Opinion ID: 180034
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: CI-1's Statement

Text: Nunez argues that the district court erred primarily in three ways when it considered CI-1's statements at sentencing. First, he argues that CI-1's statements were unreliable, and thus that the district court abused its discretion when it held otherwise. Next, Nunez argues that the district court failed to undertake a sufficiently searching inquiry to ensure that CI-1's statement was reliable. Finally, he argues that the district court abused its discretion in concluding that CI-1's statement was reliable because it failed to meaningfully exercise its discretion. We disagree. Nunez argues that CI-1's statements were unreliable. He posits that reliability can be established by disclosing CI-1's identity, corroborating CI-1's statements with other evidence, allowing the cross-examination of CI-1, or evaluating whether CI-1's statements are consistent with other statements or evidence in the case. Nunez argues that the government failed to establish CI-1's reliability in any of these four ways. Contrary to Nunez's argument, however, evidence on the record corroborates significant portions of CI-1's statement. For example, the plea agreement corroborates the exact weight of cocaine that CI-1 stated was found at Nunez's residence, the location at which Nunez was arrested, and that Garza was parked across the street from the Omega Restaurant during the fourth controlled purchase. The affidavit submitted in support of the criminal complaint corroborates CI-1's statement regarding the approximate weight of cocaine found on Garza's person at the time of his arrest. Portions of CI-1's statement regarding Schram's awareness that Nunez was selling cocaine, which Nunez neglected to mention during his debriefings, and Garza's awareness of and involvement in the charged offense, which Nunez allegedly lied about during his debriefings, are also corroborated by evidence on the record. For example, CI-1's statement that Schram knew that Nunez was selling cocaine is corroborated by evidence indicating that Schram was present at one of the controlled purchases, that Nunez lived with Schram, and that agents found cocaine, packaging materials, and two digital scales at the residence Schram and Nunez shared, and drug paraphernalia scattered inside. Also, CI-1's statement that Garza was acting as a lookout during the drug purchase at the Omega Restaurant, which indicates that Nunez lied to the government when he stated that Garza was at the scene solely to help transport lawn furniture, is corroborated by the fact that Garza parked his car across the street from the parking lot in which Nunez met with the government informant to transfer the drugs, in a place where he had a direct view of Nunez. At least the portions of CI-1's statement that were corroborated had sufficient indicia of reliability to support its probable accuracy. Hankton, 432 F.3d at 790; see also Mays, 593 F.3d at 608-09; United States v. Are, 590 F.3d 499, 521-23 (7th Cir.2009); Martinez, 289 F.3d at 1029; United States v. Morrison, 207 F.3d 962, 967-69 (7th Cir.2000). Arguably, then, the district court did not err by relying on CI-1's statement. But even if the district court erred, the error was harmless. See Are, 590 F.3d at 523. The limitations Nunez placed on his second debriefing suffice to affirm the district court's conclusion that Nunez was not eligible for a safety valve adjustment. See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(5); Montes, 381 F.3d 631, 634-37. Further, relying on CI-1's statement could not have affected any aspect of Nunez's sentence other than his safety valve eligibility: He received the mandatory minimum, and he would not have received a different sentence if the district court had not considered CI-1's statement. Thus, any error in relying on CI-1's statements was harmless. See Are, 590 F.3d at 523. Nunez's argument that the district court failed to undertake a sufficiently searching inquiry into the accuracy of CI-1's statements is similarly unavailing. Nunez notes that we have reversed and remanded for a more searching inquiry when a sentencing court relied on a particular piece of evidence without providing an explanation for why it credited that piece of evidence over another, inconsistent piece of evidence. But the line of cases to which Nunez cites primarily involves contradictory statements by one witness regarding drug quantities, offered to assist in a relevant conduct calculation at sentencing. See United States v. Galbraith, 200 F.3d 1006, 1012-13 (7th Cir.2000); United States v. McEntire, 153 F.3d 424, 435-37 (7th Cir.1998); United States v. Beler, 20 F.3d 1428, 1433-35 (7th Cir.1994). But see United States v. Zehm, 217 F.3d 506, 514-15 (7th Cir.2000) (comparing a witness's statement to statements from other witnesses and the defendant's version of the events). This case is distinct. Also, Nunez does not argue that CI-1's statements are internally inconsistent; he argues merely that CI-1's statements contradict Nunez's. We frequently affirm district courts' decisions to credit hearsay evidence at sentencing when the hearsay is corroborated by evidence on the record. See, e.g., Hankton, 432 F.3d at 791-93; Morrison, 207 F.3d at 968-69; United States v. Corbin, 998 F.2d 1377, 1386-87 (7th Cir.1993). The district court did not err in relying on CI-1's statement, even if it credited CI-1's statement over Nunez's assertions in doing so. Again, though, even if this was error, the error was harmless. See Are, 590 F.3d at 523. Nunez's next argument, that the district court abused its discretion because it did not consider and weigh the factors relevant to evaluating the reliability of CI-1's reliability, is also unpersuasive. We have explained that [a]n exercise of discretion, in sentencing as in other settings, cannot be affirmed when the judge fails to consider and weigh the factors that bear on its exercise. United States v. Roberson, 474 F.3d 432, 436 (7th Cir.2007). But we must merely satisfy ourselves, before we can conclude that the judge did not abuse his discretion, that he exercised his discretion, that is, that he considered the factors relevant to that exercise. Id. (quoting United States v. Cunningham, 429 F.3d 673, 679 (7th Cir.2005)). Although the district court did not provide a detailed analysis of precisely why it decided to rely on CI-1's statement, it explained that it considered all of the parties' arguments on the issue, which included arguments about the reliability of CI-1's statement. Understandably, a party may desire a more thorough explanation, but the district court judge appears to have exercised his discretion. See Roberson, 474 F.3d at 436; Cunningham, 429 F.3d at 679. As explained above, however, even if the district court judge abused his discretion, the error was harmless. See Are, 590 F.3d at 523. Finally, Nunez argues that CI-1 was unreliable because he had a motive to lie. But this assertion is wholly speculative and contrary to case law. See Galbraith, 200 F.3d at 1012 (writing that the testimony of just one witness, even a potentially biased witness, is sufficient to support a finding of fact at sentencing, and that the trial court is entitled to credit testimony that is totally uncorroborated and comes from an admitted liar, convicted felon, large scale drug-dealing, paid government informant (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).