Opinion ID: 712274
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Charles Roberts

Text: 12 Charles Roberts also contends that the district court erred in relying on his presentence report in calculating his base offense level. Like Lanterman, Roberts contends that the district court should not have relied on Edge's statements regarding the amount of cocaine attributable to him. As we already have stated, this argument misplaces Roberts' burden. When a defendant contests an allegation in the presentence report, he must come forward with evidence showing that the challenged fact is untrue. United States v. Coonce, 961 F.2d at 1279-80. 13 According to the presentence report, Edge contacted Charles Roberts about a one kilogram purchase. In addition, the presentence report refers to Roberts' conversation with law enforcement officials on the night of his arrest. This conversation confirms that Roberts knew the overall deal was for one kilogram. At sentencing, Roberts submitted an affidavit denying knowledge of the scope of the purchase, but a self-serving affidavit on this point is not enough. See United States v. Westbrook, 986 F.2d 180, 183 (7th Cir.1993). Roberts could have testified at the sentencing hearing, thereby subjecting himself to cross-examination. Or, he could have subpoenaed the probation officer who prepared the presentence report, or any other witnesses who could challenge Edge's assertion that Roberts knew of the entire kilogram. He did none of these. 14 Finally, Roberts attempts to draw support from our decision in United States v. Beler, 20 F.3d 1428 (7th Cir.1994), where we vacated the defendant's sentence because the district court failed to reconcile vague and inconsistent estimates over the amounts of cocaine involved in a series of transactions that took place over a span of fifteen years. However, Beler is readily distinguishable. Here, by contrast, no inconsistencies exist because Roberts presented no evidence beyond his own affidavit. Accordingly, the district court properly overruled Roberts' objections.