Opinion ID: 563786
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Organizer or Leader of the Criminal Activity

Text: 57 Sentencing courts may consider any reliable information, including hearsay, in sentencing a defendant. United States v. Rutter, 897 F.2d 1558, 1563 (10th Cir.) (citing Beaulieu, 893 F.2d at 1180-81), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 88, 112 L.Ed.2d 60 (1990). This includes determination of a defendant's role in the criminal activity. Id. Prior to imposing sentence, the court increased Defendant's offense level pursuant to Sec. 3B1.1(c) of the United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual (U.S.S.G.). U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1(c) directs the sentencing court, [i]f the defendant was an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor in any criminal activity other than described in (a) or (b), increase by 2 levels. 6 In making the increase, the court stated it was a very reasonable inference from th[e] evidence that Mr. Morgan was calling the shots and making the decisions and telling them how to go about it. The court also found Mr. Morgan had recruited a bunch of juveniles, young juveniles and was merely using these minors as his minions and had influenced them to assist in carrying out the robbery. 58 In Backas, we held that a defendant may be deemed a supervisor for purposes of U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1(c) upon a showing that the defendant exercised any degree of direction or control over a subordinate in the criminal scheme. 901 F.2d at 1530. Our review of the record fully supports the trial court's determination that Mr. Morgan was deserving of the two level increase provided in U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1(c). The increase was justified and supported by sufficient evidence in the record, thus, we do not find the court was clearly erroneous in adjusting Mr. Morgan's offense level on this basis.