Court Opinion

ID: 50048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 00:43:47+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:45.119436
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                    FILED
                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                        ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                             AUG 3, 2006
                              No. 05-16270                 THOMAS K. KAHN
                          Non-Argument Calendar                CLERK
                        ________________________

                D. C. Docket No. 04-00049-CR-FTM-29-SPC

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

EDWIN M. MACK,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Middle District of Florida
                      _________________________

                              (August 3, 2006)

Before CARNES, PRYOR and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Edwin Mack appeals his convictions and sentences for multiple drug and
firearms offenses in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g),

and 26 U.S.C. § 5861. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm.

         I. Background

         Mack was indicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack

cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Count 1); distribution of crack cocaine, in

violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (Counts 2 and 3);1 possession with intent to distribute

50 grams or more of crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (Count 4);

possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)

(Count 5); and possession of an unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C.

§ 5861 (Count 6). The government indicated that it intended to seek enhanced

penalties, including mandatory life imprisonment on Count 4, under 21 U.S.C.

§ 851.

         Mack originally pleaded guilty to all counts without a written plea

agreement, but when he realized he faced a mandatory term of life imprisonment,

he moved to withdraw his plea. Although the court had questioned Mack

extensively during the plea colloquy and had explained the possible penalties, after

a hearing on the motion, the court granted Mack’s motion to withdraw the plea.

Prior to trial, the court determined that it would conduct a bifurcated trial,

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             Counts 1 and 2 also named Mack’s co-conspirator, John Howard.

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separating Count 5 because it required proof that Mack had prior felony

convictions.

      The evidence at trial established the following facts: Fort Myers Police

Officer Richard Davis, acting as a drug buyer, approached Mack at Mack’s home

to purchase crack cocaine. Mack was hesitant to make a deal, but agreed after co-

conspirator John Howard arrived and confirmed that he did not think Davis was

police. Mack gave two pieces of crack to Howard, who then gave the drugs to

Davis in exchange for $40. Davis later engaged in another, similar sale with Mack.

Field tests confirmed that the pieces were crack. Following the buys, police

obtained and executed a search warrant, at which time they found a shotgun in

Mack’s house, the money Davis used in the undercover buys, and drugs in a jacket

in the trunk of Mack’s car. DEA forensic chemists confirmed that the amount of

crack found exceeded 81 grams. An ATF Agent confirmed that the firearm was

manufactured in Massachusetts. In a subsequent interview, Mack admitted that he

kept a shotgun in the house for protection and that he had crack cocaine for

personal use, but he denied selling drugs.

      During its case-in-chief, the government notified the court that it wished to

call Vincent Doyle, a witness for the defense, to testify about a traffic stop

involving Howard and Mack that resulted in Howard’s arrest on drug charges

                                             3
unrelated to the instant charges. Mack did not object. The court indicated that it

normally would not allow such testimony because it did not relate to the instant

charges, but after defense counsel stated that he wanted the testimony to come in,

the court allowed the testimony. Doyle then testified that he had arrested Howard

on drug charges during a routine traffic stop. Mack was a passenger in the car, but

police did not find any drugs on him. The court instructed the jury that the crack

found on Howard was not part of the conspiracy.

      After the government rested its case-in-chief, Mack moved for judgment of

acquittal, challenging the chain of evidence and whether the government had

established that Mack knew the shotgun had to be registered. The court denied the

motion. Defense counsel called one witness, and Mack did not testify. The

government had no rebuttal witnesses, and Mack renewed his motion for judgment

of acquittal, which the court again denied. The jury convicted Mack on Counts 1-4

and 6, specifically concluding that the amount of drugs exceeded 50 grams.

      The court then proceeded on Count 5. The government proffered evidence

that Mack had been convicted of sale of cocaine and that his rights had been

restored, except for the right to possess a firearm. The government also re-

submitted Mack’s statement, in which Mack admitted that he was a convicted

felon. Although defense counsel objected to the tape, the court permitted it into

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evidence. The jury convicted Mack on Count 5.

      The probation officer prepared a presentence investigation report (“PSI”),

grouping the offenses together under U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2(c) and (d) and assigning a

base offense level of 32 based on the amount of drugs. This level was increased by

2 for possession of a firearm, § 2D1.1(b)(1), and by 2 for role in the offense,

§ 3B1.1(c), resulting in a total offense level of 36. Mack, however, qualified as a

career offender under § 4B1.1; therefore, his offense level was raised to 37. The

probation officer then listed the prior convictions, including several prior drug

convictions, resulting in a criminal history category IV. Because Mack was a

career offender, the criminal history category was raised to VI.

      The probation officer noted that the government had filed for an

enhancement under 21 U.S.C. § 851. As a result, Mack faced a statutory

mandatory term of life imprisonment on Count 4. Under the sentencing guidelines,

Mack faced a range of 360 months to life imprisonment, but that range became life

under U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(c)(2) due to the statutory life term on Count 4. Mack

made no objections to the PSI.

      At sentencing, Mack made no objections to the PSI, but moved for a

downward departure based on his age and health. Mack refused to admit or deny

his prior convictions. The court denied the downward departure, finding no basis

                                           5
for it under the facts, and noting that it had no discretion because Count 4 carried a

mandatory life sentence. The court adopted the PSI and, after considering the

sentencing factors of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), sentenced Mack to 360 months on

Counts 1 through 3, 120 months on Counts 5 and 6, and a mandatory life

imprisonment on Count 4, all to run concurrently. Mack made no objections to the

sentence. He now appeals.

      II. The Appeal

      On Appeal, Mack challenges: (1) whether the court had jurisdiction over the

offenses; (2) whether the court properly admitted Doyle’s testimony; and

(3) whether his sentence was improper because (a) it was based on crack cocaine

rather than powder cocaine, and (b) it amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.

             1. Jurisdiction

      Mack first argues that the federal court lacked jurisdiction over his offenses

because the federal authorities were never involved in his case, and his offenses

should have been prosecuted in state court. He notes that the amount of drugs was

small and the firearm had no nexus to interstate commerce. He further challenges

jurisdiction over the firearm offense as an invalid exercise of Congress’s

Commerce Clause power.

      Mack did not move to dismiss the indictment, and his motions for judgment

                                           6
of acquittal did not challenge the court’s jurisdiction. Nevertheless, because

subject-matter jurisdiction cannot be waived, we review the issue de novo. United

States v. Giraldo-Prado, 150 F.3d 1328, 1329 (11th Cir. 1998).

       In this case, there was no error, as the court retained jurisdiction over the

offenses. First, the district court’s jurisdiction is controlled by 18 U.S.C. § 3231,

conferring jurisdiction over “offenses against the laws of the United States.” 18

U.S.C. § 3231. As the offenses for which Mack was charged are offenses against

the United States, see 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846, and 26

U.S.C. § 5681, the court had jurisdiction over the case.

       Moreover, this court repeatedly has upheld the constitutionality of both

§ 841 and § 922(g). See United States v. Wright, 392 F.3d 1269, 1280 (11th Cir.

2004), cert. denied, 125 S.Ct. 1751 (2005) (upholding § 922(g)); United States v.

Osburn, 955 F.2d 1500, 1502 (11th Cir. 1992) (§ 841); United States v. Collier,

478 F.2d 268, 272-73 (5th Cir. 1973) 2 (same). We are bound by the decision of

prior panels, and “only the Supreme Court or this Court sitting en banc can

judicially overrule a prior panel decision.” Wright, 392 F.3d at 1280 (quoting

United States v. Marte, 356 F.3d 1336, 1344 (11th Cir. 2004)).

       2
         In Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1207 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc), this court
held that all decisions handed down by the old Fifth Circuit before the close of business on
September 30, 1981, are binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit.

                                                7
         Finally, there is no merit to Mack’s claim that § 922(g) is unconstitutional as

applied. All the statute requires is that the government prove some “minimal

nexus” to interstate commerce. United States v. Scott, 263 F.3d 1270, 1274 (11th

Cir. 2001); United States v. Dupree, 258 F.3d 1258, 1260 (11th Cir. 2001). Here,

the testimony at trial established that the firearm was manufactured in

Massachusetts and found in Florida. This testimony was sufficient to establish the

nexus.

               2. Doyle’s Testimony

         Mack next argues that the court erred by admitting Doyle’s testimony

because it was highly prejudicial.

         “The doctrine of invited error is implicated when a party induces or invites

the district court into making an error.” United States v. Harris, 443 F.3d 822, 823

(11th Cir. 2006) (quoting United States v. Stone, 139 F.3d 822, 838 (11th Cir.

1998)). Under such circumstances, this court is “precluded from reviewing that

error on appeal.” Harris, 443 F.3d at 823-24.

         Here, Mack does not dispute that counsel invited the error when he informed

the court that he wanted Doyle’s testimony admitted. Thus, there was no error, and

we do not review the issue. See also United States v. Jernigan, 341 F.3d 1273,

1289-90 (11th Cir. 2003) (finding that defendant whose counsel had affirmatively

                                             8
stipulated to the playing of a tape-recorded statement had invited any error

resulting from the jury’s hearing the tape, and thus that any potential error was not

reversible).

               3. Sentence

               A. Crack Cocaine

      In this third argument, Mack asserts that his sentence should have been

calculated based on powder cocaine rather than crack because the government

failed to establish that the drugs involved were crack.

      Because Mack did not object to the sentencing calculations, we review for

plain error. United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir.), cert.

denied, 125 S.Ct. 2935 (2005).

      Under the guidelines, cocaine base refers to crack, which is “the street name

for a form of cocaine base, usually prepared by processing cocaine hydrochloride

and sodium bicarbonate, and usually appearing in a lumpy, rocklike form.” United

States v. Munoz-Realpe, 21 F.3d 375, 377-78 (11th Cir. 1994). The evidence at

trial established that the drugs found involved crack cocaine.

      Moreover, as the government notes, Mack did not object to the PSI’s factual

findings that the offense involved crack. Therefore, the facts are deemed admitted.

United States v. Burge, 407 F.3d 1183, 1191 (11th Cir. 2005). Accordingly, there

                                          9
was no error, plain or otherwise, in the court’s sentencing calculations.

             B. Cruel and Unusual Punishment

      Because Mack failed to raise any objections to his sentences, review is for

plain error. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1298.

      “The Eighth Amendment, which forbids cruel and unusual punishments,

contains a narrow proportionality principle that applies to noncapital sentences.”

United States v. Moriarty, 429 F.3d 1012, 1024 (11th Cir. 2005) (quoting Ewing v.

California, 538 U.S. 11, 20, 123 S.Ct. 1179, 1185, 155 L.Ed.2d 108 (2003)

(internal quotes omitted)). “The Supreme Court has made it clear that ‘[o]utside the

context of capital punishment, successful challenges to the proportionality of

sentences [are] exceedingly rare.’” United States v. Raad, 406 F.3d 1322, 1323

(11th Cir.) (quoting Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 289-90, 103 S.Ct. 3001, 3009,

77 L.Ed.2d 637 (1983)) (emphasis and alterations in original), cert. denied, 126

S.Ct. 196 (2005).

      On Eighth Amendment challenges,

      a reviewing court must make a threshold determination that the
      sentence imposed is grossly disproportionate to the offense committed
      and, if it is grossly disproportionate, the court must then consider the
      sentences imposed on others convicted in the same jurisdiction and
      the sentences imposed for commission of the same crime in other
      jurisdictions.

                                          10
Id. (quoting United States v. Reynolds, 215 F.3d 1210, 1214 (11th Cir. 2000)). “In

general, a sentence within the limits imposed by statute is neither excessive nor

cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment.” Moriarty, 429 F.3d at 1024

(quoting United States v. Delacruz-Soto, 414 F.3d 1158, 1168 (10th Cir. 2005)).

      Here, the sentence was dictated by the statutory mandatory sentencing

provision. Mack has offered nothing to show that his sentence constitutes cruel

and unusual punishment. See United States v. Dowd, 2006 WL 1594190, at *11-12

(11th Cir. June 13, 2006) (concluding that 305-month sentence was reasonable

even in light of defendant’s age (65) because defendant had nine prior convictions

and had committed a violent felony at his age); see also United States v. Hanna,

153 F.3d 1286, 1288 (11th Cir. 1998) (upholding harsher sentence for crack

cocaine because “imposing longer sentences on crack cocaine offenders is

rationally related to the legitimate purpose of distinguishing between

distinguishable drugs. . . Congress distinguished between the kinds of cocaine, not

to discriminate against people, but because crack cocaine is more dangerous, more

highly addictive, more easily available, and less expensive than powder cocaine.”);

United States v. Vasquez, 121 F.3d 622, 623 (11th Cir. 1997) (upholding harsher

sentence for crack because crack was more dangerous than other forms of cocaine

and warranted a higher penalty).

                                          11
      Additionally, this court has rejected challenges to the disparity between

sentences for crack and powder cocaine, concluding that “there are numerous

legitimate and non race-related reasons why Congress may have included the

distinction between cocaine base and cocaine powder, and it is not for the courts to

interfere in that determination.” United States v. Matthews, 126 F.3d 1234, 1251

(11th Cir. 1999). Therefore, Mack cannot show that his sentence amounts to cruel

and unusual punishment.

      III. Conclusion

      For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM Mack’s convictions and sentences.

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