Opinion ID: 678502
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Genna

Text: 38 Genna argues that he was sentenced improperly to the ten-year statutory minimum under the provisions of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(b). The district court found that 900 grams of heroin was attributable to Genna directly and, accordingly, concluded that the applicable offense level was 30, which carried a sentencing range of 97 to 121 months. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.1(c)(7). The district court further found that it was reasonably foreseeable to Genna that the conspiracy involved more than one kilogram of heroin, thereby implicating the ten-year statutory minimum of section 841(b)(1). However, the district court did not assign Genna an offense level of 32, the Guidelines level established for a quantity of heroin exceeding one kilogram. Offense level 32 carries a sentencing range of 121 to 151 months. Accordingly, it appears that Genna was sentenced within the range established for level 30, which is below the range applicable to the relevant conduct identified by the district court. Genna contends that only 625 grams of heroin should have been attributed to him for sentencing purposes in any event. This amount would result in an offense level of 28 and a sentencing range of 78-97 months. His primary complaint is that the district court erred by attributing 400 grams of heroin to him in connection with his August 31 purchase from Moysif and he argues that, although he originally inquired about 125 or 400 grams of heroin, only the 125 grams actually purchased are relevant for sentencing purposes. 39 Genna relies on Application Note 12 to section 2D1.1 of the Guidelines, which states that the weight under negotiation in an uncompleted distribution shall be used to calculate the applicable amount. Genna argues that, because he completed the 125-gram deal with Moysif, the weight under negotiation is inapplicable. Although we have not had a prior occasion to address this specific issue in connection with Application Note 12, our de novo review of the district court's application of the Guidelines, United States v. Stanley, 12 F.3d 17, 20 (2d Cir.1993), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 1572, 128 L.Ed.2d 216 (1994), leads us to conclude that the district court erred by attributing the 400 grams of heroin at issue to Genna. 40 It is an elementary maxim of statutory construction that, whenever possible, courts are required to give effect to every clause and word of a statute. Inhabitants of the Township of Montclair v. Ramsdell, 107 U.S. 147, 152, 27 L.Ed. 431 (1883). Following this rule, it is clear to us that Application Note 12 to section 2D1.1 requires that, in addition to the uncontested 500 grams, only 125 additional grams of heroin are attributable to Genna's relevant conduct. As we noted above, Application Note 12 states that [i]n 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 for sentencing purposes. (emphasis added). There is no ambiguity in this Note and we can ascertain no reason why the plain language should not be followed. Cf. United States v. Alaga, 995 F.2d 380, 383 (2d Cir.1993) (Application Note 12 clear on its face and there is no reason to go beyond plain language), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 886, 127 L.Ed.2d 80 (1994). 41 In this case, the transaction in question was not incomplete in any sense. On August 30, Genna informed Moysif that he had a potential buyer for either 125 or 400 grams of heroin. Moysif told Genna that obtaining the heroin was not a problem and that he simply needed to know when and how much. Later that day Genna told Moysif that he would need 125 grams, and the next day Genna purchased the 125 grams of heroin from Moysif in exchange for $17,000, thereby completing the distribution. Accordingly, the weight under negotiation in an uncompleted distribution is not applicable in this case. Cf. United States v. Stevens, 985 F.2d 1175, 1182-83 (2d Cir.1993) (quantity under negotiation normally governs in the case of a transaction that was under negotiation but not completed); United States v. Jacobo, 934 F.2d 411, 416 (2d Cir.1991) (quantity under negotiation governs [i]f the narcotics transaction was not completed). In cases in which the narcotics distribution was completed, we have held that, notwithstanding varying amounts involved in the negotiations leading up to the final conspiratorial agreement, it is the amount ultimately agreed upon that should be punished. 42 In United States v. Tejada, the defendant and an undercover law enforcement agent conducted negotiations for the sale of cocaine. These negotiations included discussions of amounts ranging from as little as 1.91 kilograms to as much as 2 kilograms. 956 F.2d at 1259. Ultimately an agreement to deliver two kilograms of cocaine was reached. On the date of the sale, however, only 1.989 kilograms actually were delivered. Id. The district court determined that it was this amount that was applicable in determining the defendant's base offense level. Id. at 1264. In reversing the district court's decision, we stated that the Guidelines display[ ] a clear resolve to punish the agreement and concluded that the defendant's offense level should have been calculated on the basis of the two kilograms that were agreed to be delivered, not the lesser amount actually delivered. Id. 43 In United States v. Moon, 926 F.2d 204, 209 (2d Cir.1991), a case that preceded Tejada and is on all fours with the case at bar, the defendant and a coconspirator engaged in discussions concerning the availability of one or two kilos of cocaine. 2 The final agreement between the two, however, was for only one kilogram. We concluded that because one kilogram was the amount agreed upon and exchanged in the transaction, that amount should control at sentencing. Id. at 209-10. The identical situation is present in this case, i.e., the amount ultimately agreed upon is the same amount as that actually delivered. Accordingly, only 125 grams of heroin should have been attributed to Genna in connection with the August 31 sale. 44 With regard to the district court's finding that it was reasonably foreseeable to Genna that the conspiracy involved more than one kilogram of heroin, we determine this finding to be clearly erroneous. Genna was involved in only two transactions--the 500-gram deal involving Badalamenti and Moysif and the 125-gram sale on August 31. The record reveals no other evidence that satisfies us that Genna knew or should have known that the conspiracy involved more than one kilogram of heroin. In Negron we recognized that [r]elevant conduct includes acts committed by the defendant himself and acts for which he would 'be otherwise accountable,' such as acts of coconspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy. A defendant is not necessarily, however, held responsible for all of the conduct of the conspiracy. 967 F.2d at 72 (quoting U.S.S.G. Sec. 1B1.3(a)(1) (1991)). Relying on the Guidelines, we continued: 45 In the case of criminal activity undertaken in concert with others, whether or not charged as a conspiracy, the conduct for which the defendant 'would be otherwise accountable' also includes conduct of others in furtherance of the execution of the jointly-undertaken criminal activity that was reasonably foreseeable by the defendant.... Where it is established that the conduct was neither within the scope of the defendant's agreement, nor was reasonably foreseeable in connection with the criminal activity the defendant agreed to jointly undertake, such conduct is not included in establishing the defendant's offense level.... 46 Id. (quoting U.S.S.G. Sec. 1B1.3, Application Note 1 (1991)) (emphasis added in Negron ). Here, Genna's conspiratorial agreements involved only 625 grams of heroin. Neither the district court nor the Government directs us to any facts indicating that Genna was aware, or should have been aware, of any additional heroin transactions.