Opinion ID: 195633
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ovalle's Sentencing Challenges

Text: 81 Ovalle was convicted of the same four drug related charges as Rivera. At sentencing, the court found that the appropriate sentencing guideline was Sec. 2D1.1, and found that the drug quantity attributable to Ovalle was 800 kilograms of cocaine. The court therefore determined Ovalle's BOL to be 40. The court then increased Ovalle's BOL by four levels pursuant to Sec. 3B1.1(b), because it found that Ovalle was a leader or organizer of a criminal activity involving five or more participants. The court also enhanced Ovalle's BOL by applying a two level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.1(b)(1), because the court found that Ovalle possessed firearms during the commission of the offense. The court determined that the total offense level was 46, and because Ovalle's Criminal History Category was I, he therefore faced a guideline sentencing range of life imprisonment. 82
83 Ovalle contends that the district court failed to make the necessary findings at sentencing as required by Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(3)(D). Prior to the imposition of his sentence, Ovalle contended that the PSR was incorrect in that: 1) the offense level of forty (40) based upon the total quantity of drugs involved (800 kilograms) was incorrect because Ovalle was only convicted of possessing 372 kilograms, and the offense level should therefore only be thirty-eight (38); 2) the four level enhancement based upon Ovalle's role as an organizer or leader of a criminal activity was incorrect because the evidence did not establish that he played such a role; and 3) the two level enhancement for possession of firearms was improper because Ovalle never possessed a firearm. Ovalle contends that the quantity of cocaine that was involved, what role he played in the conspiracy, and whether he possessed a firearm, were unresolved factual matters in controversy prior to sentencing, and the court failed to make any findings with respect to these matters prior to sentencing him. 84 When a defendant claims that the PSR contains factual inaccuracies, the district court must make a finding concerning the allegation, or make a determination that no finding is necessary because the court will not take the matter into account at sentencing. Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(3)(D); 9 United States v. Savoie, 985 F.2d 612, 620 (1st Cir.1993); United States v. Gerante, 891 F.2d 364, 366-67 (1st Cir.1989). This protocol serves the dual purpose of protecting the defendant's due process rights and supplying a clear record for future proceedings.... Savoie, 985 F.2d at 620; Gerante, 891 F.2d at 367. While we have insisted on strict compliance with this rule, we have also found that a court lawfully may make implicit findings with regard to sentencing matters, incorporating by reference suitably detailed suggestions limned in the [Presentence report] or advanced by a party. United States v. Tavano, 12 F.3d 301, 307 (1st Cir.1993) (citations omitted); see United States v. Cruz, 981 F.2d 613, 619 (1st Cir.1992); United States v. Wells Metal Finishing, Inc., 922 F.2d 54, 58 (1st Cir.1991). 85 In the present case, after Ovalle had raised his contentions with respect to the PSR, the court heard argument from both parties regarding the appropriate offense level and what increases in the offense level were warranted. The court then stated: 86 Allright. The Court has heard comments and arguments of counsel and has offered an opportunity of the defendant to address the Court with respect to sentencing. 87 It is the judgment, therefore, the Court finds that on September the 4th, 1992, the defendant Luis Enrique Ovalle Marquez was found guilty by a jury trial as to counts One, Two, Five and Six of Indictment number--Criminal Indictment Number 91-397. 88 Based on Guideline 2D1.1 and the amount of cocaine involved in the offense committed a base level of forty (40) was determined. Since the firearm was possessed during the commission of the instant offense an increase of two levels is warranted. As the defendant is perceived as having been an organizer or leader in the overall criminal activity, the base offense level is increased by four levels pursuant to Section 3B1.1. 89 Incidentally, for purposes of the record that is my finding with respect to your arguments. 90 Based on this record, the court therefore adopted the PSR's recommendations and implicitly found that Ovalle possessed 800 kilograms of cocaine, Ovalle possessed the firearm during the commission of the offense, and Ovalle was an organizer or leader in the criminal activity. The court therefore made the necessary findings in order to adequately comply with Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(3)(D). 10
91 Ovalle claims that the court erred in determining his sentence by ruling against him with respect to his three sentencing challenges. With respect to Ovalle's first challenge, a four level increase in a defendant's BOL is appropriate where the defendant was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants ... U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1(a); See United States v. Sabatino, 943 F.2d 94, 101 (1st Cir.1991); United States v. McDowell, 918 F.2d 1004, 1011 (1st Cir.1990). The application notes to U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1 list seven nonexclusive factors which the court should consider when considering whether a defendant played a leadership or organizational role as compared to a managerial or supervisory role. These factors include the exercise of decision making authority, the nature of participation in the commission of the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, the claimed right to a larger share of the fruits of the crime, the degree of participation in planning or organizing the offense, the nature and scope of the illegal activity, and the degree of control and authority exercised over others. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1, commentary n. 3; Sabatino, 943 F.2d at 101. The sentencing court found that Rivera played a leadership or organizational role in this drug smuggling operation, and then enhanced his sentence. The court did not err. 92 The evidence in the record supports the conclusion that Ovalle orchestrated and organized the logistics of the smuggling plan. The record reasonably indicated that Ovalle was the individual who had the closest links to the source of the cocaine. Ovalle told Monteagudo that the cocaine was coming from Colombia, and it was Ovalle who was privy to the code that would be utilized to communicate with the plane that was coming from Colombia to make the airdrop. After Monteagudo reported to Ovalle and Rivera that he had been forced to throw seven bales of cocaine overboard because his boat had been pursued by unknown individuals, Ovalle took Monteagudo to a pay phone where Ovalle called a person, who was reasonably presumed to be a higher-up, and had Monteagudo explain what had happened to the cocaine. Additionally, the evidence indicated that Ovalle was involved in all planning stages of the operation, and that Ovalle directed the actions of both Linder and Monteagudo, as well as other co-conspirators. Ovalle also financed various portions of the operation, such as providing money to Linder to repair his boat. These factors all suggest that Ovalle was a leader and organizer of the smuggling operation, and the court did not err in enhancing Ovalle's BOL by four levels. 93 Ovalle's contentions with respect to the court's determination of the quantity of cocaine involved, and its enhancement based on the presence of a firearm, are analogous to Rivera's challenges, which we have previously addressed. We will not rehash those discussions. Rather, we have reviewed the record and there is ample evidence to support the court's findings that Ovalle was responsible for 800 kilograms of cocaine, and that he possessed a firearm in connection with the drug offense. The court's sentencing determinations were not clearly erroneous. 94 For the foregoing reasons, the decision of the district court is affirmed.