Opinion ID: 599269
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Elmer Velasquez

Text: 148 Elmer Velasquez challenges the district judge's sentencing him on the basis of 6.5 kilograms of cocaine claiming that such finding was clearly erroneous in view of the evidence. We disagree. 149 At trial, it was proved that Mr. Velasquez personally distributed 249.89 grams of cocaine on June 22, 1988. The government also connected Mr. Velasquez to Jorge Suarez less than one hour before Mr. Suarez sold a quarter kilogram of cocaine to Mr. Olave on June 29, 1988. Indeed, Mr. Velasquez admits, in his brief, that in addition to Horacio and Rudolfo Velasquez, he had cocaine dealings with Jorge Suarez who, according to the testimony of Mr. Olave, received loads (multiple kilogram shipments) of cocaine from Florida and was a notorious supplier. There was evidence which revealed that Mr. Velasquez was a significant participant through the final stages of the conspiracy. For example, during a tape recorded conversation on September 28, 1988, Mr. Concha suggested that Mr. Olave call Elmer Velasquez if he needed either a kilogram or a quarter kilogram of cocaine. 150 Thus, Mr. Velasquez's significant and steady participation in the conspiracy belies his contention that he could not reasonably have foreseen the movement of 6.5 kilograms of cocaine through the conspiracy. Because we cannot say that the district judge's finding that Mr. Velasquez was accountable for 6.5 kilograms of cocaine leaves us with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made, we conclude that this finding was not clearly erroneous.