Opinion ID: 1463389
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The drug quantities used in sentencing Benson were supported by a preponderance of the evidence

Text: Benson argues that the district court erred in the quantities of drugs it used to calculate his Guidelines range because the quantities were not supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Specifically, he argues that the drug quantities that he was sentenced for were larger than the quantities the jury assigned to him in its guilty verdict. `A district court's determination of the quantity of drugs used to compute a defendant's sentence is a finding of fact that should be upheld unless clearly erroneous. The district court's finding must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence.' United States v. Young, 553 F.3d 1035, 1051 (6th Cir.2009) (quoting United States v. Hoskins, 173 F.3d 351, 354 (6th Cir.1999)). In determining drug quantity for sentencing, the sentencing court is not limited to the drug quantity found by the jury in its verdict. Id. at 1050. The jury found Benson guilty of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute between 0.5 to 5 kilograms of powder cocaine, at least 50 grams of cocaine base, and no marijuana. However, Benson's Guidelines range was calculated based on quantities of 5.85 kilograms of powder cocaine, 1 kilogram of cocaine base, and 80 pounds of marijuana. In determining the quantity of drugs used to compute defendant's sentence, the district court took into consideration the following evidence: six empty one-pound containers of baking soda found in defendant's car; empty kilo packaging found in defendant's apartment; witnesses' testimony that defendant purchased large amounts of cocaine and also marijuana; witnesses' testimony that defendant manufactured significant quantities of crack cocaine; and other drug testimony concerning defendant. The district court did not clearly err in finding that these quantities were supported by a preponderance of the evidence.