Court Opinion

ID: 217308
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-05-24 14:42:23+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:31.945321
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                               File Name: 11a0352n.06

                                      Nos. 09-1390/1435/1906

                                UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                     FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                             )                               FILED
                                                      )
          Plaintiff-Appellee,                         )                          May 24, 2011
                                                      )                     LEONARD GREEN, Clerk
v.                                                    )
                                                      )
COSTICA LUCIAN BONAS, aka Coco, aka Tico,             )
                                                      )
          Defendant-Appellant,                        )   ON APPEAL FROM THE
                                                      )   UNITED STATES DISTRICT
DAVID ANDREW CARTER,                                  )   COURT FOR THE EASTERN
                                                      )   DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
          Defendant-Appellant,                        )
                                                      )
CORDELL SAIN, aka Myron Malone,                       )
                                                      )
          Defendant-Appellant.                        )
                                                      )
                                                      )

Before:          KEITH, McKEAGUE, and KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judges.

          PER CURIAM. Eleven defendants were indicted on various charges including conspiracy

to possess, with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846,

possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and

possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). A

jury found Defendant-Appellant Costica Lucian Bonas guilty of conspiracy to possess, with the

intent to distribute marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Bonas

appeals, urging that his conviction be vacated for the absence of a limiting jury instruction and
Nos. 09-1390/1435/1906
United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

improper admission of a prejudicial photograph. He received concurrent sentences of imprisonment

of ninety-seven months for both offenses. Bonas also contends on appeal that his sentences were

unreasonable and he should have received a lesser sentence for his role in the offenses. Defendant-

Appellant David Andrew Carter was acquitted of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute

marijuana, but was found guilty of possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and aiding and abetting the possession of marijuana with the intent

to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Carter was sentenced to

consecutive terms of imprisonment of one hundred twenty months for the marijuana possession

offense and sixty months for the firearm possession offense. Carter appeals, arguing that his guilty

verdicts were against the great weight of the evidence and that his sentence was unreasonable,

warranted safety valve relief, and should have been decreased based upon his role in the offenses.

Defendant-Appellant Cordell Sain was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to

distribute marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Sain was sentenced

to concurrent terms of 240 months’ imprisonment for each offense. Sain appeals, stating that the

district court erred at trial when it refused to categorically preclude the introduction of evidence of

his post-indictment conviction for a drug offense and violated the Eighth Amendment’s comparative

proportionality principle when it sentenced him to a longer term of imprisonment than most other

defendants. For the following reasons, we AFFIRM each Defendant-Appellant’s convictions and

sentences.

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United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

                                       I. BACKGROUND

A. Investigation and Arrests

       The Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) were

each conducting investigations involving drug trafficking in Michigan in 2007. On June 4, 2007,

a DEA informant notified the agency that Costica Bonas was set to receive a 2,500 pound shipment

of marijuana in Romulus, Michigan, shipped from Canada on June 5, 2007. Near the same time, a

task force named CHIEF, comprised of FBI agents, DEA agents, and the Michigan State Police

received information that a suspected drug trafficker, Ramon Soria, who had been arrested in 2007

in Texas with over 200 pounds of marijuana but fled while on bond, was staying at a Days Inn in

Romulus, Michigan. The DEA and FBI, thereafter, coordinated surveillance.

       On June 5, agents observed Soria meeting with three other individuals at the hotel. The four

individuals then left the hotel in rental cars, with Soria and Herrera in one car, and the other two

individuals in a second car. Agents followed the vehicles to a warehouse in Huron Township. The

agents then set up surveillance of the warehouse. On the same day, several different vehicles with

several different individuals, including Soria and Bonas, arrived at and departed from the warehouse.

At about 11:14 a.m., multiple vehicles, including a black cargo truck and a white Toyota were

present at the warehouse parked near each other. At about 12:05 p.m., a black cargo truck backed

up to the warehouse door and then pulled away and left the warehouse. The white Toyota also left

as the black cargo truck pulled away. Agents followed the white Toyota until it met a 53-foot long

semi tractor-trailer (“semi”) and led the semi back to the warehouse. The semi arrived at about 12:15

p.m. and backed into the warehouse doors. Agents and officers saw individuals bring tools at about

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United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

12:30 p.m. The semi departed the warehouse at about 12:40 p.m. without its trailer, which was left

inside the warehouse. Agents overheard grinding and drilling noises. At about 1:55 p.m., the semi

returned to the warehouse. The black cargo truck also returned. The semi picked up the trailer, and

again departed. The black cargo truck backed into the warehouse at about 2:07 p.m. Agents and

officers reportedly smelled marijuana and observed several men wearing gloves passing bales of

marijuana from the warehouse into the black cargo truck as they entered the warehouse at about 2:10

p.m. Over 200 bales of marijuana, weighing about 2,312 pounds in total, were recovered from the

warehouse, the black cargo truck, and from the semi’s secret compartments when it was pulled over

and searched after it left the warehouse. Defendants Bonas, Carter, Sain and eight others individuals

were arrested as a result of the DEA and FBI raid and indicted on drug trafficking charges. At the

time of his arrest, Carter had a loaded handgun tucked into his waistband.       Carter had a valid

concealed weapons permit for the gun.

B. Jury Trials

        Ten of the individuals indicted as co-conspirators in the drug ring pled guilty or were found

guilty by a jury. The other individual was acquitted by a jury. Bonas and Carter were tried together

by a jury, along with three other indicted co-conspirators. Sain requested, and obtained a separate

jury trial.

        1. Bonas’s and Carter’s Joint Trial

        The DEA informant did not testify at Bonas and Carter’s joint trial. The DEA informant was

referenced by the Government during its case and Bonas’s counsel referenced the informant by name

during his opening statement. Bonas did not testify during trial. Carter testified and contended that

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United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

he was not a part of the conspiracy and also was not guilty of the other charged offenses. In support

of this contention, Carter testified that he was at the industrial location for an extremely short time,

from approximately 2:07 p.m. to the time of the raid at 2:10 p.m., to pick up a shipment that his

moving company was called to retrieve and that he had no knowledge of the drugs. Carter further

testified that unlike his co-defendants, he was not wearing gloves at the time of the arrest, to suggest

that he was not involved in the drug trafficking ring. The Government stated that the gloves were

utilized to prevent fingerprints on the clear bales of marijuana. Carter sought to introduce

photographs taken at the time of his arrest to corroborate his testimony. One agent testified that he

did not see Carter wearing gloves, while two agents testified that they did see Carter wearing gloves,

just like the gloves the others arrested at the scene were wearing. The Government asserted that

Carter wore gloves, but that he had taken them off before he was handcuffed. The photograph at

issue showed Carter without gloves, but also included co-defendant Bonas in handcuffs, wearing

gloves. Bonas objected to the introduction of the photograph and asserted that it was more

prejudicial than probative, which necessitated exclusion. The district court sustained the objection

and excluded the photograph.

        The next day, during direct examination, a federal agent, the Government sought to admit

the same photograph containing Carter and Bonas while describing the scene at the time of the

defendants’ arrest. This time the district court admitted the photograph over Bonas’s objection. The

prosecutor contended that he was compelled to introduce the photo of Carter and Bonas since Carter

raised the gloves issue and the prosecutor wanted to thwart other defendants from making the issue

of gloves central to the case. Bonas strenuously contended that the photo was unnecessary.

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        At the close of the evidence, Bonas requested dismissal of all charges against him, and did

so again after the trial judge instructed the jury. Neither motion to dismiss was granted. Carter did

not seek a similar dismissal. The district court instructed the jury to decide the case based upon the

evidence presented, including only what witnesses said under oath, and to refrain from speculation

about what a witness might have said if they would have testified. Bonas did not request any specific

jury instruction regarding the non-testifying DEA informant. The jury found that Bonas was

responsible for possession with the intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.

        2. Sain’s Individual Trial

        At his trial, Cordell Sain sought to exclude evidence of his subsequent convictions for

possession with intent to distribute 14.8 grams of marijuana and being a felon in possession of a

firearm. The district court ruled, in a written order, that the evidence was probative as to whether

Sain had the intent to possess with intent to distribute marijuana or whether he was “merely present”

at the time of the drug raid, but the district court made its ruling contingent on the defense that Sain

produced. Sain did not object to the district court’s ruling and did not testify at trial.

C. Sentencing Hearings

        1. Defendant Bonas

        Bonas received two concurrent sentences of ninety-seven months’ imprisonment for

conspiracy to possess, with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession with the intent to

distribute marijuana, less than the statutory minimum of one hundred twenty months for each charge.

The district court granted Bonas safety valve relief (over the Government’s objection) pursuant to

U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. The district court denied Bonas’s request for minor participant status, finding that

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he helped procure the site, helped off-load the marijuana, and was not less than culpable than most

of his co-conspirators. Bonas had no prior criminal convictions and was classified in Sentencing

Guidelines Criminal History Category I.

          2. Defendant Carter

          Carter received a sentence of imprisonment totaling 180 months: consecutive sentences of

120 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting and sixty

months’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. At Carter’s

sentencing hearing, the district court found that he did not qualify for U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2 safety valve

relief since two of the prerequisites were that the offense was committed absent possession of a

firearm and that the defendant divulged all available information concerning the offense to the

Government. The district court found that Carter had not truthfully provided all useful information

to the Government and committed a crime while carrying a gun and, therefore, despite the district

court’s pronouncement of a “harsh sentence” of 180 months’ imprisonment, Carter was subject to

the applicable mandatory minimum sentences. The offenses mandated consecutive sentences. The

district court also found that despite Carter’s view that he should also be eligible for a sentence

reduction as a minor participant, he was not a minor participant since he was an indispensable party

to the crime—he supplied the black cargo truck into which more than one ton of marijuana was

loaded.

          3. Defendant Sain

          Sain received concurrent sentences of 240 months’ imprisonment (the mandatory minimum

pursuant to sentencing enhancements) for each count of conspiracy to possess, with the intent to

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distribute marijuana and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. At sentencing, Sain was

classified in Criminal History Category VI, and was found to be a career offender pursuant to the

Sentencing Guidelines. This produced a Guidelines sentencing range of 360 months to life

imprisonment. No other previously sentenced member of the drug ring received more than 180

months’ imprisonment.

                                           II. ANALYSIS

       We address each defendant’s appeal in turn.

A. Costica Bonas

       Bonas contends that the district court erred at trial by failing to provide a limiting instruction

regarding a non-testifying informant and abused its discretion by admitting a photograph showing

him in handcuffs. Bonas asserts that these purported errors made his trial fundamentally unfair such

that his conviction should be vacated. Bonas also argues that the court should have imposed a lesser

sentence for his role in the offenses as a minor participant.

       1. Limiting Instruction

       If the district court provided “confusing, misleading, and prejudicial” jury instructions, we

must vacate Bonas’s convictions.      United States v. Adams, 583 F.3d 457, 469 (6th Cir. 2009)

(citation omitted). However we are also mindful that “[t]he duty to provide an instruction . . . arises

only ‘upon [the] request’ of one of the parties.” United States v. Fraser, 448 F.3d 833, 839 n.3 (6th

Cir. 2006) (citing Fed. R. Evid. 105) (additional citation omitted). Bonas failed to request a limiting

jury instruction regarding the DEA informant so the trial court’s procedure is viewed for plain error.

See Woodbridge v. Dahlberg, 954 F.2d 1231, 1237 (6th Cir. 1992). To establish plain error, the

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defendant must show that there is “(1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects substantial rights.”

Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 466-67 (1997) (internal quotation marks and citation

omitted). “If all three conditions are met, an appellate court may then exercise its discretion to notice

a forfeited error, but only if (4) the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation

of judicial proceedings.” Id.

        Bonas contends that the district court should have instructed the jury not to draw any

conclusions about what the DEA informant would have said if he were called to testify. Bonas

asserts that absent this specific instruction, he is entitled to a new trial. The Government contends

that Bonas, not it, repeatedly invoked the specter of the absent DEA informant. Indeed, Bonas’s

counsel specifically threatened to call the DEA informant as a witness and attempted to question the

strength of the Government’s case by remarking on the Government’s decision not to have the

informant testify. Nevertheless, Bonas oddly contends that repeated references to the DEA

informant prejudiced his defense in the minds of the jurors. Bonas offers no support for the alleged

prejudice, but merely notes that after the jury verdict the Government stated to the district court that

Bonas made threats against the informant. We do not think that such a statement made to the court

after the jury verdict can be construed to show that the jury instructions caused prejudice to Bonas.

        Furthermore, the district court charged the jury to only consider witness statements provided

under oath and to refrain from speculating about what a non-testifying witness might have said, since

that did not constitute evidence. No specific mention of the DEA informant was required or needed,

especially when one was not requested. Therefore, it is obvious upon review of the record that the

district court’s pattern jury instructions regarding adherence to the evidence before the court and

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preclusion from speculating about non-testifying witnesses constituted a sufficient jury instruction

such that no error occurred.

       2. Photograph Admission

       Bonas states that the district court’s decision to admit the photograph displaying him in

handcuffs entitles him to a new trial. We review the admission of evidence for abuse of discretion.

See United States v. Sassanelli, 118 F.3d 495, 498 (6th Cir. 1997). Relevant evidence is generally

admissible, however, it may be excluded if “its probative value is substantially outweighed by the

danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury . . . or needless

presentation of cumulative evidence.” Fed. R. Evid. 403. This court must “take into account that

all evidence introduced by the prosecution generates prejudice against the defendant and ask

specifically whether the item tends to suggest a decision on an improper basis.” United States v.

Culbertson, 364 F. App’x 998, 999 (6th Cir. 2010).

       The district court engaged in the balancing test required by Federal Rule of Evidence 403 to

determine whether or not the photograph showing Bonas in handcuffs should have been admitted.

See Fed. R. Evid. 403. Bonas contends that the admission of the photograph depicting him in

handcuffs was an abuse of discretion and that the photograph was prejudicial against his interests,

duplicative, and unnecessary. He asserts that a better approach would have constituted a request by

the trial court for stipulations from the other parties rather than admitting the photograph. This

argument undercuts Bonas’s assertion that the depiction of him in handcuffs affected the outcome

of his case. While the photograph plainly showed him in a negative light since he was in handcuffs

with gloves on, at most, the district court committed harmless error since it is highly improbable that

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“the error materially affected the verdict.” Culbertson, 364 F. App’x at 1000 (quoting United States

v. Childs, 539 F.3d 552, 559 (6th Cir. 2008) (internal citation omitted)). Bonas, much less than his

co-defendant Carter, had virtually zero merit in a potential mere presence defense given his entry and

prolonged presence at the scene. The district court’s admission of the photograph did not make the

trial “fundamentally unfair,” especially since there are no other errors to combine it with. Id. at 1001

(quoting United States v. Trujillo, 376 F.3d 593, 614 (6th Cir. 2004)). Accordingly, Bonas’s

conviction is AFFIRMED.

        3. Role Reduction

        Bonas states that his ninety-seven month concurrent sentences are unreasonable, based upon

his belief that he should have been classified as a minor participant. Sentencing determinations are

reviewed for reasonableness “under a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard.” Gall v. United

States, 552 U.S. 38, 41 (2007). Review for reasonableness mandates that the appellate court ensure

that the sentence was both procedurally and substantively sound. United States v. Sedore, 512 F.3d

819, 822 (6th Cir. 2008). Sentences within the Guidelines range are afforded a rebuttable

presumption of reasonableness. United States v. Bailey, 488 F.3d 363, 368 (6th Cir. 2007). Denial

of a mitigating role reduction at sentencing is reviewed for clear error. See United States v. Salas,

455 F.3d 637, 644 (6th Cir. 2006).

        The Guidelines provide: “If the defendant was a minimal participant in any criminal
        activity, decrease by 4 levels; if the defendant was a minor participant in any criminal
        activity, decrease by 2 levels; and, in cases falling between minimal and minor,
        decrease by 3 levels.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. A “minimal participant” is one “who plays
        a minimal role in concerted activity.” Id. cmt. n.4. A “minor participant” is a
        defendant “who is less culpable than most other participants, but whose role could
        not be described as minimal.” Id. cmt. n.5.

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United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

United States v. Olea-Coronado, 391 F. App’x 508, 510 (6th Cir. 2010) (quotation marks and

brackets omitted).

        Bonas contends that the district court should have categorized him as a minor or minimal

participant in the drug conspiracy and given him a corresponding sentence reduction pursuant to

U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. Bonas seeks to distinguish his conduct from that of the “mastermind,” co-

defendant Soria.     Bonas recites the requirement that a participant lacking knowledge or

understanding of the scope and structure of a drug enterprise is entitled to categorization as a minor

or minimal participant. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2. In support of his argument he states that he only

“assisted” in the drug ring by unloading and reloading bales of marijuana and did not direct his co-

defendants/co-conspirators.

          Bonas’s Guidelines range of imprisonment was ninety-seven to one hundred twenty-one

months for each count. The district court applied safety valve relief pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2

to depart below the statutory minimum of one hundred twenty months for each count, and sentenced

Bonas to concurrent ninety-seven month sentences. While Bonas may not have been the mastermind

of the drug conspiracy, he provides little detail as to how his criminal conduct compared to that of

his co-defendants. It is not enough to say that he was simply not the director and was merely an

“assistant.” Further, the jury specifically found that Bonas was responsible for possession with the

intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. Bonas’s ninety-seven month sentence was

reasonable and there was no clear error in the district court’s denial of his request for a minimal role

reduction. Thus, Bonas’s conviction and sentences are AFFIRMED.

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United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

B. David Carter

       Carter’s appeal is predicated upon his belief that his convictions for aiding and abetting the

possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in connection with

drug trafficking were against the great weight of the evidence. Carter also asserts that the sentences

he received were unreasonable. Carter contends that the district court failed to address the 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a) factors, that the court erred in not granting him a reduction below the mandatory minimum

pursuant to the Sentencing Guidelines safety valve provision, and that the court erred by refusing to

grant him a sentence reduction as a minimal or minor participant or to depart below the Sentencing

Guidelines based on aberrant behavior.

       1. Sufficiency of the Evidence

       We review de novo Carter’s claim that there was insufficient evidence to sustain his

possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in connection with drug

trafficking offenses. United States v. Carson, 560 F.3d 566, 579 (6th Cir. 2009). Carter bears a

“heavy burden when making a sufficiency of the evidence challenge” since we must view “all

evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and determine[] whether there is any evidence

from which a reasonable jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. at 580 (quoting

United States v. Talley, 164 F.3d 989, 996 (6th Cir. 1999)). Regarding the possession of marijuana

with the intent to distribute offense, “[t]o establish a violation of § 841(a)(1), the government must

prove the following elements: ‘(1) knowing (2) possession of a controlled substance (3) with intent

to distribute.’” United States v. Mackey, 265 F.3d 457, 460 (6th Cir. 2001) (quoting United States

v. Christian, 786 F.2d 203, 210 (6th Cir. 1986)). To show a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2, Carter must

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have possessed “knowledge of the general scope and nature of the illegal [activity] and awareness

of the general facts concerning the venture.” United States v. Sliwo, 620 F.3d 630, 638 (6th Cir.

2010) (alteration in original) (citation omitted).     “Mere presence at the scene of the crime” is

insufficient to establish aiding and abetting; rather, to establish Carter’s guilt here, the Government

must have shown he “was a participant rather than merely a knowing spectator.” United States v.

Pena, 983 F.2d 71, 73 (6th Cir. 1993) (quoting United States v. Bryant, 461 F.2d 912, 921 (6th Cir.

1972); see also United States v. Morrison, 220 F. App’x 389, 398 (6th Cir. 2007) (finding

defendant’s mere knowledge of “some illegal activity” insufficient to support aiding and abetting

conviction (emphasis in original)).

        “Circumstantial evidence alone can be sufficient to sustain a conviction.” Mackey, 265 F.3d

at 460. Thus, the Government could substantiate the charged offense by showing that not only did

Carter know about the packages of marijuana (evidenced by his arrest at the back of the truck with

dozens of marijuana bales extremely close to him), but also that he specifically drove a truck to assist

in transporting the marijuana. As to the weapons possession offense, to establish a violation of 18

U.S.C. § 924(c), the government must show that during a drug trafficking crime, Carter carried a

firearm. Id. Carter has admitted to having the weapon in his waistband at the time of his arrest and

during his trip to the warehouse; thus, if there is sufficient evidence to substantiate his aiding and

abetting possession with intent to distribute marijuana offense, the firearm conviction must stand.

        In Pena, we reversed a defendant’s conviction for aiding and abetting possession with intent

to distribute cocaine. 983 F.2d at 71. The defendant was a sleeping passenger in a borrowed car

which was stopped by police officers for a speeding violation. Police officers performed a consent

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search of the car and discovered fifteen packages amounting to seventeen kilograms of cocaine. The

defendant denied knowing what was in the car but stated that she “felt there was probably something

illegal going on.” Id. at 72. Finding that prosecutors adduced no additional information to support

that the defendant knew more about the nature of the illegality and instead relied upon “[g]uilt by

association,” we reversed the defendant’s conviction. Id. at 73.

       Here, the jury was presented with sufficient, circumstantial evidence to support Carter’s

conviction, markedly different from Pena. See also Sliwo, 620 F.3d at 635 (vacating conviction for

aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute marijuana where the defendant served only

as a lookout and procured an empty van). Carter was twice-present at the scene, before and during

the drug raid. Driving with another member of the conspiracy, he backed his truck up and the co-

defendants loaded bales of marijuana into it. Carter was arrested in the back of the cargo van where

bales of marijuana were present. The jury weighed Carter’s own testimony that he was simply an

innocent individual picking up a shipment for his moving company with the testimony of multiple

federal agents, which indicated that a huge drug shipment had been planned and was being executed,

that the marijuana was packed in clear bales and exuded a pungent aroma, and that Carter wore

gloves just like his co-defendants at the time of his arrest. One agent did testify that he did not see

Carter wearing gloves. Carter contends that because the raid occurred at the same time he went to

the back of the cargo van, he had insufficient time to leave the scene. Here, a reasonable juror could

find that an innocent person would not stay in the back of the cargo van—even if only for a few

minutes—while it was clearly being loaded with marijuana. Such a finding is a particularly

reasonable inference when the same individual possessed a handgun and was wearing gloves like

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the other defendants. Furthermore, it would be quite reasonable for a juror to conclude that it would

be highly unlikely for drug dealers to hire a legitimate moving company to move millions of dollars

of marijuana that had a pungent odor and was wrapped in clear plastic. Upon review of the record,

we find that a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crimes — aiding

and abetting possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm during that

criminal offense — proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, Carter’s convictions are

AFFIRMED.

       2. Sentence Reasonableness

       Carter was sentenced to consecutive terms of imprisonment of one hundred twenty months

for aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and sixty months for

possession of a firearm during that drug trafficking offense. Carter asserts that the district court

failed to review the § 3553(a) sentencing factors or make an individualized assessment of him based

upon all the facts presented.

               a. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) Factors

       A district court need not explicitly refer to the § 3553(a) factors at sentencing, but the court’s

sentence must be explained and allow for meaningful appellate review. United States v. McClellan,

164 F.3d 308, 310 (6th Cir. 1999); see Gall, 552 U.S. at 50. Here, the district court explicitly stated

that the applicable mandatory minimums applied and Carter’s sentence was guided by statute, not

the Sentencing Guidelines. United States v. Franklin, 499 F.3d 578, 585 (6th Cir. 2007) (stating

that “§ 3553(a) factors do not apply to congressionally mandated sentences”). It appears that Carter

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merely disagrees with the district court’s sentence. However, the sentence was reasonable and the

district court’s failure to mechanically state the § 3553(a) factors was inconsequential.

                b. Downward Sentencing Departures

        Carter asserts that his sentence was unreasonable since he was not granted U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2

safety valve relief, U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 role reduction, or U.S.S.G. § 5K2.20 aberrant behavior

downward departures, each of which he contends were applicable and would have reduced his

sentence. Section 5C1.2 safety valve relief mandates that the district court find that a defendant was

truthful, provided all useful information to the Government and did not commit the instant offense

while possessing a gun. U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(2), (a)(5) (emphasis added). Given the jury’s

conviction of Carter for the aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute offense, it was

not clear error for the court to find that Carter was less than truthful in providing all information to

the Government, since he claimed he had none. Further, since Carter was found guilty of possession

of a firearm while drug trafficking, he plainly did not qualify for safety valve relief. Notwithstanding

Carter’s belief that he should have qualified for a reduction based upon a minimal or minor role, the

district also did not err as to its denial since Carter’s truck provided the means of loading over one

ton of marijuana. See generally Salas, 455 F.3d at 644 (applying clear error standard and affirming

a district court’s denial of minor role sentence adjustment where the defendant played “indispensable

role” in drug operation).

        Section 5K2.20 permits a district court to pronounce a sentence below the applicable

Guidelines range in extraordinary cases where a defendant’s criminal offense constituted aberrant

behavior. U.S.S.G. § 5K2.20(a). Denial of a discretionary downward departure is appealable “only

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Nos. 09-1390/1435/1906
United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

if the district court mistakenly believed that it did not have the authority to downwardly depart.”

United States v. Christopher, 91 F. App’x 471, 474 (6th Cir. 2004). “‘Aberrant behavior’ means a

single criminal occurrence or single criminal transaction that (A) was committed without significant

planning; (B) was of limited duration; and (C) represents a marked deviation by the defendant from

an otherwise law-abiding life.” United States v. Carson, 560 F.3d 566, 589 (6th Cir. 2009) (quoting

U.S.S.G. § 5K2.20 cmt. n.1 (2001)). Unfortunately for Carter, § 5K2.20 does not apply to serious

drug offenses. U.S.S.G. § 5K2.20(c)(3) and cmt. n.1.            Therefore, Carter’s sentences are

AFFIRMED.

C. Cordell Sain

       Sain appeals, contending that the district court erred by failing to exclude evidence of his

post-indictment conviction for possession with intent to distribute 14.8 grams of marijuana and

status as a felon in possession of a firearm, where the court made its evidentiary ruling contingent

on whether or not Sain raised a “mere presence defense.” Sain also asserts that the Eighth

Amendment’s requirement of comparative proportionality in sentencing precludes the two hundred

forty month sentence of imprisonment that he received since other, purportedly more culpable co-

conspirators received much lesser prison sentences, including the supposed mastermind, Costica

Bonas, who received ninety-seven months’ imprisonment.

       1. Contingent Evidentiary Ruling

       An evidentiary ruling pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.

United States v. Allen, 619 F.3d 518, 523 (6th Cir. 2010).

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Nos. 09-1390/1435/1906
United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

        Prior to admitting Rule 404(b) evidence, the district court must: (1) make a
        preliminary finding as to whether sufficient evidence exists that the prior act
        occurred; (2) determine whether the other act is admissible for one of the proper
        purposes outlined in Rule 404(b); and (3) apply Rule 403 balancing to determine
        whether the evidence’s probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of
        unfair prejudice or other concerns embodied in Rule 403.

Id. (citation omitted).

        Where a district court erroneously admits evidence of “other acts,” the judgment must be

reversed unless the court “can say, with fair assurance, after pondering all that happened without

stripping the erroneous action from the whole, that the judgment was not substantially swayed by

the error.” United States v. Haywood, 280 F.3d 715,724 (6th Cir. 2002) (quoting Kotteakos v.

United States, 328 U.S. 750, 765 (1946)) (internal quotation marks omitted).

        The Government contends that the district court did not enter a definitive ruling on

admissibility since the district court’s order stated that Sain’s post-indictment conviction for drug

possession might be admissible, pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 404(b), if Sain utilized a “mere presence

defense” at which time the district court would then consider the admissibility of the conviction. R.

217 at 22-25. Rule 404(b) provides that “[e]vidence of other crimes [. . .] is not admissible to prove

the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be

admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan,

knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.” Fed. R. Evid. 404(b). Even if, as Sain

argues, it would have been error for the district court to admit such evidence, that error was never

actually committed. The district court never categorically stated that the post-indictment conviction

would be admitted, nor did the district court allow introduction of Sain’s post-indictment conviction

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Nos. 09-1390/1435/1906
United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

during trial. Therefore, the issue is not properly before this court since the district court did not issue

a definite ruling on the introduction of the evidence. Accordingly, Sain’s appeal of the evidentiary

issue is DISMISSED.

        2. Sentence Reasonableness and Proportionality

        Sain further asserts that his sentence amounts to an Eighth Amendment violation for cruel

and unusual punishment based upon a gross lack of proportionality to his co-defendants. “A

constitutional challenge to a sentence is a question of law and reviewed de novo.” United States v.

Jones, 569 F.3d 569, 573 (6th Cir. 2009) (quotation marks and additional citation omitted).

        The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on the infliction of “cruel and unusual punishment”

also forbids an extreme sentence which is “‘grossly disproportionate to the crime’ at issue.” United

States v. Sutton, 406 F. App’x 955, 959 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting United States v. Flowal, 163 F.3d

956, 963 (6th Cir. 1998)). Sain contends that the sentences he received in comparison to his co-

conspirators are grossly disproportionate, such that his constitutional rights were violated. Since

Sain’s sentence is reasonable it certainly does not violate the Eighth Amendment. Simply put, as

detailed by the Presentence Investigation Report, Defendant Sain earned his status as a career

offender through the fifteen years of mayhem he committed, including multiple assaults with and

without weapons, and domestic abuse. Some co-defendants pled guilty and received lesser

sentences. Sain exercised his right to trial with the pre-trial knowledge that the Government filed

a sentence enhancement. See 21 U.S.C. § 851 (mandating 20 year sentence of imprisonment where

defendant convicted given prior felony drug conviction). No other co-conspirator was a career

offender.    Sain’s career offender status resulted in his automatic Sentencing Guidelines

                                                    20
Nos. 09-1390/1435/1906
United States v. Costica Lucian Bonas; David Andrew Carter; and Cordell Sain

categorization in Criminal History Category VI, yet the district court still reduced Sain’s sentence

to the statutorily mandated minimum of 240 months, below the Guidelines range of 360 months’ to

life imprisonment. Further, Sain’s 240 month sentence was also ordered run concurrent with his 168

month sentence for drug trafficking. See generally United States v. Watford, 468 F.3d 891, 915-16

(6th Cir. 2006) (discussing district court’s authority to run sentences “concurrently, partially

concurrently, or consecutively . . . to achieve a reasonable punishment”). Sain received the 168

month sentence while he was on bond in the instant action. Upon review of the circumstances, we

find the district court’s sentence for his instant offenses reasonable. Sain’s conviction and sentence

should be AFFIRMED.

                                       III. CONCLUSION

       Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, the conviction and sentence of Defendant Bonas are

AFFIRMED. Defendant Carter’s conviction and sentence are AFFIRMED. Defendant Sain’s

appeal is DISMISSED-in-part as moot as to the trial evidentiary issue of the admissibility of a post-

indictment conviction since no final ruling was entered by the district court. Thus, Defendant Sain’s

conviction and sentence are AFFIRMED.

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