Source: http://openjurist.org/976/f2d/235
Timestamp: 2016-04-29 10:51:20
Document Index: 480401268

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 841', '§ 841', '§ 846', '§ 1', '§ 841', '§ 841']

976 F2d 235 United States v. Montes | OpenJurist
976 F. 2d 235 - United States v. Montes HomeFederal Reporter, Second Series 976 F.2d.
976 F2d 235 United States v. Montes 976 F.2d 235
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Rolando MONTES, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 91-8370.
Oct. 14, 1992.Rehearing Denied Dec. 8, 1992.
In November 1990 Montes and co-defendants Potts and Sanders were indicted by a grand jury on charges of conspiring from on or before October 9, 1990, to October 19, 1990, to possess with intent to distribute over one hundred kilograms of marihuana contrary to 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and of attempting, on or about October 19, 1990, to possess with intent to distribute over fifty kilograms of marihuana contrary to 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), both in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846.5
The doctrine of collateral estoppel provides that "when an issue of ultimate fact has once been determined by a valid and final judgment, that issue cannot again be litigated between the same parties in any future lawsuit." Ashe v. Swenson, 397 U.S. 436, 443, 90 S.Ct. 1189, 1194, 25 L.Ed.2d 469 (1970). Thus, collateral estoppel "bars only the reintroduction or relitigation of facts already established against the government." United States v. Mock, 604 F.2d 341, 343 (5th Cir.1979) (original emphasis omitted).
The district court had not previously determined the amount issue in a proceeding between Montes and the government. At the sentencing hearing following the entry of his guilty plea, the court allowed Montes to withdraw his plea before it proceeded to sentence his co-defendants. Montes's proceedings were thus severed from those of Potts and Sanders at the moment his plea was withdrawn. The district court therefore never determined the amount issue as between Montes and the government at the May 20, 1991 hearing. Further, collateral estoppel is inapplicable here because the bar cannot arise from a non-final judgment. The doctrine applies in situations where one final finding precludes a subsequent inconsistent finding. United States v. Fesler, 781 F.2d 384, 390 (5th Cir.1986). There was only one finding as to Montes. Factual findings by the district court as to the relevant conduct for sentencing purposes must be incorporated into a final judgment in order to have preclusive effect.
Montes may not rely on the factual findings for Potts's final judgment because Montes was not a party to that judgment. We recognize that collateral estoppel need not always require identity of parties at both trials. The civil doctrine of non-mutual collateral estoppel provides, in essence, that "if a litigant has fully and fairly litigated an issue and lost, then third parties unrelated to the original action can [in certain circumstances] bar the litigant from re-litigating that same issue in a subsequent suit." United States v. Mollier, 853 F.2d 1169, 1175 n. 7 (5th Cir.1988). We have held, however, that the doctrine of non-mutual collateral estoppel has no application in criminal cases. Id. at 1176. See Standefer v. United States, 447 U.S. 10, 100 S.Ct. 1999, 64 L.Ed.2d 689 (1980) (holding that the civil rule of non-mutual collateral estoppel could not be asserted against the government by a defendant accused of aiding and abetting a person who had been acquitted earlier in a jury trial); see also United States v. Mendoza, 464 U.S. 154, 104 S.Ct. 568, 78 L.Ed.2d 379 (1984) (holding in the immigration context that the government could not be collaterally estopped from litigating a constitutional issue concerning its administration of the Nationality Act, adjudicated against it in an earlier action brought by a different party).
II. Findings Concerning Relevant Conduct
Montes contends that the district court erred in finding that his relevant conduct for sentencing purposes constituted three hundred twenty pounds of marihuana.10 A district court's factual findings on the relevant quantity of drugs are protected by the clearly erroneous rule. United States v. Rivera, 898 F.2d 442, 445 (5th Cir.1990). In making sentencing determinations, a court may consider, for sentencing purposes, facts not specifically alleged in the indictment. United States v. Puma, 937 F.2d 151, 156 (5th Cir.1991). Quantities of drugs, not specified in the indictment, if part of the same scheme, course of conduct, or plan, may be used to determine the base offense level. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3; United States v. Moore, 927 F.2d 825, 827 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 205, 116 L.Ed.2d 164 (1991).
Officer Morales testified that Montes was present at Potts's house on October 9th. Although a recording of that meeting could support Montes's claim that he was not capable of purchasing the full two hundred pounds, Morales's testimony showed that the deal did not go through only because the buyers would not release their money until they were given a sample of the marihuana. It is not the role of this Court to choose which witnesses to believe. United States v. Jones, 839 F.2d 1041, 1047 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1024, 108 S.Ct. 1999, 100 L.Ed.2d 230 (1988). Because there was credible evidence supporting the district court's finding that Montes participated in both deals, we will not disturb that finding on appeal.
We also observe that Montes's probation officer testified at his second sentencing hearing that it was apparent from the trial testimony that Montes had not been forthright with him during the initial interview concerning Montes's role in the conspiracy. Montes refused to talk to the probation officer about the events of October 9, which were of great relevance in the determination of the amount of marihuana involved. We have found similar conduct a sufficient basis on which to deny an adjustment for acceptance of responsibility. United States v. Nevarez-Arreola, 885 F.2d 243, 246 (5th Cir.1989).
Montes contends that the district court erred in overruling his objections to the jury charge based on its failure to include any reference to any particular quantity of marihuana. However, this was not required. Proof of the quantity of controlled substances at issue is not an element of an offense under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and 846. United States v. Brown, 887 F.2d 537, 541 (5th Cir.1989); United States v. Morgan, 835 F.2d 79, 81 (5th Cir.1987). Because the amount of controlled substance is relevant to sentencing only, it need not be submitted to the jury.
We note that Montes's sentence was well below the statutory maximum even if, as he contends, only one hundred twenty pounds was involved. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C)
"[i]n rare situations a defendant may clearly demonstrate an acceptance of responsibility for his criminal conduct even though he exercises his constitutional right to a trial. This may occur, for example, where a defendant goes to trial to assert and preserve issues that do not relate to factual guilt (e.g., to make a constitutional challenge to a statute or a challenge to the applicability of a statute to his conduct)."