Opinion ID: 615992
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Taylor's Proceedings

Text: Taylor's pre-sentence report recommended that the conspiracy involved forty kilograms of cocaine. Taylor objected to this amount and suggested that the conspiracy involved five-to-fifteen kilograms. At sentencing, the district court overruled Taylor's objection and found that the amount of cocaine involved was forty kilograms. It, therefore, calculated his base offense level as 34. Enhancements raised his base offense level to 36, resulting in an advisory Guideline range of 188 to 235 months of incarceration. To minimize potentially unequal treatment of the co-conspirators based upon drug quantity, the district court sentenced Taylor to the low end of his Guideline range. He received a 188-month sentence. Taylor appealed, alleging that the district court committed clear error when it determined that the amount of cocaine attributable to the conspiracy was forty kilograms. This Court agreed, again viewing as unacceptable the inconsistent factual finding on the amount of drugs involved. As we did in Barnes' case, we vacated Taylor's conviction and remanded his case for re-sentencing.