Opinion ID: 15353
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: narviz

Text: Narviz argues, and the government concedes, that his conviction on Count One of the indictment must be vacated. Count One charged Narviz with conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. Because conspiracy is a lesser included offense of the continuing criminal enterprise charged in Count 4 Three, his conviction on Count One violates double jeopardy. See Rutledge v. United States, 517 U.S. 292, 307 (1996); United States v. Dixon, 132 F.3d 192, 196 (5th Cir. 1997). Though we vacate Narviz’s conviction on Count One, we do not remand for resentencing. Where it is clear that the drug conspiracy conviction did not lead the district court to impose a harsher sentence for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise (“CCE”), there is no need to remand. United States v. Dixon, 132 F.3d at 196. Here, Narviz was sentenced to 360 months for Counts One and Three with the terms to run concurrently; thus, the sentence for the CCE is no harsher than it would have been without the drug conspiracy conviction.
Because Narviz’s trial counsel did not object to the failure to give a specific instruction requiring unanimity, this Court reviews for plain error. United States v. Harris, 104 F.3d 1465, 1471 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 103 (1997). Narviz points out that he was charged with laundering monetary instruments under 19 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(2)(A) and (h) which proscribes transporting, transmitting, and transferring a monetary instrument or funds from or to the United States with the intent to carry on specified unlawful activity. When the judge instructed the jury, he told them that the prosecution had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that two or more agreed to launder money either by 5 sending it from or to the United States. Narviz argues that this instruction was error because it is unclear whether Narviz was convicted of laundering money by sending it to or from the United States. He contends that our holding in United States v. Gipson, 553 F.2d 453 (5th Cir. 1977) requires a specific unanimity instruction when a jury could find a defendant guilty on a single count under multiple theories of liability. While Narviz accurately summarizes our holding in that case, Gipson simply does not apply here because Narviz was convicted of conspiracy and not the actual offense. Rather, we look to our holding United States v. Dillman, 15 F.3d 384, 391-92 (5th Cir. 1994) which said that where an indictment alleged conspiracy to commit several offenses, the district court did not err in giving a general unanimity instruction. The Dillman court explained that when twelve jurors agree that a defendant agreed to commit a crime, all jurors do not have to agree about which offense the defendant personally intended to commit. There need be only one conspiracy to encompass the particular charged offense. Id. at 392. Here, the facts fall within Dillman’s reasoning. The judge gave a general unanimity charge, and the conspiracy to launder money encompasses moving money both to and from the United States. Thus, we cannot say that the district court plainly erred in failing to give a specific unanimity instruction.
6 Counts Four and Seven allege respectively that on or about October 1994 and July 20, 1995, Narviz unlawfully and knowingly possessed marijuana with intent to distribute. Narviz argues that the record does not show that the government proved any of the specified conduct. He contends that the government produced no evidence that Narviz possessed any marijuana on those specific dates. Rather, the government produced witnesses who testified to the loads that they, as co-conspirators, handled over the years. This Court reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to, and with all reasonable inferences drawn in support of, the verdict. United States v. Thompson, 130 F.3d 676, 688 (5th Cir. 1997). We must affirm Narviz’s conviction under these counts if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). To convict for possession with intent to distribute, the government must prove (1) knowing, (2) possession, (3) with intent to distribute. United States v. Lopez, 74 F.3d 575, 577 (5th Cir.), cert. denied 116 S. Ct. 1867 (1996). Possession may be joint. United States v. Skipper, 74 F.3d 608, 611 (5th Cir. 1996). A party to a conspiracy may be held responsible for a substantive offense that a co-conspirator commits in furtherance of the conspiracy even if the party did not participate in or have any knowledge of that offense. Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 647 (1946). Thus, once the conspiracy and the defendant’s 7 knowing participation therein is proved beyond a reasonable doubt, a defendant is guilty of the substantive acts his partners committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. United States v. Garcia, 917 F.2d 1370, 1377 (5th Cir. 1990). Here, the evidence is sufficient under these theories. DEA agents searched a stash house Craig Hillis used and seized 97 pounds of marijuana from a freezer in the garage. The marijuana was part of a load that Narviz supplied and had delivered to Hillis between August and October 1994. Hillis, as a co-conspirator, continuously possessed the 97 pounds. Thus, Narviz’s conviction on Count Four stands. For the same reasons, Narviz’s conviction on Count Seven also stands. At trial, the government showed that DEA agents searched another stash house and seized 183 pounds of marijuana on July 20, 1995. On July 14, Tony Hall had received 300 pounds of marijuana that Narviz had sent through a co-defendant and took it to that same stash house. We hold, therefore, that the jury had sufficient evidence to convict Narviz of possessing marijuana on or about July 20, 1995.
We review a district court’s evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion. United States v. Parks, 68 F.3d 860, 867 (5th Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 116 S. Ct. 825 (1996). The district court permitted three witnesses, Perez, Agent 8 Hildreth, and Agent Boyette, to testify over Narviz’s hearsay objection concluding the testimony fell within the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule. FED. R. EVID. 801(d)(2)(E) states “a statement is not hearsay if. . . the statement is offered against a party and is. . . a statement by a co-conspirator of a party during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy.” For the Rule to apply, the proponent of the testimony must show: 1) the conspiracy existed; 2) the statement was made during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy; and 3) the co-conspirator and the defendant are members of the conspiracy. United States v. Asibor, 109 F.3d 1023, 1032 (5th Cir. 1997). The proponent must establish these elements by a preponderance of the evidence. Bourjaily v. United States, 483 U.S. 171, 175 (1987). Further, in the case of a non-testifying con-conspirator, the proponent must adduce independent evidence of a concert of action in which the defendant was a participant. Asibor, 109 F.3d at 1033.
Narviz complains Perez made two statements which he argues are objectionable. First, Perez testified that he was arrested in 1987 with 75 pounds of marijuana that a co-conspirator, Tim McCaskill, supplied. When the government asked about the origin of the 75 pounds, Perez testified that it had come from Narviz. Second, Perez testified that he met a pilot who said that he was flying marijuana from Mexico’s interior for Narviz. Narviz argues that 9 the government failed to show that either McCaskill or the pilot belonged to the same conspiracy as Narviz. Narviz further objected to Perez’s testimony concerning McCaskill on the grounds that Perez had no personal knowledge.1 A court may evaluate the testimony itself to determine whether the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule has been met. United States v. Burton, 126 F.3d 666, 671 (5th Cir. 1997). Here, we look to Perez’s testimony to determine if it falls within the exception. We hold that it does. Perez testified that before his 1987 arrest, he met twice with Narviz in McCaskill’s presence to buy marijuana McCaskill was holding for Narviz. Thus, McCaskill and Narviz are members of the same conspiracy2 and the admitted statements were made in furtherance of that conspiracy. As for the pilot, we again examine the testimony itself to determine whether it was properly admitted. We conclude that the pilot and Narviz were members of the same conspiracy because the pilot was flying marijuana for Narviz. Moreover, the pilot’s statement was made in furtherance of that conspiracy. Thus, the testimony was admissible under FED. R. EVID. 801(d)(2)(E).
1 We do not address this objection because the testimony is admissible under the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule. 2 We point out that for the co-conspirator exception to apply, “same conspiracy” does not have to be the same conspiracy as charged n the indictment. United States v. Arce, 997 F.2d 1123, 1128 (5th Cir. 1993). 10 DEA Agent Hildreth testified that he got a break in his investigation when Tony Hall, who was then an informant, received a call from Perez’s wife asking for help. Narviz argues that the co-conspirator exception does not apply because neither Perez’s wife nor Hall were co-conspirators. Hall, at the time Perez’s wife telephoned, was a cooperating witness, and Perez’s wife was never shown to be a member of the conspiracy. We agree with the government that the testimony is not hearsay. A statement is hearsay only if it is being offered to prove the truth of the matter. FED. R. EVID. 801(c). Here, Agent Hildreth’s testimony was not given to show the truth of what Perez’s wife said; rather, the purpose of the testimony was to show why Hildreth resumed his investigation. Thus, the court did not abuse its discretion in permitting Hildreth to testify. Finally, Narviz objects to two allegedly hearsay statements Agent Boyette made. Boyette testified that he told Grant that Customs, during a three year investigation, had received information that Narviz was involved in narcotics smuggling. Boyette also testified that after arresting and debriefing four people, investigators were led to Narviz’s ranch. Again, we find that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the testimony. The arrest and debriefing statement, like Hildreth’s testimony, is not hearsay because it is not offered to prove the truth of the arrests and debriefings. Instead, the testimony is used to explain why investigators went to Narviz’s 11 ranch. As for Boyette’s warning to Grant, the testimony was offered to refute Grant’s implication at trial that he knew nothing about Narviz’s illegal activities. While Boyette’s testimony may have been prejudicial3, Narviz only argues that the testimony was inappropriate because it was hearsay. The testimony is not hearsay because the testimony was offered to show what Grant knew not whether Customs was actually investigating Narviz. Again, the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting either Hildreth’s or Boyette’s testimony.
This Court reviews the district court’s factual findings as to the relevant quantity of drugs under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Montes, 976 F.2d 235, 240 (5th Cir. 1992). In making sentencing determinations, a district court may consider a wide range of evidence and must be afforded wide discretion in the sources of information it uses. United States v. Kimbrough, 69 F.3d 723, 734 (5th Cir. 1995). However, the information upon which a judge relies must have “a sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy.” U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL §6A1.3(a) (1995). While a PSR generally bears sufficient indicia of reliability, United States v. Alfaro, 3 We do not address whether the testimony was prejudicial because all issues not briefed are waived. Cinel v. Connick, 15 F.3d 1338, 1345 (5th Cir. 1994). 12 919 F.2d 962, 966, “[b]ald, conclusionary statements do not acquire the patina of reliability by mere inclusion in the PSR.” United States v. Elwood, 999 F.2d 814, 817-18 (5th Cir. 1993). Narviz’s presentence report (“PSR”) holds him responsible for 10,074 kilograms of marijuana. The probation officer states in the PSR that the total is based primarily on information contained in various debriefings, recorded meetings and telephone calls, and on the amount of marijuana seized in the different arrests of the coconspirators. She further states that “[a]lthough the Government has information from cooperating individuals that the defendant was involved in narcotics trafficking activities. . . over a period. . . of years, this information has not been corroborated with any specificity. Therefore, the defendant is accountable for only those amounts of drugs that have been substantiated[.]” However, as Narviz points out, the debriefings, recorded meetings, and telephone calls upon which the probation officer relied are not attached to the PSR. Nor is there an explanation of how the PSR was corroborated. In short, there is no way for this Court to know whether the PSR contains sufficient indicia of reliability. We hold, though, that even if the PSR is unreliable, the resulting error is harmless. Assuming arguendo that Narviz’s sentence were based only on the amounts proven at trial, his sentence would not change. The PSR holds Narviz responsible for 10,074 kilograms of marijuana, which results in a offense level of 40. See U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 2D1.5 (1995). Narviz 13 concedes that the government proved that he was responsible for 4,802 kilograms at trial. That amount, however, would give him an offense level of 38, which is a two point reduction. Id. What Narviz ignores is that his offense level was raised two points for obstruction of justice. Narviz does not appeal the upward adjustment for obstruction of justice, and all issues not briefed are waived. Cinel, 15 F.3d at 1345. Thus, even with the two point reduction, Narviz’s offense level is 40, which would have resulted in a sentence of 292-365 months.4 See U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL Ch. 5 Pt. A (1995). Because Narviz’s sentence falls within this range, any error resulting from reliance on the PSR is harmless. See United States v. Misher, 99 F.3d 664, 671 (5th Cir. 1996), cert. denied sub nom, Cobb v. United States, 118 S. Ct. 73 (1997).
21 U.S.C. § 853 permits the forfeiture of a person’s property if he has been convicted of a federal drug crime which is punishable by more than a year’s imprisonment. Here, the jury found Narviz’s truck was forfeit because it was “used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, [a drug crime]”, 21 U.S.C. § 853(a)(2), and because it afforded Narviz control over a continuing criminal enterprise, 21 U.S.C. § 853(a)(3). On appeal, Narviz only contests the 4 This sentence applies to a defendant with an offense level of 40 and a criminal history that falls within category I. 14 forfeiture under (a)(2). Because the forfeiture is sufficient under § 853(a)(3), we affirm.