Opinion ID: 797256
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Armstead's sentencing issues

Text: 23 Armstead makes three sentencing arguments. The first two are his alone; the third he shares with Wilson. Armstead's first argument is that the district court erred by finding him responsible for 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine. We review the district court's findings as to drug quantity for clear error. United States v. Romero, 469 F.3d 1139, 1147 (7th Cir.2006). Armstead contends that since he only joined the conspiracy in September 2001 — a fact that the government does not dispute — he could not possibly have overseen the sale of 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine. The argument is meritless. Armstead is liable for the reasonably foreseeable amount of drugs sold by his co-conspirators. See United States v. Olson, 450 F.3d 655, 685 (7th Cir.2006). The district court relied on the calculations of the presentence report, in which the probation office noted that Butts and Banks alone admitted to selling 2.5 and 3 kilograms respectively between fall 2001 and late summer 2002. Armstead has no response to this. In addition to Butts and Banks, several dozen other individuals under Armstead's control were selling crack from the 340 building. It is clear, then, that Armstead was easily responsible for 1.5 kilograms, and that the district court did not clearly err. See United States v. Jones, 454 F.3d 642, 651-52 (7th Cir.2006). 24 Next Armstead contends that the district court wrongfully denied his motion for a downward departure for cultural assimilation. At sentencing, Armstead's counsel clarified that the crux of this argument was that Armstead was raised in the Chicago projects, where a culture of violence, economic hopelessness, and drug abuse doomed him to a life of crime. This was an awkward shoehorn into a claim for departure based on cultural assimilation, which ordinarily pertains to aliens who have illegally reentered the United States after being deported and seek a reduced sentence for the crime of reentry because they had adapted to life in this country. E.g., United States v. Roche-Martinez, 467 F.3d 591, 595 (7th Cir.2006). Indeed, considered on its merits rather than by the title Armstead has chosen, the argument was probably foreclosed at the time of sentencing by U.S.S.G. § 5H1.12, which treats circumstances indicating a disadvantaged upbringing as a forbidden sentencing factor. See generally United States v. Pullen, 89 F.3d 368 (7th Cir. 1996). We think the appropriate place for this argument, if there is one, is under the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). See United States v. Wallace, 458 F.3d 606, 608-09 (7th Cir.2006). Since, as explained below, Armstead is entitled to a limited remand under United States v. Paladino, 401 F.3d 471 (7th Cir.2005), he can make this argument to the district court. 25