Opinion ID: 766923
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: U.S.S.G. S 2E2.1(b)(1)(C)

Text: 109 At the sentencing hearing, the district court found that it was [m]ore likely than not . . . Mikayelyan suggested to the group that he was consenting that a gun be used in[the Glendale] extortion attempt but that the details would be supplied later by Bekaryn. The district court then adopted the recommendation of the presentence report (PSR) and applied a 3level enhancement under U.S.S.G. S 2E2.1(b)(1)(C), which provides that in an extortionate collection of credit charge, if a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) was brandished, displayed or possessed, increase by 3 levels. Mikayelyan argues that the district court erred because it was not reasonably foreseeable to him that members of the Glendale extortion team would brandish guns during the visit. 110 [T]here is no presumption of foresee ability, and the burden of proving foresee ability remains on the government. United States v. Castaneda, 9 F.3d 761, 767 (9th Cir. 1993) (as amended) (citations omitted); see also United States v. Torres, 81 F.3d 900, 903 (9th Cir. 1996) (holding that the government's burden of proving factors enhancing a sentence is by a preponderance of the evidence). Further, it is clear that the district court's factual determination of foresee ability must be supported by the particular facts and circumstances of the underlying [offense]. United States v. Zelaya, 114 F.3d 869, 872 (9th Cir. 1997). 111 The district court did not clearly err in finding that Mikayelyan should have reasonably foreseen that guns would be brandished in the extortion attempt. The district court relied on several statements made by Gabareyev to Detective Doroshov, as reported in Doroshov's log in applying the adjustment. In the first entry, Doroshov wrote on February 1, 1996: 112 [Gabareyev] told me that he has been spending time with [Ivanchikov, Semenov, and Yuri Penkov]. He told me that the three were talking about going to Los Angeles and demanding money from an Armanian [sic] Man and threatening him with a gun. [Gabareyev] stated that Yuri has a stolen gun that came out of a stolen vehicle from the Sacramento area. Yuri keeps the gun at a friend's house. [Gabareyev] described the gun as a 9 mm and stated it was the one they would use for the extortion attempt. 113 Thus, Gabareyev was talking about the use of a gun eleven days before the extortion attempt, and it was reasonable for the district court to conclude that Mikayelyan was aware of Gabareyev's plan to use a gun, and consented to that plan. Further, Mikayelyan admitted to Detective Doroshov in a post-arrest interview that he was the one Bekaryn contacted about the proposed extortion attempt, and that he had personally arranged for several members of his auto-stealing scheme to carry out the attempt. Mikayelyan's close supervision and involvement in the extortion scheme supports a finding that he also instructed how the victim was to be intimidated--i.e., with guns. Finally, the fact that Mikayelyan knew very well Bekaryn and the other members of the extortion team lends support that he knew how they would operate, and that guns foreseeably would be used. See United States v. Willis, 899 F.2d 873, 875 (9th Cir. 1990) (holding that where coconspirators are few and know one another well, the court may infer that each knew the others' method of operation). Also, Gabareyev testified that 30 minutes prior to departing for Glendale, he spoke with Mikayelyan who told Gabareyev that [Bekaryn] will tell you more over there on the way [to Glendale], and when you guys get there you guys,[Bekaryn will] tell you guys what you got to do there. 9 Because the plan ultimately consisted of supplying members of the extortion team with guns, Mikayelyan's statement tends to show that Mikayelyan should reasonably have foreseen Bekaryn's plan to give guns to the Glendale extortion team to carry out the extortion attempt. 10 114 We hold that the district court did not clearly err in enhancing Mikayelyan's sentence under S 2E2.1(b)(1)(C).