Opinion ID: 157490
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Proof of Drug Quantity at Sentencing

Text: Kirtman alleges that the government did not present sufficient evidence to support the district court’s drug quantity calculation of 1.5 kilograms or more of cocaine base. He argues that the witnesses who testified at trial as to the amounts of crack cocaine distributed by the conspiracy never actually explained how they knew the substance was in fact crack cocaine. He contends that only those amounts identified as cocaine base by a forensic chemist (whose testimony was presented by stipulation) should have been considered at sentencing, a total of 63.68 grams. We review the district court’s drug quantity calculation for clear error. United States v. Roberts , 14 F.3d 502, 519-20 (10th Cir. 1993). The evidence on which a sentencing court relies in making a drug quantity determination need only possess “a minimum indicia of reliability.” United States v. Browning , 61 F.3d 752, 754 (10th Cir. 1995). We think the district court’s findings are fully supported. Numerous witnesses at trial, including an admitted organizer of the conspiracy, Kevin Cole, testified that they distributed large quantities of crack; Kirtman did not object to -6- any witness’s lack of personal knowledge on this issue. Cole in particular gave detailed testimony about the difference between powder cocaine and crack cocaine, see Tr. Vol. I at 8-9, and stated that the organization had sold 20-23 kilograms of crack cocaine during certain time periods, see id. at 13, 37. We have held that such “mere testimony” is sufficient to support a finding that a substance is crack cocaine. See United States v. McIntyre , 997 F.2d 687, 710 (10th Cir. 1993) (citing United States v. LeRoy , 944 F.2d 787, 790 (10th Cir. 1991); United States v. Anthony , 944 F.2d 780, 782 (10th Cir. 1991)). The district court was certainly justified in believing that the members of an extensive conspiracy, who made innumerable sales and handled many thousands of dollars during a period spanning several years, knew what they were selling. The forensic chemist’s testimony, which identified quantities of cocaine base confiscated from the group on nine separate occasions between March 1995 and September 1996, see Tr. Vol. V at 663-67, also supports this inference. Therefore we uphold the district court’s calculation.