Opinion ID: 3048104
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count II Enhancements

Text: Roy contends that the district court erred in enhancing his Count II sentence for possession of a firearm, his role in the offense, and obstruction of justice.
The district court found that Roy possessed at least one firearm during the conspiracy and therefore added two levels for possession of a firearm. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) (1995) (adding a two-level increase in offense level if “a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) was possessed” during a drug offense). The court relied for its finding on Roy’s convictions in Counts VII and VIII for possession of a firearm. In the alternative, the court found that the enhancement was supported by the testimony of two witnesses, Joseph Kinder and Doris Cruz, who testified that Cabaccang possessed a firearm. Roy contends that an enhancement for possession of a firearm constitutes impermissible double counting because he already had been sentenced to 120 months on Counts VII and VIII for possession of the same firearm. [8] “Impermissible double counting ‘occurs where one part of the Guidelines is applied to increase a defendant’s punishment on account of a kind of harm that has already been fully accounted for by the application of another part of the Guidelines.’ ” United States v. Speelman, 431 F.3d 1226, 1233 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting United States v. Reese, 2 F.3d 870, 895 (9th Cir.1993)). There is, however, “nothing wrong with ‘double counting’ when it is necessary to make the defendant’s sentence reflect the full extent of the wrongfulness of his conduct.” Reese, 2 F.3d at 895. [9] We reject Roy’s double counting argument. The alternative ground on which the district court relied to apply the firearm enhancement was the testimony of two witnesses involving a different weapon from those on which Roy’s fire3678 UNITED STATES v. CABACCANG arm convictions were based. Roy’s § 922(g) convictions were for the possession of two different .22 LR caliber revolvers. The testimony relied upon by the district court to support its finding that the firearm enhancement applied involved a .357 Magnum. The offense level increase for Roy’s sentence on Count II accordingly was based on different conduct from the conduct on which his sentence for Counts VII and VIII was based. The application of the enhancement for firearm possession did not constitute impermissible double counting.
The district court added a four-level increase in offense level for Roy’s role in the offense pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1, relying on the jury’s special finding in Count I. The special allegation concerning Roy’s role in the offense required the jury to find that Roy “was the principal administrator, organizer or leader of the enterprise or was one of several such principal administrators, organizers or leaders.” Our review, again, is for plain error. Roy contends that the jury finding that he was an organizer or leader concerned Count I and that no finding was made with respect to Count II. Roy does not cite any precedent to support his contention that the district court erred in relying on the special verdict finding in imposing the offense level increase. [10] Roy also contends that the special finding by the jury “never mentioned five or more persons, or extensiveness.” While it is true that the special allegation did not mention five or more persons, the jury instructions did. In order to convict Roy of Count I, the jury was instructed that it had to find that Roy “committed the offenses together with five or more other persons,” and that they “must also unanimously agree on which five or more persons committed the offenses together with the defendant and with respect to whom the defendant acted as organizer, supervisor, or manager.” The district court UNITED STATES v. CABACCANG 3679 did not err in enhancing Roy’s sentence for his role in the offense.
The district court imposed a two-level increase in offense level for obstruction of justice, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. The court based its finding that Roy had obstructed justice on its review of the trial transcripts. The court cited the testimony of eight witnesses who testified that Roy had instructed them to lie if they were questioned by police regarding the money they were laundering. The court also cited the testimony of Franklin Alcantara, who testified that he was confronted by Roy and three of Roy’s friends and instructed by Roy to lie about the source of drug proceeds. Roy contends that the district court relied on the incorrect section of the guidelines in imposing this enhancement, and he briefly states that there was no jury finding on this issue. Although the district court cited U.S.S.G. § 2D1.5, which concerns a CCE conviction, when the court initially discussed the obstruction of justice enhancement, this mistake is immaterial. The citation of the incorrect section did not affect the court’s findings regarding obstruction of justice or its calculation of the sentence. [11] The 1995 version of the guidelines, which is the version applied to this case, provided for a two-level increase in offense level “[i]f the defendant willfully obstructed or impeded, or attempted to obstruct or impede, the administration of justice during the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the instant offense.” U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. The application notes indicate that “committing, suborning, or attempting to suborn perjury,” is an example of the type of conduct to which the enhancement applied. U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, cmt. n.3(b). Roy does not challenge the testimony on which the district court relied in making its finding that Roy suborned perjury. He merely states that the court erred in relying 3680 UNITED STATES v. CABACCANG on “[t]he transfer from Count I.” The court did not, however, rely on the jury’s finding from Count I in imposing the enhancement for obstruction of justice. Rather, the court specifically cited the testimony of numerous witnesses to support its finding that Roy suborned perjury. The offense level increase for obstruction of justice was not erroneous.