Opinion ID: 558873
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Upward Adjustment in Sentence for Being a Supervisor

Text: 11 Mr. Lockhart argues that it was clear error for the district court to have found that he was a supervisor of the conspiracy for the purposes of the Sentencing Guidelines Sec. 3B1.1. He further claims that even the testimony of the government witnesses shows that he was a minor player in the conspiracy and that two of the other co-conspirators were the real leaders. 12 A reviewing court must defer to the trial court's factual finding of the defendant's role in the offense unless clearly erroneous. United States v. Williams, 897 F.2d 1034, 1040 (10th Cir.1990). 13 The Sentencing Guidelines Sec. 3B1.1 defines the role of defendants and provides for adjustments in sentencing based on participation. Section 3B1.1(b) states: 14 If the defendant was a manager or supervisor (but not an organizer or leader) and the criminal activity involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive, increase by 3 levels. 15 Note 3 of the commentary to Sec. 3B1.1 states that a sentencing court should consider factors, among others, such as the exercise of decision-making authority, the amount of participation in planning and execution of the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, and the degree of control exercised over others, in determining whether a defendant is a supervisor. This court has recently held that a defendant can be found to be a supervisor if he or she exercised some degree of control over a subordinate. United States v. Backas, 901 F.2d 1528, 1530 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 111 S.Ct. 190 (1990). Here, the trial judge specifically found that Mr. Lockhart had sent several couriers to California, that he accepted and paid for the drugs brought back by the couriers, and was described by one witness as being a partner of the same co-conspirators that Mr. Lockhart himself describes as the leaders of the conspiracy. Considering this evidence, the trial judge did not err in finding that Mr. Lockhart was a supervisor under Sec. 3B1.1. 16 Accordingly, the trial court is AFFIRMED.