Opinion ID: 759185
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Individual Issues on Appeal

Text: 37 Cashaw challenges the district court's four-level enhancement for his aggravating role as a leader or organizer of a criminal activity involving five or more participants. 6 See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a). This factual finding is reviewed for clear error. See United States v. Mayer, 130 F.3d 338, 339 (8th Cir.1997). Cashaw first argues that the court erroneously relied on challenged portions of his PSR and failed to make adequate findings regarding his role in the conspiracy. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(1). I disagree. As noted above, the district court made adequate credibility findings regarding the government witnesses, and the role enhancement was supported by evidence that Cashaw was instrumental in arranging for the movement and distribution of large amounts of drugs. See United States v. Scott, 91 F.3d 1058, 1062-63 (8th Cir.1996). Likewise, I find no merit in Cashaw's contention that there was no evidence to support the four-level enhancement. The definition of leadership or organization is to be construed broadly. See Mayer, 130 F.3d at 340. I conclude that there was ample evidence that Cashaw was a catalyst in the distribution of at least two major cocaine shipments. Indeed, Cashaw undertook an organizational role when he recruited Rashid's assistance in distributing both a 99-kilogram Houston cocaine shipment and the 76-kilogram Los Angeles cocaine shipment. Contrary to Cashaw's arguments, a defendant can be held accountable as an organizer or leader under the Guidelines even if he did not directly control others in the conspiracy. See United States v. Miller, 91 F.3d 1160, 1164 (8th Cir.1996). Accordingly, I would hold that the district court did not err in imposing a four-level enhancement. 38 Jones challenges the district court's refusal to charge the jury with his proposed buyer-seller jury instruction. Jones cites United States v. Prieskorn, 658 F.2d 631, 633 (8th Cir.1981), as authority for his argument that a buyer-seller relationship alone does not establish conspiracy. Be that as it may, Jones was entitled to a buyer-seller instruction only if the evidence supported his theory. See United States v. Turner, 975 F.2d 490, 497 (8th Cir.1992). We conclude that it did not do so in this case in light of the massive amounts of cocaine involved and the inescapable conclusion that Jones was receiving cocaine from Rashid for resale. See Turner, 975 F.2d at 497; United States v. Hamell, 931 F.2d 466, 470 (8th Cir.1991). Furthermore, the evidence shows that Jones played numerous roles in the conspiracy. He acted as a courier for Rashid on his Atlanta route, was a major distributor in Kansas City, and used his auto shop to help disassemble vehicles used in smuggling. No reasonable juror could have believed that Jones and Rashid were merely involved in a buyer-seller relationship. See Turner, 975 F.2d at 498. 39 Jones also contends that he was entitled to a multiple conspiracy instruction. Such an instruction should only be given, however, where there is evidence to support its submission. See United States v. Lucht, 18 F.3d 541, 552 (8th Cir.1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 949, 115 S.Ct. 363, 130 L.Ed.2d 316 (1994). If the evidence sufficiently supports only a theory of a single conspiracy, a district court does not err by refusing to give multiple conspiracy instructions. United States v. Maza, 93 F.3d 1390, 1398 (8th Cir.1996), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 1008, 136 L.Ed.2d 886 (1997). Because the evidence here established but a single conspiracy to move large quantities of drugs from source cities to numerous distribution points throughout the United States, the district court did not err in refusing to submit a multiple conspiracy instruction. 40 We find to be without merit Jones's argument that the district court erred in admitting certain statements he made to a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent. 41 Palmer argues that the government failed to establish his participation in the conspiracy. Having viewed the evidence in a light most favorable to the verdict and having accepted all reasonable inferences supporting the conviction, as we are required to do, see, e.g., United States v. Holloway, 128 F.3d 1254, 1257 (8th Cir.1997), we conclude that Palmer's role as a courier was more than adequately established. 7 42