Opinion ID: 677123
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to make a finding regarding relevant conduct:

Text: 22 Hanoum argues that the district court erred in its application of the sentencing guidelines, by failing to make a factual finding regarding the amount of methamphetamine which was within the scope of Hanoum's agreement to manufacture or was reasonably foreseeable to Hanoum. This argument lacks merit. 23 Hanoum relies upon United States v. Conkins, 9 F.3d 1377, 1386 (9th Cir.1993), for the proposition that in a conspiracy conviction, the sentencing judge may only sentence a defendant for relevant conduct within the scope of the defendant's agreement that was reasonably foreseeable in connection with the criminal activity the defendant agreed to undertake jointly. However, Conkins is inapposite to the case at bar. In Conkins, the defendants were convicted of conspiracy, and their sentences were calculated on the basis of the total quantity of drugs imported pursuant to that conspiracy. The evidence at trial only showed that the defendants in question were involved in three or four out of 26 trips made in the conspiracy. Unlike in Conkins, in the case at bar there were not several distinct transactions occurring. All of the evidence relied upon at sentencing was found at the scene of the lab from which Hanoum was seen exiting. Therefore, there was evidence that Hanoum was aware of the entire scope of the operation, rather than being just an actor in one phase of a larger operation as in Conkins. 24 Hanoum relies on this court's decision in United States v. Navarro, 979 F.2d 786, 788-89 (9th Cir.1992) as support for his claim that this court should remand for resentencing, because at sentencing, the district court did not make an express factual finding in support of its use of the total amount of drugs the lab was capable of producing. However, the district court did not err, because it expressly adopted the findings of the presentence report, and those facts supported Hanoum's involvement in the methamphetamine lab's production. The court may adopt the factual findings of the presentence report. It may not, however, adopt conclusory statements unsupported by facts or the Guidelines. Navarro, 979 F.2d at 789 (citation omitted). The factual findings adopted by the district court were supported by the facts in evidence, such as the methamphetamine on Hanoum's clothes and the fact that items belonging to Hanoum were found within the lab, including a Derringer pistol. The conclusion reached by the district court and the presentence report was also supported by the Guidelines, which allow the sentencing judge to take into account the production capability of the lab. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.4 2 & Application Note 2 3 (both deleted in 1992); United States v. Putney, 906 F.2d 477 (9th Cir.1990). 25 Navarro is inapposite because unlike in this case, there was no evidence in Navarro linking the defendant to the rest of an ongoing conspiracy after an initial sale. The district court in Navarro specifically found that the defendant was the least involved in the conspiracy, but then proceeded to sentence him on the basis of all sales made in the course of the conspiracy. In contrast, in this case the district court not only adopted the findings of the presentence report, but went on to cite evidence in the record which supported Hanoum's involvement. Therefore, Hanoum's argument that the district court erred in failing to make factual findings regarding his relevant conduct lacks merit. The district court did make such factual findings, and these findings are reviewed for clear error. Conkins, 9 F.3d at 1384. There is no indication that the district court clearly erred in making these findings. 26 Hanoum also raises the fact that one expert, Ms. Chew, testified that two types of methamphetamine, using two methods of manufacture were present. He claims that district court erred in failing to make a factual finding regarding the different types and methods, and Hanoum's responsibility for each type. This argument also lacks merit. A finding that Hanoum was involved in the entire enterprise would include a finding that he was involved regardless of the type produced or the method used. Hanoum fails to cite any authority for the proposition that the district court needs to address the different types of methamphetamine at sentencing. 27