Opinion ID: 74370
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cooper’s Sentencing Appeal

Text: Pursuant to section 2D1.1(b)(1) of the Guidelines, Cooper was assessed a two-level enhancement in his base offense level for the possession of a firearm during a narcotics-related offense. Cooper objected to the enhancement on the grounds that the Government did not demonstrate at trial that the revolver found in of a key to a hotel room, without more, does not establish a reasonable expectation of privacy in the room. See, e.g., United States v. Conway, 73 F.3d 975, 980 (10th Cir. 1995). 13 the hotel room belonged to him or, in the alternative, that the revolver was actually connected to the underlying offense. Cooper’s first argument fails because, even if the firearm actually belonged to Urbina rather than Cooper, the adjustment was nonetheless proper because the two were co-conspirators with equal dominion over the room where the gun was found. See United States v. Matthews, 168 F.3d 1234, 1248 (11th Cir. 1999).8 Cooper’s alternate argument likewise fails because the Guidelines state “[the enhancement] should be applied if the weapon was present, unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was connected with the offense.” U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2D1.1 cmt. 3 (1997) (emphasis added). The revolver was found in the hotel room directly under packaged bricks of marijuana, suggesting an active connection with the narcotics enterprise that Cooper does not credibly rebut. The district court therefore correctly assessed the two-level enhancement against Cooper. 8 As Matthews explains: A defendant’s sentence may also be enhanced for possession [of a firearm] by a co-conspirator if (1) the actual possessor is charged as a co-conspirator; (2) the co-conspirator possessed the firearm in furtherance of the conspiracy; and (3) the defendant who receives the enhancement [(in this case, Cooper)] was involved in the conspiracy at the time of the possession. 168 F.3d at 1248. 14