Opinion ID: 484946
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: scaduto's resentencing

Text: 20 Scaduto appeals from his resentence by the district court following the disposition of the direct appeal. Scaduto was convicted at trial of conspiracy to import heroin (21 U.S.C. Secs. 952, 960, 963), conspiracy to distribute heroin (Secs. 841, 846), the substantive crimes of possession of heroin with intent to distribute (Sec. 841) and importation of heroin (Secs. 952, 960), and, managing a continuing criminal enterprise (Sec. 848). He was sentenced to a 35 year term with a $100,000 fine for the Sec. 848 conviction, a 14 year term and a $25,000 fine for each of the two conspiracy convictions--these terms to run concurrently with each other and consecutively to the Sec. 848 sentence--and a 15 year term and $25,000 fine for each of the two convictions for the substantive crimes, these terms to run concurrently to each other, but consecutively to those on the other counts. See Aiello, 771 F.2d at 626-27. 21 On Scaduto's direct appeal we followed the procedure outlined in United States v. Osorio Estrada, 751 F.2d 128 (2d Cir.1984), modified on reh'g on other grounds, 757 F.2d 27 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 106 S.Ct. 97, 88 L.Ed.2d 79 (1985), for handling convictions for lesser and greater offenses. Thus, we vacated Scaduto's sentences for the conspiracy convictions and remanded the case to the district court for it to combine those convictions with the continuing criminal enterprise conviction, as well as for resentencing on the latter conviction. See Aiello, 771 F.2d at 634. Upon remand, the district court ultimately vacated the conspiracy convictions, thereby effectively combining them with the Sec. 848 conviction, and increased the sentence for the Sec. 848 conviction from 35 to 45 years. The Sec. 848 sentence was concurrent with the sentences for the two substantive counts. As a result of the district court's resentencing, the total sentence imposed on Scaduto was reduced. 22 The exact ground of Scaduto's challenge to the district court's action is unclear. Presumably appellant objects to the increase in the sentence on the Sec. 848 conviction following the combination of it with the conspiracy convictions. If this is the objection, it is groundless. We have previously approved an increase of a Sec. 848 sentence after a conspiracy conviction has been combined with it. See United States v. Mourad, 729 F.2d 195, 203-04 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 855, 105 S.Ct. 2700, 86 L.Ed.2d 717 (1984). See also United States v. Grayson, 795 F.2d 278, 287 (3d Cir.1986), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 107 S.Ct. 927, 93 L.Ed.2d 978 (1987) (district court may increase sentence for Sec. 848 conviction following vacation of conspiracy conviction).