Opinion ID: 752489
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Conversion of ephedrine to methamphetamine.

Text: 35 Brinton also contests the court's adoption of the PSR's conversion of ephedrine, a precursor chemical which is not included in the drug equivalency tables, to methamphetamine, a listed drug, in order to aggregate the chemicals for grouping purposes. As a preliminary matter, Brinton argues that the sentencing judge failed to recognize that because the maximum sentence for possession of ephedrine is ten years, using the ephedrine to arrive at a higher sentence is not permitted. 36 Although § 841(d) carries a ten-year maximum, this does not mean that the court cannot sentence Brinton to greater than ten years under another section. The failure of the district court to cap the sentence under § 841(d) was error. However, the 841(d) sentence runs concurrently with Brinton's sentences on the other counts, and the other counts do not carry with them a ten-year maximum sentence. Therefore, if otherwise appropriate, the court may utilize the grouping section of the guidelines to arrive at a higher sentence under another one of Brinton's convictions, such as § 841(a), which would permit a higher sentence. 37
38 In order to determine whether conversion was appropriate, we must identify the statutory basis for that conversion. The sentencing guidelines provide a Drug Equivalency Table as a means for combining differing controlled substances to obtain a single offense level. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment. (n.10). The table equates different types of drugs to marijuana in order to arrive at a unified offense level. However, ephedrine is an ingredient, not a drug, and is not listed in the table. Therefore, the conversion from ephedrine to methamphetamine must take place pursuant to some other authority. 39 That authority is found in U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, application note 12 (note 12). See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.11, comment. (n.3) (providing grouping instructions for related convictions involving controlled substances and listed precursor chemicals, and directing courts to consider the quantity of both the controlled substance and the listed chemical to determine the scope of the offense pursuant to application note 12 of § 2D1.1). Note 12 authorizes the sentencing court to consider [t]ypes and quantities of drugs not specified in the count of conviction. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment (n.12). It goes on to say that [w]here there is no drug seizure or the amount seized does not reflect the scale of the offense, the court shall approximate the quantity of the controlled substance. Id. 40 Proceeding under the conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine count, the sentencing judge could determine that the amount of ephedrine seized evidenced a capacity to manufacture methamphetamine at a higher rate than reflected by the amount of methamphetamine seized and approximate the quantity of the controlled substance by converting the ephedrine into methamphetamine. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment. (n.12). However, as discussed below, this is not what happened. 41
42 conversion. 43 It seems apparent that the quantity of methamphetamine seized from Brinton did not adequately represent the quantity of methamphetamine that could have been produced from the conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. See United States v. Aichele, 941 F.2d 761, 766 (9th Cir.1991). The 1,300 pounds of ephedrine that Brinton possessed could have been used to manufacture between 198,828 grams (using the 3-to-1 conversion ratio suggested by Brinton) and 589,680 grams (using the 1-to-1 conversion ratio urged by the government) of methamphetamine. The discrepancy between these quantities and the 2,401 gram methamphetamine mixture actually seized from Brinton is marked, to say the least. 44 Unfortunately, the district court made no express or implied findings with respect to conversion and apparently believed that conversion was required by the sentencing guidelines irrespective of Brinton's intent or ability to convert all 1,300 pounds of ephedrine to methamphetamine. Moreover, the district court selected a 2-to-1 conversion ratio based upon the erroneous belief that the jury had determined the methamphetamine content of Brinton's output. Because the district court misconstrued the law in making its factual determination of the quantity of drugs involved, we must vacate Brinton's sentence and remand for resentencing. 45 We do not mean to suggest that a sentencing court must make highly detailed findings regarding the intent or the ability of a defendant to convert precursor chemicals to controlled substances before it can consider the precursor chemicals in calculating the defendant's sentence under § 2D1.1. However, where the sentencing court completely abdicates its role in determining whether conversion is proper and what conversion ratio should be used, the defendant's sentence cannot stand.(3) Ex post facto. 46 Brinton suggests that the conversion of ephedrine to methamphetamine would violate the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution. This argument clearly fails. As discussed above, the statutes and guidelines in effect at the time of the offense gave adequate authority to convert the ephedrine. Further, we have previously approved the conversion of ephedrine to methamphetamine for sentencing purposes under the 1988 guidelines. United States v. Bertrand, 926 F.2d 838, 845 (9th Cir.1991). No ex post facto problem exists. 47