Opinion ID: 667208
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: James Strauser

Text: 10 Strauser admits to having been in a long-term conspiracy with David Karr to distribute cocaine. Strauser was Karr's primary distributor. Strauser's pre-sentence report (PSR) concluded that Strauser was responsible for the cocaine Karr distributed to him personally and to others, approximately 11.5 kilograms in all. The district court adopted this finding and assigned Strauser a base offense level of 32 for distributing between 5 and 15 kilograms of cocaine. 11 On appeal, Strauser contends that the district court's finding that he was accountable for the cocaine Karr distributed was clearly erroneous. He argues that his conspiracy with Karr was limited in scope and that he could not reasonably foresee the large quantity of cocaine for which he was sentenced. Therefore, he argues he should only have been accountable for the cocaine Karr sold directly to him for distribution, approximately 3 kilograms. 3 12 This contention is without merit. Strauser's PSR belies the notion that Strauser was merely a retailer for Karr or that Strauser could not reasonably foresee the amounts of cocaine Karr was distributing. In January 1990 when Karr's supplier, Louis Isirov, threatened to withhold delivery of a 60-ounce cocaine shipment until Karr had more money, Strauser helped Karr collect on drug debts over a two-day period to pay for the cocaine. In February 1990, after the police discovered a kilogram of cocaine in a car registered to Strauser, Karr and Strauser fled the Springfield area together and sought help from Isirov, Karr's supplier. They then fled to Florida and arranged a $100,000 marijuana deal. Additionally, on several occasions Strauser told Karr that he could arrange for a new supply of cocaine if Karr's usual supply ever dried up. In sum, the PSR verifies Strauser's role in the larger conspiracy with Karr and Karr's associates. Additionally, the facts demonstrate that Strauser assisted or offered assistance to Karr to maintain Karr's cocaine supply and thereby maintain Karr's distribution network which included himself and others. The district court did not err in finding Strauser responsible for the entire amount of cocaine Karr distributed. 13 Strauser also contends that we must remand his case for resentencing because the district court failed to offer sufficient reasons for its determination of the quantity of cocaine for which he was accountable. We disagree with Strauser's contention for two reasons. First, contrary to Strauser's assertions, the district court did offer an adequate explanation for its determination. The court pointed to the bases on which it concluded that Strauser was involved in a broader conspiracy to distribute cocaine and that he could reasonably foresee all of Karr's distribution activities. From this determination the court fixed the amount of cocaine for which Strauser was accountable. Second and more importantly, at sentencing the district court specifically asked if there were any objections to its fact-findings. Strauser's counsel stated that he had none. Given Strauser's failure to object, Strauser has waived any argument regarding insufficient fact-finding. United States v. Mojica, 984 F.2d 1426, 1444 (7th Cir.), cert. denied sub nom., --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 2433, 124 L.Ed.2d 653 (1993); see also United States v. Caicedo, 937 F.2d 1227, 1236 (7th Cir.1991) (holding that when a defendant fails to object to the district court's explanation at the time of sentencing, he waives his objection to adequacy of the district court's fact-finding and is not entitled to resentencing).B. Sidney Newell 14 Newell was one step below Strauser in the cocaine distribution network. Newell bought cocaine from Strauser for distribution to Newell's clients and occasionally supplied cocaine to Strauser when Strauser had difficulty obtaining cocaine from Karr. At other times, Newell allowed Strauser to store cocaine at Newell's house, assisted Strauser in packaging and selling cocaine, and fronted Strauser money for the purchase of drugs. Newell's PSR concluded that Newell was part of a conspiracy with Strauser, Karr, and their sources but was accountable only for the cocaine Strauser distributed to him and to others, approximately 3 kilograms in all. The district court accepted the PSR's determination and assigned Newell a base offense level of 28 for distributing between 2 and 3.5 kilograms of cocaine. 15 On appeal Newell argues that not one shred of evidence establishes that he knew of or reasonably foresaw the quantities of cocaine Strauser, Karr, and others distributed through the course of the conspiracy. Therefore, he argues that the district court committed clear error by holding him accountable for all of cocaine Strauser distributed. Newell contends that he was nothing but a bit player who occasionally purchased cocaine from Strauser and thus he should have been sentenced based on the amount he purchased from Strauser, approximately a half a kilogram. This argument is without merit. The district court's conclusion that Newell was not simply a purchaser of cocaine from Strauser but instead assisted Strauser in Strauser's overall effort to distribute cocaine is well-supported by the facts in the record. Newell's broader involvement in the distribution conspiracy and his assistance to Strauser to further Strauser's distribution efforts fully warrant his sentence.