Opinion ID: 517671
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: marin's sentence

Text: 51 Marin was convicted on two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. Secs. 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), importation of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. Secs. 952(a) and 960(b)(1)(B), and conspiracy to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of sixty (60) years and received a four million dollar ($4,000,000.00) fine. There is no contention that the sentence imposed was outside the statutory maximum. Marin contends, however, that the district court relied on inaccurate and unreliable information and abused its discretion in imposing the sentence. 52 A sentence is generally not subject to review unless it exceeds statutory limits, violates constitutional or procedural requirements, or reflects that the district court failed to exercise its discretion or manifestly or grossly abused its discretion. United States v. Rosandich, 729 F.2d 1512 (8th Cir.1984). In sentencing Marin, Judge Rosenbaum relied upon only the evidence adduced at trial. Marin contends that the testimony of Karen Bordonaro and Athanasios Parlionas was unreliable and therefore that the court should not have relied upon it in imposing sentence. The district court has wide discretion in sentencing and its inquiry is largely unlimited either as to the kind of information he may consider, or the source from which it may come. United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 446, 92 S.Ct. 589, 591, 30 L.Ed.2d 592 (1972). The defendant had an opportunity to cross-examine Bordonaro and Parlionas to expose and rebut any weaknesses in their testimony. The district court did not err in considering their testimony. 53 The appellant claims that abuse of discretion is shown by the fact that his sentence is more than double that which would have been imposed had the Federal Sentencing Guidelines been applicable. The guidelines are not applicable to this case. The sentence is within the statutory limits. Marin was centrally involved in the importation of a large amount of cocaine into the United States and the delivery of 38 kilograms of cocaine to the Twin Cities. The district court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Marin to a lengthy sentence and a substantial fine. 54 We therefore affirm.