The Clerk of the Court is directed to amend the abbreviated caption to conform with the *

caption listed above.

 The Honorable Rosemary S. Pooler, originally scheduled to be a member of the panel **

hearing this appeal, was unable to participate. The appeal has been decided by the remaining two

members of the panel, who are in agreement. See 2d Cir. Local Rules, Internal Operating Procedure

E(b). 

1

08-1846-cr(L), 08-3754-cr(CON), 08-4545-cr(CON), 08-54520-cr(CON)

United States v. Brens

*

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

SUMMARY ORDER

Rulings by summary order do not have precedential effect. Citation to a summary order filed

on or after January 1, 2007, is permitted and is governed by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 32.1

and this court’s Local Rule 32.1.1. When citing a summary orderin a document filed with this court,

a party must cite either the Federal Appendix or an electronic database (with the notation

“summary order”). A party citing a summary order must serve a copy of it on any party not

represented by counsel. 

At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the

Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, in the City of New York, on

the 23 day of April, two thousand ten. rd

PRESENT:

JOSÉ A. CABRANES,

RICHARD C. WESLEY,

Circuit Judges.**

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Appellee, 

 v. Nos. 08-1846-cr(L), 08-3754-

cr(CON), 08-4545-cr(CON), 08-

54520-cr(CON)

GUILLERMO GARAY, FRANCISCO GARCIA, GEITHNERT THORP, JOSE ESCOBAR OREJUELA, also known

as Doctor Robles, also known as Robles, also known as Tabla, GRECIA ESCOBAR, also known as La Tia,

JESUS TOVAR, also known as Chucho, JORGE IGNACIO FIGUEROA, WENCESLAO FIGUEROA, PEDRO

FIGUEROA BEDOYA, also known as El Indio, WILLIAM FIGUEROA, also known as Memo, JOSEPH

ESCOBAR JR., CENIDE TOVAR, also known as Cenia, MANUEL LLANOS ESCOBAR, LUZDARI COMORI,

JOSE M. ESCOBAR, also known as Joey, CARMEN RODRIGUEZ DE SALINAS, LUIS IBARGUEN, JOHN DOE

III, JOSE GUERRERO, ANA MARTINEZ, JANETH ESCOBAR,
2

Defendants,

ALBERTO BRENS, JULIO GONGORA, RAUL ADAMES, GUSTAVO FIGUEROA BEDOYA, also known as

Doctor Meneses, also known as Meneses, also known as Gordo,

Defendants-Appellants.

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FOR APPELLANT: JESSE M. SIEGEL, New York, NY,

for defendant-appellant Gustavo Figueroa Bedoya.

Robin C. Smith, Law Office of Robin C. Smith, Esq., P.C.,

Brooklyn, NY,

for defendant-appellant Alberto Brens.

FOR APPELLEES: CARRIE CAPWELL, Assistant United States Attorney,

(Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney, and Emily

Berger, Assistant United States Attorney, on the brief)

United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of

New York, New York, NY.

Appeal from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

(David G. Trager, Judge).

UPON DUE CONSIDERATION IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND

DECREED that the judgment of the District Court be AFFIRMED. 

Defendants-appellants Gustavo Figueroa Bedoya and Alberto Brens appeal from two judgments

of the District Court. Specifically, Brens appeals from the judgment of the District Court dated

February 27, 2008, convicting him of one count of conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of

cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 963 and 960; two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possession

with intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841, and one

count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922 and 921; and

sentencing him principally to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment. Bedoya appeals from the

November 7, 2008 judgment of the District Court convicting him of one count of conspiracy to import

five kilograms or more of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960(a)(1), and 960(b)(1)(B); one

count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of

cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a), and 841(b)(1)(A); two counts of importation of five

kilograms or more of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a), 960(a)(1), and 960(b)(1)(B); and two

counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in

violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A); and sentencing him principally to a term of 216

months’ imprisonment. On appeal, Brens argues (1) that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient

to convict him of conspiring to import cocaine and (2) that the evidence presented at trial was

insufficient to convict him of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine,
3

distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Bedoya argues that the District Court erred

in sentencing him because (1) the District Court improperly imposed a leadership enhancement and (2)

the District Court improperly concluded that he was ineligible for so-called “safety valve” relief. We

assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts and procedural history of this case. 

Brens argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his convictions on

the drug-related counts. Because “the task of choosing among competing, permissible inferences is for

the [jury and] not for the reviewing court,” United States v. McDermott, 245 F.3d 133, 137 (2d Cir. 2001),

we are required to review the evidence “in the light most favorable to the government,” United States v.

Gaskin, 364 F.3d 438, 459 (2d Cir. 2004) and “resolve all issues of credibility in favor of the jury’s

verdict.” United States v. Dressna, 287 F.3d 170, 177 (2d Cir. 2002). See generally Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.

307, 318-19 (1979). At trial, the government introduced evidence that could support the jury’s verdict. 

Applying the deferential standard set forth above, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to

support each guilty verdict challenged here and, accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the District

Court against Brens.

Bedoya, in turn, argues that the District Court erred in imposing, pursuant to § 3B1.1 of the

United States Sentencing Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.” or “the Guidelines”), a leadership enhancement to his

sentence because the District Court incorrectly calculated the applicable range under the Guidelines and

failed to make adequate findings to support such an enhancement. We review a sentence for procedural

and substantive reasonableness, which is akin to review under an “abuse-of-discretion” standard. See,

e.g., United States v. Cavera, 550 F.3d 180, 190 (2d Cir. 2008) (en banc); see also Gall v. United States, 128 S.

Ct. 586, 591 (2007); cf. Sims v. Blot, 534 F.3d 117, 132 (2d Cir. 2008). When a defendant challenges the

district court’s interpretation of a Guidelines provision, we review this interpretation of the

Guidelines—just as we would review the interpretation of any law—de novo. See, e.g., United States. v.

Hertular, 562 F.3d 433, 449 (2d Cir. 2009). Here, the District Court made sufficient factual findings to

support its imposition of the leadership enhancement, as the District Court “adopt[ed] the report of the

Probation Department.” Bedoya App’x 77. The report of the Probation Department reported facts

sufficient to establish that Bedoya was eligible for the leadership enhancement. Specifically, it reported,

among other things, that Bedoya located investors in Colombia who purchased the cocaine, that he

coordinated numerous shipments of cocaine to the United States, that the conspiracy consisted of more

than five individuals, and that he directed other co-conspirators. Accordingly, we conclude that the

District Court did not err in imposing the leadership enhancement.

Finally, Bedoya argues that the District Court erred in concluding that Bedoya was ineligible for

“safety valve” relief under U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. Under the relevant sections of the United States Code, 18

U.S.C. § 3553(f), and the Guidelines, U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2, a defendant is ineligible for safety valve relief if

he was an “organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor of others in the offense, as determined under the

sentencing guidelines.” 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). Since we conclude that the District Court did not err in

imposing the leadership enhancement, we also conclude that the District Court did not err in concluding
4

that Bedoya was ineligible for safety valve relief. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the District

Court against Bedoya.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, we AFFIRM the judgments of the District Court.

FOR THE COURT: 

Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, Clerk