ona l d’ s , a nd h e to o k th e m to h is a p a r tm e n t w h e r e h e to ld th e m th a t o n f u t u r e t r ip s , th e y w o u ld8

recei v e s e ve r a l i t e m s f r om hi m , i nc l udi ng pe r f um e s , s hoe s , a nd c a m e r a s . R i os
re m em bere d P att er son asked M auri ci o w h eth er h e w ou l d p ay for l aw ye rs i f there
w a s a p r o b l e m. A f te rth e in itia l m e e tin g w ith M a u r ic io , P a tte r s o n a g r e e d to th e p la n a n d to ld R i os thatshe w as com fort abl e goin g o n t he A pri l 20 05 crui se beca use s he w as si ck ( a nd i n a w he e l c ha i r ) , a nd, the r e f or e , the y w o u l d “ al w ays go f i r s t . ” P a t t e r s on m a de t he tr a v e l a r r a n g e me n t s , a n d , o n c e i n A ru b a , th e y a g a i n me t M a u r i c i o a t t he M c D ona l d’ s a nd w e ntt o hi s a pa r t m e nt w h ere h e ga ve the m s hoe s , a pur s e , a nd pe r f um e s , a l l of

w hi c h c ont a i ne d drugs . R i os a nd P a t t e r s on putthe i t e m s i n ba gs and h un g t hem fr om P att er so n ’s w heel chai r. W hen t hey w entthrou gh cust om s a t P o rtE v erg l a d e s , th e y w en tt o a sp eci al el ev at o r an d w ere n o tsearch ed b ecau se P a t t e r s on w a s i n a w he e l c ha i r . T he y the n tr a ve l e d t o N e w Jersey w h e r e R i os del i v ered t he drugs . T he ne xtda y , “ C ons ue l o” m e tR i os i n the hot e l l obby a nd pa i d he r$20, 000 t o be s pl i tbe tw e e n he r s e l f a nd P a t t e r s on. R i os desc ri bed t he thi rd crui se thatshe a nd P att er son t oo k i n S ept em ber 2 0 0 5 . A g a in , P a tte r s o n m a d e th e r e s e r v a tio n s f o rth e tr ip a n d p u r c h a s e d th e tic k e ts throu gh her tra vel agency . A tanot her m ee t i ng at th e M cD on al d’ s i n A ruba, M auri ci o g ave th em i t em s, i ncl ud i ng perf um es and a C D pl ay er , thatcont ai ned9

drug s. D uri ng the shi p’ s s t op i n P uert o R i co, R i os del i vere d t he d ru g s to a m an at a sh o p p i n g cen t er. T h ey w ere each p ai d $ 1 3 , 0 0 0 fo r th ei r sm u g g l i n g serv i ces. A s fo r R i o s’ s an d P at t erso n ’ s i n v o l v em en ti n th e D ec e m b e r 2 0 0 5 cru i se t a ke n by C e pe da a nd R i ve r a , R i os t est i f i e d tha ti n the a f

t e r noon of

D e c e m be r12, 20 05 , she w as cont ac t ed fr om C ol om bi a by “ C ar l os” w ho t ol d h erthatshe nee ded to r e n t a car an d p i ck u p C ep ed a at a h o t el i n M i am i an d t ak e h er an d so m e d r u g s to N e w Y or k. R i os t ol d C a r l os tha ts he di d notha ve a c r e di tc a rd , an d , t h e r e f or e , s he
w o u ld n e e d to s p e a k to “C a th y ,” w h o m s h e tru s te d a n d w ith w h o m s h e p r e v io u s ly h a d “d o n e b u s in e s s .” A f te rth e p h o n e c a ll, R io s c o n t a c t e d P a tte r s o n , w h o a g r e e d to
a c c o mp a n y Ri o s t o p i c k u p a w o ma n a n d s o me d ru g s a t a M i a mi h o t e l a nd tran sp o rt th em t o “ C o n su el o ” i n N ew Y o rk
. R i o s t o l d P at t erso n th at C a r lo s w o u ld pa y e a c h of

the m $1500, pl us $1000 f ortr a ve l e xpe ns e s , a nd tha ts om e of the
m o n ey h ad b ee n w ired in ad v an ce fr o m N ew Y o rk
. W h il e R io s w a s a t P a tt er so n ’s h o u se, “ C arl o s” cal l ed ag ai n an d t o l d R i o s t o m ak e su re t h ere w ere fi v e p ack ag es. R i os the n s poke t o e i the rC e pe da orM a r i t z a , a nd a r r a nge d t o m eet the m a tthe M ia m i h o te l th e n e x t m o r n in g . R i os re ce i ved ano ther c al l fr om “ C ar l os” the nextm orn in g . H e e xp l ai ned thatR i os and P att er son w ou l d b e t ra n sp ort i ng se ven, as op po se d t o fi ve, packages of he r oi n. W he n P a t t e r s on pi c ke d R i os up tha tm or n i n g , R i os i nf or m e d P a t t e r s on10

a boutthe c ha nge d a m ount , a nd P a t t e r s on a s ke d w he the rC a r l os w oul d pa y the m f or th e e x tr a tw o p a c k a g e s . R io s a s s u r e d P a tte r s o n th a t C a r lo s w o u ld p a y th e m e x tr a . R i os al so t es t i fi ed thatdu ri ng a c on vers at i on w i th P atterson , af t erthey w er e
a r r e s te d a t th e M ia m i h o te l, th e y h a d a g r e e d to “s tic k to g e t h e r ” a n d n e v e rta lk
a b o u t th e irp r e v io u s tr ip s . O f f i c e rT r a c y L a nd, of

the B r ow ard C o u n ty S he r i f f’ s O f f i c e , t e s t i f i e d tha the i nt er vi ew ed P att er son atthe M i am i ho t el af t erh er ar rest , and, on ce the i nt er vi ew
w as o v er, h e g av e P at t erso n an o p p o rtu n i ty t o m ak e ch an g es t o h i s w r itte n n o t es. A c c or di ng t o he rs t a t e m e nt , w hi c h O f f i c e rL a nd r e a d i nt o t h e rec or d, P a t t e r s on
w a s dr i vi ng R i os t o N e w Y or k be c a us e R i os d i d n otha ve a c r e di tc a r d. P a t t e r s on adm i t t ed thatshe had a “g en er al i dea” thatR i os w as tra nspo rt i ng drug s, and t hat R i os “ pos s i bl y ” had d rugs i n a pa i rof s hoe s s he ha d boughti n A ruba
. P a t t e r s on al so sa i d that du ri ng on e of thei r pri or crui se s, R i os had m et w i th a m an in A ru ba. P a tte r s o n s a id th a t s h e th o u g h t th e m e e tin g “m ig h t b e a b o u t a d ru g d e a l.” P a t t erso n al so d escri b ed a seco n d cru i se i n w h i ch sh e b el i ev ed th atth ere “po ssi b ly
w [e re ] drug s” i n a l ar ge bron ze col og ne bo t t l e. A f t e rthe gove r nm e ntr e s t e d, P a t t e r s on t e s t i f i e d i n h er o w n de f

e ns e . S he cl ai m ed thatatno po i ntaf t ershe m etR i os som et i m e i n m i d-20 04 di d R i os ever di s c us s the drug bus i ne s s . W he n R i os i nvi t e d P a t t erso n t o acc om pa ny he ron a11

cru i se s hor t l y a f

t e rthe y m e t , P a t t e r s on thoughts he ha d be e n i nvi t e d onl y be c a u se R i os ha d no one e l se t o g o w i th he r , a nd w he n R i os a s ke d P a t t e r s on t o m a ke the
a r r a nge m e nt s a nd pa y f orthe c rui s e be c a us e s h e d i d n o t ha ve a c r e di tc a r d, P att er son agreed base d o n h erun ders t andi n g thatR i os w ou l d rei m bu rs e her
. P atters o n al so cl ai m ed thatdu ri ng her vari ou s c rui se s t o A ruba, she had never m et
w i th a ny on e conc e r ni ng drugs . P a t t e r s on s a i d tha ts he ne ve ra gr e e d t o he l p R i os
s m uggl e drugs i nt o the U
. S
. ort o tr a ns por tthe m f r om F l or i da t o N e w Y or k, a nd th a t R io s n e v e rp a id h e ra n y m o n e y , e x c e p t to r e im b u r s e h e rf o rtr a v e l e x p e n s e s . P a tte r s o n a ls o g a v e h e rv e r s io n o f th e e v e n ts le a d in g u p to h e ra r r e s t in D e c e m b e r2 0 0 5 . S h e h a d p la n n e d t o t a k e a f o o d s e a le rto h e rs is te rin G a in e s v ille
w he n R i os a s ke d he rt o go t o N e w Y or k. R i os t ol d P a t t e r s on tha tthe y w e r e goi ng t o t a ke s om e one w i th the m w ho di d notha ve pr ope ri de nt i f i c a t i on t o buy a pl a ne t i c ke t , butR i os di d n o t t el l h er tha tthe pe r s on w oul d be c a r r y i ng drugs . P a t t e r s on
re nt ed the ca r l at erthatni gh t , an d, af t ershe pi cked R i os up the nextm orni ng , they dr ove t o a h o t el i n M i a m i t o pi c k up the othe rpa s s e nge r . W he n the y gott o the h o te l, R io s w e n t in s id e w h ile P a tte r s o n w a ite d in th e c a r . P att er son t es t i fi ed thaton ce she had been arr es t ed an d re m ov ed fr om her c ar , s he be ga n t o f

e e l e xtr e m e l y di z z y due t o he rdi a be t e s a nd the f a c ttha ts he ha d not
ea t en. S he cl ai m ed she i nform ed agent s of thi s f ac t , bu tthey t oo k h er t o a ho t el12

r o o m a n d b e g a n s c r e a m in g a t h e r a b o u t h e r in v o lv e m e n t w ith th e d ru g s . S h e c o u ld
no tre m em ber w hatshe s ai d d uri ng her i nt er vi ew , and t es t ified thatshe had been
una bl e t o rea d he rs t a t e m e ntbe c a us e s he di d notha ve he rgl a s s e s . S he t ol d the
a g e n ts t h a t s h e h a d b e e n o n p r e v io u s tr ip s w ith R io s , b u t s h e d id n o t a d m it to h a v in g k n o w le d g e o f

a n y d ru g s . S h e a ls o te s tif ie d th a t s h e d id n o t s a y a n y th in g to R io s in p r is o n a b o u t tr y in g to c o n c e a l in f o r m a tio n f

r o m th e g o v e r n m e n t. D ur i ng the gove r nm e nt ’ s r e but t a l , S pe c i a l A ge ntD a vi d M i t c he l l , of the D rug E nf

or c e m e ntA dm i ni s tr a t i o n , t est i f i e d tha the w a s pr e s e ntw he n P a t t e r s on
w as ar re st ed at the M i am i ho t el
. A ft erher a rr es t , the ar re st i ng offi ce rs al l ow ed P att er son t o si ti n a chai r a nd use the bat hroo m before t aki ng her upst ai rs t o a ho t el
r oom . S pe c i a l A ge ntM i t c he l l di d notw i tne s s a ny one a bus i ng P a t t e r s on, a nd he
ne ve rhe a r d he rc om pl a i n of pa i n ordi s c om f

or t . A nothe rs pe c i a l a ge nt ’ s t e st i m ony
w as co n si st en tw i th S p eci al A g en tM i t ch el l ’ s v ersi o n o f ev en t s. A ft erthe cl ose of e vi dence, P att er so n o bj ec t ed t o t he prop osed j ury i ns tru ct i on on de l i be r a t e i gnor a nc e . T he c our tove r rul e d the obj e c t i on w i thout
e xpl a na t i on. D ur i ng c l os i n g arg u m ent s , P a t t e r s on ur ge d tha ts he s houl d notbe p u n is h e d f

o rb e in g g u llib le a n d n a iv e . T he di stri ctcourt ’ s c harge t o t he j u ry in cl ud ed the fol l ow i ng j ury i ns truc t i on:13

[ W ]ith r e s p e c t to th e is s u e o f [ P a tte r s o n ’s ] k n o w le d g e in th is c a s e , if you fi nd fr om al l the evi dence beyon d a re as on abl e dou btthat [P att er son] bel i eved t hatshe w as at th e h ot el t o p i ck up and t ra nspo rt a c on tr ol l e d s ub s t a nc e f orde l i ve r y t o a l oc a t i on ou t s i de s ou th Fl or i da, and d el i bera t el y an d consci ou sl y try i ng t o avo i d l ea rni ng the spec i fi cs p e r ta in in g to th e c o n tr o lle d s u b s ta n c e , in o r d e rto b e a b le to s a y if a ppr e he nd e d tha ts he di d notknow w ha ts he w oul d be tr a ns por t i ng, y ou m a y tr e a ts uc h de l i be r a t e a v o i da nc e of pos i t i ve know l e dge a s the e q u iv a le n t o f

k n o w le d g e . I n othe rw or ds , y ou m a y f i nd tha ta de f

e nda nta c t e d know i ngl y i f y ou f in d b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b le d o u b t e ith e r , o n e , th a t th e d e f e n d a n t a c tu a lly kne w tha ts he w a s t o t rans por ta nd de l i ve rc ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e s , or th a t s h e d e lib e r a te ly c lo s e d h e re y e s to w h a t s h e h a d e v e r y r e a s o n to b e lie v e w a s th e f

a c t. T he j ur y ve r di ct fo rm p ro vi de d a pl a c e f orthe j ur y t o i ndi c a t e w he the ri tf ound P att er son g ui l ty of C ou ntO ne. If the j ur y fo un d P att er son g ui l ty of C ou ntO ne, then a se cond se ct i on prov i ded a pl ac e f or the j ury t o m ar k w hether i t f o u nd her gui l ty of c ons pi r i ng t o pos s e s s w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e : (1 ) 1 ki l ogr a m orm or e of he r oi n; or( 2) 100 gr a m s orm or e of he r oi n. S i m i l arl y, i f

the j ur y f

ound P a t t e r s on gui l ty of C ountF i ve , the n the j ury h ad t o i ndi c a t e w he the rthe of f e ns e i nvol ve d: ( 1) 1 k ilo g r a m o rm o r e o f

h e r o in ; o r( 2 ) 1 0 0 g r a m s o rm o r e o f h e r o in
. D ur i n g d el i b er a t i ons , the j ur y s ubm i t t e d the f ol l ow i ng tw o que s t i ons t o the
c o u r t: W hy do w e ha ve a c ho i c e of the a moun t of the c on tr ol l e d s ub st ance o n t h e v e r d ic t f

o r m ? W h a t d o th e 1 0 0 g r a m s o rm o r e h a v e to d o w ith th e c a s e i f

th e a mo u n ts e i z e d wa s 3 k i l o g r a ms ?14

T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t in f

o r m e d th e p a r tie s it w o u ld r e s p o n d w ith th e f o llo w in g a n s w e r : T h ree (3 ) k i l o g ram s i s eq u al t o 3 0 0 0 g ram s. I f y o u s h o u ld f

in d b e y o n d r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t th a t th e D e f e n d a n t is gui l ty of e i the rC ount1 orC ount5, orboth, the n y ou m us ta l s o f i nd the a m ount– th ati s:
m ore than 1 ki l og ra m mo r e th a n 1 0 0 g r a ms 3 k ilo g r a m s is o b v io u s ly m o r e th a n e ith e r1 k ilo g r a m o r1 0 0 g r a m s . P a t t e r s on r e qu est ed t h at t h e c our ta l s o i ns truc tthe j ur y tha ti tne e de d t o r e l y on the in struct i on s a l re ady gi ven, and she argued t hatby t el l i ng the j ury thatthree ki l ogr a m s e qua l ed 3 , 0 0 0 gr a m s , the c our tw a s br i ngi ng i n e xtr a ne ous i nf or m a t i on. T he c o u r t r e s p o n d e d th a t th e p r o p e r a n s w e r t o th e j u r y ’ s q u e s t i o n w a s t ha t t he
a m ount s w e r e l i s t e d onl y be c a us e the j ur y ’ s f i ndi ng on drug a m ountw a s r e l e va nt f ors e nt e nc i n g , b u t i ndi c a t e d i tw oul d nots o i nf or m the j ur y a s t o the us e of drug
am o u n t at sen ten cin g b ec au se th at in fo rm atio n w as n o t relev an t t o th e ju ry ’s f a c t f i ndi ng. T he di s tr i c t c our t ove r rul e d P a t t e r s on’ s obj e c t i on a nd pr ovi de d t he ab o v e-q u o t ed resp o n se t o th e j u ry. T he j ur y f

ound P a t t e r s on gui l ty on both c ount s . O n the ve r di c tf or m , the j ury i nd i c a t e d tha t i t f ou nd the of

f e ns e s i nv ol ve d “ on e ki l og r a m o r more , ” a s15

o p p o s e d to “1 0 0 g r a m s o rm o r e ,” o f h e r o i n . P a tte r s o n th e n p r o c e e d e d to
s e nt e nc i ng. T h e P r esen t en ce In v est i g at i o n R ep o rt(“ P S I”) reco m m en d ed a b ase o ffen se le v e l o f 3 4 , p u r s u a n t to U .S .S .G . § 2 D 1 .1 ( a ) ( 3 ) , b e c a u s e th e o f f e n s e in v o lv e d 3 .1 k i l o g ram s o f h ero i n . T h e P S I r eco m m en d ed n o ad j u st m en t s t o th e b ase o ffen se l e ve l
. W i t h a t ot a l of

f e ns e l e ve l of

34, a nd a c r i m i na l hi s t or y of I , P a t t e r s on f

a c e d a G u id e lin e s r a n g e o f

1 5 1 to 1 8 8 m o n th s ’ im p r is o n m e n t. I n r e s pons e t o P a t t e r s on’ s obj e c t i on t o the P S I ’ s f a i l ur e t o r e c om m e nd a
m i t i gat i ng -r ol e a dj ust m ent , pu rs uantt o § 3B 1. 2(a) , the prob at i on offi ce r not ed that
e a c h o f th e c o - d e f

e n d a n ts w a s e q u a lly c u lp a b l e b e c a u s e th e y w e r e a ll c o u r ie r s in the conspi ra cy . A ccordi ng t o t he P S I, co-defe nd ant s R i vera and C epeda pl ed gui l ty t o Co u n t s 1 a n d 4 o f th e i n d i c t me n t a n d Ri o s p l e d g u i l ty t o Co u n t s 1 a nd 5. A ll th r e e o f

P a te r s o n ’s c o - d e f

e n d a n ts r e c e iv e d 4 8
- m o n th te r m s o f im p r is o n m e n t. A t th e s e n te n c in g h e a r in g , P a tte r s o n a r g u e d s h e w a s e n title d to a m in o r - r o le
a dj us t m e ntbe c a us e s he w as cal l ed a tthe l a s tm i nut e t o he l p R i os dr i ve , a nd s he
an d R io s w er e goi ng t o rec ei ve on l y $1, 50 0, w hi l e R i vera and C epeda w er e
s u p p o s e d t o s p lit $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 . T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t f o u n d th a t P a tte r s o n h a d f a ile d to p r o v e b y a p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f th e e v id e n c e th a t s h e w a s e n t i t l e d t o a m itig a tin g - r o le
r e d u c tio n b e c a u s e a ll o f th e p a r tic ip a n ts w e r e e q u a lly c u lp a b le
.16

A f t e rthe c our ts a i d i tha d c ons i de r e d the pa rt i es’ arg u m e nt s , the P S I , a nd the
s t a tut or y f

a c t or s unde r18 U
. S
. C
. § 3553( a ) , i tf ound tha ta s e nt en ce at t he l ow e nd of the G ui de l i ne s r a nge w a s su ffi c i e nt l y puni t i ve a nd w oul d de t e rP a t t e r s on a nd
o th e r s f r o m c o m m i t t i n g s i m i l a rc r i m e s . T h e c o u r ts e n t e n c e d P a t t e r s o n t o two
c o n c u r r e n t 1 5 1
- m o n th te r m s o f im p r is o n m e n t. T h is a p p e a l f o llo w e d
. III. F ir s t, P a tte r s o n a r g u e s th a t th e d is tr i c t c o u r t r e v e r s ib ly e r r e d b y in c lu d in g in i t s c ha r ge t o the j ury a n i ns truc t i on on de l i be r a t e i nd i f f e r e nc e . W e ha ve he l d t hat

“ [ a ] de l i be r a t e i gnor a nc e i ns truc t i on i s a ppr opr i a t e w he n t he f a c t s s uppor tthe i nf e r e nc e tha tthe de f

e ndan tw a s a w a r e of

a hi gh pr oba bi l i ty of

the e xi s t e nc e of

the fa cti n q uest i on and p urpo se l y c on tri ved to av o id l ea rni ng al l of the fa ct s i n o rder t o ha ve a de f

e ns e i n the e ve ntof

a s ubs e que nt p ro s e c ut i on. ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. P e r e z - T os t a , 36 F
. 3d 1552, 1564 ( 11th C i r . 1994) ( i nt e r na l quot a t i ons a nd c i t a t i on
om i t t ed). S uch an i nfer ence ca n b e s up po rt ed by ei ther di re ctor ci rc um st an ti al
e vi de nc e . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. A r i a s , 984 F
. 2 d 1 1 3 9 , 1 143 ( 11th C i r . 1993)
. A l though the i nstruct i on i s notapprop ri at e w he n the “ re l evantevi dence poi nt s onl y t o actual know l e dge, rat he rtha n de l i be r a t e a voi da nc e , ” s e e P e r e z - T os t a , 36 F
. 3d a t1564- 65 ( q u o ta tio n o m itte d ) , th e in s tru c tio n is p r o p e r ly g iv e n if th e e v id e n c e s u p p o r ts b o th
a c tu a l k n o w le d g e a n d d e lib e r a te ig n o r a n c e . A r ia s , 9 8 4 F .2 d a t 1 1 4 3
.17

H e r e , w e r e a di l y c onc l ude the di s tr i c tc our tdi d n o t er rby gi vi ng the de l i be r a t e a voi da n ce i ns truc t i on be c a us e the e vi de nc e s qua r e l y poi nt e d t ow a r ds both a c tua l know l e dge a nd de l i be r a t e a voi da nc e . P a t t e r s on’ s pr i m a r y the or y of defe nse w as th atshe w as i gn orantof the pu rpose noton l y of the road-tri p t o N ew Y o r k i n D e c e m b e r2 0 0 5 , b u t a ls o o f th e m u ltip le c ru is e s s h e to o k w ith R io s a s w e ll
a s the f i r s tr oa d- tr i p t o N ew Y o rk, i n A pr i l 2005. H ow e ve r , the gove r nm e nt pr e s e nt e d e xt e ns i ve e vi de nc e t o the c ontr a ry , m o st not a bl y dur i ng R i os ’ s t e s t i m ony abou tP att er son’ s di re ctkn o w l edge of t he drug -s m ug gl i ng pu rpose of thei r c rui se s
a nd r oa d- tr i ps . E ve n i f the j ur y di s c ount e d R i os ’ s t est i m o n y , i ts ur e l y c oul d ha ve f o u n d P a tte r s o n w a s a w a r e o f a h ig h p r o b a b ility th a t th e p u rp o s e o f th e t r i p w a s to d e liv e rd ru g s , a n d s h e p u rp o s e ly c o n tr iv e d to a v o id le a r n in g a b o u t th e tr ip ’s d e ta ils i n o rdert o h ave a defe nse t o cri m i nal prosec ut i on . C f. P er ez -T ost a, 36 F
. 3d at 1564. E ve n by P a t t e r s on’ s ow n a c c ount , s he w a s a s ke d t o r e nta c a ra nd dr i ve codefendantR i os and a stra ng erhu nd re ds of m i l es t o N ew Y ork w i th l i t t l e m ore tha n a da y ’ s not i c e . A s fo r h er ot he rtr i ps w i th R i os , P a t t e r s on t e s t i f i e d tha ts he
w as never pres entw hen d rugs w er e di sc usse d o r e xc h an g ed
. Indeed, she t es t i fi ed th a t R io s n ev er m en t i o n ed d ru g sm u g g l i n g t o h er. O n th i s reco rd , th e j u ry co u ld have foun d t hatP at er son h ad att em pt ed t o avo i d l ea rni ng th e d etai l s of the sc hem e,Moreove r, even if the district court e rre d by instructing thejury

on deliberate avoidanc e, 1 the e rror was har

mless beyond a re asonabledoubt beca use Rios’s testimony

provided strong evidenc e that Patterson ha d actual knowledg e that the pur pose of the trip was to transport he roin. United States v. Schlei, 122 F.3d 944, 973 (11th Cir. 1997) (holding that if a district cour t give s an erro n eo u s i n s tru ct i o n

o nd el i b er at e i gn o ran ce , b ut th er e i s al s o s tro n g ev i d en ce o f a ctu al kn o wl ed ge of the c rime beingcommitted, any error will be dee med har mless). 18 pa r t i c ul a r l y i n l i ghtof

he ro w n t e s t i m ony tha ts he w a s ne ve rpr e s e ntw he n drugs
w e r e di s c us s e d ortr a ns f e r r e d. 1 I V. P a t t e r s on a l s o c ha l l e nge s the di s tri ct co u r t ’ s a ns w e rt o the j ur y ’ s que s t i ons concerni ng w hether i thad a choi ce as t o “ the am ou ntof the co n tro l l ed subst ance
on t he ve r d i c tf

o r m” a n d w h e th e rth e 1 0 0 g r a ms w a s r e l e v a n tt o th e c a s e i f t he
am o u n tsei zed w as 3 k i l o g ram s. A g ai n , th e d i stri ctco u rt ’ s resp o n se w as th i s: T h ree (3 ) k i l o g ram s i s eq u al t o 3 0 0 0 g ram s. I f y o u s h o u ld f

in d b e y o n d r e a s o n a b le d o u b t th a t th e D e f e n d a n t is gui l ty of e i the r C ount 1 or C ount 5, or both, the n y ou m us t a l s o fi nd the a m ount– th ati s:
m ore than 1 ki l og ra m mo r e th a n 1 0 0 g r a ms 3 k ilo g r a m s is o b v io u s ly m o r e th a n e ith e r1 k ilo g r a m o r1 0 0 g r a m s . O n a ppe a l , P a t t e r s on a r gue s tha tbe c a us e the j ury w as s t i l l de l i be r a t i ng
ove rthe w e i ghtof

the drugs w he n i ts ubm i t t ed t h e q u es t i ons , a nd i tha d not i n d i c a t e d th a ti tw a s c o n s i d e r i ng hol d i n g Pa t t e r s o n a c c o u n t a b l e f o r3 k i l o g r a ms19

of he r oi n, the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s a ns w e rt o the quest i o n co ns t i tut e d r e ve r s i bl e e r r or b e c a u s e it a s s u m e d th e ju r y h a d f o u n d P a tte r s o n g u ilty . W e d is a g r e e . S im p ly put , the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s r e s pons e di d nota s s um e th at t h e j u ry w a s goi ng t o f i nd P a t t e r s on gui l t y, a nd i tdi d noti m pr ope r l y s ugge s ta f i ndi ng r e ga r di ng the
a m ou n tof

drugs be c a us e : ( 1) i ti s undi s put a bl e tha t3 ki l ogr a m s i s m or e tha n 1 k i l o g r a m o r 1 0 0 g r a ms ; a n d ( 2 ) th e j u r y ’ s q u e s t i o n s t a t e d th a t t he c r i me i nv ol ved t he se i zure of 3 k il og ra m s of her oi n. M oreover, even i f the di stri ct
c o u r t d id e r rin its r e s p o n s e , i t d id n o t c o m m it p la in e r r o rb e c a u s e th e o n ly ge nui ne i s s ue i n d i sput e w a s P a t t e r s on’ s know l e dge
. A tno poi ntdi d P a t t e r s on
a s s e r t a d e f

e n s e b a s e d o n , o ro th e r w is e c h a l le n g e , th e a m o u n t o f h e r o in i nvol ve d i n the of

f e ns e . O n thi s r e c or d, s he c a nnote s t a bl i s h e r r or , l e ta l one p la in e r r o r , b a s e d o n th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s a n s w e rto th e ju r y . V. F i na l l y , P a t t e r s on a r gue s tha t s he w a s e nt i t l e d t o a m i nor - ro l e re duc t i on, pur s ua ntt o U
. S
. S
. G
. § 3B 1. 1, b ecau se: ( 1) s he onl y pa r t i c i pa t e d i n the
co n sp i racy t o tran sp o rtth e d ru g s fo r a b ri ef p eri o d ; (2 ) sh e w as th e l east
c ul pa b l e o f t h e i ndi vi dua l s i nvol ve d; a nd ( 3) s he di d notha ve a ny
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o rk n o wl e d g e o f th e c r i m i n a l e n t e rp r i s e . Ag a i n , we r e v i e w a d is tr ic t c o u r t’s f

a c tu a l d e te r m in a tio n r e g a r d in g w h e th e ra d e f e n d a n t is e lig ib le20

f ora r e duc t i on f

orr ol e i n the of

f e ns e f orc l e a r erro r. U n i t e d S t a t e s v. D e V a r on, 17 5 F
. 3d 93 0, 93 4 (11 th C ir. 19 99 ) ( en banc). W e have not ed that“ a tri al
cour t ’ s c ho i c e be tw e e n ‘ tw o p e r mi s s i bl e vi e w s of the e vi de nc e ’ i s the ve ry
es se nce of the cl ea r e rr o r s t andard of revi ew . ” I d. at93 9. W e w i l l no tfi nd cl ea r
er ror unl es s w e a re “ l ef tw i th a defi ni t e a nd fi rm co n v icti o n t hata m i st ake has been com m i t t ed. ” U ni t ed S t at es v. C ra w ford, 40 7 F
. 3d 11 74 , 11 7 7 (11t h C i r. 2 0 0 5 ) ( q u o ta tio n m a r k s a n d c ita tio n o m itte d )
. In d ete r m in i n g a d efen d an t ’ s ro l e i n an o ffen se, a d i stri ctco u rt(1 ) m u st
c o n s id e rth e d e f

e n d a n t’s r o le in th e r e le v a n t c o n d u c t f o rw h ic h h e h a s b e e n h e ld
a c c o u n t ab l e at sen t en ci n g , an d (2 ) m ay al so co n si d er h i s ro l e as co m p are d to tha to f othe rpa r t i c i pa nt s i n hi s r e l e va ntc onduc t . D e V a r on, 175 F
. 3d a t940, 9 4 4 . T h e p r o p o n e n t o f a r o le a d

ju s tm e n t b e a r s th e b u r d e n o f e s ta b lis h in g h is
r o le in th e o f

f e n s e b y a p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f th e e v id e n c e . I d . a t 9 3 4
. H e r e , P a t t e r s on w a s he l d a c c ount a bl e f oronl y 3
. 1 ki l ogr a m s of he r oi n,
w h ic h w a s th e a m o u n t th a t s h e a n d h e r c o d e f e n d a n ts w e r e a tte m p tin g to tr a ns por tw he n the y w ere ar r e s t e d a tthe M i a m i hot e l i n D e c e m be r2005. P att er son’ s r ol e i n t he tra nspo rt at i on of tho se drug s f ro m F l ori da t o N ew Y ork
w a s i nt e gr a l t o the c r i m i na l en t erp ri se be c a us e R i os di d notha ve a c r e di tc a r d or
an y o th er m ea n s to p ay fo r th e tra n s p o r ta tio n , an d , acc o rd in g to R io s’sWe areunpersua ded by Patterson’s challeng e to the re asonable ness of he r sentenc e. She 2 su g g e sts tha

t her se ntenc e of

15 1 mo nth s w a s unre a so na bly lon g e r t ha n h e r c o- de fend ants ’ 4 8- month sentenc es. “A fter thedistrict court has a ccurately ca l cu l at ed the Guideline rang e,” w e re view the final sentence fo r rea sonablene ss. United States v. Wi ninge ar, 422 F .3d 1241, 1244 (11th Cir. 2005). The f

actor s that act a s a guide in deter mining whether a sentenc e was rea sonable a re f ound in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). I d. at 1246. One of these fa ctors is “ the need to avoid unwarranted se ntence disparities amongdefendants with simil ar records who have been found guilty of simil ar c onduct.” 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (a )( 6 ). W e h ave he ld that the “[d] isparity between the sentenc es imposed on codef endants is g enerally not a n appropriate basis for

relief on appeal.” United States v. Regueiro, 240 F.3d 1321, 1325- 26 (11th Cir. 2001). Also, “when the district court c o n s i d er s the fa ctors of § 3553(a) , it need not discuss ea ch of the m . . . an ac knowledgment by the di s trict court that it has c on sid e re d th e de fend ant’ s argument a nd thefa c tor s in § 35 53 (a) i s su f fi c ie nt. ” Un ite d S tate s v. T alley , 431 F.3d 784, 786 (1 1th Cir. 2005). Here , th e dis pa

ri ty be tw e e n Patte rs on ’s se ntenc e and tha t of he r t hre e c od e fend ants ’ i s e a sily explained beca

use her codef endants c ooperated with ag ents duringthe investig ation and ac cepte d responsibility

for their actions, while Patterson took no re sponsibili ty for her actions, and maintained that she wa s innocent throughout a jury trial. Moreove r, th e d i s tri ct cour t stated that it had considere d the par

ties’ arguments and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) fac tors. On this record, Patterson’s sentenc e, which w as at the low end of the a dvisory Guideline ra

ng e, wa s rea sonable. 21 te s tim o n y, sh e w o u l d n o t h av e b een ab l e t o tran sp o rt th e d ru g s t o N ew Y o rk if P a t t e r s on ha d nota gr e e d t o r e ntthe c a ra nd dr i ve . A l though P a t t e r s on c ont e nds tha ts he w a s l e s s c ul pa bl e tha n the othe rc odefen d a nt s , the r e c or d doe s not
c om pe l thi s c onc l us i on, e s pe c i a l l y c ons i de r i ng tha tthe r e w o u l d h av e be e n no tra nspo rt at i on for the drug s f rom M i am i t o N ew Y ork w i tho uther part i ci pat i on . A cc ordi ng l y, the di stri ctcourtdi d n otcl earl y e rrby denyi ng her

2
r e que s tf ora m i nor - r ol e r e duc t i on. A F F I R M E D .