Opinion ID: 2658283
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Edwards’ Sentencing Enhancements

Text: Edwards argues that the district court erred by assigning him an aggravating-role sentencing enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b) based on its finding that Edwards was a manager or supervisor in the conspiracy. We review a district court’s factual finding that a defendant was a manager or supervisor under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b) for clear error45 and “deem the district court’s factual findings clearly erroneous only if, based on the entire evidence, [we are] left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been 42 United States v. Lewis, 476 F.3d 369, 387 (5th Cir. 2007). 43 United States v. Kelly, 973 F.2d 1145, 1147 (5th Cir. 1992). 44 See Lewis, 476 F.3d at 387 (no abuse of discretion in a complex case with ten defendants and voluminous discovery where counsel was appointed ten days before trial because, although the length of time was “excessively short,” counsel provided effective representation at trial and benefitted from the arguments of co-defendant’s counsel). 45 United States v. Rose, 449 F.3d 627, 633 (5th Cir. 2006). 25 Case: 12-40515 Document: 00512575405 Page: 26 Date Filed: 03/27/2014 No. 12-40515 committed.”46 “A factual finding is not clearly erroneous if it is plausible in light of the record read as a whole.”47 Edwards was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment for his conviction on the conspiracy count. Section 3B1.1(b) authorizes a three-level increase to the defendant’s offense level if the “defendant was a manager or supervisor (but not an organizer or leader) and the criminal activity involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive.” The commentary to that section notes that even if a defendant was not a manager or supervisor, the enhancement may be warranted if the defendant “exercised management responsibility over the property, assets, or activities of a criminal organization.”48 Although the presentence report (“PSR”) found no aggravating or mitigating adjustments applied to Edwards’ role in the conspiracy, at sentencing the Government objected to the absence of a leadership-role adjustment under U.S.S.G. 3B1.1(b) for what it claimed was Edwards’ role in supervising Antwan Price, another coconspirator. We cannot say it was clear error for the district court to have applied this sentencing enhancement. The court noted that an intercepted call recorded Price asking, “What are we doing these at, 25?,” Edwards responding, “What did he give you, 25?,” Price responding, “Yes, he was trying to, but he was five short,” and Edwards saying that “Shawn needs a couple of hos.” Another phone call between Edwards and Price recorded Edwards telling Price that “Trey is gonna slide through here and grab one of those things. Give him one of them deals.” The district court also identified several conversations where Price and Edwards discussed quantities and prices, and one in which Edwards told a customer to take the money for a transaction to Price. In another, Edwards told 46 Id. (quotation marks omitted). 47 Id. 48 U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b) n.2. 26 Case: 12-40515 Document: 00512575405 Page: 27 Date Filed: 03/27/2014 No. 12-40515 a customer that he can get drugs at Price’s apartment and the customer said, “All right. Well, let [Price] know, ‘cause, you know, [Price], he don’t even want to give it to you unless you let him know,” to which Edwards replied, “I’ll hit him, though.” Finally, the evidence showed two calls in which Edwards and Price discussed remaining quantities of drugs and Edwards told Price to “Just hold that one. That one gone too.” The district court concluded from this evidence that “there does appear to be evidence of planning and a degree of control and authority exercised by Edwards over Price, where Price is reporting to Edwards how much Price has as far as drugs, and Edwards is instructing Price on what to do with the drugs.” We conclude that the district court did not commit clear error in applying the sentencing enhancement for a managerial or supervisor role on these facts. Edwards next contends that the district court erred by enhancing his sentence by two levels for firearm possession under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1). The decision whether to impose this firearm enhancement is a factual determination that we review for clear error.49 The district court applied a two-level increase to Edwards’ Guidelines range pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for possession of a firearm. That section provides for a two-level enhancement if a characteristic of the underlying offense is that a “dangerous weapon (including a firearm) was possessed.” Specifically, the increase related to a loaded .30 caliber semiautomatic pistol that was seized from underneath the mattress where Edwards and his girlfriend slept at the girlfriend’s residence. Small amounts of crack (6.3 grams), heroin (0.38 grams), and marijuana (4.5 grams) were also recovered during that search. Counts 2 and 3 of the Superceding Indictment charged Edwards with using or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). The jury acquitted him on both firearms counts. 49 United States v. Chavez, 119 F.3d 342, 348 (5th Cir. 1997). 27 Case: 12-40515 Document: 00512575405 Page: 28 Date Filed: 03/27/2014 No. 12-40515 That the evidence did not rise to the level of showing Edwards actively employed the weapon in furtherance of the drug crime (as per the jury’s verdict of acquittal on this charge) does not preclude the judge’s finding that it met the lower standard of U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1). The application notes to 2D1.1(b)(1) direct that the enhancement “should be applied if the weapon was present, unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was connected with the offense,” to reflect “the increased danger of violence when drug traffickers possess weapons.”50 We find no error in the district court’s determination that, because the evidence showed Edwards knew the weapon was under the mattress on his side of the bed in a room where drugs were found and explained to his girlfriend how to use the weapon, it was not clearly improbable that it was connected to the drug offense.