Opinion ID: 66547
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Procedure: Special Skill Enhancement

Text: Ordonez argues that the district court erred in determining that he used a special skill, namely the possession of a CDL, to significantly facilitate the commission of the offense. Ordonez argues that his possession of a CDL does not constitute a “special skill” and that it did not significantly facilitate the commission of the offense as required by the Guideline. In support of his argument, he relies on United States v. Gallardo, 266 F. App’x 468 (7th Cir. 2008) (unpublished). The Guidelines permit a two-level enhancement “[i]f the defendant . . . used a special skill[] in a manner that significantly facilitated the commission or concealment of the offense.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.3. A “special skill” is one “not possessed by members of the general public and usually requiring substantial education, training or licensing.” § 3B1.3 cmt. n.4. “Because ‘the application of § 3B1.3 is a sophisticated factual determination,’ we review a § 3B1.3 sentencing enhancement under a clearly erroneous standard.” United States v. Deville, 278 6 No. 08-10752 F.3d 500, 508 (5th Cir. 2002) (quoting United States v. Fisher, 7 F.3d 69, 70 (5th Cir. 1993)). We have never directly addressed the issue of whether a CDL may constitute a “special skill,” but other courts have determined that a special skill enhancement based on the ability to drive a tractor trailer truck may be appropriate. See United States v. Mendoza, 78 F.3d 460, 465 (9th Cir. 1996) (determining that “ the driving of an 18-wheeler without any reported mishap over several years is a skill well beyond that possessed by the general public” and is sufficient to constitute a “special skill”); United States v. Lewis, 41 F.3d 1209, 1214 (7th Cir. 1994) (“Truck driving requires technical knowledge or ability that the average citizen does not possess.”). We agree that possession of a CDL is a special skill. That does not end our inquiry. Though possession of a CDL is a “special skill,” it triggers the sentencing enhancement under § 3B1.3 only if it “significantly facilitated” the underlying offense. Ordonez cites Gallardo for the proposition that possession of a CDL does not significantly facilitate the concealment or transport of a relatively small amount of drugs. 266 F. App’x at 468. There, the defendant hid 50 kilograms of cocaine in his truck’s sleeper bunk, which the court analogized to hiding the drugs “in the trunk of an ordinary sedan.” Id. at 469. The Seventh Circuit concluded that possessing the CDL did not significantly facilitate hiding the drugs and that the district court clearly erred in applying the enhancement. Id. at 469–70. Gallardo is distinguishable because the drugs in Ordonez’s truck were not hidden in the cab, which would be analogous to transporting drugs in an ordinary vehicle. Secreting the drugs in a large trailer loaded with legitimate cargo obviously makes the drugs much more difficult for the police to discover. In these circumstances, we agree with the district court’s finding that Ordonez’s 7 No. 08-10752 “special skill,” possession of a CDL, “significantly facilitated” the commission of the underlying offense.