Opinion ID: 755629
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Factual Objections

Text: 21
22 Burke complains that the district court erred in calculating the amount of methamphetamine and marijuana he dealt. The court made that calculation by multiplying the number of trips to Arizona Burke made (sixteen) by the amount of marijuana and methamphetamine he brought back to Illinois each time (three pounds of marijuana and one ounce of methamphetamine). Burke does not dispute the amounts he brought back each time. Rather, he contests the court's finding that he traveled to Arizona sixteen times. 23 The PSR indicates that he went to Arizona sixteen times, but Burke objected to the PSR on this point. He and the Government failed to resolve his objection before the sentencing hearing. At the hearing, Burke testified that he went to Arizona only four times. He argues that Conway's testimony also supports his position. While the evidence of Burke's travel frequency is not overwhelming, we cannot say the district court clearly erred on this point. 24 Conway's statement indicated that Burke traveled to Phoenix every month or two from November 1993 to July or August 1996, making 16-32 trips. McRoy's statement says that he and Burke traveled to Arizona on numerous occasions. Based on those statements and other evidence gathered by the Probation Officer during his investigation, he concluded in the PSR that Burke made at least sixteen trips to Arizona. 25 Burke asserts that at the sentencing hearing, Conway denied that Burke traveled to Arizona sixteen times. On direct examination, Conway testified that he sold methamphetamine and marijuana to a dealer at least fourteen times, learning from that dealer that the drugs were for Burke and that Burke was in Phoenix. Burke asserts that on cross-examination, Conway contradicted the PSR: 26 Q: Did you ever tell agents of the DEA that you believed Dale Burke was coming to Arizona to purchase on a monthly or bi-monthly basis? 27 .... 28 [AUSA]: It's the proffer? 29 [Burke's attorney]: Yes. 30 Q: (by [Burke's attorney] ) With Agent Chapman, Brian Chapman? 31 A: Yes, sir. 32 .... 33 Q: (by [Burke's attorney] ) Did you tell the agents he was coming down there on a monthly or bi-monthly basis? 34 A: I believe what I said, he was purchasing on a monthly or bi-monthly basis whether it was through the mail or in person. 35 Q: Okay. So if somebody represented that you said Dale was coming down there every month or every other month during that time frame, then they misunderstood what you said? 36 [AUSA]: Objection. 37 The Court: Sustained. You asked the question in an impeachment form. He answered the question. Next question. 38 Q: (by [Burke's attorney] ) So to your knowledge, did Dale Burke come down to Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, on a monthly or bi-monthly basis? 39 [AUSA]: Could he define bi-monthly? 40 [Burke's attorney]: Every other month. 41 The Witness: Coming to Arizona? 42 Q: (by [Burke's attorney] ) Yes, to your knowledge, what you know by yourself without somebody telling you, was Dale Burke coming down there on a monthly or bi-monthly basis? 43 A: I'm not sure when he was coming down there. All I would know, I would hear he was coming down there. Other people would tell me he was there that were friends of Scott and mine. I may not have actually seen him, but Scott told me the money was there. The guy wanted to purchase it. Scott would show up with the money. 44 Contrary to Burke's contentions, this convoluted cross-examination reveals nothing helpful. Conway's written statement indicated 16-32 trips to Arizona. His direct testimony indicated at least fourteen. Conway did not disavow or directly contradict his earlier statement. We cannot say that the district court clearly erred in finding, consistent with the PSR, that Burke made sixteen trips to Arizona. 45
46 Burke highlights what he believes is another contradiction. In his statement, McRoy submitted that Burke dealt 5200 dosage units of LSD. The PSR reflected this fact, elaborating that Burke had a connection with McRoy's cousin, buying 100 dosage units of LSD every week for a year for a total of 5200 units. At the sentencing hearing, McRoy testified that Burke got 75-100 dosage units from his cousin for six months to a year (giving a range of 1950 to 5200 dosage units). When the AUSA asked McRoy whether 1700 dosage units was a reasonable estimate, McRoy answered that it was, but that Burke might have dealt more. Burke did not offer any evidence besides his own testimony to counter these amounts. After hearing all the testimony and reviewing the exhibits, the district court adopted the PSR. 47 Burke correctly points out that the district court did not specifically address this point. However, [e]ven when the district court has failed to make specific findings ... we have affirmed where 'the record adequately supports such a determination.'  McKinney, 98 F.3d at 982 (quoting Carson, 9 F.3d at 585). Here, the record does adequately support a conclusion that Burke dealt 5200 dosage units of LSD. Both McRoy's statement and the PSR estimated Burke's dealings at that level. McRoy's testimony, while hardly precise, did not contradict his earlier statement or the PSR. McRoy in effect testified to a range between 1700 and 5200 dosage units of LSD. Thus, when the court stated that based on the presentence report and the evidence adduced at the sentencing hearing it was overruling [the defendant's] objection, it did so in a context which informs this court that it was adopting as its own the factual findings found in both. Id. at 982. We cannot say, after reviewing McRoy's testimony, his statement, and the PSR, that a finding of 5200 dosage units is clearly erroneous. 48 We are particularly disinclined to disturb Burke's sentence even if we do harbor some doubt that he actually dealt 5200 dosage units of LSD. Even if the district court had found that he dealt only 1700 dosage units of LSD, his sentence would be the same. 5200 units of LSD converts to 208 kilograms of marijuana equivalent, and 1700 dosage units of LSD converts to 68 kilograms of marijuana. Finding that Burke dealt only 1700 dosage units would still leave him in the marijuana equivalent range of 400 to 700 kilograms--his sentence would not change.