Court Opinion

ID: 2975272
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 17:31:36.742568+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:41:29.648823
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                          File Name: 07a0393n.06
                            Filed: June 14, 2007

                                          No. 06-3609

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                             )
                                                      )
       Plaintiff-Appellee,                            )
                                                      )
v.                                                    )   ON APPEAL FROM THE
                                                      )   UNITED STATES DISTRICT
RAPHAEL TURRELL,                                      )   COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN
                                                      )   DISTRICT OF OHIO
       Defendant-Appellant.                           )

BEFORE:        KEITH, BATCHELDER, and MOORE, Circuit Judges.

       DAMON J. KEITH, Circuit Judge. Defendant, Raphael Turrell, pled guilty to (1)

conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of heroin and more than 500 grams of cocaine, in

violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), and (2) conspiracy to commit money laundering, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). He was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, and now appeals

his sentence. For the reasons that follow, we AFFIRM.

                                                I

       After agreeing to plead guilty to (1) conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of heroin

and more than 500 grams of cocaine (in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 & 841(a)(1)) and (2)

conspiracy to commit money laundering (in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)), Turrell was sentenced

at the lower end of the then-mandatory guideline range of 63-78 months (to wit, 63 months

incarceration, 4 year supervised release and $200 in special assessments). Turrell appealed his

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sentence, but, before this Court could hear oral arguments, the parties agreed to remand for

resentencing in light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005).

        On remand, the district court resentenced Turrell to 60 months, departing from the now-

advisory guideline sentencing range of 63-78 months. (All other terms and conditions of the original

sentence were reimposed.) The recommended guideline range was based, in part, on the sentencing

court’s determination that 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cocaine could be attributed to

Turrell’s illegal dealings. Turrell did not object to this estimation. In fact, he admitted responsibility

for 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cocaine during his change of plea hearing and in his plea

agreement. A detective’s testimony also supported the district court’s estimation.

        Nonetheless, for the second time, Turrell appeals his sentence—only to claim that the district

court’s attribution of 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cocaine to him was not based on the

evidence. He claims responsibility for only “250 grams of heroin and approximately 135 grams of

cocaine.” (Appellant’s Br. 11.)

                                                   II

        Since Turrell made no objection to the Presentence Report (“PSR”) in the district court, the

parties agree that the standard of review is “plain error.” Under “plain error” review, Turrell must

show that

      (1) an error occurred in the district court, (2) that was plain, (3) which affected
      substantial rights, (4) and seriously interfered with the fairness, integrity, or public
      reputation of the judicial proceedings.

United States v. Treadway, 328 F.3d 878, 883 (6th Cir. 2003).

        A lengthy discussion on all four prongs of “plain error review” is unnecessary because Turrell

cannot show that the district court committed an error— much less “plain error.” His only objection

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on appeal, as mentioned, pertains to the district court’s attribution of 500 grams of heroin and 500

grams of cocaine to him. But, there was more than a “preponderance of the evidence” (the standard

for judicial fact-finding post-Booker, see United States v. Ferguson, 456 F.3d 660, 665 (6th Cir.

2006)) to attribute these amounts to Turrell.

        For one, he pled guilty to a “conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of heroin and more

than 500 grams of cocaine,” and there is no dispute as to the validity of his plea.          Second, in

response to the district court’s question “[a]re you offering to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute

and possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cocaine because you

did in fact commit that offense?” during his change of plea hearing, Turrell responded with a

resounding “Yes.” (JA 135.) Even more, after listening to a detective’s testimony that “[t]he total

narcotics attributable as relevant conduct to Raphael Turrell . . . is approximately 500 grams of

heroin and 500 grams of cocaine,” id. (emphasis added), the district court asked Turrell, “Was the

statement correct?,” to which he responded, “Yes.” Id. The district court asked the question in the

negative, “Was any part of the statement incorrect?” Turrell responded with an unequivocal “No.”

Id. at 135. Clearly, based on the detective’s testimony as well as Turrell’s own admissions (in his

plea agreement and at his change of plea hearing), the sentencing court had more than a

“preponderance of the evidence” to attribute 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cocaine to

Turrell.1

        1
          It is true that the PSR states that “Turrell stated that he really believed the amount of
drugs he distributed . . . was probably a little less than the amount listed in the plea agreement,
[and that ] he did not understand how he could have possibly distributed a half kilogram [i.e.,
500 grams] of heroin as he was distributing very small amounts each day for approximately one
year.” (JA 88) (emphasis added.) Notably, however, the PSR only states that Turrell “believed”
that the amount was “probably” less than 500 grams. At best, this sounds as if Turrell had some
lingering doubts about the amount of drugs he distributed. Even so, it was the sentencing court’s

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       Supposing the district court committed an “error” that was “plain,” Turrell still has not

established that such an error would affect his “substantial rights” (the third prong of plain error

review). Turrell contends he should be responsible for only “250 grams of heroin and approximately

135 grams of cocaine.” (Appellant’s Br. 11.) If the Court were to accept this proposition, then

Turrell’s sentence of 60 months would not — indeed, cannot — decrease, given that the statutory

minimum sentence for a § 841(a)(1) violation involving 100 or more grams of heroin “may not be

less than 5 years” (or 60 months). See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B)(i). Moreover, Turrell has not

alleged that any such error would affect his substantial rights in some other fashion. Hence, even

had the district court committed plain error in attributing 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of

cocaine to Turrell (as he claims), his substantial rights would not be affected.

       Needless to say, because Turrell has not established that the district court committed (1) an

error, (2) that was plain, (3) which affected his substantial rights, the fourth prong of plain error

review—dealing with the “fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings”—is

likewise unfulfilled.

                                                 III

       According, because there is no “plain error,” we AFFIRM the district court’s sentence of 60

months.

prerogative to discount Turrell’s incertitude—especially in light of the detective’s testimony and
Turrell’s subsequent admissions and plea agreement. (JA 134-35.)

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