FILED

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

JUNE 24, 2011

JOHN LEY

CLERK

[PUBLISH]

 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

 FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

 ________________________

 No. 10-10151 

 ________________________

 D.C. Docket No. 1:08-cr-20897-DMM-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

 Plaintiff - Appellee,

 versus

JAMES JOVAN LADSON,

 Defendant - Appellant.

________________________

 Appeal from the United States District Court

 for the Southern District of Florida

 ________________________

(June 24, 2011)

Before PRYOR and COX, Circuit Judges, and WATKINS, District Judge. *

WATKINS, District Judge:

 Honorable W. Keith Watkins, Chief United States District Judge for the Middle District *

of Alabama, sitting by designation.
JamesJovan Ladson appeals his convictions (CountsI, II, and IV), his sentence

ofmandatory life imprisonment based upon his conviction for conspiracy to distribute

controlled substances, enhanced by two prior felony drug offenses (Count I), and his

sentence based upon his conviction for possession with intent to distribute a

controlled substance and an increased statutory maximum penalty based upon a prior

felony drug offense (Count II). Ladson raises three issues on appeal: (1) whether

there was sufficient evidence to support his convictions; (2) whether there were

cumulative errors at trial that prejudiced him to the extent that he is entitled to a new

trial; and (3) whether the Government properly filed and served its 21 U.S.C. § 851

notice of enhanced sentence. Finding that the first two issues lack merit, we focus

our analysis on the Government’s service of the notice of enhancement under §

851(a)(1).

Ladson argues that the Government did not file and serve an information

containing notice of an enhanced sentence in accordance with § 851(a)(1). We agree

that he was not served before trial with a copy of the information in accordance with

§ 851(a)(1), and thus the district court lacked authority to impose an enhanced

sentence on CountsI and II under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), (C), and 846. 

We therefore vacate Ladson’s mandatory term of life imprisonment on Count I and

ten-year sentence on Count II, and remand with instructions to resentence Ladson on

2
Counts I and II without the § 851 sentence enhancement under the second

information. We affirm the judgment of conviction on Counts I, II, and IV.

I.

In September 2008, a grand jury indicted Ladson and seven others for

conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, as

well as cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and

846 (Count I). The superseding indictment filed in January 2009 added two other

defendants and three new charges against Ladson: (1) possession with intent to

distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Count II); (2) possession of

a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (Count III); and (3) being a felon in possession of a firearm and

ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (Count IV).

Ladson’s trial wasscheduled to begin with jury selection on May 12, 2009. On

May 4, 2009, the Government provided Ladson’s trial counsel with a copy of an

information (the “first information”) giving notice of the Government’s intent to seek

enhanced penalties under Counts I and II of the indictment on the basis of a single

3
prior felony drug conviction. It is undisputed that the first information was never

filed with the district court.1

On May 12, 2009, before the district court brought the jury pool into the

courtroom to begin jury selection, the Government announced its intention to file a

§ 851 sentence enhancement that could result in a mandatory sentence of life

imprisonment and remove the possibility of a favorable plea agreement. The 2

Government advised the district court that it would be filing the § 851 enhancement

before jury selection because “if we pick a jury we will have crossed the Rubicon and

there’s not really much coming back at that point.” Before handing the district judge

that information in open court (the “second information”), the Government said,

“[W]e would like to file with the court the 851 enhancement. . . . May I approach and

file with the Court?” The district court granted the request. Ladson’s trial counsel

asked for a last moment to confer with his client about the Government’s plea offer:

“Wait before you actually clock it in.” After a brief conference, Ladson’s trial

counsel informed the district court that Ladson intended to go to trial. The

 The first information is preserved in the record only because Ladson’s sentencing 1

counsel attached it to the sentencing memorandum he filed with the district court on December 7,

2009. 

 Importantly, the second information noticed two prior felony drug convictions. 2

4
Government responded, “Your honor, please file the 851 enhancement.” 

3

A colloquy ensued between the district court and Ladson:

THE COURT: Mr. Ladson, I want to make sure you — I

want to read this to you. It says here, the

defendant is hereby notified [that] the United

States intends to rely at sentencing upon the

following convictions for felony drug

offenses and will seek the enhanced penalties

applicable to Counts 1 and 2 of the

indictment. And there is a State of Florida

versus James Ladson Circuit Court of the

Eleventh Judicial Circuit judgment dated

September 29, 2000, another one dated 2001,

September 20, 2001. It goes on to say as a

result of the United States seeking this

enhancement, the defendant is exposed on

Count 1 to a mandatory term of life

imprisonment without release, and on Count

2 to a maximum term of imprisonment of 30

years and a term of supervised release of six

years. First, I want to make sure — you

understand this?

DEFENDANT: If I told you I did, I would be lying to you.

But I hear what you’re saying.

THE COURT: All right. I just — there was a case recently

where defendants went to trial in a situation

like this. They were convicted. One of the

guys at sentencing says, Judge, how long is

life? I want to make sure you understand life

 Because we find deficient service on the defendant under § 851(a)(1), we do not address 3

the sufficiency of filing on these facts. See United States v. Weaver, 905 F.2d 1466, 1481(11th

Cir. 1990).

5
is life. There’s no parole. Life is not

something you get out in a short while. You

understand that?

DEFENDANT: (Defendant nodding head.)

THE COURT: Okay. Let’s invite the jury in.

Jury selection immediately followed this colloquy, and the trial commenced. On May

13, 2009, the district court declared a mistrial because of the Government’s late

disclosure of fingerprint evidence. 

In July 2009, the Government filed a second superseding indictment. The

second superseding indictment charged Ladson and one co-defendant with conspiracy

to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, as well as

cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846

(Count I). Ladson was also charged with: (1) possession with intent to distribute five

grams or more of cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§ 841(a)(1) (Count II); (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking

crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (Count III); and (3) being a felon

in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

(Count IV). On August 3, 2009, Ladson went to trial on these charges, and on August

7, 2009, the jury found him guilty on Counts I, II, and IV of the second superseding

indictment. He was acquitted of the § 924(c) charge in Count III. 

6
No § 851 sentence enhancement information appeared as a docket entry on the

district court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Filing docket (“CM/ECF”) until

September 15, 2009, five weeks after the conclusion of the second trial. However,

the information docketed on September 15, 2009 (the “third information”), was not

the second information the district court received in open court from the Government

on May 12, 2009. Rather, the docketed third information, a replacement for the

second information, was emailed from the Government to the district court on

September 14, 2009. The clerk of the court physically date-stamped the third

information May 12, 2009, but it was electronically time-stamped September 15,

2009, by CM/ECF. Notably, the third information was not physically or

electronically signed by the filing Assistant United States Attorney. The attached

Certificate of Service was electronically signed by the filing Assistant United States

Attorney, however, and stated, “I hereby certify that on or about May 12th, 2009, I

will electronically file[] the foregoing document with the Clerk of the Court using

CM/ECF, and that the foregoing document is being served this day on all counsel of

record via transmission of Notice(s) of Electronic Filing.” (emphasis added). The

third information contained notice that the Government was pursuing a sentence

enhancement of mandatory life imprisonment on Count I of the superseding

indictment, and a maximum term of imprisonment of thirty years and a term of

7
supervised release of six years on Count II of the superseding indictment. Like the

4

second information, the third information referenced two prior felony drug

convictions. 

At sentencing on January 5, 2010, only the second information was at issue as

the basis for a § 851 sentence enhancement. Ladson’s sentencing counsel objected

5

to the sentence enhancement, arguing that the second information was not properly

filed and served in accordance with § 851(a)(1). Ladson argued that the district

court’s summary of a portion of the second information in open court prior to the first

trial did not suffice for service, that the Government filed its only copy of the second

information with the district court just before the beginning of the first trial on May,

12, 2009, and thus Ladson could not have been personally served with a copy in the

courtroom. Ladson also repeatedly urged the district court to hold an evidentiary

hearing to determine whether the second information was timely served. 

The Government argued that the second information was properly filed because

it was handed to the district court in open court and it was properly served on Ladson

because he had actual notice of the information and the district court had read a

 Because the third information was intended as a replacement for the second information, 4

it still referenced the superseding indictment filed January 8, 2009, and not the second

superseding indictment filed July 30, 2009.

 On October 15, 2009, Ladson’s trial counsel withdrew from the case, and sentencing 5

counsel was appointed to represent Ladson. 

8
portion of the information to him in open court. The Government further reasoned

that service was accomplished because: (1) the Government emailed the first

information to Ladson’s trial counsel; (2) the Government spoke with Ladson’s trial

counsel multiple times in the lead-up to the first trial about its intent to file the § 851

enhancement exposing Ladson to life imprisonment;(3) there is no doubt that Ladson

had actual notice prior to both trials of the § 851 enhancement exposing him to life

imprisonment based upon two prior felony drug convictions; and (4) Ladson’s trial

counsel never complained that he did not receive a copy of the second information

prior to trial and he could have simply asked to see the information when it was filed

with the district court on May 12, 2009. The Government conceded at least three

times, however, that it could not definitively say that a copy of the second

information was handed to or otherwise served on Ladson or his counsel prior to the

first trial.

6

During the sentencing hearing, the district court explained that the third

information was docketed late because, “[the court] had the original [that was filed

in open court on May 12, 2009]. I can tell you I’m 99 percent certain what happened

to that, which is that I had it and didn’t give it to [district court staff.] That’s what

 The parties do not dispute that service did not occur between the start of the first trial 6

(May 12, 2009) and the start of the second trial (August 3, 2009).

9
happened to the original.” The district court also stated that it was “not going to

make . . . a finding” and was “not prepared to make a finding” on whether Ladson or

his trial counsel was handed a copy of the second information in court on May 12,

2009. 

After hearing the arguments of both parties, the district court overruled

Ladson’s objection and denied Ladson’s request for an evidentiary hearing on the

issue of service, finding a hearing unnecessary. The district court based its decision

on Ladson’s knowledge of the filing of the second information in open court on May

12, 2009, and the content of the second information. The district court also stated

that it was the district court’s “belief” that a copy was handed to Ladson’s trial

counsel on May 12, 2009, but he was “not certain” of that fact. The district court

observed that Ladson’s trial counsel’s September 15 and 16, 2009 emails

“suggest[ed]” that Ladson or his trial counsel wasserved with the second information

10
prior to trial. After considering Ladson’s other objections, the district court

7

sentenced Ladson to a mandatory term of life imprisonment on Count I, ten years on

Count II, and fifteen years on Count IV. Ladson’s timely appeal followed.

8

II.

Several standards of review govern this appeal. We review the district court’s

conclusions of law de novo. Harris v. United States, 149 F.3d 1304, 1306 (11th Cir.

1998). We review the adequacy of a 21 U.S.C. § 851 notice de novo. United States

v. Ramirez, 501 F.3d 1237, 1239 (11th Cir. 2007). We review the findings of fact that

support a sentence enhancement for clear error. United States v. Ndiaye, 434 F.3d

 The district court relied on two emails sent by Ladson’s trial counsel to the United 7

States Probation Officer assigned to his case, one dated September 15, 2009, and the other dated

September 16, 2009. Following sentencing, the district court had the probation officer

incorporate the emails into Ladson’s Presentence Investigation Report. 

In the September 15, 2009 email, Ladson’s trial counsel stated that he received a copy of

the first information by email, but that information was not filed with the court. He further stated

that the information that was docketed on CM/ECF on September 15, 2009 (the third

information), was not filed before trial. The September 16, 2009 email from Ladson’s trial

counsel to the probation officer reads,

In further response to your inquiry, I can’t locate anything other than the

Informations that I received via email on May 4th and the most recent received

via CM/ECF on Sept 15. Nevertheless, although served on defense counsel,

the Information(s) must be “filed” prior to trial and, in this case, that doesn’t

appear to have happened.

 

The September 16, 2009 email did not reference the second information, contrary to the district

court’s suggestion. 

 The district court declined to pronounce an alternate sentence, stating, “[I]f the Court of 8

Appeals for some reason thinks that the 851 enhancement isn’t appropriate, I think I would look

at sentencing anew rather than try to announce an alternat[e] sentence now.”

11
1270, 1280 (11th Cir. 2006). Clear error review is “very deferential and we will not

reverse the district court unless we find that after making all credibility choices in

favor of the fact-finder and reviewing the record as a whole, it is clear that a mistake

has been made.” Commodity Futures Trading Comm’n v. Gibraltar Monetary Corp.,

Inc., 575 F.3d 1180, 1186 (11th Cir. 2009). “Under clear error review, the district

court’s determination must be affirmed so long as it is plausible in light of the record

reviewed in its entirety.” Id. “We review the district court’s ruling on admission of

evidence for abuse of discretion.” United States v. Jiminez, 224 F.3d 1243, 1249

(11th Cir. 2000).

Questions regarding sufficiency of the evidence are reviewed de novo,

resolving all reasonable inferences in favor of the verdict. United States v. Naranjo,

634 F.3d 1198, 1206 (11th Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks and citations

omitted). “We cannot disturb the verdict unless no trier of fact could have found guilt

beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 

“Even where individual judicial errors or prosecutorial misconduct may not be

sufficient to warrant reversal alone, we may consider the cumulative effects of errors

to determine if the defendant has been denied a fair trial.” United States v. Lopez,

590 F.3d 1238, 1258 (11th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 131 S. Ct. 413 (2010). “In

addressing a claim of cumulative error, we must examine the trial as a whole to

12
determine whether the appellant was afforded a fundamentally fair trial.” United

States v. Calderon, 127 F.3d 1314, 1333 (11th Cir. 1997). There is no cumulative

error where the defendant “cannot establish that the combined errors affected his

substantial rights.” United States v. Foley, 508 F.3d 627, 638 (11th Cir. 2007). 

Assessing cumulative error, the court reviews all errors preserved for appeal and all

plain errors. United States v. Baker, 432 F.3d 1189, 1223 (11th Cir. 2005).

Finally, litigants must “make all their objections to a sentencing court’s

findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the manner in which the sentence was

imposed at the initial sentencing hearing.” United States v. Canty, 570 F.3d 1251,

1257 (11th Cir. 2009) (internal citation omitted). Therefore, “remand for further

proceedings is inappropriate when the issue was before the court and the parties had

an opportunity to introduce relevant evidence.” Id. (internal citation omitted). 

III.

Our analysis focuses on the question whether the Government complied with

the procedural requirements of 21 U.S.C. § 851(a)(1) in order for the district court to

13
impose a mandatory term of life imprisonment. Ladson contends that neither he nor

9

his trial counsel wasserved before trial with a copy of an information referencing two

prior felony drug convictions, and that service of the third information by electronic

filing on September 15, 2009, was too late because it occurred more than a month

after the conclusion of his second trial in August 2009. Ladson asserts that the

district court’s summarizing, in open court, the content ofthe second information was

 Ladson’s sufficiency of the evidence and cumulative error arguments lack merit. As to 9

the sufficiency of the evidence, the quantum of evidence of guilt as to each count rises well

above the “no trier of fact” standard of Naranjo. 634 F.3d at 1206. The evidence was sufficient

to support his convictions on Counts I, II, and IV. On Count I, a reasonable jury could have

found beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a conspiracy between Ladson and his brother to

sell cocaine base, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana on the basis that: (1) Ladson’s brother ran the

“drug hole” at 4620 North Miami Avenue; (2) agents recorded seventeen telephone conversations

in which Ladson and his brother discussed different aspects of the drug business; (3) Ladson

confessed to selling cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana for his brother in 2007; (4) in February

2008, Ladson was observed conducting two separate sales of cocaine base from the 4620 drug

hole; (5) Ladson cooked cocaine to make cocaine base and prepared cocaine base for sale; and

(6) when his brother was incarcerated in 2007, Ladson oversaw the 4620 drug hole and was the

only person preparing drugs for sale. 

On Count II, a reasonable jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Ladson

knowingly possessed a controlled substance with intent to distribute on the basis that: (1) he was

aware of the cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana, which were located in the open throughout the

residence, where he had been the sole occupant for four consecutive days; (2) he had dominion

and control over the residence; and (3) the drugs were packaged for distribution. 

On Count IV, a reasonable jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Ladson

possessed the firearm because he had dominion and control over the bedroom, there was a

firearm on the floor next to the bed and ammunition on the bed, and investigators found Ladson’s

fingerprint on the firearm’s magazine. 

After careful review of the record, we further find no cumulative error that affected

Ladson’s substantial rights in light of the other overwhelming evidence against him. Fed. R.

Crim. P. 52(a); United States v. Hands, 184 F.3d 1322, 1329 (11th Cir. 1999) (error is harmless

where it has no substantial influence on the outcome of the case and there was sufficient

evidence uninfected by error to support the verdict). Further, we find that Ladson was not denied

a fair trial.

14
insufficient to comply with the service requirement of § 851. He argues that although

the Government and the district court speculated atsentencing asto whether he or his

trial counsel received a copy of the second information, there is no evidence in the

record that he or his counsel was served until the third information appeared on

CM/ECF on September 15, 2009. He argues that because the district court erred by

applying the § 851 sentence enhancement when the Government failed to strictly

comply with the filing and service provisions of the statute, he should be resentenced

without the § 851 sentence enhancement. The Government argues that the record

supportsthe district court’s conclusion that the second information wasserved before

trial based on Ladson’s knowledge ofthe second information and other circumstantial

evidence of service.10

Section 841(b)(1) prescribes enhanced sentencesfor recidivist drug offenders. 

To obtain a sentence enhancement under § 841(b)(1) based on a defendant’s prior

felony drug conviction(s), the government must comply with § 851(a)(1). Section

851(a)(1) provides in pertinent part:

No person who stands convicted of an offense under this part shall be

sentenced to increased punishment by reason of one or more prior

convictions, unless before trial, . . . the United States attorney files an

information with the court (and serves a copy ofsuch information on the

 Our analysis is aided materially by good briefing and oral argument from counsel on 10

both sides.

15
person or counsel for the person) stating in writing the previous

convictions to be relied upon. 

Section 851(a)(1) contains both a filing and service requirement, and it is

“phrased in mandatory language.” United States v. Noland, 495 F.2d 529, 533 (5th 11

Cir. 1974). Today, we hold that the statutory language of § 851(a)(1) requires the

12

 In Harris, we held that, “even where a defendant receives actual notice that the 11

government intends to rely on a previous conviction to enhance his sentence, the district court

lacks jurisdiction to impose an enhanced sentence until the government files an information as

required under § 851.” 149 F.3d at 1307. The jurisdictional aspect of Harris is in doubt in light

of later decisions of the Supreme Court holding that “jurisdiction[]” is the authority of a court to

adjudicate a “class[] of cases.” Eberhart v. United States, 546 U.S. 12, 16 (2005); Kontrick v.

Ryan, 540 U.S. 443, 455 (2004). However, we are not required to determine in this appeal

whether the notice requirements of section 851(a)(1) are jurisdictional. We do not equate the

term “authority” with “jurisdiction.” 

 In Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc), we 12

adopted as binding precedent all decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed down before

October 1, 1981. 

16
Government to strictly comply with the service requirement before trial. The 13

defendant’s actual notice of the Government’s filing of an information does not

obviate the Government’s statutory obligation under § 851(a)(1) to serve a copy of

the information on the defendant or his or her counsel before trial. See Noland, 495

F.2d at 533 (“The Government’s argument that [the defendant] was not surprised by

the enhanced sentence carries no weight in the face of the plain words of [§

851(a)(1)].”). The Government bearsthe burden of proving its strict compliance with

the proceduralrequirements of § 851(a)(1). See United States v. Hernandez, 145 F.3d

1433, 1440 (11th Cir. 1998) (“The burden of proof for establishing that a sentence

 The Government does not cite or argue that United States v. Cevallos (Cevallos I), 538 13

F.2d 1122 (5th Cir. 1976) should play a role in our decision. In any event, Cevallos I is

distinguishable from this case. In Cevallos I, the former Fifth Circuit held that the

uncontroverted evidence left no doubt that the district court could impliedly conclude that a

sentence enhancement filed before the defendant’s guilty plea was properly served on the

defendant despite the absence of a certificate of service. Id. at 1123-24, 1126. That

uncontroverted evidence included Mr. Cevallos’s plea colloquy and plea agreement, in which he

acknowledged the filing of the information. Further, the Fifth Circuit observed that it was the

regular practice of the United States Attorney’s office to hand the information to defense counsel

at the time of filing. Id. at 1126 n.7. 

The present case is easily distinguishable on two fronts. First, this case does not present

an uncontroverted record of service. Second, Cevallos I does not stand for the proposition that a

defendant’s knowledge alone is sufficient to establish § 851(a)(1) compliance, because such a

holding would be in conflict with Noland. See 495 F.2d at 533 (holding that where the

government failed to file an information before trial, yet the defendant knew he could be subject

to an enhanced sentence as early as his arraignment, such knowledge or lack of surprise did not

equate to compliance with § 851); accord United States v. Olson, 716 F.2d 850, 853-54 (11th

Cir. 1983) (vacating a sentence enhancement where the district court relied on the defendant’s

actual knowledge of his status as a “multiple offender” to establish § 851(a)(1) compliance and

expressly affirming Cevallos I). We do not read Cevallos I to contradict Noland.

17
enhancement is warranted lies with the prosecution and it is the duty of the district

court to insure that the prosecution carries its burden of proof.”).

It is not apparent from the record whether the district court made a finding at

Ladson’s sentencing that Ladson or his trial counsel was served with a copy of the

second information before trial. Although Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure

32(i)(3) requires such a finding, the record does not allow us to conclude that the

district court complied with that rule. Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(i)(3) (“At sentencing, the

court: (A) may accept any undisputed portion of the presentence report as a finding

of fact; [and] (B) must – for any disputed portion of the presentence report or other

controverted matter – rule on the dispute . . . .”) On balance, it does not matter

whether the court made a finding pursuant to Rule 32. Even if it had, we would

reverse because the record would not support such a finding under any standard of

review.

To begin, the Government produced no evidence or testimony at Ladson’s

sentencing to prove that it had served the second information on Ladson or his trial

counsel before trial. In fact, the Government repeatedly confessed that it could not

remember whether it had handed a copy of the second information to Ladson or his

trial counsel. Further, the Presentence Investigation Report contained no factual basis

18
describing how or when the second information was served on Ladson or his trial

counsel. In response to Ladson’s service objection, the probation officer admitted

that “the [service] issue remains unresolved,” and “the probation officer defers to the

Court regarding whether the enhancement is valid.” In the face of that record, the

district court refused, in its discretion, to allow Ladson’s trial counsel to testify on the

issue of service of the second information. Given Ladson’s service objection, the

absence of information pertinent to service in the Presentence Investigation Report,

and the failure to produce any evidence of service at Ladson’s sentencing, the

Government failed to fulfill its burden of proof of establishing the district court’s

authority to impose a § 851 sentence enhancement.

Further, the district court’s stated reasons for denying Ladson’s service

objection did not fill the evidentiary void left by the Government. The district court’s

stated reasons for denying Ladson’s objection were (1) its belief that Ladson or his

trial counsel was served; (2) the September 16, 2009 email from Ladson’s trial

counsel that “suggest[ed]” service; and (3) Ladson’s actual knowledge of the second

information. We address the district court’s stated bases in turn. 

First, the district court’s belief that Ladson or his trial counsel was served

based on its own recollection of the events of May 12, 2009, was not evidence of

19
service. Such a belief was not informed by admissible evidence ortestimony, nor was

it a fact appropriate for judicial notice. See Fed. R. Evid. 201(b) (“A judicially

noticed fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is . . . capable of

accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot

reasonably be questioned.”). 

Second, the supplementation of the Presentence Investigation Report with

Ladson’s trial counsel’s September 16, 2009 email did not add any relevant evidence

that Ladson or his trial counsel was in fact served with a copy of the second

information before trial. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(i)(3)(C). The district court focused

on the legal argument in the email that read, “Nevertheless, although served on

defense counsel, the Information(s) must be ‘filed’ prior to trial and, in this case, that

doesn’t appear to have happened.” In so doing, the district court did not credit

Ladson’s trial counsel’s statement in the email concerning the documents he had

actually received, which were the first and third informations. Nothing in that email

contains plausible, relevant evidence that the second information was served before

trial, and it is the second information upon which the Government relies for service

pursuant to § 851(a)(1). 

20
Third, it was error to conclude that an oral summary of the second information

in open court and Ladson’s actual knowledge of the filing of the second information

were valid substitutes for service of a copy of a § 851 sentence enhancement. See

Noland, 495 F.2d at 533 (§ 851 information filed one day after sentencing did not

satisfy§ 851(a)(1) filing requirement, notwithstanding that the defendant was advised

of enhanced limits of punishment at arraignment and did not contest the validity of

his prior conviction at sentencing). Accordingly, reading or summarizing a § 851

information in open court is not “serv[ice of] a copy” sufficient for strict compliance

with § 851(a)(1). See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b) (reading in open court is not a permissible

method of service in Rule 5(b)); United States v. Novaton, 271 F.3d 968, 1016 (11th

Cir. 2001) (Service of a § 851 sentence enhancement must comply with Federal Rule

of Criminal Procedure 49(b), in conjunction with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

5(b).). Because the Government failed to serve Ladson with a copy of the second

information before his second trial commenced on August 3, 2009, in compliance

14

with § 851(a)(1), the district court lacked authority to enhance his sentence under the

second information on Counts I and II of the second superseding indictment. 

United States v. Williams, 59 F.3d 1180, 1185-86 (11th Cir. 1995), stands for the 14

proposition that in cases involving multiple trials of the same defendant, a § 851 sentence

enhancement must be filed and served once before trial, but not re-filed and re-served before

each and every trial.

21
Finally, given the Government’s opposition to remand for an evidentiary

hearing and its previous opportunity “to offer evidence and seek rulings from the

sentencing court in support of an enhanced sentence,” remand for a hearing on the

issue of service of the second information is inappropriate. Canty, 570 F.3d at 1257.

IV.

We AFFIRM the judgment of conviction on Counts I, II, and IV of the second

superseding indictment. We VACATE the sentence on Counts I and II, and

15

REMAND for resentencing on Counts I and II without the § 851 sentence

enhancement under the second information.

AFFIRMED in part, VACATED and REMANDED in part.

 Mr. Ladson only challenges his conviction, not his sentence, on Count IV. 15

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