Source: https://openjurist.org/349/f3d/755/united-states-v-stockton
Timestamp: 2018-11-19 04:05:01
Document Index: 195935904

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 846', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 922', '§ 922', 'art, 256', '§ 4', '§ 3553', '§ 3742', '§ 4', '§ 3742', '§ 401', '§ 402']

349 F3d 755 United States v. Stockton | OpenJurist
349 F. 3d 755 - United States v. Stockton
349 F3d 755 United States v. Stockton
349 F.3d 755
Rolando STOCKTON, Defendant-Appellant.
Rolando Stockton, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 02-4139.
ARGUED: G. Godwin Oyewole, Washington, D.C., for Appellant.
On April 17, 2001, a federal grand jury sitting in the District of Maryland returned a five-count Fifth Superseding Indictment (indictment) charging Rolando Stockton with various offenses related to his alleged participation in a heroin trafficking conspiracy operating in the Park Heights neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. In count one of the indictment, the Government charged Stockton with conspiracy to distribute, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin from 1994 to April 2000, in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. § 846 (West 1999). In support of this conspiracy charge, the Government alleged that the members of the conspiracy used violence to enforce discipline within the conspiracy and used violence to keep those outside the conspiracy from interfering with the conspiracy's operations. One of the alleged overt acts of the conspiracy was the attempted murder of Ricky Ricardo Jones on May 13, 1999. That attempt resulted in the shooting of Clinton Williams. In counts two through five of the indictment, the Government charged Stockton with four firearms violations stemming from the events of May 13, 1999, specifically, use of a firearm against Jones during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 924(c) (West 2000) (count two); use of a firearm against Clinton Williams during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, also in violation of § 924(c) (count three); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 922(g)(1) (West 2000) (count four); and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, also in violation of § 922(g)(1). Stockton entered a plea of not guilty, and a trial by jury ensued.
During closing argument, the Government highlighted the fact that Stockton had failed to call Gray as a witness, stating, "[a]nd then, of course, there was Tasha Gray, who was supposed to be a defense witness, but then [they] chose not to call her." (J.A. at 123.) Counsel for Stockton objected and the district court responded by stating, "[w]ell, I'm going to allow argument, and people have a difference of opinion, you can air it in your arguments. Okay. Go ahead." (J.A. at 123.)
When considering a sufficiency of the evidence challenge to a guilty verdict, we must sustain the jury's verdict "if there is substantial evidence, taking the view most favorable to the Government, to support it." Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); see also United States v. Perry, 335 F.3d 316, 320 (4th Cir.2003). In determining whether the evidence in the record is "substantial," we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government and inquire whether there is evidence that a reasonable finder of fact could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a conclusion of a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Burgos, 94 F.3d 849, 862-63 (4th Cir.1996).
The next issue that Stockton raises is whether the district court should have given a "multiple conspiracies" instruction to the jury.2 At trial, Stockton neither requested such a "multiple conspiracies" instruction, nor objected at the charging conference to the lack of such an instruction. Therefore, we consider any resulting error only if it is "[a] plain error that affects substantial rights." Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(b). In order to notice a putative error under Rule 52(b), Stockton first "must demonstrate [1] that an error occurred, [2] that the error was plain, and [3] that the error affected his substantial rights." United States v. Promise, 255 F.3d 150, 154 (4th Cir.2001). Even if Stockton satisfies these requirements, correction of the error remains within the discretion of the appellate court, which the court "should not exercise... unless the error `seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.'" United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993) (alteration in original) (quoting United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 15, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985)).
In cases where a defendant is charged with conspiracy, a district court must issue a "multiple conspiracies" instruction where the evidence supports a finding that multiple conspiracies existed. United States v. Bowens, 224 F.3d 302, 307 (4th Cir.2000). However, "`[a] multiple conspiracy instruction is not required unless the proof at trial demonstrates that [the defendant] [was] involved only in [a] separate conspirac[y] unrelated to the overall conspiracy charged in the indictment.'" United States v. Squillacote, 221 F.3d 542, 574 (4th Cir.2000) (quoting United States v. Kennedy, 32 F.3d 876, 884 (4th Cir.1994)). We have noted that a single overall conspiracy can be distinguished from multiple independent conspiracies based on the overlap in actors, methods, and goals: "A single conspiracy exists where there is `one overall agreement,' or `one general business venture.' Whether there is a single conspiracy or multiple conspiracies depends upon the overlap of key actors, methods, and goals." United States v. Leavis, 853 F.2d 215, 218 (4th Cir.1988) (citations omitted).
The remaining issue Stockton raises on appeal is whether the incidents of alleged prosecutorial misconduct had the effect of denying Stockton his right to a fair trial. Stockton raised this argument at trial in a motion for mistrial, which the district court denied. We review the denial of a motion for mistrial for abuse of discretion. United States v. Stewart, 256 F.3d 231, 241 (4th Cir.2001).
We apply a two-pronged test in determining whether alleged incidents of prosecutorial misconduct warrant reversal. We must assess "(1) whether the prosecutor's remarks or conduct was improper, and (2) whether such remarks or conduct prejudicially affected the defendant's substantial rights so as to deprive [him] of a fair trial." United States v. Francisco, 35 F.3d 116, 120 (4th Cir.1994); see also United States v. Bennett, 984 F.2d 597, 608 (4th Cir.1993) (applying the standard to an allegedly improper question asked during cross-examination). The Government candidly concedes that its question during the cross-examination of Stockton was improper, but disputes the assertion that the reference in closing argument to the defendant's decision not to call Tasha Gray as a witness was improper. Therefore, our task here is to determine whether the Tasha Gray comment was, in fact, improper, and whether the cumulative effect of any prosecutorial misconduct prejudicially affected Stockton's substantial rights.
Stockton has not clearly explained how the Government's comment regarding Tasha Gray implicated his constitutional rights. In cases where the defendant has exercised his Fifth Amendment right not to testify, the Government must exercise care in commenting on the defendant's failure to produce witnesses, so as not to violate the rule of Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106 (1965), by calling attention to the defendant's own failure to testify. See United States v. Parker, 903 F.2d 91, 98 (2d Cir.1990); United States v. Fleishman, 684 F.2d 1329, 1343 (9th Cir.1982). But here, Stockton testified, so the comment could not have implicated his right to remain silent. Moreover, because Tasha Gray herself testified, the comment was not an invitation to the jury to infer that the testimony would have been adverse to Stockton's case. Cf., e.g., United States v. Fisher, 484 F.2d 868, 870 (4th Cir.1973) ("Where a witness is readily available to both sides, no inference is to be drawn against either party from the fact that he has not been called."). In short, Stockton has not demonstrated how this comment implicated any constitutional right.3 In actuality, the comment appears to have been nothing more than an attempt to call attention to the inconsistencies between Gray's testimony and Stockton's testimony, and thereby invite the jury to infer that Stockton was not a credible witness — the type of inference that is grist for the mill in closing argument.
Bennett, 984 F.2d at 608 (quoting United States v. Harrison, 716 F.2d 1050, 1052 (4th Cir.1983)).
The Government raises one issue in its cross-appeal: Whether the district court erred when it departed downward based on the over-representativeness of Stockton's classification as a career offender under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. Sentencing courts may depart from the sentence ranges prescribed by the Sentencing Guidelines whenever the Guidelines have not accounted for peculiar circumstances in a given case. Generally, a court may depart from the Guidelines when it "finds that there exists an aggravating or mitigating circumstance of a kind, or to a degree, not adequately taken into consideration by the Sentencing Commission." 18 U.S.C.A. § 3553(b) (West 2000). We review the district court's factual determinations made in connection with sentencing for clear error, United States v. Rybicki, 96 F.3d 754, 757-58 (4th Cir.1996), and review the ultimate decision to depart de novo.4 18 U.S.C.A. § 3742(e) (West Supp.2003).
The Sentencing Guidelines state that sentencing courts may depart downward where the defendant's criminal history category "significantly over-represents the seriousness of a defendant's criminal history or the likelihood that the defendant will commit further crimes." U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3. Therefore, a sentencing court is encouraged to depart downward when a defendant's criminal history category exaggerates the seriousness of his past criminal conduct or the likelihood that he will commit further crimes. United States v. Adkins, 937 F.2d 947, 952 (4th Cir.1991). The same analysis applies when a defendant urges a sentencing court to find that his classification as a career offender over-represents the seriousness of his actual criminal history or his likelihood of recidivism. Id.
Over-representativeness arguments of the type that Stockton advances here are availing where, for instance, a defendant has two relatively minor prior convictions that do not suggest that the defendant is truly a "career offender." United States v. Pearce, 191 F.3d 488, 498 (4th Cir.1999). But where, as here, the defendant's criminal history reflects recidivism in controlled substance offenses, an over-representativeness departure is almost never appropriate. See Adkins, 937 F.2d at 952 (noting that Congress deemed controlled substance recidivism "especially dangerous").
Prior to April 30, 2003, we reviewed a district court's decision to depart from the Guidelines for abuse of discretionSee Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996); United States v. Rybicki, 96 F.3d 754, 757-58 (4th Cir.1996). Congress, however, recently amended 18 U.S.C.A. § 3742(e)(4), to require de novo review of certain departure decisions. See Prosecutorial Remedies and Tools Against the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003 ("PROTECT Act"), Pub.L. No. 108-21, § 401(d)(2), 117 Stat. 650, 670. Application of the de novo standard of review pursuant to § 402(d) of the PROTECT Act here does not implicate the Ex Post Facto Clause because a change in the standard of review merely changes "who within the federal judiciary makes a particular decision, ... not the legal standards for that decision." United States v. Mallon, 345 F.3d 943, 2003 WL 22285302, *6 (7th Cir. Sept.18, 2003); see United States v. Hutman, 339 F.3d 773, 775 (8th Cir.2003).