Opinion ID: 2995611
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Vinette Crowley’s Sentence

Text: Vinette Crowley also challenges her sentence, arguing that the district erred in refusing to grant her a minor role reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. sec. 3B1.2. Section 3B1.2(b) allows a judge to decrease the offense level by two points [i]f the defendant was a minor participant in any criminal activity. U.S.S.G. sec. 3B1.2(b); United States v. Felix-Felix, 275 F.3d 627, 636 (7th Cir. 2001). A defendant seeking a minor role reduction bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that he or she was substantially less culpable than the other coconspirators. See U.S.S.G. sec. 3B1.2, comment (n. 3); Felix-Felix, 275 F.3d at 636. Because the district court’s decision to grant a minor role reduction is heavily dependent on the facts, we review it only for clear error. Felix-Felix, 275 F.3d at 636; United States v. Carrillo, 269 F.3d 761, 770 (7th Cir. 2001). We note that the reduction is meant to be granted infrequently. See United States v. Navarro, 90 F.3d 1245, 1263 (7th Cir. 1996). The comparative roles of conspirators are an important, but not determinative, consideration in whether to grant a minor role reduction. See United States v. Kerr, 13 F.3d 203, 206 (7th Cir. 1993). One person might be the driving force behind a criminal scheme, but a defendant who plays an integral role by assisting with that scheme is not eligible for a minor role reduction. See Navarro, 90 F.3d at 1263. The evidence here suggests that Ms. Crowley was not a minor participant in the conspiracy, but instead played an integral role in assisting her husband’s drug operation. See id. In the PSR, the probation officer noted that Vinette Crowley had an active role and took a number of steps to assist her husband in the distribution of methamphetamine. One witness described her as William Crowley’s business partner, who sold drugs out of their residence. Another witness observed Ms. Crowley purchase methamphetamine from a supplier. Two suppliers stated that Ms. Crowley had handled the details of several drug shipments they sent from California by wiring money and tracking packages. Despite the fact that William Crowley played a relatively greater role in the conspiracy, the district court did not clearly err in denying Vinette Crowley’s request for a downward adjustment. See United States v. Cain, 155 F.3d 840, 844 (7th Cir. 1998) (defendant who provided necessary services to conspiracy, such as driving passenger to drug deals and renting apartment used to store drugs, was not entitled to minor role reduction); United States v. Brooks, 957 F.2d 1138, 1149 (4th Cir. 1992) (defendant who sells drugs does not have minor role in drug conspiracy). Moreover, a minor role reduction was particularly unnecessary here because the district court held Ms. Crowley responsible only for drugs that she herself obtained. See Felix-Felix, 275 F.3d at 637. Accordingly, we affirm Ms. Crowley’s sentence.