Opinion ID: 685153
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mr. Morning's leadership role: U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1(c)

Text: 18 Mr. Morning argues that the two-level increase in his sentence under Sec. 3B1.1(c) of the 1993 Sentencing Guidelines on account of his leadership role was not warranted because there was no proof that he controlled or organized the drug sales from his home. 6 He claims that there was joint control or responsibility over drug sales from the residence. In his view, Ms. Billops' statement to the police indicates that she was as responsible and had as much control over the drug activities as he did. See United States v. Katora, 981 F.2d 1398, 1405 (3d Cir.1992) (concluding that Sec. 3B1.1 did not apply because the only two participants were equally culpable and did not lead a third participant). He also argues that co-conspirator Shawn Binford's statement indicates joint control and responsibility. Mr. Morning characterizes the selling arrangement out of the residence as a loose confederation of people selling from the residence. He states that he did not recruit accomplices and did not claim a right to the fruits of the drug sales by other people in the house; rather, he passively consented to the use of his house as a drug distribution point, and allowed others to sell his and Ms. Billops' drugs while they were gone. 19 The determination of whether Mr. Morning exercised a leadership role is a factual determination that we review under the clearly erroneous standard. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3742(e); United States v. Bell, 28 F.3d 615, 617 (7th Cir.1994); United States v. Skinner, 986 F.2d 1091, 1095 (7th Cir.1993). The district court saw the evidence and both heard and observed the witnesses called to testify at trial. On the basis of that evidence, it found that Mr. Morning occupied a leadership role in the conspiracy. It based this determination on the fact that the drug sales occurred from Mr. Morning's residence and that he was responsible for obtaining the drugs from the source, as well as on the fact that he directed some of the sales. These are all appropriate factors for the court to consider. 20 Notably, the court sustained the defendant's objections to the 4-level enhancement of Sec. 3B1.1(a), even though there may have been five people involved in the conspiracy. It accepted the defense counsel's argument that a two-level enhancement was a more appropriate designation here. (Tr. at 8.) It enhanced the offense level by only two levels under Sec. 3B1.1(c) on the ground that the evidence clearly shows that the defendant was an organizer or leader in this activity that was conducted out of this home, and he got the drugs from the supplier and the source and directed some of the sales. (Tr., May 18, 1994 Disposition at 8-9.) Mr. Morning's counsel had conceded that there was some facilitation going on here that gives rise to some leadership points. Id. at 7; see U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1, comment n. 4; 7 United States v. Loscalzo, 18 F.3d 374, 387 (7th Cir.1994) (reviewing evidence in light of those factors listed in application note 4). 21 Mr. Morning's reliance on United States v. Katora, 981 F.2d 1398 (3d Cir.1992) is misplaced. In that case, there were only two equally culpable participants in the scheme. In this case there are other co-defendants who were also prosecuted or identified. Even assuming that Mr. Morning and Ms. Billops were equally culpable, a leadership role is not limited to one person per organization. See Guideline Sec. 3B1.1, comment n. 4 (There can, of course, be more than one person who qualifies as a leader or organizer of a criminal association or conspiracy.); United States v. Boula, 997 F.2d 263, 265 (7th Cir.1993) (stating that offense level of both defendants was raised four points under Sec. 3B1.1(a) because both were organizers of the criminal activity). There was no clear error in the district court's assigning a leadership role to Mr. Morning. 22