Opinion ID: 556416
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Supposed Quantity of Cocaine

Text: 6 Following Labat's trial, the Probation Department prepared for the court a presentence report (PSR) for the sentencing of Moon. Noting that it presented only an abbreviated overview of Moon's activities because the court was aware of Moon's extensive testimony at Labat's trial (PSR p 10), the PSR described Moon's role in the cocaine conspiracy as follows: 7 Moon was heard negotiating to purchase one to two kilos of cocaine from Alfred Labat.... Moon had planned to obtain the cocaine from Labat for sale to Ray. Moon commits [sic ] to a one kilo deal in December 1987 at a price of $17,000 to $18,000.... In late December the deal was put on hold as Ray, Moon's partner, could not raise the money to complete the sale. 8 Nevertheless, in mid-January 1988, Moon tells Labat he wants to purchase one kilogram of cocaine within the next three to eight days.... In a conversation three days later Labat advises Moon he will be able to obtain the cocaine and he makes arrangements with Moon to fly up to meet with him and then rendezvous for the actual transaction.... 9 According to the prosecutor, Moon's deal to obtain a kilo of cocaine from Labat was never consumated [sic ] because, through simultaneous negotiations with another supplier (Randy Dentel), Moon and Ray were able to arrange to buy cocaine at a better price. 10 (Id. pp 16-18.) 11 With respect to the offense-level computation, the PSR concluded that Moon's offenses involved approximately two kilograms of cocaine: 12 As for his known cocaine dealing, Moon was involved in three precursory sales involving 31.24 grams of cocaine. Additionally, he sold 998.2 grams of cocaine on January 29, 1988 and investigators [sic ] reports and wiretaps confirm he committed to the purchase of a kilogram of cocaine from Alfred Labat in mid-January 1988 although the deal apparently never took place. The total amount of cocaine involved is 2,029.44 grams.... 13 (Id. p 24.) Based on two kilograms of cocaine, plus the amounts of marijuana involved, the PSR concluded that Moon's base offense level was 28. Moon's total offense level, after an upward adjustment for his role in the offenses and a downward adjustment for his acceptance of responsibility, was also 28. 14 Under the Guidelines, the total imprisonment range for level 28 was 78-97 months. The PSR noted that a departure from the Guidelines might be warranted by the substantial assistance Moon had provided at the Labat trial and by his willingness to testify at other trials, which [u]ndoubtedly had caused other codefendants to plead guilty. (Id. p 53.)