Opinion ID: 2995380
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The District Court’s Sentencing

Text: Determinations Nubuor argues that the district court erred in determining the amount of heroin that he was responsible for at his sentencing. We review the district court’s determination of drug quantity for clear error. See United States v. Magana, 118 F.3d 1173, 1205 (7th Cir. 1997). Nubuor was sentenced pursuant to USSG sec.1B1.3(a)(1)(B). In sentencing pursuant to that provision, a district court is to consider reasonably foreseeable acts and omissions of others in the jointly undertaken criminal activity. USSG sec.1B1.3(a)(1)(B). Furthermore, in the context of drug distribution cases, we have held that a defendant who has conspired with others may be sentenced for drug quantities that he did not handle, so long as he could reasonable foresee that the drug transactions would occur. See United States v. McEntire, 153 F.3d 424, 438 (7th Cir. 1998). In reviewing the district court’s sentencing determinations under the above standards, we find that the district court did not commit clear error. At the sentencing hearing, the district court determined that Nubuor was responsible for 1.5509 kilograms of heroin. The district court reached this figure by first concluding that Nubuor was responsible for the amount of heroin found on his premises and on his person: 5.9 grams. Next, the district court determined that Nubuor was responsible for an additional 400 grams of heroin. This finding was based upon Nubuor’s recorded telephone conversation with Bonsu, in which he acknowledged Bonsu’s remark (the four that you said you will give me) with an Eh-heh. This conversation, coupled with the fact that Bonsu, in his settlement proffer, stated that Nubuor had agreed to furnish 400 grams of heroin to the January 14 heroin deal, support the district court’s findings. The district court then determined that Nubuor and Salami knew about each other and their roles in the conspiracy and were accountable for all the heroin that their counterpart could have foreseeably delivered. Therefore, the district court concluded that because Salami intended to deliver one kilogram of heroin to Bonsu, Nubuor should be found responsible for that additional kilogram. Evidence submitted at trial established that Nubuor was aware that various parties would contribute drug quantities to the January 14, 1998 transaction. Nubuor’s awareness, coupled with the fact that reasonable forseeability does not require that the co-conspirator be aware of the precise quantity in each of an ongoing series of illegal transactions, support the district court’s determinations as to the additional kilo gram of heroin. United States v. Scroggins, 939 F.2d 416, 423 (7th Cir. 1991). To reach the final sum, the district court determined that Nubuor should be held responsible for the quantities of heroin that Bonsu sold to the FBI informant, prior to the January 14th transaction. The total quantity of drugs sold in these transactions equals 115 grams. Evidence presented at trial established that Nubuor was present, and indeed was often consulted by Bonsu, when some of these transactions were executed. In this instance, we agree with the district court and find that it was reasonably foreseeable to Nubuor that these smaller transactions would be required to further the overall conspiracy to sell a far larger quantity of drugs.