FILED U.S. COURT OF A P P E A LS E LE V EN T HC IR C U IT APR 9, 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- 13978 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 5 - 0 0 0 4 8 - CR- 4 - SPM 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 G A B R I E L H E RN A N D E Z R A M O S , 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 N or the r n D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( A p r i l 9, 2007) B efo re D U B IN A , C A RN E S an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: G abri el H ernand ez R am os appeal s hi s c on vi ct i on and 2 35 -m on th sent ence2

i m pos e d a f

t e ra j ur y c onvi c t e d hi m of pos s e s s i on w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e f i ve or m o r e k ilo g r a m s o f

c o c a in e , in v io la tio n o f 2 1 U .S .C . § 8 4 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) , ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( ii) . S p e c if ic a lly , R a m o s c o n te n d s th a t ( 1 ) th e r e w a s in s u f f ic ie n t e v id e n c e to s u p p o r t h is c onvi c t i on; ( 2) the di s tr i c tc our te r r e d i n a ppl y i ng the U . S . S . G . § 3C 1. 1 s e nt e nc i ng e n h a n c e m e n t f

o ro b s tru c tio n o f

ju s tic e ; a n d ( 3 ) h e w a s d e n ie d d u e p r o c e s s r ig h ts to a f a i rtr i a l . A f

t e rr e v i e w , w e a f

f i r m. I . B AC KG RO UN D A . A r r e s t a nd D e t e nt i o n H e a r i ng O n S ept em ber 16, 20 05 , R am os w as arre st ed i n L i ve O ak, F l ori da af t er F l or i da D e pa r t m e ntof

A gr i c ul tur e ( “ F D O A ” ) of f i c e r s f ound f ourboxe s c ont a i ni ng 100 ki l ogr a m s of

c oc a i ne dur i ng a r out i ne i ns pe c t i on of a tr a c t ortr a i l e rdr i ve n by R a m o s . A ta d et en t i o n h eari n g b efo re a m ag i strat e j u d g e, R am o s t est i fi ed i n E n g l i sh w ith o u t th e a s s is ta n c e o f a n in te rp r e te r , a lth o u g h a n in te rp r e te rw a s p r e s e n t. R a m os a r r i ve d i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s i n 1976 w he n he w a s s e ve n y e a r s ol d, a nd he b e c a m e a tru c k d r iv e rin 2 0 0 0 . R a m o s ’s tr a ile rw a s e m p ty b e f o r e h e d r o v e to F r e s h- P a c I nt e r na t i ona l ( “ F r e s h- P a c ” ) i n O c e a ns i de , C a l i f or ni a t o l oa d a c a r go of t om a t oe s on S e pt e m be r13, 2005. R a m os r e m a i ne d i n the c a b of the truc k dur i ng the l oadi ng proces s, w hi ch t oo k n o m ore than t hi rty m i nu t es . R am os pl ac ed a s ea l3

o n th e tr a ile rd o o rto in d ic a te th a t n o o n e o p e n e d th e d o o rd u r in g tr a n s it. I m m e d ia te ly f

o llo w in g q u e s tio n s a b o u t th e s e a l, R a m o s w a s a s k e d , “D id y o u p u t a l o c k o n th e d o o r s ?, ” a n d Ra mo s r e p l i e d , “ Y e s , I d i d . Y e s , I d i d . Th a tw a s my l oc k. ” O n c r os s - e xa m i na t i on, R a m os t e s t i f i e d a ga i n a boutthe tr a i l e rl oc k a nd s e a l: A . H e t e l l m e w he ne ve rI –the y f i ni s h. Q . O ka y . A nd [ F r e s h- P a c e m pl oy e e s ] di dn’ tdo a ny thi ng t o ke e p y ou f r om s t a ndi ng the r e a nd w a t c hi ng? A . N o. Q . O k ay. A . T he y di dn’ ts a y nothi ng. Q . A nd then you pu tyour l ock o n the do or? A . Y es, yes. Q . D oe s thi s tr a i l e rha ve a s i de door , t oo? A . N o , it d o e s n ’t. Q . Ju stth e b ack d o o rs? A . O nl y one . O nl y the ba c k. Q . Y o u p u t a s e a l o n it? A . Y e s , I di d. A f te rh e a r in g th is e v id e n c e , th e m a g is tr a te ju d g e f o u n d p r o b a b le c a u s e to c ha r ge R a m os a nd de ni e d pr e tr i a l r e l e a s e . O n O c t obe r4, 2005, a f e de r a l gr a nd j u r y i n d i c t e d Ra mo s f

o rp o s s e s s i o n w i th i n t e n tt o d i s tr i b u t e f i v e o rmo r e k i l o g r a ms of cocai ne. B . T r i al In i t s openi ng st at em entattri al , the go vernm entas se rt ed thatR am os had l i ed atthe det ent i on hear i ng abou tpl ac i ng the l ock and se al on the tra i l erw hi l e a t4

F re sh-P ac . T he go vernm entthen p re se nt ed the t es t i m on y of s ever al F re sh-P ac em p lo ye es an d law en fo rc em en t o ff icer s w h o se ized th e c o ca in e f ro m R am o s’s tru c k . J os e Z a ba l a , a s upe r vi s ora tF r e s h- P a c , t e s t i f i e d a boutthe l oa di ng of R a m o s ’s tr a ile ro n S e p te m b e r1 3 , 2 0 0 5 . A c c o r d in g to Z a b a la , F r e s h - P a c in s p e c ts a l l boxe s tha te nt e rthe l oa di ng f a c i l i ty a nd r e qui r e s dr i ve r s t o be pr e s e nta tthe tr a i l e rdoordur i ng the l oa di ng pr oc e s s . F r e s h- P a c ’ s t om a t o boxe s ha ve hol e s f or ve nt i l a t i on, unl i ke the boxe s i n w hi c h the c oc a i ne w a s l a t e rf ound. T he c oc a i ne b o x e s w o u ld h a v e b e e n n o tic e d a t th e lo a d in g f a c ility b e c a u s e th e lo a d in g d o c k is a l w a y s c l e a r . A t e m pe r a tur e r e c or de ri s pl a c e d i n the tr a i l e rupon l oa di ng. T he tr a i l e r ’ s bi l l of

l a di ng l i s t e d C us t om - P a k i n I m m oka l e e , F l or i da a s the pur c ha s e rof th e to m a to s h ip m e n t. J ua n C a r l os N une z , a F r e s h- P a c e m pl oy e e , l oa de d R a m os ’ s tr a i l e ron S ept em ber 13, 20 05 . N un ez t es t i fi ed thatR am os’ s tra i l erw as em pt y w hen N un ez l oa de d i ta nd de ni e d l oa di ng c oc a i ne i nt o the tr a i l e r . N une z r e c a l l e d R a m os s ta n d in g b e s id e th e tru c k a n d w a tc h in g h im lo a d th e f ir s t p a lle t o f

to m a to e s . N une z l oa de d a s i ngl e pa l l e ti n f r onta nd s t a c ke d the r e s ti n a z i g- z a g a r r a nge m e nt t o d i stri bu t e the w ei gh t , w hi ch m ade i tdi ff i cul tt o rea ch the fr on tof the tra i l er w ith o u t c r a w lin g o v e rth e p a lle ts . N u n e z a lw a y s p la c e s th e te m p e r a tu r e r e c o r d e rin5

the tr a i l e rbe f

or e l oa di ng the l a s ttw o pa l l e t s , buta dr i ve rm i ghtbe a bl e t o r e a c h the r e c o r d e rf

r o m th e b a c k o f

th e tr a ile r . T h e g o v ern m en tal so p resen t ed th e t est i m o n y o f F D O A O ffi cer Jaso n R o ss, w h o in s p e c te d R a m o s ’s tr a ile rin L iv e O a k , F lo r id a o n S e p te m b e r1 6 , 2 0 0 5 . A cc ordi ng t o R oss, a m ob i l e x-r ay m ac hi ne for c om m er ci al vehi cl es re veal ed that b o x es atth e fro n to f R am o s’ s trai l er w ere d ark er th an th e resto f th e l o ad . R o ss brok e the se al on the tra i l erdo or and rem ov ed the tra i l erl ock. R oss c ra w l ed ov er the pa l l e t s i n or de rt o i ns pe c tthe f r ontof the tr a i l e r , w he r e R os s not i c e d f our u n m ark ed card b o ard b o x es th atap p eared d i fferen tfro m th e t o m at o b o x es. R o ss c u t o n e o f

th e u n m a r k e d b o x e s o p e n a n d s a w b r ic k s th a t a p p e a r e d to c o n ta in c oc a i ne . R os s c r a w l e d ba c k ove rthe pa l l e t s t o a s k R a m os w he r e he w a s t a ki ng the l o ad , an d R am o s resp o n d ed th ath e d i d n o tk n o w . R o ss t est i fi ed th atth i s resp o n se w a s unus ua l be c a us e m os tdr i ve r s know the i rde s t i na t i on. R os s c r a w l e d ove rthe p a lle ts a g a in to r e tr ie v e th e u n m a r k e d b o x e s f o ra c o c a in e f

ie ld te s t. F D O A O ff

icer A lan L o n g also testified ab o u t th e in sp ec ti o n o f R am o s’s tra i l eri n L i ve O ak, F l ori da. A cc ordi ng t o L on g, R am os i ni t i al l y s ee m ed re l axed w h en R o ss en t ered th e tru ck an d h ad n o d i ffi cu l ty co m m u n i cat i n g . A ft er R o ss began cl i m bi ng ov erthe t om at o p al l et s, R am os pl ac ed hi s a rm s i nsi de the tra i l er , la id h is f o r e h e a d d o w n o n th e f

lo o ro f th e tr a ile rf

o ra f e w s e c o n d s , a n d s ta r e d in to6

th e b a c k o f

th e tr a ile ra f

te rlif tin g h is h e a d . F D O A Invest i gat or A l l en D avi s t es t i fi ed thathe foun d t he t em pera ture r e c o r d e rin th e f

r o n t o f th e tr a ile rn e a rth e b o x e s c o n ta in in g c o c a in e . A c c o r d in g to D avi s, these bo xes w er e not“ i n a re adi l y a cc es si bl e port i on of the l oad. ” T hree l oa d l oc ks w e r e f

ound i n the tr a i l e r , tw o of w hi c h a ppe a r e d t o be ne w . B e c a us e the bi l l of l adi ng for R am os’ s tra i l erdi d n otcont ai n a se al nu m ber, there w as no w ay t o de t e r m i ne i f

the s e a l tha tR os s br oke be f or e e nt e r i ng the tr a i l e rw a s pl a c e d on th e tr a ile rd o o ra t F r e s h - P a c . D E A A g e n t A n d r is d e s c r ib e d R a m o s ’s te s tim o n y a t th e d e te n tio n h e a r in g . A c c or di ng t o A ndr i s , R a m os t e s t i f i e d tha the puta s e a l a nd tr a i l e rl oc k on the tr a i l e ri n O c e a ns i de , C a l i f or ni a , a nd he di d notope n the tr a i l e runt i l s t oppi ng a tthe L i ve O a k i ns pe c t i on s t a t i on. A ndr i s a l s o de s c r i be d the r e c e i pt s a nd dr i ve r ’ s l og book f ound i n R a m os ’ s truc k c a b. T he s e r e c e i pt s s how e d tha tR a m os pur c ha s e d a tr a i l e rl oc k a t12: 04 a . m . a nd tw o l oa d l oc ks s e ve r a l m i nut e s l a t e ri n E l oy , A r i z ona on S e pt e m be r14, 2005. A ndr i s not e d tha tE l oy i s 182 m i l e s w e s tof S a n S i m on, A ri zona, w here R am os’ s l og bo ok cl ai m ed he w as sl ee pi ng atm i dn i gh t , and t hat R a m os ’ s l og book m a de no m e nt i on of E l oy , A r i z ona . B a s e d on A ndr i s ’ s tw e l ve y e a r s o f e x p e r ie n c e in n a r c o tic s c a s e s , A n d r is c la im e d th a t d ru g tr a f f ic k e r s c o u ld tr y to c o n c e a l d ru g s h ip m e n ts w ith a le g itim a te lo a d .The pa rties stipulated that (1) theunmarke d box es in Ramos’s trailer contained c ocaine 1 with a net we ight of

99.39 kilograms; (2) noneof the fing erprints found on the cocaine wra ppings matched Ramos, Z abala , or Nune z; and (3) Ramos’s temperaturerec order reg istered a nearly constant temperatureof fifty-two degree s for the f irst six ty-five hour s of the trip, followed by a slight rise in temperature to six ty degree s for four

hours, a rise to ninety

degree s an hour later, a nd a stea dy

temperature of seventy-five de gree s for the remainder of the trip. 7 A tthe c l os e of

the gove r nm e nt ’ s c a s e , R a m os m ove d f ora j udgm e ntof 1 a c q u itta l, w h ic h th e d is tr ic t c o u r t d e n ie d . R a m os the n t e s t i f

i e d w i thoutthe a s s i s t a nc e of a n i nt e rpr e t e r , a l though one w a s p r e s e n t a t tr ia l. R a m o s w a s w o r k in g f o rC a lif o r n ia E x p r e s s C o o le rin S e p te m b e r2 0 0 5 w h e n R a u l V e g a a s k e d R a m o s to p ic k u p a tr a ile rto tr a n s p o r t a s hi pm e ntf

orF r e s h- P a c . R a m os r e pe a t e d hi s de t e nt i on he a r i ng t e s t i m ony tha tthe tr a i l e rw a s e m pty be f

or e he dr ove i tt o F r e s h- P a c f orl oa di ng. A s t o hi s de t e nt i on hear i ng t es t i m on y abo utthe tra i l erl ock, R am os st at ed thathe had m ea ntt o say that he l oc ke d the tr a i l e rdur i ng the tr i p, nota tF r e s h- P a c . R a m os c l a i m e d tha the br oke the or i gi na l s e a l a nd ope ne d the tr a i l e rdur i ng the tr i p t o pl a c e tw o ne w l oa d l oc ks in th e tr a ile rin E lo y , A r iz o n a . R a m o s a ls o a tte m p te d to c la r if y th e d is c r e p a n c y in hi s l og book a boutthe E l oy s t op. R a m os c l a i m e d tha the di d notr e c or d the E l oy st op beca use he di d n othave t o rec ord st op s und ert en m i nu t es . R am os st at ed that hi s e ntr y s how i ng a m i dni ghtr e s ts t op i n S a n S i m on, de s pi t e the r e c e i pt s i ndi c a t i ng tha the w a s ne a r l y tw o hundr e d m i l e s a w a y a tm i dni ght , w a s a c c ur a t e be c a us e heBa sed on Ramos’s testimony , the jury knew that there wa s either a one-hour difference 2 or no dif ferenc ebe tw e e n M ountain S tand ard Ti mein Ari zon a

and Pa c if ic Sta nd ard Ti me rec orded in his logbook, dependingon whether Arizona observe s Daylight Saving s Time. Even assuming that the jury

believed that a one- hour time differenc e existed, Ramos would have had to h avedriven 1 82 mil e s f ro m E loy to S an Si mon

in l e ss t ha n a n h our in o rd e r f

or his logbo ok

to bec or re c t. 8 re corded al l t i m es i n P ac i fi c S t andard T i m e. 2 O n cross -e xam i nat i on , R am os st at ed thathe m ay have been confused w hen he r e c or de d i n hi s l og book tha the w a s s l e e pi ng i n S a n S i m on a tm i dni ght , buthe al so confi rm ed thathe “ l i ve[d] by these l og bo ok s. ” R am os cl ai m ed thathe threw the t em pera ture r ec order on t op of the ca rgo i n t he tra i l erand sug gest ed thati tw as a c o in c id e n c e th a t it la n d e d a t th e f r o n t o f th e tr a ile r . I n i t s c l os i ng a r gum e nt , the gove r nm e ntnot e d R a m os ’ s i nc ons i s t e nt s t a t e m e nt s a boutthe s e a l a nd tr a i l e rl oc k a nd a s s e r t e d tha tR a m os l i e d i n hi s l og b o o k en tri es. T h e g o v ern m en tal so su g g est ed th ata d ru g d eal er w o u l d n o ten tru st such a l ar ge qu ant i ty of c ocai ne–1 00 ki l og ra m s–t o an u nk no w i ng dri ver. A t th e c lo s e o f

tr ia l, R a m o s r e n e w e d h is m o tio n f o rju d g m e n t o f

a c q u itta l, w h i ch th e d i stri ctco u rtd en i ed . T h e j u ry fo u n d R am o s g u i l ty. C . Se nt e nc i ng T he pres ent ence i nv es t i gat i on re po rt(“ P S I” ) s etR am os’ s bas e off ense l evel a t36, pur s ua ntt o U . S . S . G . § 2D 1. 1( c ) ( 2) , be c a us e hi s of f e ns e i nvol ve d a tl e a s t50 bu tl es s than 1 50 ki l og ra m s of c ocai ne. T he P S I r ec om m ended a 2-l evel9

en h an cem en tfo r o b stru ct i o n o f j u st i ce, p u rsu an tt o U . S . S . G . § 3 C 1 . 1 , b ecau se R a m os ’ s t e s t i m ony a tthe de t e nt i on he a r i ng pr ovi de d the f a l s e i m pr e s s i on tha tthe tra i l erhad n otbeen op ened aft erl ea vi ng F re sh-P ac and t hatthe tra i l erw as l ocked atF re sh-P ac . W i th a t ot al offe nse l evel of 38 and a cri m i nal hi st ory c at egory of I , th e a d v is o r y g u id e lin e s r a n g e w a s 2 3 5 to 2 9 3 m o n th s ’ im p r is o n m e n t. P r i ort o s e nt e nc i ng, R a m os obj e c t e d t o the § 3C 1. 1 e nha nc e m e nt , a r gui ng tha the ne ve rs t a t e d tha the a ppl i e d the s e a l a tF r e s h- P a c a nd ne ve rs a i d tha tthe c oc a i ne m us tha ve be e n l oa de d a tF r e s h- P a c . T he gove r nm e nta gr e e d tha tR a m os never s t at ed thatthe cocai ne m usthave been l oaded atF re sh-P ac , bu ti tno t ed R am os’ s i ncon si st entt es t i m on y abo utop eni ng and l ocki ng the tra i l er . A t s e n te n c in g , R a m o s r e ite r a te d h is o b je c tio n to th e § 3 C 1 .1 e n h a n c e m e n t. A f te rn o tin g th a t R a m o s d id n o t o b je c t to s e c tio n s o f

th e P S I d e ta ilin g h is i nc ons i s t e ntt e s t i m ony , the di s tr i c tc our tf ound tha tR a m os pr ovi de d di f f e r e nt answ er s abo utw hether he ent er ed the tra i l eraf t erl ea vi ng F re sh-P ac and w hether he l oc ke d the tr a i l e ra tF r e s h- P a c . T he di s tr i c tc our tthus de ni e d R a m os ’ s obj e c t i on t o the § 3C 1. 1 e nha nc e m e nt . A f t e rnot i ng i t s c ons i de r a t i on of the s e nt e nc i ng fact o rs i n 1 8 U . S . C . § 3 5 5 3 (a), th e d i stri ctco u rtsen t en ced R am o s t o 2 3 5 m o n th s’ im p r is o n m e n t, th e lo w e n d o f th e a d v is o r y g u id e lin e s r a n g e . I I . DI S CUS S I ONWe reviewa challeng e to the suff iciency of the evidencede novo, and view all evidenc e 3 and makeall rea sonable inferenc es in the light most favorableto the g overnment. See United States v. Greer, 440 F .3d 1267, 1271 (11th Cir. 2006). 10 A . S u ff

i ci en cy of th e E vi d en ce O n a ppe a l , R a m os c ont e nds tha tthe gove r nm e ntpr e s e nt e d i ns uf f i c i e nt evi dence thathe had k no w i ng po ss es si on of the cocai ne. In order t o con vi ct 3 R a m os unde r21 U . S . C . § 841( a ) ( 1) , the gove r nm e ntm us tpr ove be y ond a r e a s o n a b le d o u b t th a t h e h a d k n o w in g p o s s e s s io n o f c o c a in e w ith th e in te n t to di stri bu t e i t . S ee U ni t ed S t at es v. T ho m pson , 47 3 F . 3d 11 37 , 11 42 (11t h C i r. 20 06 ). In order t o est abl i sh kn ow i ng po ss es si on , the go vernm entm ay show ac tual or construct i ve po ss es si on and can prov e posse ss i on w i th d i re ctor ci rc um st ant i al e vi de nc e . I d. “ C ons truc t i ve pos s e s s i on e xi s t s w he r e the de f e nda ntha d dom i ni on orc ontr ol ove rthe drugs orove rthe pr e m i s e s w he r e the drugs w e r e l oc a t e d. ” I d. V i ew i n g th e ev i d en ce an d d raw i n g al l reaso n ab l e i n feren ces i n th e l i g h tm o st f a vor abl e t o the gove r nm e nt , w e c onc l ude tha tthe gove r nm e ntpr e s e nt e d s uf f i c i e nt evi dence t o est abl i sh construct i ve po ss es si on . R am os t es t i fi ed thatthe tra i l erw as e m pty w he n he t ook pos s e s s i on of i t , a nd R a m os a nd N une z both t e s t i f i e d tha tthe tra i l erw as em pt y w hen i tarri ved atF re sh-P ac for l oadi ng . T here i s no d i sput e that R a m os ha d e xc l us i ve dom i ni on a nd c ontr ol ove rthe tr a i l e rf r om l oa di ng a tF r e s hP a c t o the i ns pe c t i on i n L i ve O a k, F l or i da . B e c a us e R a m os ha d e xc l us i ve c ontr olAt trial, the g overnment argued that no matter whether the coc aine wa s loaded at Fre sh- 4 Pac or a fter Ramos left Fresh-Pac , Ramos knew about the c ocaineeither w ay . We reviewthe evidenc e pointing to the c ocainebeingloaded a fter F resh- Pac when Ramos was in exclusive control of the vehicle. 11 ov erthe prem i se s w here the cocai ne w as foun d, the go vernm entes t abl i shed c ons truc t i ve pos s e s s i on of the c oc a i ne . S e e U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M ol i na , 443 F . 3d 824, 82 9 (11 th C i r. 20 06 ). F ur the r m or e , the gove r nm e ntpr e s e nt e d s uf f i c i e nte vi de nc e f

r om w hi c h the j ur y r e a s ona bl y c oul d i nf e rtha tR a m os kne w a boutthe c oc a i ne . V i e w i ng the e v id e n c e in th e lig h t m o s t f a v o r a b le to th e g o v e r n m e n t, th e ju r y r e a s o n a b ly c o u ld c onc l ude tha tthe c oc a i ne boxe s w e r e notl oa de d on the tr a i l e ra tF r e s h- P a c but w er e l oaded aft erR am os depart ed fr om F re sh-P ac , atw hi ch po i ntthe tra i l erw as unde rR a m os ’ s e xc l us i ve c ontr ol . F i r s t , the c oc a i ne boxe s di d notha ve ve nt i l a t i on 4 hol e s l i ke F r e s h- P a c ’ s t om a t o boxe s a nd thus w oul d ha ve be e n not i c e d i n F r e s hP ac ’ s l oadi ng ar ea . N un ez , the F re sh-P ac em pl oyee w ho l oaded t he tra i l er , deni ed lo a d in g c o c a in e o n th e tr a ile r , a n d th e ju r y r e a s o n a b ly c o u ld h a v e c r e d ite d h is t e s t i m ony . S e c ond, w hi l e the tr a i l e rw a s l oa de d a tF r e s h- P a c , N une z pl a c e d the t e m pe r a tur e r e c or de ri n the r e a rof the tr a i l e r . H ow e ve r , F D O A of f i c e r s a tL i ve O ak foun d t he re corder a tthe fr on tof the tra i l ernearthe cocai ne bo xes, w hi ch f ur the ri ndi c a t e s tha tthe tr a i l e rw a s ope ne d a f t e rR a m os l e f

tF r e s h- P a c a nd the r e c o r d e rw a s m o v e d d u r in g th e lo a d in g o f th e c o c a in e b o x e s .12

T hi rd, re ce i pt s f

or the l oad l ocks and t ra i l erl ock p urchas ed i n E l oy i nd i ca t ed thatR am os fa l si fi ed hi s l og bo ok entri es by no tm ent i on i ng the E l oy st op , even tho ug h R am os agre ed thathe “ l i ve[d] by these l og bo ok s. ” A re as on abl e j ury coul d h ave di sbel i eved R am os’ s e xp l anat i on for these fa l se entri es and con cl ud ed th a t R a m o s a tte m p te d to c o v e ru p ille g a l a c tiv itie s b y m a k in g f a ls e e n tr ie s in h is l og bo ok . F ou rth, w hen F D O A O ff i ce r R oss c on du ct ed hi s i nspect i on of the tra i l er c a r go a tL i ve O a k, R a m os ha d a dow nc a s tde m e a nor , pl a c i ng hi s a r m s i ns i de the tr a i l e ra nd hi s f

or e he a d on the tr a i l e rf

l oor . S e e U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M unoz , 16 F . 3d 1116, 1125 ( 11th C i r . 1994) ( not i ng tha ta de f e nda nti ndi c a t e d hi s “ a w a r e ne s s of an d p art i ci p at i o n i n th e [d ru g ] sch em e” b y l o w eri n g h i s h ead w h en th e C o ast G uard es cort ed hi s boatca rryi ng i l l egal drug s) . G i ven t hi s e vi dence, the j ury r e a s o n a b ly c o u ld h a v e in f e r r e d th a t R a m o s w a s a w a r e o f th e ille g a l c a r g o in h is tr a ile ra n d w a s th u s d e s p o n d e n t th a t th e in s p e c to rw o u ld f in d it. F if th , th e ju r y a ls o r e a s o n a b ly c o u ld in f e rR a m o s ’s k n o w le d g e a n d g u ilt ba s e d on i nc ons i s t e nc i e s i n hi s t e s t i m ony . A f t e ra ns w e r i ng que s t i ons a boutthe l oa di ng pr oc e s s a tF r e s h- P a c , R a m os t e s t i f i e d a tthe de t e nt i on he a r i ng tha the “th e n ” p u t o n th e tr a ile rlo c k . A t tr ia l, h o w e v e r , th e g o v e r n m e n t p r e s e n te d r e c e ip ts d e m o n s tr a tin g th a t R a m o s d id n o t lo c k th e tr a ile ru n til p u r c h a s in g a lo c k in E lo y . A l tho ug h R am os st at ed attri al thathe had m ea ntt o say thathe l ocked t he tra i l er13

l at er i n th e tri p , n o tatF resh -P ac, th e j u ry w as free to i n fer th atR am o s g av e a fal se i m pr e s s i on i n hi s de t e nt i on he a r i ng t e s t i m ony . S e e T hom ps on, 473 F . 3d a t1142 (not i ng thatw e def

ert o t he j ury’ s c re di bi l i ty det er m i nat i on s a nd as sum e thatthey m a de the m i n a w a y tha ts uppor t s the ve r di c t ) . A f t e rdi s c us s i ng F r e s h- P a c a tthe d e te n tio n h e a r in g , R a m o s a ls o te s tif ie d th a t h e a p p lie d a s e a l to h is tr a ile rto i ndi c a t e tha t“ nobody ope ns m y door s , ” buthe m e nt i one d nothi ng a boutope ni ng th e tr a ile ra f

te rle a v in g F r e s h - P a c o rr e s e a lin g o rlo c k in g th e tr a ile rd o o r . A t tr ia l, aft er th e g o v ern m en tp resen t ed ev i d en ce th atR am o s b o u g h tl o ad l o ck s i n E l o y, R am os t es t i fi ed thathe op ened the tra i l erdu ri ng the tri p and re se al ed the tra i l er do or. T h e ju ry h ad th e o p p o rtu n ity to ev alu ate th e tru th fu ln es s o f R am o s’s t es t i m on y i n l i gh tof hi s pri or st at em ent s a tthe det ent i on hear i ng . If the j ury c o n c lu d e d th a t R a m o s lie d , it w a s f u lly e n title d n o t o n ly to in f e rth a t th e o p p o s ite of R am os’ s t es t i m on y w as true, bu tal so t o con si der hi s f al se st at em ent s a s s ubs t a nt i ve e vi de nc e of

hi s gui l t . S e e i d. a t1143; U ni t e d S t a t e s v. B r ow n, 53 F . 3d 31 2, 31 4 (11 th C i r. 19 95 ). B a s e d on the t ot a l i ty of

the e vi de nc e out l i ne d a bove , w e c onc l ude tha tthe gove r nm e ntpr e s e nt e d s uf f i c i e nte vi de nc e of

R a m os ’ s know i ng pos s e s s i on ofRamos does not contest that his intent to distribute coc aine c an be inf erred from the 5 larg e quantity

of coc aine se ized in his trailer. SeeUnited States v. Her nandez, 433 F.3d 1328, 1333 (11th Cir. 2005). We reviewa district cour t’s application and inter

pretation of the sentenc ing guidelines 6 de novo and its fa ctual finding s for c lear error. United States v. Owens, 447 F.3d 1345, 1346 (11th Cir. 2006). 14 c oc a i ne t o s uppor thi s c onvi c t i on. 5 B. O bs t r uc t i o n- o f

- J us t i c e Enha nc e m e nt R am os al so cont ends thatthe di stri ctcourterre d i n i m po si ng a 2-l evel e n h a n c e m e n t to h is o f

f e n s e le v e l f

o ro b s tru c tio n o f

ju s tic e , p u r s u a n t to U .S .S .G . § 3C 1. 1. S e c t i on 3C 1. 1 pr ovi de s f ora 2- l e ve l i nc r e a s e i n the of f e ns e l e ve l i f

the 6 de f e nda nt“ w i l l f

ul l y obs truc t e d ori m pe de d, ora t t e m pt e d t o obs truc tori m pe de , the a dm i ni s tr a t i on of

j us t i c e ” w i th r e s pe c tt o the “ i nve s t i ga t i on, pr os e c ut i on, or se nt enci ng of the i nst antoffe nse of c on vi ct i on ” a nd “ the ob struct i ve cond uct r e la te d to th e d e f

e n d a n t’s o f

f e n s e o f c o n v ic tio n .” U .S .S .G . § 3 C 1 .1 . T h e § 3 C 1 .1 enhancem entappl i es i f a defe nd antcom m i t s per j ury per t ai ni ng t o con du ctthat fo rm s th e b asi s o f th e o ffen se o f co n v i ct i o n o r p ro v i d es m at eri al l y fal se i nf or m a t i on t o a j udge orm a gi s tr a t e . U . S . S . G . § 3C 1. 1 c m t . n. 4( b) , ( f ) . F or purpos e s of

a ppl y i ng thi s e nha nc e m e nt , pe r j ur y i s de f

i ne d a s “ f

a l s e t e s t i m ony co n cern i n g a m at eri al m at t er w i th th e w i l l fu l i n t en tt o p ro v i d e fal se t est i m o n y, r a the rtha n a s a r e s ul tof c onf us i on, m i s t a ke , orf

a ul ty m e m or y . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. B ra db erry , 46 6 F . 3d 12 49 , 12 54 (11t h C i r. 20 06 ) ( qu ot at i on om i t t ed).15

O n a ppe a l , R a m os c ont e nds tha ta ny i nc ons i s t e ntt e s t i m ony r e s ul t e d f r om co n fu si o n d u e t o h i s l i m i t ed fl u en cy i n E n g l i sh , n o ta w i l l fu l i n t en tt o p ro v i d e fal se t e s t i m ony . H ow e ve r , R a m os ne ve ri ndi c a t e d tha the ha d di f f i c ul ty unde r s t a ndi ng ors pe a ki ng E ngl i s h dur i ng e i the rthe de t e nt i on he a r i ng orthe tr i a l . R a m os ha d the o p tio n o f te s tif y in g w ith th e a s s is ta n c e o f a n in te rp r e te r , w h o w a s p r e s e n t a t b o th th e d e te n tio n h e a r in g a n d tr ia l, b u t R a m o s c h o s e to te s tif y in E n g lis h . A t tr ia l, F D O A O ffi cer L o n g t est i fi ed th atR am o s h ad n o d i ffi cu l ty u n d erst an d i n g E n g l i sh du ri ng hi s quest i on i ng atthe L i ve O ak i nspect i on ce nt er . B ec ause the di stri ctcourt w as un i qu el y s ui t ed t o m ake a det er m i nat i on thatR am os w as no tconfused based on thi s t e s t i m ony a nd i t s obs e r va t i on of R a m os ’ s e xpr e s s i on a nd de m e a noron the w i tness st and, w e c anno tsa y thatthe di stri ctcourtcl ea rl y e rr ed i n con cl ud i ng that R am os had w i l l ful i nt entt o p rovi de fa l se t es t i m on y. S ee U ni t ed S t at es v. H as ner, 340 F . 3d 1261, 1277 ( 11th C i r . 2003) ; U ni t e d S t a t e s v. W i l l i a m s , 340 F . 3d 1231, 12 40 -41 (11 th C i r. 20 03 ). Fu r th e r mo r e , th e e v i d e n c e a ttr i a l a n d th e u n d i s p u t e d s t a t e me n t s i n th e PSI am p l y su p p o rtth e d i stri ctco u rt ’ s factu al fi n d i n g th atR am o s o ffered fal se te s tim o n y . A c c o r d in g ly , th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s a p p lic a tio n o f th e § 3 C 1 .1 e nha nc e m e ntw a s notc l e a r l y e r r one ous . S e e H a s ne r , 340 F . 3d a t1277. C . D u e P roce ss R i gh tsWhen a def endant f ails to object to an alleg ed er ror in the district cour

t, we review for 7 plain error. See United States v. Raad, 406 F .3d 1322, 1323 (11th Cir. 2005). “Plain er ror occur s where(1) there is an error ; (2) that is plain or obvious; (3) a ffe ctingthe def endant’ s substantial rights in that itwas pre judicial and not har

mless; and (4) that seriously aff ects the fairne ss, integrity , or public reputation of the judicial proc eeding s.” I d. (quotation marks omitted). 16 L a s t l y , R a m os c ont e nds f orthe f i r s tt i m e on a ppe a l tha the w a s de ni e d due pr oc e s s a nd a f

a i rtr i a l by the gove r nm e nt ’ s a s s e r t i ons i n i t s ope ni ng s t a t e m e nta nd c lo s in g a r g u m e n t th a t R a m o s lie d a t h is d e te n tio n h e a r in g a n d its s u g g e s tio n in cl osi ng ar gu m entthatR am os had con nect i on s w i th t he drug tra de. H ow ever , 7 R am os has s ho w n n o err or, m uch l es s pl ai n err or. F i rs t , the go vernm entprov i ded evi dence thatR am os had n ott es t i fi ed truthful l y a nd w as perm i t t ed t o cl ai m that R a m os l i e d. S e c ond, the gove r nm e ntdi d nots ugge s ttha tR a m os ha d c onne c t i ons w i th the drug tr a de i n i t s c l os i ng a r gum e nt . W hi l e the gove r nm e ntpos e d a hy pothe t i c a l que s t i on w he the ra drug de a l e rw oul d l e a ve s uc h a l a r ge qua nt i ty of c oc a i ne w i th a n uns us pe c t i ng dr i ve r , i tw a s c l e a rtha tthe gove r nm e ntw a s not im p ly in g th a t R a m o s w a s c o n n e c te d w ith th e h y p o th e tic a l d ru g d e a le rin p a r tic u la r . R a m os ha s nots how n tha thi s due pr oc e s s r i ght s w e r e vi ol a t e d. I I I . CONCL US I ON F or the foregoi ng re as on s, w e a ff i rm R am os’ s c on vi ct i on and sent ence . AF F I RME D.