Opinion ID: 536265
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Procedural History and Issues Presented.

Text: 2 In this case, appellant Thurnell Alston was convicted after a jury trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846; use of a telephone to facilitate the distribution of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 843; and accepting a bribe as a public officer under the Hobbs Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951. The jury found Alston not guilty of possessing a small amount of cocaine with intent to distribute it on two separate dates. 3 Appellant Ervin Brennon was charged with the same cocaine-related offenses as Alston but reached a plea agreement with the government, pursuant to which Brennon entered a guilty plea on a single count of possession with intent to distribute several ounces of cocaine. 4 Appellant Alston claims that the district court erred by (1) failing to find that the prosecutor intentionally excluded black persons from the jury; (2) refusing to instruct the jury on entrapment; (3) failing to find that Alston was a minor or minimal participant in the cocaine scheme under the United States Sentencing Guidelines; and (4) finding that the cocaine conspiracy involved three kilograms of cocaine instead of either six ounces or, at most, one kilogram. These allegations of error focus on factual determinations by the district court and are subject to the clearly erroneous standard. After a careful review of the record, we find no error. 5 Appellant Brennon raises only two issues that warrant discussion. He claims that the district court incorrectly determined his base offense level for the single charge to which he pled guilty when it considered his involvement with a quantity of cocaine not covered by the count of conviction. Brennon also claims that even if the sentencing court could take into account his involvement with a quantity of drugs not covered by the count of conviction, that court cannot consider such conduct unless it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. These claims are without merit. A straightforward reading of the Sentencing Guidelines reveals that a sentencing judge can and should consider the defendant's involvement with a quantity of drugs not covered by the count(s) of conviction when such conduct was undertaken in the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction. United States Sentencing Guidelines Sec. 1B1.3(a)(2). 1 Second, as was the case before enactment of the Sentencing Guidelines, sentencing judges are free to consider such conduct when proven by a preponderance of the evidence. 6