Opinion ID: 198984
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Ortiz-Santiago, Rosario-Rodriguez, and Colon-Miranda's Double Jeopardy Argument

Text: 165 Ortiz-Santiago, Rosario-Rodriguez, and Colon-Miranda argue that their convictions for the Count 1 drug conspiracy, charged pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 846, and the drug-related murders, charged pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 848(e), violate the Double Jeopardy Clause because the former is a lesser included offense of the latter. Appellants are mistaken. 166 In Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932), the Supreme Court set out the test for separate offenses under the Double Jeopardy Clause, stating: 167 The applicable rule is that, where the same act or transaction constitutes a violation of two distinct statutory provisions, the test to be applied to determine whether there are two offenses or only one is whether each provision requires proof of an additional fact which the other does not. 168 The Court, however, has clarified that [t]he Blockburger test is a 'rule of statutory construction,' and because it serves as a means of discerning congressional purpose the rule should not be controlling where, for example, there is a clear indication of contrary legislative intent. Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 367 (1983) (quoting Albernaz v. United States, 450 U.S. 333, 344 (1981)); see also Garrett v. United States, 471 U.S. 773, 779 (1985) ([T]he Blockburger rule is not controlling when the legislative intent is clear from the face of the statute or the legislative history.); Albrecht v. United States, 273 U.S. 1, 11 (1927) (There is nothing in the Constitution which prevents Congress from punishing separately each step leading to the consummation of a transaction which it has power to prohibit and punishing also the completed transaction.). 169 Here, Count 1 charged appellants with engaging in a drug conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846, which is punishable under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). Counts 52-59 charged appellants with murder under 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1), which outlaws, in relevant part, intentional killing while engaged in an offense punishable under § 841(b)(1)(A). The statutory language of 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1) clearly indicates that a drug-related murder conviction is a separate offense from the predicate drug conspiracy offense: 170 (1) In addition to the other penalties set forth in this section-- 171 (A) any person engaging in or working in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise, or any person engaging in an offense punishable under section 841(b)(1)(A) of this title or section 960(b)(1) of this title who intentionally kills or counsels, commands, induces, procures, or causes the intentional killing of an individual and such killing results, shall be sentenced to any term of imprisonment, which shall not be less than 20 years, and which may be up to life imprisonment, or may be sentenced to death. 172 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1). Significantly, the first sentence of § 848(e)(1) begins [i]n addition to the other penalties set forth in this section, thereby making it clear that Congress intended to permit a defendant to be convicted and sentenced separately for murder under 848(e)(1) and a predicate drug conspiracy punishable under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). The case law is in accord and we need not give this argument any further consideration. See United States v. McCullah, 76 F.3d 1087, 1104-05 (10th Cir. 1996); United States v. Snow, 48 F.3d 198, 200 (6th Cir. 1995); see also United States v. Villarreal, 963 F.2d 725, 728 (5th Cir. 1992) (We are convinced that Congress created a substantive offense in 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(B) and that its 'language, structure, and . . . history . . . show in the plainest way that Congress intended [it] to be a separate criminal offense which was punishable in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the predicate offenses.' (quotingGarrett, 471 U.S. at 779)); cf. United States v. NJB, 104 F.3d 630, 632-33 (4th Cir. 1997) (holding conviction for CCE murder, 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1), is a separate offense from a CCE, 21 U.S.C. § 848(c)). 173 XIX. Sentencing Arguments Raised by Rios-Rios Regarding His Base Offense Level and the Denial of a Mitigating Role Adjustment 174 In the First Circuit, appellate review of a district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines is a two-part process. See United States v. Cali, 87 F.3d 571, 575 (1st Cir. 1996); United States v. Joyce, 70 F.3d 679, 681 (1st Cir. 1995). First, we determine the applicability and interpretation of a sentencing guideline de novo. See Cali, 87 F.3d at 575; United States v. McCarthy, 77 F.3d 522, 535 (1st Cir. 1996); United Statesv. St. Cyr, 977 F.2d 698, 701 (1st Cir. 1992). Second, after determining the guideline's scope and meaning, we review the district court's factual determinations for clear error, 'giv[ing] due deference to the district court's application of the guidelines to the facts.' Cali, 87 F.3d at 575 (quoting Joyce, 70 F.3d at 681); see also McCarthy, 77 F.3d at 535; St. Cyr, 977 F.2d at 701. 175 Here, Rios-Rios contends that the district court erred by (1) failing to make individualized findings regarding the drug quantity attributed to him, (2) incorrectly calculating the drug quantity, and (3) failing to apply Sentencing Guidelines § 2D1.1 comment note 14 and § 3B1.2 to his case. These arguments are without merit. 176 In a drug distribution case, a key datum in constructing a defendant's sentence is the quantity of narcotics attributable to him for sentencing purposes . . . . United States v. Bradley, 917 F.2d 601, 604 (1st Cir. 1990); see also United States v. Garca, 954 F.2d 12, 15 (1st Cir. 1992). In the context of a drug conspiracy, a defendant is also accountable for the conduct of others if that conduct is (1) reasonably foreseeable to the defendant and (2) committed in furtherance of a jointly undertaken criminal activity. See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B); see also United States v. O'Campo, 973 F.2d 1015, 1026 (1st Cir. 1992) (We are of the view that the base offense level of a co-conspirator at sentencing should reflect only the quantity of drugs he reasonably foresees it is the object of the conspiracy to distribute after he joins the conspiracy.); Garca, 954 F.2d at 15 (same). As a corollary, we have held that in order to properly calculate a defendant's base level for sentencing, a trial judge must make individualized findings regarding the foreseeability of conduct undertaken by co-conspirators. See, e.g., United States v.Balogun, 989 F.2d 20, 22 (1st Cir. 1993). 177 In this case, the evidence established that Rios-Rios was actively involved in the Costa del Mar and Los Pinos mesas for approximately eighteen months during 1990 and 1991. As a matter of law, Rios-Rios is accountable for his co-conspirators' conduct during that time so long as that conduct was reasonably foreseeable and in furtherance of the conspiracy. See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B); O'Campo, 973 F.2d at 1026; Garca, 954 F.2d at 15. In sentencing Rios-Rios, the trial court determined that the conduct of his co-conspirators was reasonably foreseeable, stating those who were dealing with the mesas, taking care of the apartments, renting places, people who were in the trust of Santiago-Lugo, in that sense are responsible for that amount of drug. The trial court then relied on the various drug ledgers deciphered by Agent Clouse at trial as a conservative way of determining how much drug is involved, and concluded that Rios-Rios was subject to a base offense level of thirty-eight. 178 The district court's findings are not clearly erroneous.See Cali, 87 F.3d at 575. To the contrary, there is ample evidence in the record to support the trial court's determination of a base offense level of thirty-eight. David Martinez-Matta testified that the Santiago-Lugo organization processed quarter-kilogram quantities of heroin and kilogram quantities of cocaine at the Los Pinos mesa weekly. Over a one-year period, that would result in thirteen kilograms of heroin and fifty-two kilograms of cocaine. The Sentencing Guidelines convert heroin and cocaine quantities to marijuana equivalents. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 cmt. note 10. Pursuant to the drug equivalence tables, one gram of heroin equals one kilogram of marijuana and one gram of cocaine equals two hundred grams of marijuana. Accordingly, during 1991, the Santiago-Lugo organization processed the equivalent of 23,400 kilograms of marijuana at the Los Pinos mesa (13,000 kilograms attributable to the heroin production and 10,400 kilograms attributable to the cocaine). Rios-Rios actively participated in the mesas at Costa del Mar and Los Pinos for eighteen months, which makes him accountable for a year and a half's worth of narcotics production amounting to the equivalent of 35,100 kilograms of marijuana. The prosecution needed only to show that the defendant was responsible for 30,000 kilograms of marijuana to support a base level of thirty-eight. 179 In addition, the trial court properly declined to apply Sentencing Guidelines §§ 2D1.1 comment note 14 and 3B1.2 to this case. Application Note 14, authorizing a downward departure for certain less culpable defendants, is dependent on the applicability of § 3B1.2, authorizing an offense level reduction for mitigating role. The burden to show that the facts merit the adjustment falls on the defendant. See Garca, 954 F.2d at 18 ([W]hen a defendant seeks to show that his role was so tangential as to justify a downward adjustment in an otherwise-applicable offense level, he must carry the devoir of persuasion.). Moreover, we have often held, and today reaffirm, that role-in-the-offense determinations, if based on reasonable inferences drawn from undisputed facts, cannot be clearly erroneous. See, e.g., id. at 18; United Statesv. DiIorio, 948 F.2d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 1991); United States v.Rosado-Sierra, 938 F.2d 1, 1-2 (1st Cir. 1991). 180 In this case, the judge ruled, from the evidence I have heard, . . . those who had access to [the mesas], indeed were by no means minor, minimal, or in between participants. There is no dispute that Rios-Rios had access to the drug mesas. Accordingly, we reject appellant's argument that he played a minor role and affirm his sentence of 293 months. 181 XX. Sentencing Argument Raised by Collazo-Aponte Regarding Enhancement of His Sentence Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(B)(i) 182 Collazo-Aponte alleges that the district court improperly enhanced his sentence for Count 65 (charging appellant with use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) and Pinkerton) to ten years pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(B)(i). The statute provides, in relevant part: 183 (c)(1)(A) Except to the extent that a greater minimum sentence is otherwise provided by this subsection or by any other provision of law, any person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime (including a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime that provides for an enhanced punishment if committed by the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or device) for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, uses or carries a firearm, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug trafficking crime -- 184 (i) be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years; 185 . . . . 186 (B) If the firearm possessed by a person convicted of a violation of this subsection-- 187 (i) is a short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or semiautomatic assault weapon, the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years. 188 Id. § 924(c). Appellant argues that (1) the use or carrying of semiautomatic firearms occurred prior to his joining of the conspiracy, and (2) he could not have foreseen the use of such firearms. Neither argument has merit. 189 In the sentencing context, we review factbound matters for clear error, and such facts need only be supported by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. McCarthy, 77 F.3d 522, 535 (1st Cir. 1996); see also United States v. Andujar, 49 F.3d 16, 25 (1st Cir. 1995). Here, a preponderance of the evidence establishes that Collazo-Aponte joined the conspiracy shortly after the murder of Richard Munoz-Candelaria, who was killed on February 23, 1993. At that time, the organization began storing drugs at Merced-Morales' bar. Collazo-Aponte does not contest that he was employed by Merced-Morales at this location, and Wilfredo Martinez-Matta testified that Collazo-Aponte was personally involved with the drug trafficking that took place there. Collazo-Aponte also does not contest that the evidence presented by the government at his sentencing reflected the organization's use of semiautomatic firearms during the Easter 1994 caceria that resulted in the murder of Wilfredo Rivera-Rodriguez and Wilfredo Guzman-Morales. Consequently, appellant's first argument fails because the record reveals no clear error. 190 Collazo-Aponte failed to raise his reasonable foreseeability argument before the district court, and therefore appellant's second argument is waived. See, e.g., United States v.Candelaria-Silva, 166 F.3d 19, 40-41 (1st Cir. 1999); United Statesv. Barnett, 989 F.2d 546, 554 (1st Cir. 1993). Moreover, even if this argument had been properly preserved, the record contains ample evidence that the use of semiautomatic weapons was reasonably foreseeable. Collazo-Aponte had personal knowledge of the significant drug quantities involved in the conspiracy, see, e.g.,United States v. Daz, 864 F.2d 544, 549 (7th Cir. 1988), and it stretches the imagination to suggest that Collazo-Aponte was somehow unaware of the drug war with the Rosarios. Accordingly, this argument fails. 191 XXI. Sentencing Arguments Raised by Rosario-Rodriguez
192 Rosario-Rodriguez alleges that the district court improperly calculated his criminal history category pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines § 4A1.2 because the court treated his local convictions for first-degree murder and the related firearms offenses committed on April 2, 1994 as a prior sentence. Appellant argues that contrary to the district court's determination, these convictions constitute conduct that is part of the instant offense pursuant to the definition of relevant conduct contained in Sentencing Guidelines § 1B1.3. Appellant is mistaken. 193 Section 4A1.2(a)(1) states that in calculating a defendant's prior criminal history a judge may count as a prior sentence only a sentence previously imposed . . . for conduct not part of the instant offense. (Emphasis added). Conduct that is part of the instant offense means conduct that is relevant conduct to the instant offense under the provisions of § 1B1.3 U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2 cmt. note 1. Unfortunately, the applicable definition found in § 1B1.3 is not a model of clarity. Section 1B1.3 defines relevant conduct as the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(2); see also United States v. Skrodzki, 9 F.3d 198, 201 (1st Cir. 1993). Thankfully, the commentary to § 1B1.3 is more helpful: 194 (A) Common scheme or plan. For two or more offenses to constitute part of a common scheme or plan, they must be substantially connected to each other by at least one common factor, such as common victims, common accomplices, common purpose, or similar modus operandi. . . . 195 (B) Same course of conduct. Offenses that do not qualify as part of a common scheme or plan may nonetheless qualify as part of the same course of conduct if they are sufficiently connected or related to each other as to warrant the conclusion that they are part of a single episode, spree, or ongoing series of offenses. Factors that are appropriate to the determination of whether offenses are sufficiently connected or related to each other to be considered as part of the same course of conduct include the degree of similarity of the offenses, the regularity (repetitions) of the offenses, and the time interval between the offenses. When one of the above factors is absent, a stronger presence of at least one of the other factors is required. 196 U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3 cmt. note 9. 197 The case law is in accord, adopting a severable and distinct test. See, e.g., Unites States v. Copeland, 45 F.3d 254, 256 (8th Cir. 1995) (Although conduct that is part of the current offense should be counted as relevant conduct rather than as a prior sentence, conduct is not part of the instant offense when it is a 'severable distinct offense.') (quoting United States v.Blumberg, 961 F.2d 787, 792 (8th Cir. 1992). As the Guidelines indicate, [t]his is necessarily a fact-specific inquiry that involves more than just a consideration of the elements of the two offenses. Factors such as the temporal and geographical proximity of the two offenses, common victims, and a common criminal plan or intent also must be considered. United States v. Beddow, 957 F.2d 1330, 1338 (6th Cir. 1992) (internal citation omitted). 198 Here, the district court properly concluded that Rosario-Rodriguez exited the Santiago-Lugo conspiracy on February 28, 1993 by taking part in the murder of Richard Munoz-Candelaria. Consequently, appellant's local convictions for murder and the related firearms offenses do not constitute relevant conduct for sentencing purposes in this case. First, the local offenses occurred on April 2, 1994, more than a year after Rosario-Rodriguez exited the conspiracy charged in the present indictment. Second, although appellant claims that the 1994 murder was relevant conduct of his participation in the Santiago-Lugo organization, there was no evidence of the 1994 murder presented during trial. Third, appellant fails to provide the Court with any details of the 1994 murder. We are left to speculate as to both the circumstances involved and the identity of the victim. The little information about this murder that is in the record merely suggests that it was a double murder committed to avenge the execution of appellant's fourteen-year-old brother. Accordingly, there is no evidence of common victims, accomplices, criminal plans or intent. SeeCopeland, 45 F.3d at 256; Beddow, 957 F.2d at 1338. Therefore, we hold that the district court did not err in finding the 1994 murder was not relevant conduct to the instant offense. 199
200 Rosario-Rodriguez argues that the district court should have departed downward, pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines § 5K2.0, because of his superb prison behavior during prior and ongoing periods of incarceration. In United States v. Saldana, 109 F.3d 100 (1st Cir. 1997), we explained: 201 Under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), a defendant may appeal from his sentence . . . if it was imposed in violation of law or by an incorrect application of the sentencing guidelines; but the defendant may not appeal from a sentence within the guideline range if there was no legal error and the only claim is that the district court acted unreasonably in declining to depart. 202 Id. at 102; see also United States v. Tucker, 892 F.2d 8, 10 (1st Cir. 1989). Here, appellant does not allege any error of law. Accordingly, this claim is not subject to review.
203 Rosario-Rodriguez alleges that the district court should have exercised its discretion under 18 U.S.C. § 3584(a) and Sentencing Guidelines § 5G1.3(c) to run his sentence in this case concurrent to that imposed for his local first-degree murder and related firearms convictions. 204 The applicable statute, 18 U.S.C. § 3584(a), states: 205 [I]f a term of imprisonment is imposed on a defendant who is already subject to an undischarged term of imprisonment, the terms may run concurrently or consecutively . . . . Multiple terms of imprisonment imposed at different times run consecutively unless the court orders that the terms are to run concurrently. 206 Since the district court did not specify concurrent sentences, the terms of appellant's federal and local convictions run consecutively pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3584(a). 207 As Sentencing Guidelines § 5G1.3(c) makes clear, and as Rosario-Rodriguez admits, the district court has full discretion to decide whether to run the sentences concurrently or consecutively: 208 [T]he sentence for the instant offense may be imposed to run concurrently, partially concurrently, or consecutively to the prior undischarged term of imprisonment to achieve a reasonable punishment for the instant offense. 209 U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c). Appellant does not allege any error of law, but merely contends that the court should have exercised its discretion differently. For the reasons set forth above, this argument is not subject to review. See Saldana, 109 F.3d at 102 (Under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), a defendant . . . may not appeal from a sentence within the guideline range if there was no legal error and the only claim is that the district court acted unreasonably in declining to depart.); Tucker, 892 F.2d at 10 (same).
210 In light of his allocution at the sentencing hearing, Rosario-Rodriguez argues that the trial court erred in declining to reduce his offense level for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines § 3E1.1(a). In this Circuit, [a] defendant bears the burden of proving entitlement to decreases in the offense level, including downward adjustments for acceptance of responsibility. United States v. Gonzales, 12 F.3d 298, 300 (1st Cir. 1993); see also United States v. Morillo, 8 F.3d 864, 871 (1st Cir. 1993); United States v. Bradley, 917 F.2d 601, 606 (1st Cir. 1990). Whether a defendant clearly demonstrates a recognition and affirmative acceptance of personal responsibility is a fact-dominated issue, and the district court's decision to withhold a reduction in the offense level will not be overturned unless clearly erroneous. E.g., United States v. Royer, 895 F.2d 28, 29 (1st Cir. 1990); see also U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 cmt. note 5 (The sentencing judge is in a unique position to evaluate a defendant's acceptance of responsibility. For this reason, the determination of the sentencing judge is entitled to great deference on review.). 211 Section 3E1.1 requires a defendant to clearly demonstrate acceptance of responsibility for his offense. Accordingly, a defendant who falsely denies, or frivolously contests, relevant conduct that the court determines to be true has acted in a manner inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 cmt. note 1(a). Although a defendant who goes to trial may still qualify for acceptance of responsibility, such an occurrence is rare. Id. at cmt. note 2. The Guidelines explain: This adjustment is not intended to apply to a defendant who puts the government to its burden of proof at trial by denying the essential factual elements of guilt, is convicted, and only then admits guilt and expresses remorse. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 cmt. note 2. Accordingly, a determination that a defendant has accepted responsibility will be based primarily upon pre-trial statements and conduct. Id. 212 In this case, the record reflects that Rosario-Rodriguez made no pretrial statements accepting responsibility. Further, although appellant talked at length about his distribution of narcotics at his sentencing hearing, he did not accept responsibility for the murder of Munoz-Candelaria. To the contrary, he stated: 213 [T]he only reason I went to trial in this case was because I was being charged with the death of Richard Munoz-Candelaria . . . . I would have accepted my responsibilities but I could never accept that I killed Richard Munoz-Candelaria. I could never accept something that was not true. 214 Based on these statements, the district court correctly found: 215 What I am saying is that the jury made a finding that your client participated in the murder. There has been no admission. No acceptance of responsibility by your client as to that and that is at odds with the evidence at trial and the jury verdict. In which case I don't think that I should second guess what happened in the jury room or how the jury interpreted the evidence by granting an acceptance of responsibility . . . . 216 As the trial court indicated, the record reflects that Rosario-Rodriguez denied murdering Munoz-Candelaria in direct contravention of the jury's verdict on Count 52. Accordingly, we see no reason to reverse the lower court's determination on this question. 217 [T]he district judge had firsthand knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the defendant's actions and had the opportunity to see [the defendant], listen to him, and assess his credibility. The judge determined that appellant had not forthrightly acknowledged the extent of his involvement and thus had failed meaningfully to shoulder responsibility. Because the court had a plausible basis for arriving at the conclusion, no more was required. 218 United States v. Royer, 895 F.2d 28, 30 (1st Cir. 1990).
219 Rosario-Rodriguez alleges that he should have received credit for time served on a previous federal sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3585(b). Appellant's previous sentence was for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. According to appellant, this offense was inextricably related and inextricably intertwined with the offenses in this case. The Supreme Court has disposed of this argument 220 We do not accept [appellant's] argument that § 3585(b) authorizes a district court to award credit at sentencing . . . . Congress has indicated that computation of the credit must occur after the defendant begins his sentence. A district court, therefore, cannot apply § 3585(b) at sentencing. 221 United States v. Wilson, 503 U.S. 329, 333 (1992). The computation of credit for time served must be made in the first instance by the Attorney General, through the Bureau of Prisons. See id. at 335. Prisoners may then seek administrative review of the computation of their credits, see 28 C.F.R §§ 542.10-.16 (1990), and, if necessary, seek judicial review of these computations after exhausting their administrative remedies. Id. Accordingly, appellant's contention of error is without merit. 222
223 Finally, Rosario-Rodriguez argues that he was improperly sentenced under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). As we previously indicated, the statute provides: 224 [A]ny person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime (including a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime that provides for an enhanced punishment if committed by the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or device) for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, uses or carries a firearm, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug trafficking crime -- be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years . . . . If the firearm possessed by a person convicted of a violation of this subsection - is a short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or semiautomatic assault weapon, the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years . . . . 225 Id. § 924(c)(1). Here, the district court imposed the mandatory, consecutive ten-year sentence for violations involving a semiautomatic assault weapon. We see no error in this determination. The record establishes that on July 3, 1992 Rosario-Rodriguez was arrested with a Calico 9mm firearm capable of holding fifty rounds of ammunition. In addition, Wilfredo Martinez-Matta testified that shortly before the murder of Richard Munoz-Candelaria, appellant was holding an automatic pistol. Moreover, the prosecution's expert witness, Dr. Brugal, testified that Munoz-Candelaria was shot twenty-nine times, which suggests that a semiautomatic weapon of some sort was employed in his murder. Accordingly, the ten-year mandatory sentence imposed by the district court was appropriate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). 226 XXII. Colon-Miranda's Sentence for Tampering with a Witness in Violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512 227 In Counts 60 and 61 of the indictment, Colon-Miranda was charged with attempting to kill Rafael Cotto-Fuentes with the intent to prevent Cotto-Fuentes from (1) communicating with a United States law enforcement officer and (2) testifying in an official proceeding -- both in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512. Colon-Miranda was convicted on each count, and the district court imposed life sentences. We agree with appellant that these sentences are improper. The statute provides that in the case of attempted murder, imprisonment shall be for no more than twenty years. See 18 U.S.C. § 1512(a)(2)(B). Accordingly, we reverse and remand the sentence imposed on Colon-Miranda under Counts 60 and 61 for re-sentencing in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1512(a)(2)(B). 228 XXIII. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Argument Raised by Rios-Rios 229 Rios-Rios alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective. In this Circuit, [w]e have held with a regularity bordering on the monotonous that fact-specific claims of ineffective assistance cannot make their debut on direct review of criminal convictions, but, rather, must originally be presented to, and acted upon by, the trial court. United States v. Mala, 7 F.3d 1058, 1063 (1st Cir. 1993); see also United States v. McGill, 952 F.2d 16, 19 (1st Cir. 1991); United States v. Natanel, 938 F.2d 302, 309 (1st Cir. 1991); United States v. Hunnewell, 891 F.2d 955, 956 (1st Cir. 1989); United States v. Costa, 890 F.2d 480, 482-83 (1st Cir. 1989); United States v. Hoyos-Medina, 878 F.2d 21, 22 (1st Cir. 1989); United States v. Carter, 815 F.2d 827, 829 (1st Cir. 1987);United States v. Kobrosky, 711 F.2d 449, 457 (1st Cir. 1983). It is true that we have made an occasional exception to this rule where, for example, the critical facts are not genuinely in dispute and the record is sufficiently developed to allow reasoned consideration of an ineffective assistance claim. Natanel, 938 F.2d at 309. This, however, is not such a case, and therefore we decline to review this claim. 230 Appellant is free to raise this argument collaterally under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See, e.g., United States v.Martinez-Martinez, 69 F.3d 1215, 1225 (1st Cir. 1995); United States v. Daniels, 3 F.3d 25, 27 (1st Cir. 1993). XXIV. Appellants' Remaining Arguments 231 Appellants' remaining claims have been considered but do not require discussion. This Court has previously stated: 232 [W]e understand the practical pressure on lawyers--especially in criminal cases--to resolve doubts in favor of including doubtful claims along with stronger ones. But cases with difficult issues now crowd the dockets. At least in opinion writing, the court's time is best reserved for colorable claims. 233 United States v. Bennett, 75 F.3d 40, 49 (1st Cir. 1996). We reaffirm this principle today. 234 In addition, we decline to reach any arguments merely alluded to by appellants because we see no reason to abandon the settled appellate rule that issues adverted to in a perfunctory manner, unaccompanied by some effort at developed argumentation, are deemed waived. E.g., United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 17 (1st Cir. 1990). As we have previously reasoned, [j]udges are not expected to be mindreaders, and therefore a litigant has an obligation to spell out its arguments squarely and distinctly. Rivera-Gomez v. de Castro, 843 F.2d 631, 635 (1st Cir. 1988) (quotation omitted).