Opinion ID: 708235
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Kevin Johnson

Text: 46 Kevin Johnson contends the district court's finding 6.995 kilograms of cocaine base attributable to him was erroneous. The drug amount attributable to a defendant for purposes of sentencing is not established merely by looking to the amount of drugs involved in the conspiracy as a whole, but only to the quantity of drugs which he reasonably foresaw or which fell within 'the scope' of his particular agreement with the conspirators. Roberts, 14 F.3d at 522 (quoting United States v. Castaneda, 9 F.3d 761, 769-770 (9th Cir.1993), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 1564, 128 L.Ed.2d 210 (1994)); see also Torres, 53 F.3d at 1144 (The touchstone ... is whether the quantities were reasonably foreseeable to the coconspirators in light of the nature, extent, and purpose of the conspiracy.); United States v. Ortiz, 993 F.2d 204, 207 (10th Cir.1993); U.S.S.G. Sec. 1B1.3, comment. (n. 2). We review the district court's finding for clear error, and we will reverse only if we are convinced that the sentencing court's finding is simply not plausible or permissible in light of the entire record on appeal. Torres, 53 F.3d at 1144. Furthermore, [t]he credibility of a witness whose testimony is relied upon at sentencing is for the sentencing court to analyze. Sloan, 65 F.3d at 865 (citing United States v. Deninno, 29 F.3d 572, 578 (10th Cir.1994), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 1117, 130 L.Ed.2d 1081 (1995)). 47 The government notes under U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.1, as amended November 1, 1994, Kevin Johnson's base offense level would be the same (38) provided at least 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base were attributable to him. It also notes the district court sentenced Mr. Johnson to the minimum term permitted in that guideline range, 292 months in criminal history category I. Thus, according to the government, even if the district court's finding was clear error, the error was harmless provided at least 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base were attributable to Kevin Johnson. As a threshold matter, we must determine whether the government was correct to base its harmless error argument on the version of U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.1 in effect on November 1, 1994. We ordinarily apply the version of the sentencing guidelines in effect at the time of sentencing, which in this case occurred on November 1, 1994, the effective date of the amendment. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(a)(4); U.S.S.G. Sec. 1B1.11(a); United States v. Gerber, 24 F.3d 93, 95 (10th Cir.1994). However, we apply the version in effect at the time the offense occurred if application of the version in effect at the time of sentencing would violate the Ex Post Facto Clause. U.S. Const., art. I, Sec. 9, cl. 3; see U.S.S.G. Sec. 1B.11(b)(1); United States v. Nelson, 36 F.3d 1001, 1003 (10th Cir.1994). To determine whether the Ex Post Facto Clause would be violated, we compare the effect that application of the version in effect at the time of sentencing and the version in effect at the time of the offense would have on the defendant's sentence; if application of the former would place the defendant at a disadvantage, we must apply the latter. United States v. Massey, 48 F.3d 1560, 1567-568 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 2628, 132 L.Ed.2d 868 (1995); Nelson, 36 F.3d at 1003. The version of U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.1 in effect at the time of Kevin Johnson's last offense provided the base offense level was 38 if [a]t least 1.5 KG but less than 5 KG of Cocaine Base were attributable to the defendant. Thus, under both the version of U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.1 in effect at the time of the offense and the version in effect at the time of sentencing, Kevin Johnson's offense level would be the same provided at least 1.5 kilograms are attributable to him. Accordingly, the government was correct to base its argument on the amended version of U.S.S.G. Sec. 2D1.1. 48 The government has identified the following trial evidence to support its assertion that at least 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base were attributable to Kevin Johnson: Kevin Johnson (1) arranged a one-half kilogram shipment of cocaine from Mr. Cartznes to Timothy Johnson three weeks after introducing them; (2) received a one-half kilogram UPS shipment from Mr. Cartznes stolen by Robert Malone; (3) obtained one-half kilogram of crack cocaine from Mr. Cartznes and gave it to Charles Watson and others to transport to Oklahoma in a rented car; (4) supplied one-half kilogram of cocaine powder to Ronnie Johnson and Devin Price for shipment to Oklahoma. This totals no more than 2 kilograms of cocaine, however, of which at least one-half kilogram was cocaine powder. 49 The government also points out Kevin Johnson was an intermediary between Ramon Cartznes and Timothy Johnson between November 1991 and February 1994 and Mr. Cartznes supplied (1) ten shipments of between five ounces and one-half kilogram of cocaine by UPS, (2) one-half kilogram Chiquita Owens body packed and transported on a commercial airline in January 1993, (3) thirteen ounces Chiquita Owens and Charles Watson transported from Dallas to Oklahoma City, and (4) three shipments of one-half to one kilogram Chiquita Owens transported by car. It also contends we can infer a significant part of this was cocaine base rather than cocaine powder because the organization sold only cocaine base to its retail customers, and even if it was cocaine powder, Kevin Johnson could have foreseen it would be cooked into cocaine base. On the basis of the evidence, the government contends we can reasonably estimate at least 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base were attributable to Kevin Johnson. 50 Courts may rely on government estimates to approximate the quantity of drugs attributable to a defendant, provided there are  'sufficient indicia of reliability to support [the estimate's] probable accuracy.'  Ortiz, 993 F.2d at 207 (quoting U.S.S.G. Sec. 6A1.3(a)); see also United States v. Hooks, 65 F.3d 850 (10th Cir.1995). Combining the estimated amounts of cocaine attributable to Kevin Johnson with the specific amounts of cocaine the record shows he actually handled or dealt with directly, we agree at least 1.5 kilograms of cocaine base were attributable to him and, if the district court's finding was clearly erroneous, the error was harmless as a matter of law.
51 Mr. Johnson also contends the district court erred by increasing his offense level two points for obstruction of justice because he perjured himself at trial. U.S.S.G. Sec. 3C1.1; United States v. Dunnigan, 507 U.S. 87, 113 S.Ct. 1111, 122 L.Ed.2d 445 (1993); Massey, 48 F.3d at 1573-74. Paragraph 31 of Mr. Johnson's presentence report recommended the upward adjustment because 52 [a]t trial and during the presentence interview, [Mr. Johnson] asserted that he did not participate in illegal drug trafficking activities. He acknowledged that he introduced Timothy Johnson and Ramon Cartznes, but explained that it was not for the purpose of furthering any illegal activity. He denied knowledge of any cocaine transactions. He was convicted by a jury of all counts in the indictment. It appears that [Mr. Johnson] has obstructed justice by lying at trial, which triggers the 2-point enhancement provision pursuant to U.S.S.G. Sec. 3C1.1. 53 Mr. Johnson filed a written objection to paragraph 31 stating: The only evidence at trial was testimony from persons that were trying to lessen the impact of their involvement. The jury convicted [Mr. Johnson] based on that testimony. That does not mean [Mr. Johnson] was lying. He should not be assessed the 2-point enhancement. In response to the written objection, the district court stated during the sentencing hearing: 54 It is now clear through the case law that a defendant who is found to have lied at trial is subject to the increase for obstruction of justice. Mr. Kevin Johnson denied his participation, denied several facts. In the course of denying that participation, I find that he did lie, that the evidence is overwhelming against him, and that the obstruction of justice enhancement is justified. 55 According to Mr. Johnson, the district court failed to make adequate findings in response to his objection to paragraph 31. 56 [I]f a defendant objects to a sentence enhancement resulting from [his] trial testimony, a district court must review the evidence and make independent findings necessary to establish a willful impediment to or obstruction of justice, or an attempt to do the same.... When doing so, it is preferable for a district court to address each element of the alleged perjury in a separate and clear finding. The district court's determination that enhancement is required is sufficient, however, if ... the court makes a finding of an obstruction or impediment of justice that encompasses all of the factual predicates for a finding of perjury. 57 Dunnigan, 507 U.S. at 95, 113 S.Ct. at 1117. A defendant commits perjury if he gives false testimony under oath concerning a material matter with the willful intent to provide false testimony, rather than as a result of confusion, mistake or faulty memory. Id. at 93-94, 113 S.Ct. at 1116. 58 Although Dunnigan does not require the sentencing court identify the specific statement it believes to be false, it has long been a requirement in the Tenth Circuit that the perjurious statement be identified in the district court's findings. Massey, 48 F.3d at 1573 & n. 12. Without such a finding, we are left wholly unable to satisfy our appellate responsibility of review in determining whether the record would support findings of falsity, materiality, and willful intent. Id. at 1574. Furthermore, unless the sentencing court adequately identifies the perjurious statement, it is impossible for the defendant to respond effectively to the government's assertion he perjured himself at trial. We recognize, however, highly specific findings may not be possible in every case because the district court often does not have access to a copy of the trial transcript during sentencing. Therefore, we do not require the sentencing court recite the perjurious testimony verbatim. Id. Rather, 59 [t]he district court may generally identify the testimony at issue from his or her trial notes or memory and it is sufficient if such testimony is merely described in substance so that when we review the transcript we can evaluate the Dunnigan findings of the elements of perjury against an identified line of questions and answers without having simply to speculate on what the district court might have believed was the perjurious testimony. 60 Id. 61 The district court's finding in this case did not adequately identify the specific statements it believed were false. It found only Mr. Kevin Johnson denied his participation, denied several facts. We have held a finding a defendant falsely denied involvement in the charged offense is inadequate, United States v. Yost, 24 F.3d 99, 106 (10th Cir.1994), and we see no principled distinction between a denial of involvement and a denial of participation. Indeed, a denial of involvement or participation may be nothing more than a general denial of guilt, which is not a proper basis for an adjustment for obstruction of justice. See United States v. Hansen, 964 F.2d 1017, 1020 (10th Cir.1992). In addition, the district court's finding Kevin Johnson lied about several facts is patently inadequate because it conveys absolutely no information whatsoever about which facts the district court believed he misstated. We therefore remand the case for further findings regarding the adjustment in Mr. Johnson's offense level for obstruction of justice.