FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEV EN T HC IRC U IT JULY 8, 2008 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- 14955 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D. C . Do c k e tNo . 0 5 - 8 0 2 1 0 - C R - DT KH 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 A M A U R Y H E RN A N D E Z , 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 rn D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( Ju l y 8, 2008) B efo re A N D E R S O N , B IR C H an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

A m a ury H e rna nde z appe a l s hi s c onvi c t i ons a nd 121- m onth t ot a l s e nt e nc e f or c o n s p i r a c y t o d i s tr i b u t e a tl e a s to n e k i l o g r a m o f h e r o i n , i n v i o l a t i o n o f

2 1 U . S. C. §§ 846 a nd 841, a nd pos s e s s i on w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e he r oi n, i n vi ol a t i on of 21 U . S . C . § 841. O n appe a l , H e rna nde z f i r s ta r gue s tha tthe r e w a s i ns uf f i c i e nt evi dence produ ce d attri al t o sup po rthi s c on vi ct i on s. S peci fi ca l l y, he as se rt s that he on l y a l l egedl y e ng aged i n i nd i vi du al bu y- se l l tra nsac t i on s, and thu s there w as n o c o n s p ir a c y , h e n e v e rw a s c a u g h t w ith h e r o in , a n d th e e v id e n c e s u p p o r te d h is th e o ry o f in n o c e n c e . S e c o n d , h e a r g u e s th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr o n e o u s ly s e nt e nc e d hi m ba s e d on pr i orc onvi c t i ons tha tw e r e nota l l e ge d i n the i ndi c tm e ntor p r o v e n b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab le d o u b t a t tr ia l. T he re cord cont ai ns suff i ci entevi dence t o sup po rtea ch of the charges a ga i ns tH e rna nde z . M or e ove r , the di s tr i c tc ourtdi d notpl a i nl y e rri n c ons i de r i ng H e rn a n d e z ’s p r io rc o n v ic tio n s a t s e n te n c in g e v e n th o u g h th e y w e r e n o t a lle g e d in the i ndi c tm e ntorf

ound by the j ury . T he r e c or d doe s noti ndi c a t e tha tthe pr i or c onvi c t i ons a f

f e c t e d hi s t ot a l s e nt e nc e , a nd bi ndi ng S upr e m e C our tpr e c e de nt f or e c l os e s hi s a r gum e nton thi s poi nt . A c c or di ngl y , w e A F F I R M hi s c onvi c t i ons and sent ence .3 I . B AC KG RO UN D A f e de r a l gr a nd j ury c ha r ge d H e rna nde z a nd othe rc o- de f e nda nt s i n a t e nc ounti ndi c tm e ntw i th: ( 1) c ons pi r a c y t o di s tr i but e a tl e a s tone ki l ogr a m of he r oi n, in v io la tio n o f

2 1 U .S .C . § § 8 4 6 , 8 4 1 ( C o u n t 1 ) ; a n d ( 2 ) p o s s e s s io n w ith in te n t to di stri bu t e her oi n, i n v i ol at i on of 21 U . S . C . § 8 41 (C ou nt4). C ou nt1 al l eged that th e c o n s p ir a c y in v o lv e d H e rn a n d e z , M a r io P a d illa , S ab in o E u g e n e R o s a r io ( “S ab in o ” ) , D a n ie l R o s a r io ( “D a n ie l” ) , a n d o th e r s . C o u n t 4 c h a r g e d th a t th e h e r o in pos s e s s i on oc c urr e d on orabout13 S e pt e m be r2005. A s upe r c e di ng i ndi c tm e nt c ha r ge d H e rna nde z w i th the s a m e tw o c ount s . H e rna nde z pl e d notgui l ty t o the ch arg es. A ttr i a l , R i c ha r d B onne r , aD E A a ge nt , t e s t i f i e d tha ti n A ugus t2004 the D E A beca m e a w ar e of the drug tra ff i cki ng ac t i vi t i es of S abi no and h i s brother Fr a n k Ro s a r i o ( “ Fr a n k ” ) . R4 a t2 1 7 , 2 2 5 - 2 6 . Af t e rf u r th e ri n v e s t i g a t i o n , th e DEA obt a i ne d aw i r e t ap f

orS abi no’ s phone , w hi c h he us e d t o c onduc the r oi n tr a f f i c ki ng ac t i vi t i es . Id. at22 6-27 . T he D E A i dent i fi ed P adi l l a and C ar l os B orges a s s ou rc es of supp l y f

or S abi no , and the D E A ob t ai ned w i re t aps f or tho se i nd i vi du al s’ ph on es a s w e l l . I d. a t231- 32. B a s e d on i nf orm a t i on obt a i ne d f

r om the P a di l l aw i r e t ap, the D E A obt a i ne d aw i r e t ap f orH e rna nde z ’ s phone . R 5 a t249.4

B onne rt e s t i f

i e d tha tthe D E A i nt e r c e pt e d a c a l l be tw e e n H e rna nde z a nd P a di l l a on 23 A ugus t2005, dur i ng w hi c h H e rna nde z s a i d tha t“ he w a nt e d t o s how P a d illas o m e s lid e s .” I d . a t 3 0 8 - 0 9 . B o n n e rb e lie v e d th a t “s lid e s ” m e a n t h e r o in . Id. at30 9. A ca l l fr om H ernand ez t o P adi l l a l at eron 23 A ug usti nd i ca t ed thatthey m e ta tP a di l l a ’ s hous e tha tda y , a nd a c a l l be tw e e n P a di l l aa nd K e rvi n R e y e s on 24 A u g u sti n d i cat ed th atH ern an d ez b ro u g h tso m eth i n g w i th h i m t o th e 2 3 A u g u st m e e tin g . I d . a t 3 1 3 ; B in d e r , G o v ’t E x h s . 4 3 , 4 4 . B onne rt e s t i f

i e d tha ti n ac a l l be tw e e n H e rna nde z a nd P a di l l aon 13 S e pt e m be r , H e rna nde z s t a t e d tha the ha d “ s om e f l y e r s ” tha t“ c a m e outpe r f e c t ” a nd

“ the shi ti s bett er , bu ta l i tt l e l ow er . ” R 5 at31 5; G ov ’ tE xh . 45 . P adi l l a a sked H er n an d ez w h eth erth e “ti ck et” w as “sti ll th e s am e o n th em .” R 5 at 3 1 5 ; G o v ’t E x h . 4 5 . B o n n e rin te rp r e te d th a t to m e a n th a t H e rn a n d e z h a d g o o d h e r o in , P a d illa w as as ki ng abou tthe pri ce of the heroi n, and the pri ce w as a l i tt l e l ow er . R 5 at 315. H e rna nde z a nd P a di l l aa gr e e d t o m e e ta tP a di l l a ’ s r e s i de nc e on the e ve ni ng of 13 S ept em ber, bu tH ernand ez go ti nt o an aut o col l i si on on hi s w aythere . R 5 at 316- 17; G ov’ tE xh. 47. A f t e rthe c ol l i s i on, H e rna nde z c ont a c t e d P a di l l at o ha ve P a d illa“c o m e o v e rh e r e r e a l q u ic k s o y o u c o u ld g e t th is s h it o u t.” G o v ’t E x h . 4 8 . B onne rt e s t i f

i e d tha ta n unde r c ove rD E A a ge ntw e ntt o the s c e ne of the c ol l i s i on,5

butthe D E A a ge ntde c i de d nott o s e i z e a ny thi ng f orhi s s a f e ty a nd t o a voi d a l e r t i ng the drug or ga ni z a t i on tha tl a w e nf or c e m e ntw a s w a t c hi ng. R 5 a t318- 19. A n hour af t erthe ac ci dent , P adi l l a c al l ed H ernand ez t o “ t al k n um bers , ” a nd H ernand ez i nd i ca t ed thatthe pri ce w as “ 56 . ” R 5 at32 2; G ov ’ tE xh . 50 . H ernand ez i nd i ca t ed thathe had g i ven P adi l l a “ l i ke 1-0 som thi n [si c] , ” a nd P adi l l a s t at ed thathe needed

“ atl ea st25 0, ” s o P adi l l a nee ded “ 15 0” m ore. G ov ’ tE xh . 50 . B on ner i nt erpret ed thi s t o m ea n thatH ernand ez w as as ki ng for $56 per gra m of heroi n, H ernand ez had gi ve n P a di l l aabout100 gr a m s , a nd P a di l l ane e de d a nothe r150 gr a m s f r om H e rn a n d e z . R 5 a t 3 2 0 - 2 2 . A cc ordi ng t o B on ner, ca l l s betw ee n H ernand ez and P adi l l a on 1 4 S ept em ber 2 0 0 5 i n d i c a t e d th a tH e rn a n d e z w a s a tt e mp t i n g t o a c q u i r e th e a d d i t i o n a l 1 5 0 g r a ms of heroi n from an un i dent i fi ed source. Id. at32 3-24 ; G ov ’ tE xh s. 51 , 52 . B on ner s t a t e d tha tP a di l l aa l s o s poke t o S abi no on 14 S e pt e m be r , a nd P a di l l at ol d S abi no thathe had abo uthal f of the 22 4 g ra m s of her oi n thatS abi no w ant ed and w as w a itin g o n th e o th e rh a lf . R 5 a t 3 2 5 - 2 6 . A n h o u rla te r , P a d illas p o k e w ith H e rna nde z , a nd a c c or di ng t o B onne r , H e rna nde z s a i d tha the w oul d ha ve the he r oi n by thr e e o’ c l oc k. I d. a t327. P a di l l at ol d H e rna nde z tha ta nothe rpe r s on w a s w a itin g f

o rP a d illato a c q u ir e th e a d d itio n a l h e r o in . I d . I n a la te rc a ll, P a d illa t ol d H ernand ez that“ they w ai t i n [si c] on m e, so, I’ m w ai t i n [si c] on you, ” t o w hi ch6

H ernand ez re pl i ed, “ ca l l ‘ em l i ke i n t en m i nu t es so you d on ’ tkeep them w ai t i ng . ” G ov ’ tE xh . 61 . H ernand ez t ol d P adi l l a thathe w as on hi s w ayt o P adi l l a’ s hou se , w hi c h l e d B onne rt o be l i e ve tha tH e rna nde z m e tw i th P a di l l ai n the e ve ni ng on 14 S ept em ber. Id. ; R 5 at33 1, 33 6-38 . L at erthateveni ng , ca l l s i nd i ca t ed thatD ani el p ic k e d u p h e r o in f

r o m P a d illaa n d b r o u g h t it b a c k to S ab in o . R 5 a t 3 3 8 - 4 0 . S abi no com pl ai ned abo utthe qu al i ty of the heroi n t o P adi l l a, and P adi l l a i nform ed H ernand ez thatthe cust om er s di d n otl i ke the heroi n tra nsfe rr ed on 14 S ept em ber by s a y i ng, “ T he m f

ol ks t ol d m e tha t ’ s notw ha ti t ’ s m e a ntt o be . ” G ov’ tE xh. 70; R 5 a t340- 42. B on ner f urther t es t i fi ed thatH ernand ez and P adi l l a negot i at ed a heroi n d ea l on 12 O c t obe r2005. R 5 a t351- 52. S pe c i f i c a l l y , P a di l l aa s ke d H e rna nde z i f he w as “sh ak in g an yth in g ,” an d to ldH er n an d ez th at P ad il la w as “i n n ee d .” G o v ’t E x h . 7 2 . H e rn a n d e z r e s p o n d e d th a t h e w a s “g o n n as e e ” a n d h e w o u ld m a k e a c a ll. I d. A da y l a t e r , H e rna nde z s poke w i th a n uni de nt i f i e d m a l e , w ho ha d about“ 36 pe s os . ” R 5 a t355; G ov’ tE xh. 74. B onne rbe l i e ve d tha t“ 36 pe s os ” w a s c ode f or ab o u t 3 6 g r a m s o f

h e r o in a n d th e u n id e n tif ie d m a le w a s H e rn a n d e z ’s h e r o in s o u r c e . R 5 a t 3 5 5 - 5 6 , 3 5 9 . F o u rm in u te s la te r , H e rn a n d e z c a lle d to te ll P a d illa thathe had a “ sm al l am ou nt . ” G ov ’ tE xh . 75 . A l tho ug h P adi l l a w as di sm ay ed w i th the s m a l l a m ount , P a di l l as a i d tha the “ c a n’ tbe pi c ky r i ghtnow , ” a nd7

“ w henever you’ re re ady, l etm e kno w . ” I d. H ernand ez then cal l ed the un i dent i fi ed m al e a gai n and t ol d h i m thatH ernand ez w ant ed w hat everhe coul d “ sc rape up . ” R 5 a t 3 5 8 . L at erthatday, agent s f

ol l ow ed H ernand ez w hen h e drove t o the ho use of a n un i dent i fi ed m al e. Id. at36 0. T he un i dent i fi ed m al e gave H ernand ez a bl ac k b ag thr ough the w i ndow of

hi s ve hi c l e . I d. a t360- 61. A s H e rna nde z w a s l e a vi ng the m a l e ’ s hous e , the s urve i l l a nc e t e a m pul l e d hi m ove rbutdi d notf i nd a ny c o n tr ab a n d . I d . a t 3 6 1 . T h e b la c k b a g c o n ta in e d p r o m o tio n a l f ly e r s f o ra b a n d . I d . H ernand ez t ol d P adi l l a abo utthe tra ff i c s t op and con fi rm ed t o P adi l l a thathe w as

“ cl ea n. ” I d. at36 2; G ov ’ tE xh . 78 . P adi l l a t ol d H ernand ez t o cal l i f he f el tbett er l at er , bu tP adi l l a a ckno w l edged that“ I guess w e a re j ustgo i ng t o h ave t o w ai t . ” G ov’ tE xh. 78 a t5; R 5 a t362. A cc ordi ng t o B on ner, base d o n i nt er ce pt ed ca l l s, D E A agent s bel i eved that H ernand ez w as pl anni ng t o o bt ai n h er oi n from hi s s ou rc e the nextday, 14 O ct ob er 20 05 . R 5 at36 2-63 . A ft erthe suspec t ed exchange, agent s s urre pt i t i ou sl y s ea rc hed H e rna nde z ’ s ve hi c l e , butthe y di d notf i nd a ny he r oi n i ns i de . I d. a t365- 66. O n cross exam i nat i on , B on ner t es t i fi ed thatno fore nsi c e vi dence l i nk ed H e rna nde z t o a ny s pe c i f i c drugs i n the c a s e a nd the r e w a s no e vi de nc e of how8

H ernand ez fi nanci al l y profi t ed fr om anythi ng ou t si de of hi s j ob as a barber. Id. at 378, 395- 96. N e x t, S ab in o R o s a r io te s tif ie d th a t h e w a s s e llin g o n e k ilo g r a m o f h e r o in every w ee k and a hal f pri or t o h i s a rr es ton 21 D ec em ber 200 5. Id. at43 0; R 6 at 4 4 3 . He p a i d s tr e e t - l e v e l d e a l e r s t o s e l l th e h e r o i n o n h i s b e h a l f . R 5 a t4 3 3 . He ob t ai ned the heroi n, i n p art , fr om P adi l l a, bu the di d n otkn ow H ernand ez . R 5 at 435; R 6 a t489- 90. S er geantR andy C ol l i er , of the L ake W orth P ol i ce D epartm ent , t es t i fi ed that h e w a s a s s ig n e d to w o rk w ith th e D E A o n a h e r o in in v e s tig a tio n in v o lv in g S ab in o . R 6 at52 9. C ol l i er , w ho w as cond uct i ng survei l l ance , ob se rved H ernand ez st andi ng nextt o h i s vehi cl e a ft erthe ca r a cc i denton 13 S ept em ber 200 5. Id. at 53 1, 53 9-41 . H e s aw H ernand ez re tri eve abl ue bag from the trunk , H ernand ez l ooke d a nxi ous , a nd the n P a di l l adr ove up, t ook the ba g f r om H e rna nde z , a nd dr ove of f . I d. a t546- 47. D ani el R osar i o t es t i fi ed thathe w orked as aheroi n cou ri erfor hi s brother, S abi no . Id. at58 6-87 . H e had ob t ai ned h er oi n from P adi l l a on 1 4 S ept em ber 2 0 0 5 , b u t n e v e rh a d r e c e iv e d a n y th in g lik e f ly e r s f r o m P a d illa . I d . a t 6 1 9 . H e d id notknow H e rna nde z pr i ort o hi s a rr e s t . I d. a t620.9

P a di l l at e s t i f

i e d tha the obt a i ne d he r oi n f r om s e ve r a l s our c e s i nc l udi ng H e rna nde z a tl e a s tonc e a w e e k a nd he s t a r t e d de a l i ng he r oi n i n the l a tt e rpa r tof 2004. R 7 a t882, 884. H e the n de a l ttha the r oi n t o s e ve r a l di f f e r e ntpe opl e , but a f te rh e m e t S ab in o in 2 0 0 5 , h e d e a lt m a in ly to S ab in o . I d . a t 8 8 4 - 8 5 ; R 8 a t 9 1 8 . P a di l l a i ni t i a l l y s ol d S abi no aboutf ourounc e s of

he r oi n e ve ry w e e k ort e n da y s but thati ncre as ed t o abo utei gh tou nces every w ee k as P adi l l a bec am e m ore c om f or t abl e w i th S abi no. R 8 a t919- 22. S abi no di d notus e the he r oi n, but S abi no’ s buy e r s di d us e i t . I d. a t932. W h en P ad i l l a sp o k e w i th H ern an d ez ab o u th ero i n , h e w o u l d so m et i m es u se c ode w or ds s uc h a s “ s l i de s ” a nd “ f l y e r s . ” I d. a t927- 28. P a di l l ane ve rgotor p u r c h a s e d a c tu a l s lid e s , f ly e r s , o rb r o c h u r e s f

r o m H e rn a n d e z . I d . a t 9 7 4 . P a d illa u s e d c o d e w o r d s w h e n ta lk in g to H e rn a n d e z ab o u t h e r o in o n th e p h o n e in o r d e rto ke e p the c onve r s a t i ons r e ga r di ng he r oi n “ a s m i ni m a l a s pos s i bl e . ” I d. a t931. P a d illate s tif

ie d th a t H e rn a n d e z b e g a n p r o v id in g h im w ith h e r o in in qu ant i t i es of 10 0 g ram s butthati ncre as ed t o as m uch as 250 or 50 0 g ra m s. Id. at 9 3 0 ; R 9 a t 1 1 2 7 . P a d illac o n d u c te d a t le a s t f o u rh e r o in tr a n s a c tio n s w ith H e rn a n d e z a n d p o s s ib ly a s m a n y a s e ig h t o rn in e . R 9 a t 1 1 2 6 . T h e r e w e r e “[ q ]u ite a f e w ” othe roc c a s i ons w he n P a di l l apl a c e d a n or de rw i th H e rna nde z , but H e rna nde z w a s unabl e t o f i nd a ny he r oi n. I d. a t1128. O n 23 A ugus t2005,10

H e rna nde z l e f

tP a di l l aa s a m pl e of

100 gr a m s of

he r oi n a f

t e rthe y m e t . R 8 a t963- 65. O n 13 S e pt e m be r2005, P a di l l ane got i a t e d ahe r oi n tr a ns a c t i on on the phone w ith H e rn a n d e z in c o d e d la n g u a g e , a n d H e rn a n d e z a g r e e d to b r in g th e h e r o in to P a d illa . R 8 a t 9 7 0 - 7 1 , 9 7 5 . H e rn a n d e z d r o v e in to a c o llis io n o n h is w a y to P a d illa ’s h o u s e , a n d P a d illam e t h im a t th e a c c id e n t s ite a n d to o k a b a g f r o m h im . I d. a t983- 86. T he ba g di d notc ont a i n f l y e r s , butr a the r , i tc ont a i ne d about100 gr a m s of he r oi n. I d. a t987- 88, 991. P a di l l aw a s pl a nni ng t o s e l l the he r oi n he pur c ha s e d f

r om H e rna nde z t o S abi no. I d. a t996- 97. P a di l l ac onf i rm e d tha the a nd H e rna nde z w e r e s pe a ki ng abouthe r oi n i n the i rc ode d c onve r s a t i ons on 14 S e pt e m be r2005 a s w e l l . I d. a t997- 99. F ol l ow i ng P a di l l a ’ s t e s t i m ony , the gove rnm e ntr e s t e d i t s c a s e - i n- c hi e f , a nd H ernand ez chose nott o p re se ntany t es t i m on y. R 9 at11 35 . H ernand ez then m ov ed for aj ud gm entof ac qu i tt al , pu rs uantt o F ed. R . C ri m . P . 29 , and the di stri ct c our tr e s e rve d rul i ng on the m ot i on s o i tc oul d c ons i de rH e rna nde z ’ s c l os i ng a r gum e nt . I d. a t1135- 36. U l t i m a t e l y , the j ury r e turne d ave r di c tf i ndi ng H ernand ez gu i l ty on C ou nt s 1 and 4 . R 1-39 1. A ft ertri al , H ernand ez m ov ed for a new tri al and renew ed hi s m ot i on for j ud gm entof ac qu i tt al , and the di stri ctcourt s um m a r i l y de ni e d the m ot i ons . R 1- 395, 402.11

F ol l ow i ng the tr i a l a nd pr i ort o s e nt e nc i ng, a pr oba t i on of f i c e rc om pl e t e d a P r e s e nt e nc e I nve s t i ga t i on R e por t( “ P S I ” ) , w hi c h s t a t e d f a c t s ge ne r a l l y c ons i s t e nt w i th th o se ad d u ced attri al . P S I ¶¶ 1 9 -4 5 . T h e P S I assi g n ed H ern an d ez a b ase offe nse l evel of 32 , un der U . S . S . G . § 2 D 1. 1(a) (3), because the offens es i nv ol ved at leas t 1 an d less th an 3 k il o g ra m s o f h er o in . P S I ¶ 9 3 . T h e P S I listed H er n an d ez ’s pri or cr i m i nal conv i ct i on s, w hi ch i ncl ud ed on e c on vi ct i on for c arry i ng a c on ce al ed f i r e a rm a nd tw o c onvi c t i ons f ordr i vi ng w i th a n e xpi r e d dr i ve r ’ s l i c e ns e . I d. ¶¶ 103-05. T he P S I a s s i gne d H e rna nde z one c r i m i na l hi s t ory poi ntf orthe c onc e a l e d f

i r e a rm c onvi c t i on, butnone f orthe othe rtw o c onvi c t i ons , a nd de t e rm i ne d tha the f

e l l i nt o c r i m i na l hi s t ory c a t e gory I . I d. ¶¶ 103-06. W i th a cr i m i nal hi st ory c at egory of I and t ot al offe nse l evel of 32 , the G ui del i nes i m pr i s onm e ntr a nge w a s 121- 151 m onths ’ i m pr i s onm e nt . I d. ¶ 132. T he m a nda t ory m i ni m um s e nt e nc e f orC ount1 w a s 120 m onths ’ i m pr i s onm e nt . I d. ¶ 1 3 1 . H e rn a n d e z d i d n o tf i l e a n y o b

j e c t i o n s t o th e PSI . PSI A d d e n d u m. A t s e n te n c in g , H e rn a n d e z d id n o t r a is e a n y o b je c tio n s a n d d id n o t o b

je c t to the go vernm ent ’ s tw o m i no r f ac tual P S I c orre ct i on s. R 10 at12 46 -49. T he di stri ct c our tthe n a dopt e d the G ui de l i ne s c a l c ul a t i ons a nd r e c om m e nde d i m pr i s onm e nt r a nge f r om the P S I . I d. a t1248- 49. C ouns e l f orH e rna nde z r e que s t e d a l ow - e nd G ui de l i ne s r a nge s e nt e nc e , a nd H e rna nde z de c l i ne d t o s pe a k on hi s ow n be ha l f . I d.12

at12 50 -51. T he courtno t ed thati tw as “ concerned” abo uthi s pri or conceal ed fi rearm co n v i ct i o n . Id . at1 2 5 5 . A ft er co n si d eri n g th e 1 8 U . S . C . § 3 5 5 3 (a) factors, th e co u rti m p o sed l o w -en d G u i d el i n es ran g e sen t en ces o f 1 2 1 m o n th s’ i m pri sonm enton C ou nt s 1 and 4 , t o b e s erved con curr ent l y a nd a t ot al t erm of 5 y e a r s ’ s upe rvi s e d r e l e a s e . I d. a t1255- 56. H e rna nde z di d notobj e c tf ol l ow i ng the a nnounc e m e ntof

hi s s e nt e nc e . I d. a t1259. T he c our te nt e r e d j udgm e nt a c c or di ngl y , a nd H e rna nde z t i m e l y appe a l e d. R 1- 488, 491. I I . DI S CUS S I ON A . S u ff

i ci en cy of th e E vi d en ce O n ap p e a l, H e rn a n d e z a r g u e s th a t s u f f ic ie n t e v id e n c e d id n o t s u p p o r t h is c onvi c t i ons be c a us e l a w e nf or c e m e ntof

f i c e r s s e a r c he d hi m on m ul t i pl e oc c a s i ons b u t n e v e rc a u g h t h im in p o s s e s s io n o f h e r o in . H e a s s e r ts th a t h is r e f e r e n c e s to f l y e r s w e r e notc ode d r e f e r e nc e s t o he r oi n buttrue r e f e r e nc e s t o m us i c f

l y e r s , a nd th e e v id e n c e p r o v e d th a t th e o ry . H e a ls o c ite s c a s e s f o rth e p r o p o s itio n s th a t a m e r e b u y a n d s e ll a g r e e m e n t c a n n o t c o n s titu te a c o n s p ir a c y , a n d a n a g r e e m e n t to s e ll d ru g s f

o ra b u y e r ’s p e r s o n a l d ru g h ab it c a n n o t p r o v e a c o n s p ir a c y . W e r e v ie w th e s u f

f ic ie n c y o f

th e e v id e n c e d e n o v o , v ie w in g th e e v id e n c e in the l i gh tm ostfa vo rabl e t o the go vernm entand acce pt i ng al l re as on abl e i nfer ence s i n favor of the verdi ct . U ni t ed S t at es v. K l op f, 42 3 F . 3d 12 28 , 12 36 (11th C i r.13

2 0 0 5 ) . I f

ar e a s o n ab le tr ie ro f

f a c t c o u ld f

in d th a t e v id e n c e e s tab lis h e d g u ilt beyond a r ea sonabl e dou bt , the evi dence i s s uffi ci entt o sup po rta c on vi ct i on even i f e vi de nc e m i ghta l s o s uppor ta de f e nda nt ’ s the ory of

i nnoc e nc e . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. T i no co, 30 4 F . 3d 10 88 , 11 22 (11th C i r. 20 02 ).

“ I n or de rt o s us t a i n ac onvi c t i on f orc ons pi r a c y w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e , the g o v e rn m e n t m u s t p r o v e th a t a n a g r e e m e n t e x is te d b e tw e e n tw o o rm o r e p e r s o n s to vi ol a t e the na r c ot i c s l a w s , tha tthe de f e nda ntkne w of

the c ons pi r a t or i a l goa l , a nd tha the know i ngl y j oi ne d orpa r t i c i pa t e d i n the i l l e ga l ve ntur e . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. G u errero , 9 3 5 F . 2 d 1 8 9 , 1 9 2 (1 1 th C i r. 1 9 9 1 ). T h e g o v ern m en tm ay u se c i r c um s t a nt i a l e vi de nc e t o m e e ti t s bur de n of pr oof . I d. F ore xa m pl e , “ [ t ] he go vernm entm ayes t abl i sh a def endant ’ s kno w i ng part i ci pat i on i n the conspi ra cy thr ough pr oof

of . . . a c t s c om m i tt e d by the de f e nda nttha tf

ur the r e d the purpos e of the conspi ra cy . ” I d. “ T he go vernm entdo es no thave t o p rove thatthe al l eged conspi ra t or kn ew al l of the det ai l s of the conspi ra cyor thathe part i ci pat ed i n every pha s e of the s c he m e . ” I d. E vi de nc e of

a s i m pl e buy - s e l l r e l a t i ons hi p, e ve n i f c ont i nui ng, w oul d not s u p p o r t ac o n s p ir a c y c h a r g e , ju s t a s e v id e n c e o f a n a g r e e m e n t to s e ll d ru g s o n ly to

“ supp ortthe bu ye r’ s per sonal drug habi ti s a nt i thet i ca l t o a fi nd i ng of conspi ra cy . ” U n ite d S ta te s v . D e k le , 1 6 5 F .3 d 8 2 6 , 8 2 9 - 3 0 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 9 ) . H o w e v e r , a14

c ons pi r a c y e xi s t s w he r e the pa r t i e s ha ve a j oi ntc r i m i na l obj e c t i ve , s uc h a s w he n a de f e nda nti s i nvol ve d i n s e r i e s of drug tr a ns a c t i ons be tw e e n m i d- l e ve l drug d i stri b u t o rs an d street -l ev el d eal ers w i th th e “ co m m o n g o al o f m ax i m i zi n g th e cash r e turns of

the bus i ne s s thr ough the di s tr i but i on of drugs . ” I d. a t829. T o s u p p o r t ac o n v ic tio n f o ra s u b s ta n tiv e c h a r g e o f p o s s e s s io n w ith in te n t to d is tr ib u te d ru g s , th e g o v e rn m e n t “m u s t e s tab lis h th a t th e d e f e n d a n t k n o w in g ly pos s e s s e d the c ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e w i th the i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e i t . ” G ue rr e r o, 935 F . 2 d at1 9 2 . D i recto r ci rcu m st an t i al ev i d en ce m ay b e u sed t o p ro v e th ese e l e m e nt s . I d. S u f f ic ie n t e v id e n c e s u p p o r te d H e rn a n d e z ’s c o n v ic tio n s f o rc o n s p ir a c y to di stri bu t e a nd po ss es si on w i th i nt entt o d i stri bu t e her oi n. R egar di ng the conspi ra cy co n v i ct i o n , P ad i l l a t est i fi ed th atH ern an d ez p ro v i d ed h i m w i th h ero i n o n atl east f o u ra n d p o s s ib lyu p to n in e o c c a s io n s , w h ic h w a s e v id e n c e o f a n a g r e e m e n t to vi ol a t e the f

e de r a l drug l a w s . R 9 a t1126- 27. A ddi t i ona l l y , the gove rnm e nt c aptur e d H e rna nde z a nd P a di l l ae nga gi ng i n c ode d phone c onve r s a t i ons on 23 A ugus t2005, w he r e H e rna nde z s poke abouts how i ng P a di l l as om e s l i de s , a nd on 1 4 S ep t em b er, w h ere P ad i l l a t al k ed ab o u tH ern an d ez g ett i n g so m eth i n g b ecau se another pers on w as w ai t i ng on P adi l l a. R 5 at30 8-09 , 32 7. P adi l l a c on fi rm ed that these conv er sa t i on s i nv ol ved h er oi n sal es . R 8 at96 3, 99 7-99 . T hi s e vi dence15

dem on stra t ed thatH ernand ez w as kn ow i ng l y s el l i ng heroi n t o P adi l l a, and h e knew thatP adi l l a w as se l l i ng i tt o ano ther buyer . T here fore , there w as ci rc um st ant i al ev i d en ce th atH ern an d ez k n ew o f th e g o al o f th e co n sp i racy, t o m ax i m i ze cash re turns by di stri bu t i ng heroi n, and h e kno w i ng l y j oi ned i t . S ee D ekl e, 16 5 F . 3d at 8 2 9 - 3 0 . T h e a g r e e m e n t w a s s u f f ic ie n t to s u p p o r t th e c o n s p ir a c y c h a r g e b e c a u s e it w entbeyond a s i m pl e buy-s el l re l at i on shi p regardi ng drug s purchas ed for pers on al us e , a nd e vi de nc e s how e d tha tH e rna nde z unde r s t ood tha tP a di l l aw a s r e - s e l l i ng th e h e r o in to a n o th e rb u y e r . S e e id . R e ga r di ng the pos s e s s i on w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e he r oi n c onvi c t i on, the go vernm entpres ent ed coded p ho ne conv er sa t i on s f rom 13 and 1 4 S ept em ber, a l ong w i th B onne r ’ s a nd P a di l l a ’ s t e s t i m ony tha tP a di l l ane got i a t e d a nd consum m at ed a heroi n d ea l w i th H ernand ez on 13 S ept em ber. R 5 at31 5-17 ; R 8 at 97 0-71 , 98 7-88 . A re as on abl e j uror coul d h ave c on cl ud ed thatH ernand ez po ss es se d h er oi n even tho ug h h e w as no tcaug htw i th i tbecause there w as e v id e n c e th a t H e rn a n d e z o b ta in e d h e r o in a n d s o ld it to P a d illa . N ot abl y, the fa ctthatsom e of the af orem ent i on ed evi dence ca m e f rom coded conv er sa t i on s does notre nd erthe evi dence i nsuffi ci ent . T he j ury w as fr ee t o d ra w i nf e r e nc e s a ga i ns tH e rna nde z ba s e d on the s e c onve r s a t i ons a s w e l l a s P a di l l a ’ s a nd B onne r ’ s t e s t i m ony , a nd r e j e c tH e rna nde z ’ s a l t e rna t e i nt e rpr e t a t i on. S e e T i noc o,16

3 0 4 F .3 d a t 1 1 2 2 . H e rn a n d e z ’s a r g u m e n t th a t e v id e n c e d id n o t e s tab lis h h is p o ssessi o n o f h ero i n , b ecau se h e w as n o tcau g h tw i th h ero i n , m u stfai l b ecau se a m p le c ir c u m s ta n tia l e v id e n c e e s tab lis h e d p o s s e s s io n , w h ic h w a s s u f f ic ie n t to sa t i sf y thatel em ent . S ee G uerr er o, 93 5 F . 2d at19 2. H ernand ez ’ s a rgum entthat the “ fl ye rs ” w er e m usi c f l ye rs , and n otheroi n, al so m ustfa i l because the evi dence w as suff i ci entt o sup po rthi s c on vi ct i on s, even tho ug h i tal so m i gh thave supp ort ed h is th e o ry o f

in n o c e n c e . S e e T in o c o , 3 0 4 F .3 d a t 1 1 2 2 . B e c a u s e s u f

f i c i e n te v i d e n c e s u p p o r t e d th e c h a r g e s a g a i n s tHe rn a n d e z , we affi rm h i s co n v i ct i o n s. B . P rop ri et y of th e S en te n ce H e rn a n d e z a r g u e s th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u r t v io la te d h is F if th a n d S ix th A m e ndm e ntr i ght s w he n i ti m pos e d the 121- m onth t ot a l s e nt e nc e , be c a us e the i ndi c tm e ntdi d notm e nt i on hi s pr i orof f e ns e s a nd the j ury di d notm a ke a ny f i ndi ngs r e ga r di ng pr i orof f e ns e s . H e a c know l e dge s tha tthe S upr e m e C our ta nd ou r c ou rthave rej ec t ed thi s a rgum enti n p ri or ca se s, i ncl ud i ng A l m endarez -T orre s v. U ni t e d S t a t e s , 523 U . S . 224, 118 S . C t . 1219, 140 L . E d. 2d 350 ( 1998) , but ap p e a r s to a s s e r t th a t A lm e n d a r e z - T o rr e s s h o u ld b e o v e r tu rn e d . W e r e vi e w a l l e ge d c ons t i tut i ona l e rr or s i n s e nt e nc i ng f orpl a i n e rr ori f

the de f e nda ntdi d notf

i r s tobj e c tt o the e rr orbe f or e the di s tr i c tc our t . U ni t e d S t a t e s v.17

R odr i gue z , 398 F . 3d 1291, 1298 ( 11th C i r . 2005) . U nde rthe pl a i n e rr ors t a nda r d, an appel l antm ustdem on stra t e: (1) e rr or; (2) thatw as pl ai n; (3) thataf fe ct ed s u b s ta n tia l r ig h ts ; a n d ( 4 ) th a t s e r io u s ly a f f e c te d th e f

a irn e s s , in te g r ity , o rp u b lic r e put a t i on of

the j udi c i a l pr oc e e di ngs . I d.

“ In A l m endarez -T orre s [ ] , the S up re m e C ou rthel d thatthe go vernm entneed n o t a lle g e in its in d ic tm e n t a n d n e e d n o t p r o v e b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab le d o u b t th a t a de f e nda ntha d pr i orc onvi c t i ons f ora di s tr i c tc our tt o us e thos e c onvi c t i ons f or purpos e s of

e nha nc i ng a s e nt e nc e . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M a r s e i l l e , 377 F . 3d 1249, 1 2 5 7 (1 1 th C ir. 2 0 0 4 ). T h at h o ld in g w as left u n d istu rb ed b y th e C o u rt’s s u b s e q u e n td e c i s i o n s l e a d i n g t o a n d i n c l u d i n g U n i t e d St a t e s v . Bo o k e r , 5 4 3 U . S. 2 2 0 , 1 2 5 S .C t. 7 3 8 , 1 6 0 L .E d .2 d 6 2 1 ( 2 0 0 5 ) . S e e M a r s e ille , 3 7 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 5 7 . S pe c i f i c a l l y , the C our ti n B ooke rs t a t e d: “ A ny f a c t( othe rtha n apr i orc onvi c t i on) w hi c h i s ne c e s s a ry t o s uppor ta s e nt e nc e e xc e e di ng the m a xi m um a uthor i z e d by the f a c t s e s t abl i s he d by a pl e aof gui l ty ora j uryve r di c tm us tbe a dm i tt e d by the defe nd antor prov ed t o a j ury bey on d a re as on abl e dou bt . ” B oo ker, 54 3 U . S . at 24 4, 12 5 S . C t . at75 6 (op i ni on of S t evens, J. ). W e have re af fi rm ed that A lm e n d a r e z - T o rr e s r e m a in s b in d in g la w u n til th e C o u r t d e te rm in e s o th e rw is e . U ni t ed S t at es v. O rdun o-M i re l es , 40 5 F . 3d 96 0, 96 3 (11 th C i r. 20 05 ).18

T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t d id n o t p la in ly e rrin s e n te n c in g H e rn a n d e z . F ir s t, h is a r g u m e n t m u s t f

a il b e c a u s e th e C o u r t’s h o ld in g in A lm e n d a r e z - T o rr e s d ir e c tly c ontr a di c t s hi s pos i t i on, a nd tha tde c i s i on r e m a i ns bi ndi ng on us . S e e O r dunoM i r e l e s , 405 F . 3d a t963. I n a ddi t i on, the r e c or d doe s notde m ons tr a t e tha tthe d is tr ic t c o u r t e n h a n c e d H e rn a n d e z ’s s e n te n c e b a s e d o n a n y p r io rc o n v ic tio n s . S p e c if ic a lly , th e d is tr ic t c o u r t d id n o t u s e th e p r io rc o n v ic tio n s to e n h a n c e h is of f e ns e l e ve l , hi s c r i m i na l hi s t ory c a t e gory r e m a i ne d a tI de s pi t e the pr i or conv i ct i on s, and the courti m po se d the l ow -e nd G ui del i nes r ange se nt ence . S ee R 10 a t1248- 49, 1255- 56. A c c or di ngl y , the di s tr i c tc our tdi d notpl a i nl y e rr , a nd w e a f f irm H e rn a n d e z ’s s e n te n c e . I I I . CONCL US I ON B e c a us e the r e c or d c ont a i ns s uf f i c i e nte vi de nc e t o s uppor te a c h of the c h a r g e s a g a in s t H e rn a n d e z a n d b e c a u s e th e d is tr ic t c o u r t d id n o t p la in ly e rrin consi deri ng H ernand ez ’ s pri or conv i ct i on s, w e A F F I R M.