Opinion ID: 752489
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: District court's failure to make findings regarding the

Text: 42 conversion. 43 It seems apparent that the quantity of methamphetamine seized from Brinton did not adequately represent the quantity of methamphetamine that could have been produced from the conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. See United States v. Aichele, 941 F.2d 761, 766 (9th Cir.1991). The 1,300 pounds of ephedrine that Brinton possessed could have been used to manufacture between 198,828 grams (using the 3-to-1 conversion ratio suggested by Brinton) and 589,680 grams (using the 1-to-1 conversion ratio urged by the government) of methamphetamine. The discrepancy between these quantities and the 2,401 gram methamphetamine mixture actually seized from Brinton is marked, to say the least. 44 Unfortunately, the district court made no express or implied findings with respect to conversion and apparently believed that conversion was required by the sentencing guidelines irrespective of Brinton's intent or ability to convert all 1,300 pounds of ephedrine to methamphetamine. Moreover, the district court selected a 2-to-1 conversion ratio based upon the erroneous belief that the jury had determined the methamphetamine content of Brinton's output. Because the district court misconstrued the law in making its factual determination of the quantity of drugs involved, we must vacate Brinton's sentence and remand for resentencing. 45 We do not mean to suggest that a sentencing court must make highly detailed findings regarding the intent or the ability of a defendant to convert precursor chemicals to controlled substances before it can consider the precursor chemicals in calculating the defendant's sentence under § 2D1.1. However, where the sentencing court completely abdicates its role in determining whether conversion is proper and what conversion ratio should be used, the defendant's sentence cannot stand.(3) Ex post facto. 46 Brinton suggests that the conversion of ephedrine to methamphetamine would violate the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution. This argument clearly fails. As discussed above, the statutes and guidelines in effect at the time of the offense gave adequate authority to convert the ephedrine. Further, we have previously approved the conversion of ephedrine to methamphetamine for sentencing purposes under the 1988 guidelines. United States v. Bertrand, 926 F.2d 838, 845 (9th Cir.1991). No ex post facto problem exists. 47