Opinion ID: 2996468
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Colon’s Brief

Text: Colon argues that: (1) his trial should have been severed from that of his codefendants; (2) the district court relied on inappropriate evidence during his sentencing hearing; (3) jury instruction No. 13 was erroneously submitted; (4) he was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial; and (5) the district court erred when it failed to instruct the jury that it must unanimously agree on the acts which constitute a CCE.
Colon filed a pretrial motion to have his trial severed from that of his codefendants, which the district court denied. Colon maintains that his trial should have been severed because: (1) the statements of both Marisol and Souffront were submitted into evidence but neither testified and were therefore not subject to cross-examination; (2) Marisol presented prejudicial evidence in connection with her defense that she participated in the conspiracy because she was under the “psychological domination” of Colon; and (3) other codefendants presented similar “mutually antagonistic” defenses, in that “the appearance of one party’s defense preclude[d] the acquittal of the other defendant.” United States v. Zafiro, 506 U.S. 534, 537 (1993) (citation omitted). Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 25 We review the denial of a motion to sever for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Smith, 223 F.3d 554, 573 (7th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). Multiple defendants may be tried together “if they are alleged to have par- ticipated . . . in the same series of acts or transactions, constituting an offense or offenses.” FED. R. CRIM. P. 8(b). In fact, “[t]here is a preference in the federal system for joint trials of defendants who are indicted together. Joint trials ‘play a vital role in the criminal justice system.’ They promote efficiency and ‘serve the interests of justice by avoiding the scandal and inequity of inconsistent verdicts.’ ” Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 537 (quoting Richardson v. Marsh, 481 U.S. 200, 209-10 (1987)). There is a particularly strong preference for a single trial with codefendants who have been jointly indicted. See United States v. McClurge, 311 F.3d 866, 871 (7th Cir. 2002) (citation omitted). However, “[i]f the joinder of offenses or defendants in an indictment . . . or a consolidation for trial appears to prejudice a defendant or the government, the court may order separate trials of counts, sever the defendants’ trials, or provide any other relief that justice requires.” FED. R. CRIM. P. 14(a). In addition, “Rule 14 does not require severance even if prejudice is shown; rather it leaves the tailoring of the relief to be granted, if any, to the district court’s sound discretion.” Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 538-39. When defendants have been properly joined under Rule 8(b), “a district court should grant a severance under Rule 14 only if there is a serious risk that a joint trial would compromise a specific trial right of one of the defendants, or prevent the jury from making a reliable judgment about guilt or innocence.” Id. at 539. “A defendant must demonstrate that the denial of severance caused him ‘actual prejudice’ that deprived him of his right to a fair trial; it is insufficient that separate trials would have given a defendant a better opportunity for an acquittal.” United States v. Rollins, 301 F.3d 511, 518 (7th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted); see also Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 540. 26 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514
In Bruton v. United States, the Supreme Court held that a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses against him is violated when the confession of a nontestifying codefendant, in which the defendant is expressly implicated as a participant in the crime, is admitted in the joint trial of the two defendants, even if the jury is instructed to consider the confession only against the confessing codefendant. 391 U.S. 123, 135-36 (1968). In Bruton, one of two jointly-tried defendants did not testify but had admitted to committing armed robbery and named the second defendant as his accomplice. Id. at 124. In Richardson, a joint trial of two defendants with the third respondent a fugitive at the time of trial, the Court held there was no Bruton violation where the nontestifying codefendant’s statement was redacted to remove all reference to the defendant and his existence and the jury was given a proper limiting instruction. 481 U.S. at 202, 211. The redacted statement, unlike the defendant’s confession in Bruton, was not incriminating because it did not directly implicate the other defendant in the crime; therefore, there was no Bruton violation. Id. at 208; United States ex rel. Cole v. Lane, 752 F.2d 1210, 1216 (7th Cir. 1985). In Gray v. Maryland, 523 U.S. 185 (1998), again a case with only two defendants, the Court stated that even though the redactions in the confession of the nontestifying codefendant replaced the defendant’s name with a deletion or blank space, a Bruton violation occurred because “the redacted confession with the blank prominent on its face . . . ‘facially incriminat[es]’ the codefendant.” Id. at 196 (emphasis in original) (quoting Richardson, 481 U.S. at 209). However, we held that the substitution of a defendant’s name with a neutral pronoun or phrase in a Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 27 codefendant’s confession which does not “strategically incriminate much less implicate” the defendant does not violate Bruton. Cole, 752 F.2d at 1216. In Cole, two defendants were jointly tried for armed robbery. Witnesses and one codefendant stated that three men participated in the robbery. Id. The use of neutral pronouns in the codefendant’s redacted statement, a statement which did not specifically incriminate or implicate the other defendant, does not violate the holding in Bruton. Id.; see United States v. Hernandez, 330 F.3d 964, 973 (7th Cir. 2003) (“it is clear that a redacted confession may be admitted as long as the redaction does not obviously refer to the co-defendants”). Marisol was interviewed by Agent Jolley on September 18, 1997, and signed a statement made of that interview. That statement was read at trial. The only sentence in Marisol’s statement referencing Colon was, “One person directed the flow of money that members of the street gang received from the sale of drugs.” There is no direct incrimination much less implication that this person was Colon, particularly in light of the number of codefendants and numerous references in Marisol’s statement concerning the many gang members she worked with. The district court instructed the jury that the statement was not admissible against any defendant other than Marisol. In Souffront’s initial statement to Officer Cusack and Agent Jackson, he admitted he held a certain position within the Latin Kings gang and that he dealt drugs for them. He later made a second statement to Cusack and Jackson, providing a list of Latin Kings members from whom he had collected drug money and how much money was collected. Both statements were read at trial. There was no direct incrimination or implication of Colon. And again, the district court offered a limiting instruction to the jury. 28 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 There was no Bruton violation in either Marisol’s or Souffront’s statements. Colon has incorrectly argued that both codefendants’ statements “implicate” him. Colon must show that the redacted statements “expressly,” “facially,” or “directly” implicate him. Richardson, 481 U.S. at 208 (citing Bruton, 481 U.S. at 124 n.1); Gray, 523 U.S. at 196; Cole, 752 F.2d at 1216. He has failed to do so. Even had there been a Bruton error, that error would have been harmless. See Hernandez, 330 F.3d at 974 (citing United States v. Hoover, 246 F.3d 1054, 1059-60 (7th Cir. 2001)). After a nine-week trial, the evidence of a narcotics conspiracy was substantial. See id. The codefendants basically convicted themselves with seventy hours of recorded conversations. See Hoover, 246 F.3d at 1059-60. Colon also maintains that these statements bolster the testimony of other witnesses. The Supreme Court declined to expand Bruton to include a statement which is not incriminating on its face but becomes so when “linked” with other evidence at trial. Richardson, 481 U.S. at 208-09. If a proper limiting instruction is given to the jury, a redacted statement which incriminates a defendant only in conjunction with other evidence in the case does not violate Bruton. Id.; Cole, 752 F.2d at 1216. In addition, Colon contends, but makes no argument, that “Martinez was implicated in the ‘hit’ on Souffront and was not subject to cross-examination.” Colon provides no facts to substantiate his inference that Martinez may have been responsible for the hit. Evidence of the proposed hit was introduced through the government tapes of Colon’s conversations with Marisol and Martinez. Colon warned of a possible hit on Souffront and instructed Marisol and Martinez to stay away from him. These conversations were admitted as an admission by a party and as statements by a coconspirator. FED. R. EVID. 801(d)(2)(A) & (E). The district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing any of these statements into evidence. Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 29
Colon asserts a Bruton violation based on the testimony of Dr. Teresa Risolo (“Dr. Risolo”), who was called at trial by Marisol as an expert witness. Dr. Risolo, a clinical psychologist who had interviewed, tested, and evaluated Marisol, testified that Marisol was highly dependent on Colon and would do anything for him. Dr. Risolo also stated that Marisol had difficulty expressing disagreement, was easily manipulated, and was unable to use critical thinking. Marisol’s attorney then argued that she was incapable of forming the intent to participate in and promote the drug conspiracy. Colon maintains that, “[s]ince Marisol Colon did not testify none of these matters were subject to cross-examination.” Prior to Dr. Risolo’s testimony, the district court instructed the jury: I anticipate that during Dr. Risolo’s testimony she will relate statements that were made to her by Marisol Colon. I instruct you that those statements may not be considered by you for the truth of the matters asserted in them. I further instruct you that Dr. Risolo’s testimony may not be considered by you against any other defendant. The district court repeated the instruction prior to jury deliberations. The majority of Dr. Risolo’s testimony dealt with Marisol’s childhood and adolescence, which Dr. Risolo stated were the basis of her dependent personality disorder. Her statements regarding Marisol and Colon were extremely general, including the fact that Marisol met and married Colon while he was incarcerated (with no mention of his crime or term of imprisonment), that he gave her money (with no mention of where the money came from), that Colon showed warmth and kindness towards Marisol, that Marisol had two children with him, that Marisol knew of Colon’s infidelities, that Marisol did 30 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 not want to be a secretary for Colon, and that Marisol had made general comments to Dr. Risolo about the value of gangs. There is no basis for a Bruton violation because there is no direct criminal implication of Colon in any of these statements.
The occurrence of mutually antagonistic defenses is generally not sufficient grounds to require severance. See United States v. Mietus, 237 F.3d 866, 873 (7th Cir. 2001) (citing Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 538). The courts have reversed relatively few convictions for failure to grant a severance on grounds of mutually antagonistic or irreconcilable defenses. . . . Mutually antagonistic defenses are not prejudicial per se. . . . [and] Rule 14 does not require severance even if prejudice is shown; rather, it leaves the tailoring of the relief to be granted, if any, to the district court’s sound discretion. Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 538 (citations omitted). When defendants have been properly joined, “a district court should grant a severance under Rule 14 only if there is a serious risk that a joint trial would compromise a specific trial right of one of the defendants, or prevent the jury from making a reliable judgment about guilt or innocence.” Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 539. A defendant must demonstrate that the denial of severance caused him “actual prejudice.” United States v. Lane, 474 U.S. 438, 449 (1986). “Actual prejudice” occurs when a defendant has been deprived of his right to a fair trial; “it is insufficient that separate trials would have given a defendant a better opportunity for an acquittal.” Rollins, 301 F.3d at 518 (citations omitted); see also Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 540. Defendant has not demonstrated any actual prejudice requiring severance. Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 31 Even if the district court had erred in denying Colon’s severance motion based on mutually antagonistic defenses, the misjoinder of defendants is harmless error if the jury was appropriately instructed to “give separate consideration to each individual defendant and to each separate charge against him.” Zafiro, 506 U.S. at 541. “In Lane, the Supreme Court relied upon the presence of instructions requiring the jury to consider each defendant separately, the likelihood that evidence relating to the misjoined count would have been admitted in a separate trial and the strong evidence of the defendant’s guilt in concluding that the misjoinder was harmless.” United States v. Diaz, 876 F.2d 1344, 1356 (7th Cir. 1989) (citing Lane, 474 U.S. at 450). Proper jury instructions are “an adequate safeguard against the risk of prejudice in the form of jury confusion, evidentiary spillover and cumulation of evidence.” United States v. Alexander, 135 F.3d 470, 478 (7th Cir. 1998) (internal quotations and citations omitted). The district court provided the proper limiting jury instructions. The vast majority, if not all, of the evidence admitted in the joint trial would have been admissible had Colon been tried alone, and the evidence against Colon was overwhelming. Defendant has failed to demonstrate actual prejudice on this issue. The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for severance based on any of the arguments presented by Colon. 2. Inappropriate evidence during the sentencing hearing Colon’s convictions10 in the instant case were for a CCE violation under 21 U.S.C. § 848 (count 2), use of a tele- 10 Colon’s and Martinez’s convictions on count 1, for a drug conspiracy in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, were vacated subsequent to a post-trial motion. The district court held that the conspiracy convictions violated the double jeopardy clause because Colon and Martinez were also convicted of count 2 for engaging in a CCE. 32 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 phone to facilitate a drug felony in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) (counts 3-9, 13, 16), and distribution of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (counts 10-12, 14, 15, 18-21). For each count except the CCE, the district court calculated the base offense level at 36 because more than 50 kilograms of cocaine were involved in the conspiracy. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(2) (“At least 50 KG but less than 150 KG of Cocaine”). The district court then added a twolevel enhancement for the involvement of a dangerous weapon pursuant to § 2D1.1(b)(1) and a four-level enhancement for Colon’s leadership role pursuant to § 3B1.1(a), arriving at a final offense level of 42. Colon argues that the three enhancements—for drug quantity, use of a dangerous weapon, and a leadership role—violated Apprendi. Colon also maintains that the district court erred in placing his criminal history category at level VI, that of a career offender. a. Drug quantity The district court’s calculation concerning the quantity of drugs involved in an offense is a finding of fact which will be reversed only for clear error. United States v. Hall, 109 F.3d 1227, 1233 (7th Cir. 1997). The finding will be affirmed unless we are “left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Id. (citation omitted). Because the drug quantity table assigns a base offense of 36 to narcotics-related conduct involving 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine, see U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(2), we must determine whether the evidence permits the attribution of at least 50 kilograms of cocaine to Colon. As the district court noted at sentencing, “I have no doubt in my mind that this—this portion of Mr. Colon’s life—this particular criminal conspiracy involved the distribution of over, over 50 kilograms of cocaine.” Based on the evidence that more than 44 kilograms were purNos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 33 chased from Herrera, 5 kilograms from Llanos, more than 1 kilogram from Ginjuama, and the estimated street taxes paid to Marisol during the 138 weeks of this particular conspiracy, the district court made a conservative calculation and did not err in finding the conspiracy involved more than 50 kilograms, thereby assigning Colon a base offense level of 36. Colon challenges the credibility of the witnesses as to the quantity of drugs and contends their testimony should not have been relied on under Apprendi. Apprendi does not affect or alter calculations of relevant conduct or other guideline determinations for sentences that fall within the statutory maximum. See Talbot v. Indiana, 226 F.3d 866, 869 (7th Cir. 2000). In addition, credibility questions like these are for the trier of fact to resolve in all but the most extraordinary circumstances. See Anderson v. Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 575 (1985); United States v. House, 110 F.3d 1281, 1286 (7th Cir. 1997); see also United States v. Noble, 246 F.3d 946, 953 (7th Cir. 2001) (“we defer to the district court’s determination of witness credibility, which can virtually never be clear error”). Colon has not provided any valid reason why the district court should have been precluded from crediting the witnesses in making sentencing determinations. We find no clear error in the district court’s drug quantity calculation. b. Weapon enhancement We review the court’s decision to impose a U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 enhancement for clear error. United States v. Watson, 189 F.3d 496, 501 (7th Cir. 1999). A weapon found in “close proximity” to illegal drugs is presumptively considered to have been used in connection with the drug trafficking offense. United States v. Grimm, 170 F.3d 760, 767 (7th Cir. 1999). Once the government meets the initial burden of demonstrating that the defendant “possessed 34 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 a weapon in a place where drugs were present,” the burden shifts to the defendant to show that it was “clearly improbable” that the weapon was connected with the offense. Id. A two-level enhancement is imposed by § 2D1.1(b)(1) for possession of a dangerous weapon, pursuant to Colon’s convictions under 21 U.S.C. § 841. Not only was a gun found in the apartment of Colon’s named regional street boss and enforcer, but, as the court noted, Colon ordered that “Souffront’s punishment [for the discovery of drugs and a gun in his apartment] was to be shot.” Testimony at trial revealed that weapons were carried and used for disciplinary and security purposes as part of the conspiracy. The district court did not err in determining it was reasonably foreseeable that Colon, as leader of the drug conspiracy, knew guns were involved in maintaining and enforcing the work of the conspiracy. c. Leadership enhancement A four-level enhancement was applied under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a) as Colon was found to be an organizer or leader of a conspiracy involving five or more participants, pursuant to a conviction under 21 U.S.C. § 841. The sentencing court’s application of § 3B1.1 is reviewed for clear error. United States v. Gracia, 272 F.3d 866, 876 (7th Cir. 2001). We will reverse only if there is a “definite and firm conviction” that a mistake has been made. Id. at 876 (citing United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395 (1948)). The jury was charged with the burden of determin- ing Colon’s role in the conspiracy when given the instruction that they must “unanimously agree . . . that the defendant you are then considering organized, supervised or managed five or more persons within the same time period charged in the indictment in committing the series Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 35 of offenses.” The overwhelming evidence indicated, as the district court stated, that “every single witness treated himself as a subordinate to Gino Colon” and “there was unanimous agreement on his authority.” Colon also argues that the leadership enhancement, in conjunction with the CCE conviction, results in doublecounting in the calculation of his sentence. However, the CCE calculation is imposed by § 2D1.5, excluding any enhancement for a leadership role. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.5, cmt. n.1. There was no double-counting.
Colon’s criminal history was calculated as category VI. He was convicted of murder in 1971 and had served twentyfive years of that sentence when he was released to the U.S. Marshals Service in relation to the charges in the current case. Colon argues that this sentence “likely” violated Apprendi and is not applicable under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(e)(1) because the sentence for murder was imposed thirty-one years prior to the instant offense. Section 4A1.2(e)(1) specifically directs the court to “count any prior sentence of imprisonment exceeding one year and one month, whenever imposed, that resulted in the defendant being incarcerated during [the fifteen years prior to defendant’s commencement of the instant offense].” Colon has misread the statute. While incarcerated in 1989, Colon pled guilty to possession of heroin with intent to deliver. Colon maintains that the conviction cannot count because he was framed and was not actually guilty, even though he pled guilty. When a defendant pleads guilty, he may not later challenge that admission before the federal appellate court. See United States v. Wallace, 280 F.3d 781, 784 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 536 U.S. 949 (2002). 36 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 Section 4B1.1 mandates that when the defendant is at least eighteen years old at the time of conviction in the current case, and the current conviction is a felony that is either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense, and the defendant has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense, the criminal history is Category VI, that of a career offender. Colon is over eighteen, his current convictions are for controlled substance offenses, and he has been convicted of two previous felonies, murder and possession of heroin with intent to deliver. The district court correctly placed him as a Category VI career offender.
For the CCE count, U.S.S.G. § 2D1.5 imposes either a base offense level of 38 or 4 plus the offense level required by the drug quantity as determined in § 2D1.1, whichever is the greater. Under § 2D1.1, level 36 was applied according to drug quantity, then adding the two-level enhancement for possession of a dangerous weapon, as mandated by § 2D1.1(b)(2), arriving at a base offense level of 38. Under § 2D1.5, the base offense level must then be 42 (38 plus 4), as the greater of 38 or 42 must be imposed. The district court correctly calculated Colon’s base offense level at 42 for the CCE count, with a criminal history Category VI, allowing for a sentencing range of 360 months to life. 3. Jury instruction No. 13 We review the instructions the district court gave to the jury as a whole and reverse “only if the jury instructions viewed as a whole, misguide the jury to the litigant’s prejudice.” United States v. Rodriguez-Andrade, 62 F.3d 948, 953 (7th Cir. 1995); see also Smith, 223 F.3d at 566. As Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 37 long as “the instructions treat the issues fairly and accurately,” they will not be disturbed on appeal. United States v. Thibodeaux, 758 F.2d 199, 202 (7th Cir. 1985) (internal quotations and citation omitted). Jury instruction No. 13 states: You have heard evidence of acts of Gustavo Colon other than those charged in the indictment. You may consider this evidence only on the question of plan, preparation and intent. The evidence is to be considered by you only for this limited purpose and may not be considered against the other defendants. Colon argues that this instruction encouraged the jury to consider both his prior criminal history and the testimony of Dr. Risolo. Colon’s prior criminal history was allowed under FED. R. EVID. 404(b) as evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts “admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident . . . .” Limiting instructions are sufficient to cure potential prejudice resulting from the admission of Rule 404(b) evidence. See United States v. Asher, 178 F.3d 486, 495 (7th Cir. 1999) (citations omitted). The district court properly weighed the Rule 404(b) factors and observed numerous safeguards to reduce the possibility of unfair prejudice. See id. The district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the 404(b) evidence and did not err in using jury instruction No. 13. As to Dr. Risolo’s testimony, Colon merely reiterates his arguments about the confrontation clause and severance, which we have already dismissed as without merit. 4. Speedy trial Colon argues that he was denied his right to a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment. The Sixth Amendment 38 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 provides that “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.” U.S. CONST. amend. VI. The Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial is triggered by an arrest, an indictment, or some other type of official accusation. See Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 655 (1992); United States v. Dote, 328 F.3d 919, 922 (7th Cir. 2003). A defendant’s trial must “commence within seventy days from the filing date . . . of the information or indictment, or from the date the defendant has appeared before a judicial officer of the court in which such charge is pending, whichever date last occurs.” 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1). A number of exclusions may be invoked which do not count against the seventy days. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h). The seventy days does not begin to run until all de- fendants have been arraigned. United States v. Baker, 40 F.3d 154, 159 (7th Cir. 1999) (citing Henderson v. United States, 476 U.S. 321, 323 n.2 (1986)). In addition, any delays attributable to the filing and resolution of any defendant’s pretrial motions are excluded from the seventy days. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(F). Under § 3161(h)(7), “the excludable delay of one defendant may be ascribed to all codefendants in the same case, absent severance.” Baker, 40 F.3d at 159 (citation omitted). Colon was indicted on September 17, 1997, as one of fourteen codefendants. Charlie Alejandro, a fugitive and the final codefendant to be located, was arraigned on January 15, 1998. On that date, the seventy-day clock commenced. On that same day, Colon moved for addi- tional time to file pretrial motions, stopping the clock. The request was granted and the deadline for filing pretrial motions was set for February 8. Colon subsequently requested and was granted several additional extensions. On March 20, 1998, Colon filed his pretrial motions and a motion for a bill of particulars. On April 3, the government responded. The district court ruled on the motions Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 39 on April 13. Consequently, this entire period was properly excluded from the speedy trial calculation. Colon’s trial began on May 18, 1998, thirty-five days after the April 13 resolution of his pretrial motions and motion for a bill of particulars. Colon’s trial commenced within the seventy-day period as required by 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1). See Baker, 40 F.3d at 159. 5. CCE jury instruction Martinez joins Colon in correctly arguing that the district court should have instructed the jury that they must unanimously agree on which three or more drug violations constitute a CCE. See Richardson v. United States, 526 U.S. 813, 824 (1999). Defendants maintain this failure requires reversal of their CCE convictions. However, at the time of defendants’ trial in 1998, Seventh Circuit precedent did not require a CCE instruction. See United States v. Jackson, 207 F.3d 910, 919 (7th Cir. 2000). A CCE charge involves a “violat[ion]” of the drug statutes where “such violation is a part of a continuing series of violations.” 21 U.S.C. § 848(c). “[A] jury in a federal criminal case brought under § 848 must unanimously agree not only that the defendant committed some ‘continuing series of violations’ but also that the defendant committed each of the individual ‘violations’ necessary to make up that ‘continuing series.’ ” Richardson, 526 U.S. at 815. In direct appeals from judgments of conviction in the federal system, “[a]ny error, defect, irregularity or variance which does not affect substantial rights shall be disregarded.” FED. R. CRIM. P. 52(a). For all constitutional errors, except those limited fundamental errors which require automatic reversal, i.e., those affecting substantial rights, “reviewing courts must apply Rule 52(a)’s harmless-error analysis and must disregard errors that are harmless ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” Neder v. United States, 527 40 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 U.S. 1, 7 (1999) (citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24 (1967)). The failure to instruct the jury on an essential element of a CCE is harmless error when “it appears ‘beyond a reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict obtained.’ ” Id. at 15 (quoting Chapman, 386 U.S. at 24). Jackson is a similar case which involved the Gangster Disciples, a street gang operating a widespread drug distribution conspiracy in the Chicago suburbs. 207 F.3d at 913. Twelve Gangster Disciples codefendants argued their CCE convictions should have been reversed because the district court did not give a CCE jury instruction. Id. at 919. We found harmless error because the jury had found the defendants guilty of “many more than three predicate offenses relating to the drug conspiracy.” Id. The same is true here. Colon and Martinez were named in a series of substantive drug counts in the indictment. Aside from the CCE conviction, Colon was convicted of nine counts of using a telephone to facilitate a drug felony and nine counts of distributing cocaine. Martinez, in addition to the CCE conviction, was convicted of five counts of using a telephone to facilitate a drug felony and nine counts of distributing cocaine. The jury unanimously found that both defendants had committed more than three specific predicate offenses, which makes any error in the jury instructions harmless. See Smith, 223 F.3d at 568; see also United States v. Hardin, 209 F.3d 652, 659 (7th Cir. 2000) (finding harmless error in same circumstances). “[W]here a reviewing court concludes beyond a reasonable doubt that the omitted element was uncontested and supported by overwhelming evidence, such that the jury verdict would have been the same absent the error, the erroneous instruction is properly found to be harmless.” Neder, 527 U.S. at 17. Martinez additionally argues that his CCE conviction should be reversed because his conviction for the predicate Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 41 drug offenses was based solely on coconspirator liability under Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 646-47 (1946), which holds that the acts of one person may be attributed to another when there is a conspiracy. Pinkerton has been regularly applied to drug conspiracies, primarily through the use of what is known as the Pinkerton instruction. See Smith, 223 F.3d at 567. The Pinkerton instruction, which was given in the instant case, states, “A conspirator is responsible for the acts of any other member of the conspiracy if he was a member of the conspiracy when the act was committed, and if the act was committed in furtherance of or as a natural consequence of the conspiracy.” The court in Smith found that the question of whether the actions of others were reasonably foreseeable to a particular defendant is a factual one, and refused to reject Pinkerton as a matter of law in a street gang, drug conspiracy case. 223 F.3d at 567. The case in Smith, like that of Jackson, dealt with the Gangster Disciples street gang. Id. at 560. The codefendants in Smith, like the codefendants in the instant case, were charged with operation of a drug conspiracy and operation of a CCE, in addition to numerous drug-related charges, including the use of a telephone to facilitate drug crimes. Id. at 560-61. Following Smith, we also reject the argument that Pinkerton liability is unavailable. In any case, Martinez was personally involved in four of the drug distribution counts and five of the telephone counts. His conviction on the CCE count is affirmed.