Court Opinion

ID: 3022872
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Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:27:51.295442+00
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Opinions of the United
2006 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

3-15-2006

USA v. Lee
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 04-3349

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                                                                NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                      No. 04-3349

                          UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                           v.

                                      AMEEN LEE
                                    a/k/a “MEENIE”

                                      Ameen Lee,
                                            Appellant

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                              (D.C. No. 02-cr-00172-13)
                      District Judge: Honorable Stewart Dalzell

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                   March 2, 2006

      Before: SLOVITER and FUENTES, Circuit Judges, and RESTANI,* Judge.

                                (Filed: March 15, 2006)

      *
        Honorable Jane A. Restani, Chief Judge of the United States Court of
International Trade, sitting by designation.

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                                _______________________

                                OPINION OF THE COURT
                                _______________________

FUENTES, Circuit Judge.

       Ameen Lee (“Lee”) appeals his conviction and sentence arising from a multi-

defendant drug conspiracy case. Lee argues that there is insufficient evidence to support

his conviction, and he challenges his sentence under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S.
220 (2005). For the reasons set forth below, we will affirm his conviction but vacate his

sentence and remand this matter for resentencing in accordance with Booker.

                                      I. Background

       As we write solely for the parties, our recitation of the facts will be limited to those

necessary to our determination. Lee, along with 36 co-defendants, was indicted for

participating in a massive cocaine and crack conspiracy that spanned Philadelphia,

western Pennsylvania, Delaware, and other locations. Lee was charged with, and

convicted of, the following: conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 846; possession of 4.34 grams of crack cocaine on February 2,

2001, with intent to deliver, and possession of that crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a

school, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 860; possession of 35.95 grams of crack

cocaine on March 29, 2001, with intent to deliver, and possession of that crack cocaine

within 1,000 feet of a school, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 860; and possession of

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a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).

Lee received a sentence of 195 months’ imprisonment.

                                       II. Discussion

       Lee challenges his conviction, arguing that the evidence presented at trial was

insufficient to establish: (1) that he intended to distribute the 4.34 grams of crack cocaine

found on his person on February 2, 2001; (2) that he possessed the 35.95 grams of crack

cocaine found in the house in which he resided along with at least five other people; and

(3) that he was a participant in a single, all-encompassing conspiracy to distribute crack

cocaine.

       In order to determine whether a conviction is supported by sufficient evidence,

“we must determine whether, viewing the evidence most favorably to the government,

there is substantial evidence to support the jury’s guilty verdict.” United States v.

Wexler, 838 F.2d 88, 90 (3d Cir. 1988) (citing Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80

(1942)). The “strict principles of deference to a jury’s findings” compel us “to draw all

reasonable inferences . . . in the government’s favor.” United States v. Ashfield, 735 F.2d
101, 106 (3d Cir. 1984). We must sustain the verdict if “any rational trier of fact could

have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States

v. Voigt, 89 F.3d 1050, 1080 (3d Cir. 1996) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

319 (1979)). A claim of insufficiency of the evidence therefore places “a very heavy

burden” on the appellant. United States v. Gonzalez, 918 F.2d 1129, 1132 (3d Cir. 1990)

                                              3
(citation omitted).

       Lee has not demonstrated that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to

support his conviction. The Government presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate

Lee’s intent to distribute the 4.34 grams of crack cocaine found on his person on February

2, 2001. When Lee was arrested that day, he was in possession of 30 packets of crack

cocaine packaged into $10 packets and stuffed into his waistband, as well as $746 in

United States currency. The crack cocaine packets were identical in appearance to those

which were found filled with crack at Lee’s home on March 29, 2001. Furthermore,

witnesses at Lee’s trial testified that Lee was, in fact, a seller of crack cocaine and

marijuana at that time at 56th and Catherine Streets, which is where Lee was arrested and

searched. Accordingly, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the

Government, we find that there is substantial evidence from which the jury could

conclude that Lee intended to distribute the crack cocaine found on his person on

February 2, 2001.

       Lee’s argument that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he possessed the

35.95 grams of crack cocaine found at 5541 Catherine Street on March 29, 2001 is also

without merit. Upon searching the residence at that address, law enforcement officials

recovered, among other things, over 35 grams of crack cocaine, packaging materials, a

scale, a loaded gun, and ammunition. Although Lee lived at the residence along with at

least five other people, there was no evidence that any of the other people were involved

                                               4
with the distribution of crack. In fact, in the drawer in the dining room in which law

enforcement officials found a clear plastic bag containing numerous packets of crack

cocaine, the loaded gun, and ammunition, the officers also recovered two photo

identification cards in the name of Ameen Lee. Thus, the jury’s guilty verdict was based

upon sufficient evidence.

       Lee next argues that there was insufficient evidence of his involvement in a single,

all-encompassing conspiracy. We disagree. At trial, the Government presented testimony

from law enforcement officials and co-conspirators, as well as physical and electronic

evidence, that supported its argument that Lee and his co-defendants engaged in a single,

cohesive conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine. Viewing this

evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, we find that there is substantial

evidence from which a jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Lee was engaged

in the conspiracy charged in the indictment.

       Finally, Lee argues that his sentence should be vacated and this matter should be

remanded for resentencing pursuant to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). It

is undisputed that the District Court, in determining Lee’s sentence, treated the

Sentencing Guidelines as mandatory rather than advisory. Lee is therefore entitled to

resentencing. See United States v. Davis, 407 F.3d 162, 165 (3d Cir. 2005) (en banc).

Accordingly, we will vacate Lee’s sentence and remand this matter for resentencing

consistent with Booker.

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                                    III. Conclusion

      For the reasons stated above, we will affirm Lee’s conviction, vacate his sentence,

and remand this matter for resentencing pursuant to Booker.

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