Opinion ID: 3003315
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the district court properly admitted a

Text: co-conspirator statement by Alviar that he and Melero were enforcers in the Latin Kings. Cooperating witness Olivares testified that he had been a Latin King in Aurora who was imprisoned until August 2003. On being released from prison, Olivares began cooperating with the FBI. On March 25, 2004, Olivares recorded a conversation with Alviar in which Alviar stated: “Me and Pep Dog [Melero] got those spots. He’s the enforcer, I’m hood enforcer.” Olivares described those enforcer positions as high positions. Nos. 07-2333, 07-2336, 07-2338, 07-2366 & 07-2385 33 The defense objected to the recording on the ground that Alviar’s statements to Olivares were not made in furtherance of the conspiracy and were admissible only against Alviar. The district court admitted the recording. Melero appeals. He argues that the court abused its discretion by permitting conversations with a confidential informant for the government into evidence under 28 U.S.C. § 801(d)(2)(E). In conspiracy cases statements that are “part of the information flow between conspirators intended to help each perform his role” satisfy the “in furtherance” requirement of Rule 801(d)(2)(e). Garlington v. O’Leary, 879 F.2d 277, 283 (7th Cir. 1989) (quoting United States v. Van Daal Wyk, 840 F.2d 494, 499 (7th Cir. 1988)). Such statements include those made to alert members to the progress of the conspiracy and their roles in it. See United States v. Hunt, 272 F.3d 488, 495-96 (7th Cir. 2001). The district court had ample grounds to conclude that Alviar’s statement to Olivares furthered the conspiracy. J. Whether the district court clearly erred in attributing more than 150 kilograms of cocaine to Tejeda for sentencing purposes and in assessing him an enhancement for being a leader or organizer of extensive criminal activity. Tejeda was sentenced at a base offense level of 38 based on a finding that the cocaine involved in the conspiracy and chargeable to Tejeda totaled 171.6 kilograms. Among other enhancements, the district court enhanced Tejeda’s offense level by four points pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b) 34 Nos. 07-2333, 07-2336, 07-2338, 07-2366 & 07-2385 based on a finding that he was an organizer or leader of criminal activity involving five or more participants. Tejeda argues on appeal that he is entitled to resentencing because the court erred in its drug quantity calculations and in enhancing his offense level based on its finding that he was an organizer or leader. We review a court’s factual findings at sentencing for clear error. United States v. Bothun, 424 F.3d 582, 586 (7th Cir. 2005). In terms of drug quantity, the government relied on testimony of cooperating witness Lopez to make its calculations. Lopez testified that from approximately January to September 2000, Tejeda dealt between one-quarter and one-half ounce of cocaine per week. The mid-point of this range is 10.5 grams, and 10.5 grams times 39 weeks amounts to 409.5 grams. From approximately October 2000 to December 2001, Lopez testified, Tejeda dealt approximately 1/8 kilo per week, and 126 grams times 65 weeks amounts to 8,190 grams. From approximately January to June 2002, Tejeda dealt approximately 1/4 kilo per week, and 250 grams times 22 weeks amounts to 5,500 grams. And from approximately July 2002 to March 2005, Tejeda dealt one to two kilograms per week, and one kilogram times 142 weeks amounts to 142,000 grams. Tejeda, Madrigal, Melero, and Delgado- Rios also stole some 4 kilograms, and defendants Tejeda, Alviar, and Heriverto Rios attempted to purchase 10 kilograms of cocaine as part of the conspiracy. The district court stated: [T]hese were not kilogram transactions. They were small, relatively small transactions. . . . But it’s still Nos. 07-2333, 07-2336, 07-2338, 07-2366 & 07-2385 35 enough to max out on the threshold of the 38 offense level under the guidelines. . . . [T]hey were small quantity transactions, but they occurred over an awfully long period of time, and that’s how it adds up, just so the record is clear about that. We analyze the district court’s finding for clear error. The court was “entitled to estimate drug quantity using testimony about the frequency of dealing and the amount dealt over a specified period of time.” United States v. Hernandez, 544 F.3d 743, 746 (7th Cir. 2008) (quoting United States v. Noble, 246 F.3d 946, 952 (7th Cir. 2001)). While a defendant must be sentenced on the basis of reliable information, United States v. Bautista, 532 F.3d 667, 672 (7th Cir. 2008), and a court may not base its calculation on pure speculation, United States v. Jarrett, 133 F.3d 519, 530 (7th Cir. 1998), the court may use a reasonable estimate of the drug quantities. United States v. Krasinski, 545 F.3d 546, 552 (7th Cir. 2008). The court’s finding that Tejeda was responsible for more than 150 kilograms of cocaine was supported by the evidence, and there was no clear error. Tejeda also advances an argument based on the leadership enhancement. In arguing for a leader or organizer role adjustment, the government pointed to Lopez’s asserted role as subservient to Tejeda (packaging and transporting cocaine for Tejeda, transporting Tejeda for drug deals, storing cash, cocaine, and guns for Tejeda); Tejeda’s recruitment of Samaniego to purchase a motorcycle in order to launder drug proceeds; Tejeda’s claimed recruitment of Alviar and Rios in the attempt to pur- 36 Nos. 07-2333, 07-2336, 07-2338, 07-2366 & 07-2385 chase 10 kilograms of cocaine; and Tejeda’s calls to Melero and Madrigal when his home was fired upon. The defense argued that the conspiracy was a disorganized conspiracy without leadership. The district court found that “the enhancement itself is based on relative culpability. And relatively speaking, I heard more than enough evidence to convince me that he was a leader of the people that he was dealing with, at least some of them, and that there were five or more people in the conspiracy.” The court enhanced the offense level four points based on § 3B1.1(b), which provides, “If a defendant was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive, increase by 4 levels.” On appeal, Tejeda does not dispute that there were five or more participants, but he points out that § 3B1.1(b) includes three categories: organizer or leader of criminal activity involving five or more participants (4 points); manager or supervisor of criminal activity involving five or more participants (3 points); or organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor of lesser criminal activity (2 points). He continues that for the four point enhancement, the government had to show the defendant had real and direct influence over other participants. He argues that the government did not demonstrate real influence. Note 4 to § 3B1.1(b) lists factors to be considered in assessing the aggravating role adjustment, including “the exercise of decision making authority, the nature of participation in the commission of the offense, the Nos. 07-2333, 07-2336, 07-2338, 07-2366 & 07-2385 37 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.” No factor listed in the application note is essential to finding the enhancement, nor must we give equal weight to each factor. United States v. Wasz, 450 F.3d 720, 729 (7th Cir. 2006). “[A]lthough the nature and purposes of the enhancement certainly require the defendant to have played a leading role in the offense, he need not literally have been the boss of his cohorts in order to qualify for the enhancement, for a leader can influence others through indirect as well as direct means.” Id. at 729-30. In this case, there was evidence showing that Lopez worked for Tejeda and that Tejeda oversaw Lopez in selling cocaine. There was evidence that Tejeda recruited Manny Samaniego (Cruz Samaniego’s brother) to launder drug proceeds and purchase a motorcycle. Tejeda also recruited Alviar and Rios to join him in the attempted robbery of 10 kilograms. Tejeda used Melero as a lookout. Based on this evidence, there was no clear error in the district court’s decision to enhance the offense level four points based on leadership. K. Whether the district court improperly sentenced Madrigal. Finally, Madrigal contends that the district court improperly sentenced him based on drug quantities in excess of those reflected in the jury’s verdict. 38 Nos. 07-2333, 07-2336, 07-2338, 07-2366 & 07-2385 The jury verdict found Madrigal responsible for more than 500 grams but less than five kilograms of cocaine. At sentencing, the district court, while recognizing its authority to sentence based on amounts in excess of the jury’s verdict, refused to find Madrigal responsible for any amount beyond the five kilograms found by the jury (“In this case . . . I feel constrained to honor the jury’s finding”). The court found Madrigal responsible for between three-and-a-half and five kilograms of cocaine, which together with a firearms enhancement, brought Madrigal to level 32, category VI. The guideline range was 210 to 262 months. Madrigal received 240 months. The court sentenced based on quantities within the range found by the jury, which was proper.