Opinion ID: 610597
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Miguel Vaquero

Text: 22 We will affirm Vaquero's conviction for conspiring to distribute and distributing cocaine if a rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Leed, 981 F.2d 202, 205 (5th Cir.1993), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 2971, 125 L.Ed.2d 669 (1993). We will reverse only if a reasonable jury would doubt whether the evidence proves an essential element of the offense. 23 To establish Vaquero's guilt, the government had to prove (1) the existence of an agreement between two or more people to violate the narcotics laws, (2) Vaquero's knowledge and intent to join the conspiracy and (3) Vaquero's voluntary participation in the conspiracy. United States v. Devine, 934 F.2d 1325, 1346 (5th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 954, 117 L.Ed.2d 121 (1992); United States v. Lechuga, 888 F.2d 1472, 1476 (5th Cir.1989). 24 Vaquero argues that although a narcotics conspiracy existed, and he knew about it, no rational jury could have found that he intentionally and voluntarily participated in it because, out of numerous video tapes and over 100 recorded telephone conversations gathered by the government, he is implicated in only one video. In that video he is shown with his business partner Jesus Blanco, at Linda Howard's home, and he agrees to oversee future cocaine deliveries from Florida to Baton Rouge. Vaquero testified that although the video portrays him as dealing cocaine, in reality he was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and nervously played along in order to protect himself. 25 Having reviewed the videotape, we find that a rational jury could easily have concluded that Vaquero voluntarily and intentionally participated in the conspiracy. The tape shows Vaquero, sitting in the midst of a discussion about cocaine dealing, relaxed and enthusiastic, to say the least. This is not a case of being present in a climate of activity that reeks of something afoul, as was the case in U.S. v. Maltos, 985 F.2d 743 (5th Cir.1992) (holding that evidence of a defendant's presence around cocaine dealers is insufficient to sustain a conspiracy conviction). Rather, Vaquero was photographed agreeing to oversee cocaine transportation. The jury heard his explanation, and reasonably discounted his testimony that he was just playing along. 26 Vaquero also argues that the most important person the prosecutor could have offered to testify regarding his intent and voluntary participation in the conspiracy was Jesus Blanco, his friend and business partner. Blanco was also indicted for the conspiracy, but entered into a plea agreement prior to trial. Vaquero contends that the government's failure to call Blanco to testify against him indicates that Blanco's testimony would be adverse to the contention that Vaquero intended to join the conspiracy. This argument is meritless. We refuse to speculate as to the government's motivation in choosing witnesses, or to speculate as to what testimony those witnesses may have provided.
27 The government introduced evidence of Taylor's and Mouton's prior acts under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). Before this evidence was introduced, Vaquero's counsel requested the court to instruct the jury that the evidence was not attributable to Vaquero. The district court refused, stating [a]t the close of all evidence, if there [are] specific instructions that need to be given regarding the use of certain tapes or certain videos regarding Mr. Vaquero, we can put that in the final charge. Vaquero argues that this refusal constitutes error. 28 A court's refusal to deliver a requested jury instruction is reversible error only if the instruction: (1) was substantially correct; (2) was not substantially covered in the charge delivered to the jury; and (3) concerned an important issue so that the failure to give it seriously impaired the defendant's ability to present a given defense. U.S. v. Duncan, 919 F.2d 981, 990 (5th Cir.1990); United States v. Burroughs, 876 F.2d 366, 369 (5th Cir.1989); United States v. Mollier, 853 F.2d 1169, 1174 (5th Cir.1988). 29 Vaquero has made no showing whatsoever that the refusal to deliver his requested instruction at the time requested constitutes reversible error. Furthermore, Vaquero failed to provide a proposed instruction to the court regarding this issue, and failed to object to the court's closing jury charge, thereby waiving any objection to the closing charge. 3 See United States v. Jacob, 781 F.2d 643, 647-648 (8th Cir.1986).
30 The court allowed the government to introduce evidence of Vaquero's prior possession of cocaine in Florida under Rule 404(b), in order to show his motive or intent. Vaquero argues that this evidence is irrelevant under Rule 401, more prejudicial than probative under Rule 403, and does not prove motive or intent as required by Rule 404(b). 4 31 We review the admission of evidence under the standards set out in § I.B, supra. 32 Vaquero argued at trial that although the video tape portrays him as a willing participant in the conspiracy, he never intended to deal cocaine or aid anyone else in doing so; he thereby put his intent at issue. See United States v. Adderly, 529 F.2d 1178, 1181 (5th Cir.1976). The court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence of Vaquero's prior possession of cocaine in Florida because it rebuts Vaquero's contention that he lacked the mens rea to deal drugs. Furthermore, because this evidence was quite probative of Vaquero's intent, the district court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the evidence was more probative than prejudicial.

33 Vaquero claimed, under oath, that his involvement in the conspiracy, as depicted in the videotape, was limited to that of an unwilling participant, and for this reason the court added two points to his base offense level for obstruction of justice in the form of perjury under United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, § 3C1.1. (Nov.1990). Vaquero argues that this adjustment (1) punished him for testifying on his own behalf, in violation of his rights under the Fifth Amendment, (2) constitutes double jeopardy by punishing him both for the crime itself and for his defense to the crime, in violation of the Sixth Amendment, and (3) constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. 34 The district court's finding of perjury, based on Vaquero's continued assertion that he never intended to deal drugs, is fairly supported by the record. His Fifth Amendment claim fails because he has no constitutional right to testify falsely. United States v. Matos, 907 F.2d 274, 276 (2nd Cir.1990); United States v. Beaulieu, 900 F.2d 1537, 1539 (10th Cir.1990), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1009, 110 S.Ct. 3252, 111 L.Ed.2d 762 (1990). His Sixth Amendment claim  'misperceives the distinction between a sentence and a sentence enhancement.'  United States v. Ainsworth, 932 F.2d 358, 363 (5th Cir.1991) (quoting United States v. Mocciola, 891 F.2d 13, 17 (1st Cir.1989) (holding that a claim for double jeopardy does not arise in the context of a sentence enhancement for possessing a firearm in relation to a drug offense), cert. denied --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 346, 116 L.Ed.2d 286 (1991). Finally, his Eighth Amendment claim that his base offense level was upgraded by two points for simply testifying on [his own] behalf constitutes 'cruel and unusual punishment'  must fail. His offense level was not adjusted because he testified on his own behalf; it was adjusted because he perjured himself. Vaquero's offense level enhancement for perjury did not violate his constitutional rights. United States v. Dunnigan, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 1111, 122 L.Ed.2d 445 (1993); United States v. Butler, 988 F.2d 537 (5th Cir.1993).
35 Vaquero also argues that the court erred by refusing to adjust his offense downward by two levels under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 for his minor role in the conspiracy. He asserts, without support in the record, that the government concedes that he played a minor role. 36 U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, comment. (n.1) states that this adjustment is intended to apply to individuals who are less culpable than most other participants. The district court did not clearly err in determining that Vaquero did not play a minor role in the conspiracy, a finding supported by Vaquero's statement on videotape that he would oversee cocaine shipments from Florida to Baton Rouge every two weeks.
37 Vaquero contends that the court erred by determining that the total amount of cocaine involved in the conspiracy was twenty kilograms, primarily because the jury determined that he had possessed only five kilograms. 38 Application Note 1 of § 2D1.4 provides [i]f the defendant is convicted of an offense involving negotiation to traffic in a controlled substance, the weight under negotiation in an uncompleted distribution shall be used to calculate the applicable amount. Vaquero agreed to transport between fifteen and twenty kilograms of cocaine from Florida to Baton Rouge. Although he never actually transported it, his agreement to do so provides a sufficient basis for the court to calculate his base offense level using the figure of twenty kilograms of cocaine. 39