Court Opinion

ID: 9499062
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 17:36:44.107907+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:59:15.635337
License: Public Domain

WIDENER, Circuit Judge,
concurring and dissenting:
This ease presents the consolidated appeals of defendants Sean Thomas Sullivan and Kenneth Adrian Campbell. Sullivan and Campbell were convicted on a number of charges related to their involvement in a criminal drug conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as crack, which took place in and near Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Both Sullivan and Campbell appeal their convictions. While their appeals were pending, the Supreme Court decided United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), which held that the United States Sentencing Guidelines were advisory rather than mandatory, and that facts used to enhance a defendant’s sentence must be found by a jury or admitted by the defendant by way of guilty plea or otherwise. Sullivan and Campbell added a Booker claim to their appeals and filed supplemental briefs. We affirm the convictions. We vacate Sullivan’s sentence and remand for resentencing, I for reconsideration in light of United States v. Booker and United States v. White, 405 F.3d 208 (4th Cir.2005), Judge King and Judge Duncan for reasons expressed in Judge King’s separate opinion. I would affirm Campbell’s sentence, Judge King and Judge Duncan would vacate and remand that also for the reasons expressed in Judge King’s separate opinion.
I.
This case revolves around a drug conspiracy in and near Beaufort County, South Carolina that existed from 1996 through July 2001. During this period, the defendants and others cooperated with Campbell to take over the distribution of crack cocaine in that neighborhood.
The conspiracy unraveled when law enforcement agents were able to make a number of undercover purchases of crack cocaine from several of the conspirators, including Sullivan. Sullivan was arrested *252at or near the last of these transactions, and arresting officers then discovered a 9mm Glock pistol on his person. This pistol had had some of its serial numbers, including the primary one on the frame of the pistol, removed.
The 49-count Third Superseding Indictment, which was the one brought to trial, was filed on July 12, 2001. This indictment named 11 people, including the two defendants in the present appeal, as members of the crack distribution conspiracy.
Of the various charges in the indictment, Campbell was convicted of Count 1 with conspiracy to possess with intent to, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of crack, and in Count 49 with conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime set forth in Count 1 of the indictment.
Sullivan was likewise convicted of counts 1 and 49. Additionally, Sullivan was convicted of Counts 29, 30 and 31 with the distribution of less than five grams of cocaine base, of Count 32 with the possession, with intent to distribute, more than five grams of crack, of Count 34 with using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and of Count 35 with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Sullivan was eventually convicted of Counts 1, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, and 49.
The trial of the defendants, along with seven of their co-defendants, began on August 13, 2001, and testimony concluded on August 29, 2001. The jury found both Campbell and Sullivan guilty on September 15, 2001.
At trial, many of the witnesses were members of the conspiracy who had agreed to plead guilty and were cooperating with the government in exchange for reduced sentences. These witnesses provided testimony regarding the supplier-dealer organization and other details of operation of the conspiracy, the identities of other conspirators, including Campbell, and similar information. When eliciting this testimony, the government introduced into evidence the agreements it had made with these witnesses.
On March 4 and March 5, 2003, the district court held a sentencing hearing and found that Sullivan and Campbell had participated in the February 1999 murders of Toby Bing and Elshawndra Jones.
The district court imposed life sentences on both defendants on July 15, 2003. The court determined that Campbell’s drug crime involved 1,858 grams of crack cocaine. Additionally, the court imposed a sentencing enhancement for the murders of Bing and Jones. Finally, the district court applied a four level enhancement, finding that Campbell was a leader of the drug distribution ring.
Similarly, in sentencing Sullivan, the district court relied at least partially upon the testimony at sentencing to apply the murder cross-reference. Additionally, the district court determined that Sullivan was responsible for the distribution of 720 grams of crack. These enhancing facts were not determined by the jury at trial.
Sullivan argues that the government failed to produce sufficient evidence to sustain the drug conspiracy and other charges against him. Additionally, while the appeal was pending, the Supreme Court decided United States v. Booker. Due to the effect of that case on this appeal, the parties filed supplemental briefing on the effect of Booker on their sentences.
II.
A.
The federal Sentencing Guidelines were adopted in order to bring more uniformity *253and predictability to criminal sentences. The Guidelines assigned a numerical value, called the base offense level, to each criminal offense, and, as well, assigned the defendant to one of six criminal history categories. Additionally, the base offense level could be adjusted upward or downward based upon findings made by the court at sentencing.
As stated, the Supreme Court decided United States v. Booker, which held that mandatory application of the Sentencing Guidelines was unconstitutional, as that application violated the defendants’ Sixth Amendment right to have the facts upon which a sentencing was based to be found beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury when it exceeded the sentence which might have been awarded upon only the jury verdict. We have determined that in the ordinary case the proper application of Booker is to affirm sentences that are within the statutorily prescribed range and are reasonable, United States v. Hughes, 401 F.3d, 540, 546-47 (4th Cir.2005); and to vacate and remand mandatory guideline sentences when the guideline range involves extrav-erdict enhancement. White, 405 F.3d at 222.
B.
There follows an analysis of Campbell’s and Sullivan’s eligibility for sentencing in view of the jury verdict and without other fact-finding by the court except previous convictions.
Campbell was convicted under Count 1, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(l)(A)(iii) and § 846 of a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base. Because the jury did not determine the quantity beyond that contained in the indictment, under Booker we use only 50 grams in basic calculation of his sentence. This would result in a base offense level of 32 under USSG § 2Dl.l(c)(4).1 Campbell’s firearms conspiracy conviction in count 49, 18 U.S.C. § 924(o), carries a base offense level of 24 under USSG § 2K2.1(a)(2) because, according to the presentence report, he has at least two qualifying prior convictions.
Additionally, Campbell had a number of prior criminal convictions, including criminal sexual conduct with a minor and accessory after the fact to robbery, which are felonies and crimes of violence under the definition in USSG § 4B1.2. These convictions are sufficient to qualify him as a career offender under USSG § 4B1.1.2 As *254a career offender, Campbell receives a base offense level for his crime that is determined by reference to the statutory maximum for the offense of conviction. The statutory maximum for his violation of § 841 is life imprisonment. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). This results in a base offense level of 37 under USSG § 4B1.1. With a base offense level of 37 and a criminal history category of VI, the guidelines range is 360 months to life in prison. USSG Ch.5 Pt.A. For Campbell’s firearms conspiracy conviction, Count 49, the statutory maximum for his violation of § 924(o) is 20 years’ imprisonment, which results in a base offense level of 32 under USSG § 4B1.1, with sentence eligibility of 210-262 months, which is reduced to 240 months by the statutory maximum. USSG § 5Gl.l(c).
Thus, Campbell’s total sentence eligibility was 570 months to life.
Sullivan was also convicted with Campbell of the Count 1 conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base. The amounts of crack cocaine involved in his various other drug trafficking convictions, Counts 29, 30, 31 and 32, were a total less than 20 but more than 5 grams, which, when added to the 50 grams of Count 1, under USSG § 2D1.1, Application Note 6, yield a total quantity of cocaine base of more than 55 but less than 75 grams. Sullivan’s base offense level for this amount of cocaine base conviction is 32. USSG § 2D1.1(c)(4). No two level enhancement is given for the possession of a firearm during these distribution offenses because that possession will be accounted for in Sullivan’s sentence under USSG § 2K2.4, Application Note 2.
Sullivan’s base offense level for Count 35, (the obliterated serial numbers) violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(k) and 924(a)(1), and Count 49, (conspiracy to use a firearm in the execution of the Count 1 conspiracy) violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o), is 18. This represents a starting level of 12 under USSG § 2K2.1(a)(7) for Count 49, to which is added a two level increase under USSG § 2K2.1(b)(4) for his conviction in Count 35, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and also a four level increase under § 2K2.1(b)(5) for possessing the firearm in connection with another *255felony, as he was convicted of Count 84. The jury was instructed they could not convict under Count 34 unless they convicted under Count 31 or Count 32. They convicted of both. So both of these increases are sustained by the facts found by the jury. We have not double counted Counts 35 and 49 for the initial starting level of 12.
Also, Sullivan is subject to a mandatory minimum additional sentence for his conviction of Count 34, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), for his use of the firearm in connection with another crime. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) calls for a mandatory minimum additional sentence of five years’ imprisonment for an individual who uses or carries a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, as Sullivan did. It is mandatory that this sentence run consecutively to any sentences imposed for the trafficking offenses. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1) (D) (ii).
Sullivan has had no prior felony convictions, resulting in a criminal history category of I. Accordingly, the Sentencing Guidelines ranges for his convictions are 121-151 months for the drug convictions, 27-33 months for the firearms convictions in Counts 35 and 49, and 60 months for the firearms conviction in Count 34, for a total potential maximum of 244 months.
Accordingly, the maximum sentence that Campbell may receive based solely on the jury verdict is life imprisonment, while Sullivan may receive a maximum sentence of 244 months.
III.
At the sentencing hearing, the district court, as it was required to do, operating under the pre-Booker guidelines sentencing scheme, conducted its own fact-finding in order to arrive at Campbell and Sullivan’s sentences.
For Campbell, the district court determined that Campbell was responsible for the murders of Toby Bing and Elshawndra Jones, and applied the first degree murder cross reference found at USSG § 2D1.1(d)(1), resulting in a base offense level of 43, under USSG § 2A1.1, which is an automatic life sentence under the Guidelines. USSG Ch.5, Pt.A. The district court sentenced Campbell to life imprisonment on Count 1 and additionally imposed a concurrent sentence of 240 months for Count 49, the firearms conspiracy charge. Ruling in the alternative, the court found that, should the murder cross-reference be disallowed, the drug quantity involved for Campbell was 1,858 grams of cocaine base. Using 1,858 grams of cocaine base presents a base offense level of 38 under USSG § 2Dl.l(c)(l). Further, the court found that a dangerous weapon was possessed, and so added two levels under USSG § 2Dl.l(b)(l). It also found that Campbell was an organizer or leader of the conspiracy, which adds four levels under USSG § 3Bl.l(a), for a total offense level of 44. Offense levels higher than 43 are treated as identical to 43 for sentencing purposes. USSG Ch.5, Pt.A, Application Note 2. Accordingly, the district court issued an alternate sentence of life imprisonment based on its findings regarding the drug quantities, leadership role, and firearms possession.
For Sullivan, the district court applied the same murder cross reference, found a base offense level of 43, and sentenced Sullivan to life imprisonment for the drug conspiracy with the murder cross reference. Additionally, the district court imposed concurrent sentences of 240 months for Counts 29, 30, 31 and 49, a concurrent sentence of 360 months for Count 32, a concurrent sentence of 60 months for Count 35, and the mandatory additional consecutive sentence of 60 months for *256Count 34. In the alternative, the court determined that Sullivan was responsible for the distribution of 720 grams of cocaine base. This amount produces a base offense level of 36 under USSG § 2Dl.l(c)(2), which has a sentencing range of 188 to 235 months under the Guidelines. The district court imposed the high end of the range, 235 months, for the drug charges, a concurrent sentence of 60 months for Count 35, and an additional consecutive sentence of 60 months for Sullivan’s conviction in Count 34, for a total alternative sentence of 295 months.

Campbell’s Case

As we have noted, United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), was decided while this case was pending in this court, both Campbell and Sullivan having been sentenced prior to January 12, 2005, the date of the Booker decision.
The principal holding of Booker which we consider is
Any fact (other than a prior conviction) which is necessary to support a sentence exceeding the maximum authorized by the facts established by a plea of guilty or a jury verdict must be admitted by the defendant or proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.
543 U.S. at 244, 125 S.Ct. 738.
We are of opinion and hold there is no reversible error in the imposition of a sentence of life imprisonment on Campbell.
As we have related, Campbell was sentenced to life imprisonment under the then mandatory Guidelines sentencing scheme, using the first degree murder reference of USSG § 2Dl.l(d)(l). After finding, among other things, that Campbell was responsible for 1,858 grams of cocaine base and that Campbell was an organizer or leader of the drug conspiracy, which added four levels to his basic sentencing level, and that a dangerous weapon was possessed, for which the district court added two additional levels to his basic sentencing level, the district court also imposed an alternate sentence of life imprisonment, should its sentence upon the murder reference be vacated.
We must vacate each of those two life sentences imposed on Campbell because each of them depended on facts other than prior convictions, necessary to support the sentence imposed and not established by a plea of guilty, or admission otherwise, or jury verdict. The murder reference was supported by facts, largely found by the district court at the sentencing hearing, relating to the murder of Bing and Jones, the rival drug dealers, and was established largely, even if not wholly, by the witnesses at the sentencing hearing and, in any event, had not been found by the jury. The same defect in a different form applies to the alternate sentence of life imprisonment imposed by the district court which is based in significant part on the finding of the district court that Campbell was responsible for 1,858 grams of cocaine, and that Campbell was an organizer or leader of the drug conspiracy, which added four levels to Campbell’s basic sentencing level. Neither the murder of Bing and Jones nor the organizer/leader question was considered by the jury. So, standing alone, those life sentences were subject to being vacated under the rule in Booker stated just above.
As we have demonstrated, however, using only the facts found by the jury, Campbell was, nevertheless, eligible for a life sentence. The jury found that Campbell was guilty of a conspiracy, as indicated in Count 1, to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base. The jury also found that Campbell was guilty of the firearms conspiracy under Count 49. *257Campbell, without objection to these parts of his presentence report, was found to have been previously found guilty of at least two felonies, which are crimes of violence which qualify him as a career offender under USSG § 4B1.1, resulting in a criminal history category of VI with a range of punishment of 360 months to life in prison under USSG Ch.5 Pt.A. All of these necessary facts for the imposition of a life sentence on Campbell were either found by the jury or were previous convictions, the latter a self-imposed exclusion of Booker upon its effect originating in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000).
In the case of United States v. Hughes, 401 F.3d 540, 546-47 (4th Cir.2005), we reasoned, following the decision in Booker
In light of the excision of § 3742(e) by the Supreme Court, we will affirm the sentence imposed as long as it is within the statutorily prescribed range, see Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348, and is reasonable, see Booker, 125 S.Ct. at 767.
The sentence imposed in this case, which we examine, was a life sentence imposed on Campbell. This life sentence is within the statutorily prescribed range. The sentence is within the Guidelines range of life imprisonment, and the sentence is reasonable. That is shown by our decision in United States v. Green, 436 F.3d 449, 456-57 (4th Cir.2006), which holds that a sentence which is within the Guidelines range is presumed to be reasonable in the context of the meaning of reasonable in the Booker case. That same presumption is followed in terms in four other circuits, in United States v. Williams, 436 F.3d 706 (6th Cir.2006); United States v. Newsom, 428 F.3d 685, 687 (7th Cir.2005); United States v. Tobacco, 428 F.3d 1148, 1151 (8th Cir.2005); United States v. Mykytiuk, 415 F.3d 606, 608 (7th Cir.2005); and United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 554 (5th Cir.2006); and in principle in the Eleventh Circuit, United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 786-87 (11th Cir.2005), but rejected in the First Circuit in United States v. Jimenez-Beltre, 440 F.3d 514 (1st Cir.2006); and the Second Circuit in United States v. Fernandez, 443 F.3d 19, 26-28 (2nd Cir. 2006). We are thus of opinion that the said sentence so imposed was reasonable upon examination of the record and application. of the presumption in Green we have just referenced.
Because the Court, in the case of Williams v. United States, 503 U.S. 193, 112 S.Ct. 1112, 117 L.Ed.2d 341 (1992), decided a split in the circuits, on the question that
When one or more of the stated grounds for departure is invalid, [may an] appellate court ... affirm if sentence is still reasonable in light of remaining factors.
503 U.S. at 193, 112 S.Ct. 1112, the Court reasoned, at p. 204, 112 S.Ct. 1112
A sentence can thus be “reasonable” even if some of the reasons given by the district court to justify the departure from the presumptive guidelines range are invalid, provided that the remaining reasons are sufficient to justify the magnitude of the departure. (Quotations in original.)
The action of the district court in this case exceeds the requirements of Williams. A life sentence is permissible and within the Guidelines range, so the presumptive Guidelines range is not invalid. The district court, while it imposed the life sentence for a different reason, did not violate the Guidelines, and the presumption from Newsom we have followed in Green requires affirmance.

Sullivan’s Case

Sullivan’s life sentence must be vacated because it is based on the same murder *258reference as was Campbell’s with respect to the killing of Bing and Jones, which was not found by the jury but by the district court. The alternate sentence of Sullivan of 295 months is based largely, even if not wholly, on the finding of the district court that Sullivan was responsible for 720 grams of cocaine base, a fact found by the district court but not by the jury. Sullivan’s alternate sentence of 295 months exceeds his maximum eligible sentence of 244 months for matters considered by the jury or otherwise admitted. Thus, application of facts not found by the jury have had “a prejudicial effect on the outcome of a judicial proceeding.” White, 405 F.3d at 223.
Sullivan’s sentence must be vacated and his case remanded for resentencing.
IV.
Apart from the sentencing questions, the defendants have raised the following questions with respect to their convictions, which we address in turn.
A.
Campbell argues that statements introduced at trial and made by his co-conspirators were barred by Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004); that the government’s introduction of proffer letters3 and plea agreements of various cooperating defendants was improper; and that the district court failed to give a jury instruction concerning multiple conspiracies.
Campbell first challenges the introduction of testimony by various government witnesses with respect to Campbell’s involvement in the drug conspiracy. These statements, Campbell argues, are testimonial in nature and thus barred by Crawford. The statements objected to were largely observations about the involvement of various other members of the conspiracy in the sale of drugs, such as repeating that other conspirators told the witness that they had purchased drugs from Campbell. While such statements may well have been admissible evidence as statements by a co-conspirator during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy, see Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(E), they are not testimonial statements under Crawford. [N]ot testimonial—forex-ample, [are] ... statements in furtherance of a conspiracy.” Crawford, 541 U.S. at 56, 124 S.Ct. 1354. Not being testimonial statements, that evidence against Campbell was admissible, and we so hold. Accord: Delaney v. United States, 263 U.S. 586, 590, 44 S.Ct. 206, 68 L.Ed. 462 (1924).
' Campbell also contends that the introduction into evidence of witnesses’ plea agreements and proffer letters, along with references to them in closing argument, violated due process and his right to a fair trial. We do not agree.
The proffer letters do not place an overemphasis on whether the witness is telling the truth. Importantly, the district court correctly instructed the jury that it should weigh with caution the testimony of someone who has entered into a plea agreement with the government for immunity from punishment or personal advantage. The jury instruction stated that the testimony of such informers “must also be considered by you and weighed with great care, more so than the testimony of an ordinary witness .... [Y]ou must determine if an informer’s testimony has been affected by the immunity which has been provided for *259him.” The district court gave similar instructions for those who entered into plea agreements. The court instructed the jury that such a witness “has a motive to testify falsely.” Those instructions serve to negate any implication that the witnesses were somehow more trustworthy for having entered into plea agreements with the government and were correctly given.
Regarding the introduction of the plea agreements, we have held that “it is generally recognized that the existence of a plea agreement may be elicited by the prosecutor on direct examination so that the jury ‘may assess the credibility of the witness.’ ” United States v. Henderson, 717 F.2d 135, 137 (4th Cir.1983). A prosecutor may neither vouch for nor bolster the testimony of a government witness in arguments to the jury. United States v. Sanchez, 118 F.3d 192, 198 (4th Cir.1997). “Vouching occurs when the prosecutor indicates a personal belief in the credibility or honesty of a witness; bolstering is an implication by the government that the testimony of a witness is corroborated by evidence known to the government but not known to the jury.” Sanchez, 118 F.3d at 198.
Campbell argues that the government vouched for the plea agreements by stating in oral argument that “[i]t should be clear that the witness has far more of an incentive to tell the truth than to lie.” This statement, however, does not fit the definition of either vouching or bolstering. It cannot be vouching, since the AUSA made no statement about her personal belief in the truth of the statement, only that, given the circumstances of a plea agreement, she argued that it is more in the subject’s interest to be honest than to be dishonest. Likewise, it cannot be considered bolstering, as it does not refer to evidence not presented to the jury.
Finally, Campbell argues that the district court failed to instruct the jury on multiple conspiracies. Campbell claims the evidence at best showed multiple conspiracies, and not a single, unified one.
In its instructions to the jury, the district court instructed the jurors that
the Government charged a particular conspiracy, and they’ve got to prove ... that he was a member of the conspiracy charged in the indictment. And if they don’t prove that, then you got to find him not guilty, even if you find that he was a member of some other conspiracy not charged in the indictment.
The district court continued that
[pjroof that a Defendant was a member of some other conspiracy is not enough to convict unless the Government also proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant was a member of the conspiracy charged in the indictment.
Campbell argues that there was evidence of other drug conspiracies operating in the South Carolina-Georgia community in addition to the conspiracy charged in the indictment and that an instruction with respect to multiple conspiracies should have been given in a different form than the one given by the district court. We are of opinion the instruction given by the district court, the essence of which we have quoted above, was correct and fair. We note especially that the district court gave a finding instruction in favor of Campbell if the government did not prove that “he was a member of the conspiracy charged in the indictment,” he should be found not guilty.
We conclude that there was- no error in Campbell’s case under Crawford v. Washington; or the district court’s instruction to the jury with respect to multiple conspiracies; or the introduction of proffer *260letters and plea agreements, either plain or otherwise.
B.
Sullivan challenges the sufficiency of the evidence upon which the jury based its conviction under Counts 34 and 49 of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) for use and possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; under § 924(o) for conspiracy to do the same; and under 18 U.S.C. § 922(k), Count 35, for knowingly using and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Where the error charged, as here, is insufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict, the verdict will be sustained if, when the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the government, there is substantial evidence to support it. Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942). “[SJubstantial evidence is evidence that a reasonable finder of fact could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a conclusion of a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Burgos, 94 F.3d 849, 862 (4th Cir.1996) (en banc).
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) provides that an individual who “during and in relation to any ... [federal] drug trafficking crime ... uses or carries a firearm, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm” is subject to criminal punishment. In order to establish a violation of § 924(c), the evidence must tend to show that the firearm “furthered, advanced, or helped forward a drug trafficking crime.” United States v. Lomax, 293 F.3d 701, 705 (4th Cir.2002). A trier of fact might include, for example, in its consideration whether the firearm furthered the drug crime by considering “ ‘the type of drug activity that is being conducted, accessibility of the firearm, the type of weapon ... whether the gun is loaded, proximity to drugs or drug profits, and the time and circumstances under which the gun is found.’ ” Lomax, 293 F.3d at 705 (quoting United States v. Ceballos-Torres, 218 F.3d 409, 414-15 (5th Cir.2000)). Moreover, jurors are allowed to make common sense conclusions when drugs and firearms are found together due to the “unfortunate reality that drugs and guns all too often go hand in hand.” Lomax, 293 F.3d at 706. A mere accidental or coincidental presence of a gun is not enough to satisfy this requirement; but, if its purpose is to protect or embolden the defendant, the statute is satisfied. United States v. Lipford, 203 F.3d 259, 266 (4th Cir.2000) (citing United States v. Mitchell, 104 F.3d 649, 654 (4th Cir.1997)).
Here, there is sufficient evidence in the record to establish that the firearm that Sullivan possessed was in furtherance of his drug crimes. Witnesses testified that Sullivan regularly carried a firearm with him while he was selling drugs. For example, his co-defendant Rasheen Cutter testified that he had seen Sullivan with firearms, “every day” while Sullivan was selling drugs at an establishment named JB Club 2000. Likewise, Rosalind Hamilton, another co-defendant who had traveled to Savannah, Georgia with Sullivan to purchase crack, testified that Sullivan carried a pistol with him “almost all the time.” These two witnesses both described one of Sullivan’s weapons as a 9mm, the same type of weapon that was seized from Sullivan’s person when Sullivan sold a quantity of crack to Roser. Although there is no evidence that Sullivan had brandished or fired that weapon, the jury was entitled to find that Sullivan carried it for his personal protection, given the dangerous nature of crack distribution.
The trial testimony likewise was sufficient to support the jury finding that *261there was a conspiracy between Sullivan and others, such as Campbell, to possess firearms. Testimony introduced against Sullivan’s co-defendants revealed that they also regularly carried firearms. Additionally, the jury determined that these co-defendants were engaged in a crack distribution conspiracy with Sullivan. Taking this evidence in the light most favorable to the government, the jury was entitled to conclude that the possession of firearms, given the dangerous nature of the conspiracy, was a part of that conspiracy’s common course of action.
18 U.S.C. § 922(k) makes it a crime “for any person knowingly ... to possess or receive any firearm which has had the importer’s or manufacturer’s serial number removed, obliterated, or altered and has, at any time, been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.” The defendant must know of the alteration. United States v. Haywood, 363 F.3d 200, 206 (3d Cir.2003) (collecting cases). Knowledge of defacement of the serial number may be inferred where the defendant has possessed the gun under conditions under which an ordinary man would have inspected the pistol and discovered the absence of a serial number. See United States v. Moore, 54 F.3d 92, 101 (2d Cir.1995). As we have related, a 9mm Glock was one of the weapons of Sullivan and carried by him as he sold and trafficked in drugs. The jury was entitled to find, as it did, that he was aware of the removal of the serial number.
Additionally, the government presented the testimony of ATF Special Agent Kelly, a specialist in the business and marketing of firearms. The firearm, a Glock 9mm pistol, has serial numbers in several locations. Agent Kelly identified the location of the primary serial number on the frame of the pistol, and commented that “[t]hat is gone. That serial number has been taken off of the firearm.” Also, he identified an area on the slide of the pistol that he said “may be a secondary location of the serial number.” This mark was also obliterated. On cross-examination, Agent Kelly also identified the location of a serial number that remained intact on the barrel of the gun. Although this number remained, we are of opinion that it does not establish that the conviction was improper. Indeed, the statute does not require that all serial numbers be obliterated.
From the testimony, a reasonable juror could conclude that, because Sullivan regularly carried and possessed the weapon, he would have been expected to have examined the weapon and discovered, at least, that the primary serial number had been obliterated.
The last argument of Sullivan, that we need address only briefly, is that his connection with the conspiracy charged in Count I is supported only by evidence of sales of drugs which, standing alone, do not support his conviction. He relies on United States v. Mercer, 165 F.3d 1331 (11th Cir.1999), for that proposition. While it is true that Mercer does recite that a single sale of narcotics is not probative evidence of a conspiracy to deal in narcotics, even in Mercer evidence of multiple sales comes to the opposite conclusion. In any event, our decisions in United States v. Banks, 10 F.3d 1044 (4th Cir.1993), and United States v. Mills, 995 F.2d 480 (4th Cir.1993), are more favorable to the government and would ordinarily admit evidence of sales of narcotics as probative evidence of a conspiracy to deal in the same. Because the decisions, both in this Circuit and in the Eleventh Circuit, review the question of whether the evidence is relevant, at bottom they are discretionary decisions in which the exercise of our discretion is somewhat less favorable to Sullivan than is that of the Elev*262enth Circuit. We are of opinion that, even stretched, a comparison of those circuit decisions would not support any conclusion that there is a marked difference in the circuits. We are of opinion that that argument by Sullivan is without merit and that the evidence to support his conviction with respect to the conspiracy charged in Count 1 of the indictment is ample.
While we affirm the convictions of both Campbell and Sullivan and the sentence of Campbell, we vacate the sentence of Sullivan, as earlier set forth in this opinion, and remand the same for resentencing.

. These references are to the 2001 edition of the Guidelines Manual, which was used in the district court’s sentencing of the defendants.

. "Campbell did not object to this classification in his objections to the presentence report. He does not object to the classification in his brief in this court.
At the sentencing hearing, the district court heard Campbell’s numerous objections to his presentence report raised by his attorney. Page references are to the sentencing transcript (ST) unless otherwise indicated.
The first was to the information in paragraphs six and seven, which tied Campbell to Sabra Robinson, another figure in the drug conspiracy. Lionel Lofton, Campbell’s attorney, acknowledged that he was stuck with this by the jury verdict. (ST 448)
The second and third were to the calculation of the drug quantities involved in Campbell’s conspiracy while Dorrine Green, a co-defendant, was incarcerated. The probation officer made the requested changes based on those objections. (ST 448)
Fourth, Campbell objected to the inclusion of paragraphs 20-47, which concerned the murders of Bing and Jones. (ST 448) The district court took this objection under advisement before ultimately applying the murder cross-reference. Additionally, Campbell would object to later inclusion of the cross-reference in paragraphs 53, 54 and 58 of his sentencing calculations. (ST 451)
Fifth, Campbell objected to paragraph 48 of the presentence report, which contained the statement of Curtis Fields, a codefendant who was cooperating with the government. (ST *254448-49) This statement indicated that Campbell had threatened Fields about "being a snitch,” and related to Count 46 of the indictment, in which Campbell was charged with tampering with a witness by threatening Fields. (Campbell JA 56) Count 46 had been dismissed previously. The court declined to strike the paragraph, but stated that it would not rely upon it in sentencing. (ST 449)
Sixth, Campbell challenged paragraph 51 of the report, which stated his base offense level for drug quantities. Campbell complained that the probation officer impermissibly calculated his drug liability using facts not found by the jury.
Seventh were the objections to the inclusion of various prior criminal charges in the pre-sentence report. Campbell objected to the inclusion of paragraph 72 on the grounds that the charge was not substantiated, and withdrew his objection when the probation officer indicated that she had substantiated it. (ST 445) Similarly, he objected to paragraphs 75, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, and 83 on the grounds that the criminal charges discussed in those paragraphs were either dismissed or nolle prossed. (ST 451-53)
Finally, Campbell raised an objection to the determination in paragraph 94 that his final -offense level was 43, as it was based upon findings such as the drug quantities and murder cross-reference that he had previously objected to. (ST 453) The district court overruled this objection, stating that it believed that "there’s ample evidence” to support such findings. (ST 453)
Campbell's objections to the presentence report ended with this:
Mr. Lofton: Bear with me just one minute and let me be sure I covered everything.
Mr. Lofton: That's all I have, your Honor.
The Court: All right, sir. (Record Vol. Ill, ST 455)

. A proffer letter is an agreement between the government and a defendant which refers to and, in fact, is a part of, an agreement to plead guilty made between the government and a defendant.