Opinion ID: 166033
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: application of booker to taylor's sentence

Text: 20 In this appeal, Taylor argues the district court violated United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. ___, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), in two ways. First, the court committed constitutional Booker error by making the factual finding that he used a firearm in connection with another offense. See Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d at 731. Second, the court committed non-constitutional Booker error by mandatorily applying the Guidelines in sentencing Taylor. Id. We conclude that neither Booker error warrants re-sentencing in this case. 21 Taylor's failure to object on constitutional grounds during sentencing requires us to review the district court's enhancement of his sentence for plain error. See United States v. Dowlin, 408 F.3d 647, 669 (10th Cir.2005) (citations omitted). Plain error occurs when there is (1) error, (2) that is plain, which (3) affects substantial rights, and which (4) seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id.
22 During sentencing, Taylor objected to the district court's factual finding that he possessed a gun in connection with another offense because, he argues, the gun was not used to facilitate the sale of drugs. USSG § 4B1.4(b)(3)(A). The court's findings and subsequent application of the mandatory Guidelines' enhancement provisions increased his sentence range from a maximum of 210 months to a maximum of 235 months. Taylor was sentenced to 230 months, 20 months above the maximum without the enhancement. 3 23 Taylor's objection at sentencing was not based on the Sixth Amendment or other constitutional grounds but on the court's interpretation of the Guidelines. Only on appeal did Taylor assert his sentence violated his Sixth Amendment rights under Booker because the judge found the relevant facts used to determine the enhancement. Because the judge-found facts increased Taylor's sentence beyond the maximum allowed by the indictment, this case presents constitutional Booker error. 24 By now, it is axiomatic under plain error review that a court commits error that is plain when it enhances a defendant's sentence based on judicially-found facts. See, e.g. Blakely, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403; Booker, 543 U.S. ___, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621; Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d at 732. Because the court below did both, Taylor satisfies the first two prongs of plain error analysis. 25 To satisfy the third prong of the plain error test, however, Taylor must demonstrate that the error affected his substantial rights, i.e., that the error disturbed the outcome of the district court proceedings. United States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 632, 122 S.Ct. 1781, 152 L.Ed.2d 860 (2002). We look to see if there is a reasonable probability that the error led to a higher sentence under the Guidelines as applied prior to Booker. See Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d at 733. One way of showing a sentencing error affected substantial rights is to show the district court incorrectly applied the Guidelines. United States v. Smith, 919 F.2d 123, 124 (10th Cir.1990). When a sentencing court misapplies the Guidelines, a defendant's substantial rights may be affected if there is more than a reasonable probability that such misapplication led to a higher sentence. See Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d at 739 n. 11 (application of the wrong range under the Guidelines affects a defendant's substantial rights in the plain error context). 26 The district court enhanced Taylor's sentence for two related reasons: (1) Taylor's sale of a firearm to the undercover officer for $250 (the factual determination) was (2) in connection with a controlled substance offense (the legal determination). 4 In order to determine whether the district court incorrectly applied the Guidelines (and affected Taylor's substantial rights), we must analyze whether the court correctly concluded that the sale of the firearm by Taylor was in connection with a controlled substance offense. 27 We have not yet had occasion to interpret the in connection with language of USSG § 4B1.4(b)(3). Recently, we observed in interpreting USSG § 2K2.1(b)(5)'s identical in connection with language that the Guidelines provide little guidance regarding the nexus required between firearm possession and the felony offense. United States v. Brown, 314 F.3d 1216, 1222 (10th Cir.2003). Our cases have held, for example, under § 2K2.1 that if the weapon's possession is coincidental or entirely unrelated to the offense, it is not possessed in connection with another offense. United States v. Gomez-Arrellano, 5 F.3d 464, 466-67 (10th Cir.1993). More specifically, we have generally held that if the weapon facilitated or had the potential to facilitate the underlying felony, then enhancement under [the in connection with language] is appropriate. United States v. Bunner, 134 F.3d 1000, 1006 (10th Cir.1998) (citing Gomez-Arrellano, 5 F.3d at 466). 28 Related to the in connection with requirement is the Guidelines' broad definition of the term controlled substance offense. The definition includes not only most forms of drug possession with the intent to distribute, U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(b), but also the offenses of aiding and abetting, conspiring, and attempting to commit such offenses. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2, Application Note 1. In our circuit, a conspiracy or an attempt to commit a crime requires the intent to commit the crime and overt acts in furtherance of that intent. See United States v. Haynes, 372 F.3d 1164, 1167 (10th Cir.2004). And we have previously found that a specific agreement to commit a crime can constitute the requisite overt act for attempt when combined with additional steps in furtherance of the agreement. See United States v. Bunney, 705 F.2d 378, 381 (10th Cir.1983) (detailed conversations discussing how and when buildings were to be destroyed constituted substantial step and completed attempt). 29 Applying these principles to the enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2 we conclude the district court did not err in either its factual or legal determinations. Here, Taylor not only made a specific agreement with the undercover officer to sell the Ruger to raise funds in order to buy drugs, which he would then turn around and sell to the undercover officer, but he also met the undercover officer and sold him the firearm. Taylor further agreed to repurchase the Ruger from the officer after the drug transaction had been consummated—closing the circle of firearm for money for drugs for firearm. Indeed, there is no real argument that Taylor engaged in several substantial steps towards the completion of the crime supporting the enhancement (distributing drugs, which is a controlled substance offense) while he possessed a firearm. In short, the firearm facilitated or had the potential to facilitate the crime of drug distribution or attempted drug distribution, and was not coincidental or entirely unrelated to the crime or attempted crime. Gomez-Arrellano, 5 F.3d at 466-67; Bunner, 134 F.3d at 1006. The firearm in this case therefore had the required nexus to the predicate controlled substance offense. We are thus satisfied that the district court's legal determination was correct. 30 As to the court's factual determinations, Taylor has not pointed to any real dispute about the factual background leading to the enhancement. The facts were essentially conceded. Nor does Taylor point to any other factor we have considered under the third prong of plain error review that weighs in favor of finding his substantial rights were affected. See, e.g., United States v. Clifton, 406 F.3d 1173, 1181-82 (10th Cir.2005) (describing ways in which the defendant can satisfy his burden under the third prong). Rather, the only question before the court was whether the essentially undisputed facts were correctly applied under the ACCA enhancement. There being no error in the court's application, Taylor failed to show any prejudice to his substantial rights. He therefore does not meet the third prong of plain error review. 31 Even if the court's factual and legal determinations satisfied the third prong, as we discuss next, we are satisfied that Taylor, in any event, could not meet the fourth prong of plain error review. See Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d at 735-36 (We need not determine whether [the defendant] can satisfy this burden [of showing his substantial rights were affected] because even if he were to meet the third prong, he must also satisfy the fourth prong to obtain relief.). 32
33 In addition to Taylor's constitutional Booker error contention, he also argues the district court committed non-constitutional Booker error when it mandatorily applied the Guidelines. While it is true a court commits error that is plain when it applies the Guidelines mandatorily, such an error does not necessarily result in re-sentencing. See Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d at 732, 735. 34 Turning to the fourth prong analysis of our plain error review, we conclude Taylor cannot show that the mandatory application of the Guidelines seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings, the fourth prong of plain error review. We recently outlined several factors to help determine whether a defendant has satisfied this fourth prong of plain error review, including among others (1) the weight of evidence supporting the enhancement, (2) the likelihood that the district court would impose a lighter sentence on remand, and (3) a showing that the objective factors of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) warrants a departure from the sentence suggested by the Guidelines. See Dowlin, 408 F.3d 647, 670-71 (citations omitted). Applying these factors to this case, we conclude we should not exercise our discretion under the fourth prong. 35 First, we have already found the district court did not err in its interpretation of the ACCA enhancement. The facts underlying the enhancement are essentially undisputed. There is thus little doubt given the overwhelming nature of the facts surrounding the drug transaction that a jury would view the evidence differently. See United States v. Ambort, 405 F.3d 1109, 1119 (10th Cir.2005) (weight of evidence a consideration under fourth prong). Indeed, Taylor concedes he sold the gun to an undercover officer, used those funds to purchase drugs, and sold those drugs to the officer. Taylor's challenge to the enhancement was one of interpretation under those facts. 36 Second, the sentencing judge expressed serious concerns regarding Taylor's expansive criminal history and sentenced Taylor near the very top of the Guidelines range, 230 out of 235 possible months. This suggests the court would impose a substantially similar sentence on remand. See United States v. Lawrence, 405 F.3d 888, 908 (10th Cir.2005) (finding no plain error where defendant sentenced two months above the bottom of the sentencing range). 37 Finally, there is no indication the court disregarded or misapplied the 18 U.S.C. § 3553 factors, which allow a court to consider the personal mitigating characteristics of the defendant. See Clifton, 406 F.3d at 1181-82. To the contrary, the sentencing court here retained substantial discretion based on those factors which it refused to exercise in deciding to sentence Taylor to the high end of the Guidelines' range. 38 In short, Taylor does not meet our requirements for noticing plain error under the fourth prong of our analysis.