Opinion ID: 779902
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gary Lott

Text: 32 The quantity of drugs attributed to Gary Lott in his PSR resulted in a base offense level of 38. Two levels were added for emission of hazardous substance in Gary Lott's residences, pursuant to § 2D1.1(b)(5), and four levels for being the leader of the conspiracy, pursuant to § 3B1.1(a), resulting in an adjusted offense level of 44. With a criminal history category of II and a total offense level of 44, the probation officer determined that the guideline for imprisonment was life. 8 33 Although the district court altered the amounts of marijuana equivalent attributed to Gary Lott, it nonetheless found that the amount for which he was responsible was five to six times higher than that required for a base offense level of 38. In all other respects, it adopted the factual findings and Guideline application of the PSR, including the imprisonment range under the Guidelines — a life sentence. The court sentenced Gary Lott to concurrent life terms for Counts 1 and 11, the statutory maximum provided under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). It also sentenced him to 240 month terms for Counts 6, 7, 8, and 10, which were also to run concurrently, and a 60 month term for Count 12, which was not to run concurrently with any other sentence imposed. 34 The question before us is whether, pursuant to § 5G1.2(d), the district court's mandatory imposition of consecutive sentences, as opposed to concurrent ones, on all of the counts would have equaled the life sentence he currently faces based on the erroneous sentencing under § 841(b)(1)(A). Counts 1 and 11, violations of 21 U.S.C. § 846, could carry a maximum sentence of twenty years each, as the quantity of drugs for each count was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Counts 6, 7, and 8, violations of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1), also could have carried a maximum sentence of twenty years each. Count 10, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(d)(1), 9 carries a maximum sentence of twenty years. Finally, Count 12, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), carries a mandatory minimum of five years. Accordingly, the district court would have been required by § 5G1.2(d) to order the maximum sentences on all of Gary Lott's drug convictions, as well as five years on his gun possession charge, and to run these sentences consecutively, resulting in a total consecutive sentence of 125 years. Under these circumstances, [Gary Lott's] substantial rights were not affected by the Apprendi error, as a 125 year sentence is the effective equivalent of a life sentence. Price, 265 F.3d at 1109 (finding that defendant's substantial rights were not affected by Apprendi error resulting in a life sentence, where mandatory application of § 5G1.2(d) would have resulted in a total consecutive sentence of 208 years on all of defendant's charges).