Opinion ID: 1362483
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relevant Conduct Background

Text: The following facts are taken largely from testimony at an October 11, 2006 sentencing hearing and the district court's sentencing memorandum. In 2004, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) participated in an ad hoc Drug Task Force (Task Force) along with other local and federal law enforcement agencies. The Task Force was formed after a number of individuals died from heroin overdoses in the Cedar Rapids area. The Task Force's investigation led to Bradford's conviction in this case. DNE Special Agent Joshua Lupkes and DEA Special Agent Jarad Harper participated in the Task Force's investigation. During the investigation, Agent Harper learned that Bradford was a heroin dealer and that his nickname was B. In June of 2004, there were at least four heroin dealers in the Cedar Rapids area who were using the nickname B. Agent Harper also found out that Bradford preferred to sell heroin to his customers indirectly. Bradford sold heroin through Winfred Lovelady and Leona Ferguson. Rachel Hoskins, her boyfriend, James Callanan, and one of her best friends, J.H., were heroin users. Hoskins and Callanan used heroin daily. On June 10, 2004, Hoskins and Callanan were in Cedar Rapids, and J.H. was in Independence, Iowa. At some time during the afternoon or early evening, J.H. called Hoskins and asked her if she could give him a ride to Cedar Rapids. J.H. wanted to go to Cedar Rapids to buy some heroin and a quarter-pound bag of marijuana. Hoskins and Callanan drove to Independence and picked up J.H. During the drive back to Cedar Rapids, Hoskins used a cell phone to call Bradford. Hoskins knew Bradford as a heroin dealer named B. She had purchased heroin from him numerous times over the years. Bradford refused to talk to Hoskins, however, and he hung up on her. Bradford had cut off Hoskins and Callanan because Hoskins had previously and duplicitously used a Wal-Mart gift card with a zero balance to purchase heroin from Bradford. Hoskins testified that J.H. then called Bradford using J.H.'s phone, and Bradford called J.H. back. During the conversation, J.H. introduced himself as a friend of Hoskins and Callanan. Upon arrival in Cedar Rapids, J.H. called Bradford again. After driving around for ten minutes, J.H. received a call back from Bradford, who directed J.H. to the corner of 16th Street SE and 7th Avenue SE. Around 9:30 to 10:00 p.m., Hoskins parked her car on 16th Street SE between 6th and 7th Avenues SE in Cedar Rapids. Hoskins parked the car behind a van about one-quarter to one-half block from 7th Avenue SE. She parked her car there so that Bradford could not see her or Callanan. After Hoskins parked the car, Bradford called J.H. again. J.H. got out of the car and walked down 16th Street SE towards 7th Avenue SE. At the corner of 16th Street SE and 7th Avenue SE, J.H. met Bradford. Hoskins testified that, sitting in her car, she was able to recognize Bradford. Although the sun had set, she said a streetlight on the opposite side of the street lit the corner. Less than one minute after meeting, J.H. and Bradford walked down 7th Avenue SE towards 15th Street SE. Bradford had come to the corner from the direction of 7th Avenue SE. The two men walked out of Hoskins's sight. J.H. later approached Hoskins's car from behind and got in. He had a $50 rock of heroin. In Cedar Rapids, heroin users were usually able to purchase a quarter of a gram of heroin for $40 to $50. After J.H. bought the rock of heroin, Hoskins, J.H., and Callanan went to Callanan's apartment. J.H. and Callanan got high on heroin, and J.H. went into a bedroom to use more. After doing so, his lips turned blue. In a crude attempt to provide medical care, Hoskins gave J.H. mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and sat him up. According to Hoskins, J.H.'s breathing and pulse were then fine. Throughout the night, Hoskins checked on J.H. The next morning, J.H. started making a gurgling sound. Hoskins called 911 and attempted to provide CPR. Police officers and paramedics arrived and tried to resuscitate J.H., but he died in the apartment. Shortly after J.H. died, law enforcement officers took Hoskins to the police station. They asked her where J.H. obtained the heroin. Hoskins told officers she did not know. She told officers she had picked up J.H. near a restaurant in Cedar Rapids, and at that time, he had already used heroin. After further questioning, Hoskins changed her story. She told officers that she and Callanan had driven J.H. to the southeast side of Cedar Rapids and had parked on 17th Street SE near 6th or 7th Avenues SE. She told them that J.H. went into an unknown house and bought heroin from an unknown person. Hoskins told this same story to J.H.'s mother. In December 2005, approximately a year-and-a-half after J.H.'s death, Special Agent Wade Kisner, another member of the Task Force, interviewed Hoskins. Hoskins changed her story again. This time, Hoskins told Agent Kisner that she had dropped off J.H. on 15th Street SE between 5th and 6th Avenues SE, and that J.H. had purchased the heroin from a dealer she knew as B and provided two possible phone numbers for B. Hoskins testified that she had previously lied to officers because she and Callanan were heroin addicts who did not want to lose their source. They also did not want to get into trouble for helping J.H. buy the heroin that killed him. On January 5, 2006, Agent Kisner and another Task Force agent again interviewed Hoskins about the circumstances surrounding J.H.'s death. They showed her a photo lineup array of six men and asked if B was in the array. Hoskins positively identified Bradford as the B who had sold heroin to J.H.