Court Opinion

ID: 3063115
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 20:56:26.25239+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:49:36.036249
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                  FILED
                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUITU.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                       ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                               MAR 12, 2010
                             No. 09-13917                       JOHN LEY
                         Non-Argument Calendar                    CLERK
                       ________________________

               D. C. Docket No. 08-00228-CR-ORL-22-KRS

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

JOSE ROSARIO-OQUENDO,
a.k.a. Cheko,

                                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

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

                             (March 12, 2010)

Before BLACK, PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Jose Rosario-Oquendo, through counsel, appeals his 300-month sentence for

conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Rosario-Oquendo argues that the district court erred (1) in applying a 4-level role

enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a), and (2) in holding him accountable for

more than 150 kilograms of cocaine. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

                                          I.

      Rosario-Oquendo pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to

distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(ii), and 846. A notice filed by the government set forth

the following facts. In June 2007, federal and local law enforcement agents

discovered that a specific drug-trafficking organization was mailing cocaine almost

every week from Puerto Rico to Orlando. In the fall of 2006, Miguel Antonio

Montes took charge of the organization’s Orlando operations. The notice stated

that Rosario-Oquendo

         worked directly with the drug trafficking organization in Puerto
         Rico.     During telephone conversations with Montes,
         [Rosario-Oquendo] arranged for the distribution of cocaine
         from Puerto Rico to Orlando; he delivered cocaine to associates
         in Puerto Rico for packaging and mailing to Orlando, Florida;
         and he received drug proceeds from couriers sent by Montes in
         Orlando, including, but not limited to, indicted co-conspirators
         Ricardo Perlaza, Feliz Hernandez, Jorge Cortijo, Luis Cruz, Iris
         Pacheco, Ida Acevedo and Loanna Cortijo.

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      The government also submitted transcripts of four intercepted telephone

conversations between Montes and Rosario-Oquendo.

      At the plea hearing, Rosario-Oquendo admitted that the conspiracy involved

5 kilograms or more of cocaine, but disputed the government’s contention that the

conspiracy involved more than 150 kilograms of cocaine. The magistrate judge

found that there was a sufficient factual basis for Rosario-Oquendo’s guilty plea,

and the district court subsequently adjudicated Rosario-Oquendo guilty.

      The PSI set Rosaro-Oquendo’s base offense level at 38, pursuant to U.S.S.G.

§ 2D1.1(c)(1), because his offense involved more than 150 kilograms of cocaine.

Rosario-Oquendo received a four-level increase, pursuant to § 3B1.1(a), because

he was an organizer or leader of the offense, which involved five or more

participants or was otherwise extensive. He received a 3-level reduction, under

§ 3E1.1(a) and (b), for acceptance of responsibility, resulting in a total offense

level of 39. Rosario-Oquendo’s total offense level of 39 combined with his

criminal history category of II yielded a guideline imprisonment range of 292 to

365 months.

      Rosario-Oquendo objected to the drug amount set forth in the PSI, arguing

that he should be held accountable for at least 5, but less than 15, kilograms of

cocaine, rather than 150 kilograms or more of cocaine. He also objected to the

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application of the four-level § 3B1.1(a) enhancement for his role in the offense,

arguing that he was not an organizer or leader.

      At the sentencing hearing, Ray Schulte, an officer with the Orange County

Sheriff’s Office, testified that Montes told him that Rosario-Oquendo initially

shipped to Montes smaller quantities of 4 kilograms of cocaine, but eventually

shipped up to 50 kilograms of cocaine per week in April and May 2007. Schulte

noted that Montes and Rosario-Oquendo were engaged in transactions with one

another from approximately September 2006 through June 2007. Referring to the

transcript of a May 30, 2007 telephone conversation, Schulte testified that

Rosario-Oquendo told Montes that he was planning to ship 10 kilograms daily, for

a total of 40 to 50 kilograms of cocaine per week. Based on Schulte’s

investigation, these amounts were consistent with the amounts of cocaine that

actually were shipped. Schulte noted that, during an intercepted conversation on

June 1, 2007, Rosario-Oquendo stated that “[t]here are 60 Chanels,” meaning that

Rosario-Oquendo had 60 kilograms of cocaine bearing the Chanel label.

      Schulte testified that Montes paid for his cocaine by sending couriers with

money to Puerto Rico. These couriers included Ricardo Perlaza, Felix Hernandez,

Luis Gonzalez, Aida Acevedo, Jorge Cortijo, and Luana Cortijo. Schulte stated

that these couriers told him that Rosario-Oquendo would meet them at the airport

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in Puerto Rico and give them directions while they were there. Schulte also

testified that Rosario-Oquendo himself did not package and mail the cocaine, but

that other people did this under Rosario-Oquendo’s direction. Schulte noted that,

during one telephone conversation with Montes, Rosario-Oquendo discussed

sending Luis Cruz, a money courier known as “the old guy,” to Boston.

      Rosario-Oquendo argued that the court should not consider Schulte’s

testimony because it could not reasonably be assured that the information he

provided was accurate. Rosario-Oquendo also argued that there was insufficient

evidence to determine that he was a leader or organizer, and that he should be held

accountable for less than 15 kilograms of cocaine.

      The government responded that it was apparent from the transcripts of

telephone conversations that Rosario-Oquendo was supplying Montes with large

quantities of cocaine, as Rosario-Oquendo at once said that he was able “to move

ten a day, 40 to 50 per week” and acknowledged that “he had then available 60

kilos that he had just washed.” The government also noted that Rosario-Oquendo

directed the activities of seven money couriers who traveled to Puerto Rico, as well

as the activities of Cruz, whom he sent to Boston.

The court stated that it had heard Montes testify in other proceedings and it did not

“have any reason to believe that what [Montes] had said to Mr. Schulte and what is

                                          5
included in the transcripts that [the government] referred to is untrue.”

       The court overruled Rosario-Oquendo’s objections to the PSI’s factual

statements and guideline calculations. It found that Rosario-Oquendo had a total

offense level of 39, a criminal history category of II, and a guideline imprisonment

range of 292 to 365 months. It sentenced Rosario-Oquendo to 300 months’

imprisonment, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release.

                                            II.

       “A district court’s enhancement of a defendant’s offense level based on his

role as an organizer or leader is a finding of fact reviewed for clear error.” United

States v. Rendon, 354 F.3d 1320, 1331 (11th Cir. 2003). “The government bears

the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant had an

aggravating role in the offense.” United States v. Yeager, 331 F.3d 1216, 1226

(11th Cir. 2003). We also review for clear error the district court’s factual

determination of the drug quantity for which the defendant is accountable. United

States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1296 (11th Cir. 2005).

       The Federal Rules of Evidence do not apply at sentencing.

Fed.R.Evid. 1101(d)(3). Thus, hearsay may be admitted at sentencing if there are

“sufficient indicia of reliability, the [district] court makes explicit findings of fact

as to credibility, and the defendant has an opportunity to rebut the evidence.”

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United States v. Zlatogur, 271 F.3d 1025, 1031 (11th Cir. 2001) (quotations

omitted). “[T]he focus is upon the question of [the hearsay’s] reliability, which

must be determined on a case by case basis.” United States v. Lee, 68 F.3d 1267,

1275 (11th Cir. 1995).

      The Sentencing Guidelines provide that a four-level enhancement may be

applied if “the defendant was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that

involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive.” U.S.S.G.

§ 3B1.1(a). In determining whether a § 3B1.1(a) enhancement applies, the district

court should consider:

          (1) exercise of decision-making authority,        (2) nature of
          participation in the commission of the offense, (3) recruitment
          of accomplices, (4) claimed right to a larger share of the fruits
          of the crime, (5) degree of participation in planning or
          organizing the offense, (6) nature and scope of the illegal
          activity, and (7) degree of control and authority exercised over
          others.

Rendon, 354 F.3d at 1331-32 (quotation omitted); U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1, comment.

(n.4). “There is no requirement that all the considerations have to be present in any

one case.” United States v. Ramirez, 426 F.3d 1344, 1356 (11th Cir. 2005).

However, “[s]ection 3B1.1 requires the exercise of some authority in the

organization, the exertion of some degree of control, influence, or leadership.”

United States v. Gupta, 463 F.3d 1182, 1198 (11th Cir. 2006). “Thus, for example,

                                          7
a defendant’s management of assets, standing alone, is insufficient to support an

enhancement under Section 3B1.1.” United States v. Martinez, 584 F.3d 1022,

1026 (11th Cir. 2009). More than one person can qualify as a “leader” or

“organizer” of a criminal conspiracy for purposes of receiving the role

enhancement. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1, comment. (n.4).

      The government “must establish the quantity of drugs by the preponderance

of the evidence.” United States v. Ismond, 993 F.2d 1498, 1499 (11th Cir. 1993).

When a conviction stems from a conspiracy charge, the defendant is responsible

for the amount of drugs in all reasonably foreseeable acts done in furtherance of

the conspiracy. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B). Even if the district court does not

make individualized findings, a defendant’s sentence may be upheld if the record

supports the amount of drugs attributed to the defendant. Ismond, 993 F.2d

at 1499. Base offense level 32 applies to drug offenses involving at least 5, but

less than 15, kilograms of cocaine. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(4). Base offense level 38

applies to drug offenses involving 150 kilograms or more of cocaine.

Id. § 2D1.1(c)(1).

                                         III.

      As an initial matter, Rosario-Oquendo argues that the district court should

not have considered Schulte’s hearsay testimony about Montes’s prior statements.

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It should be noted that much of Schulte’s testimony was simply his interpretation

of telephone conversation transcripts or his own opinions based on his

investigation, rather than testimony about what Montes had told him. Thus, this

testimony did not constitute hearsay. See Fed.R.Evid. 801(c) (defining hearsay as

“a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or

hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted”). Although

Schulte’s testimony regarding Montes’s statements constituted hearsay, Schulte’s

testimony showed “sufficient indicia of reliability” and was properly admitted.

See Zlatogur, 271 F.3d at 1031. Much of Schulte’s testimony, including his

testimony about Montes’s statements, was supported by the transcripts of the

telephone conversations between Montes and Rosario-Oquendo, and the district

court specifically noted that it had heard Montes testify in other related cases and

found no reason to disbelieve what he told Schulte. Under these circumstances, the

district court did not err in admitting and considering Schulte’s testimony.

      Role Enhancement

      The facts culled from the plea hearing and the evidence presented at

sentencing provide an adequate factual basis for the four-level role enhancement.

The government’s notice of the factual basis for the plea stated that

Rosario-Oquendo arranged for the distribution of narcotics from Puerto Rico to

                                           9
Orlando, delivered cocaine to associates in Puerto Rico for packaging and mailing

to Orlando, and received proceeds from couriers sent by Montes.

Rosario-Oquendo stated at the plea hearing that the factual basis accurately

described his role in the offense.

      At the sentencing hearing, Schulte stated that Montes’s couriers acted under

Rosario-Oquendo’s direction while in Puerto Rico. He identified six individuals

who acted as couriers—Perlaza, Hernandez, Gonzalez, Acevedo, Jorge Cortijo, and

Luana Cortijo. Furthermore, Schulte stated that an unspecified number of

individuals packaged and mailed cocaine under Rosario-Oquendo’s direction.

Schulte also testified that Rosario-Oquendo directed Cruz, known as “the old guy,”

to travel to Boston in connection with the conspiracy. This testimony was directly

supported by transcripts of telephone conversations, in which Montes asked about

“the old guy” and Rosario-Oquendo responded that he sometimes sent him “over

there to Massachusetts and stuff.” Thus, the evidence presented at sentencing

established that Rosario-Oquendo exerted “some degree of control, influence, or

leadership” over at least seven individuals—the six named couriers and Cruz—in

addition to unnamed individuals who packaged and mailed cocaine under

Rosario-Oquendo’s direction. See Gupta, 463 F.3d at 1198; cf. United States v.

Yates, 990 F.2d 1179, 1182 (11th Cir. 1993) (holding that the district court erred in

                                          10
applying the four-level role enhancement where there was no evidence to establish

that the defendant was more than a mere seller of narcotics). Accordingly, the

district court did not clearly err in applying the four-level § 3B1.1(a) enhancement.

See Rendon, 354 F.3d at 1331.

      Drug Quantity

      The evidence established that Rosario-Oquendo was responsible for more

than 150 kilograms of cocaine. Schulte testified at the sentencing hearing that

Rosario-Oquendo began supplying Montes with smaller quantities of cocaine in

September 2006, although he eventually was shipping up to 50 kilograms of

cocaine per week in April and May 2007. As noted above, the district court

properly could consider Schulte’s testimony. Furthermore, Schulte’s testimony

was supported by a transcript of a telephone conversation between Montes and

Rosario-Oquendo, in which Rosario-Oquendo stated that he planned to ship “ten

daily” for a total of “40 or 50.” Schulte noted that, through his investigation, he

determined that these amounts were consistent with the amount of cocaine

Rosario-Oquendo actually shipped. Schulte also noted that Rosario-Oquendo

referenced, in a conversation with Montes, 60 kilograms of cocaine bearing the

“Chanel” label. The transcripts of telephone conversations between Montes and

Rosario-Oquendo verify that Rosario-Oquendo told Montes that “[t]here are 60

                                          11
Chanels.” Adding together the 60 kilograms of cocaine bearing the Chanel label

and the 40 to 50 kilograms of cocaine per week that Rosario-Oquendo shipped in

April and May 2007 results in a total drug quantity of over 150 kilograms.

Accordingly, based on Schulte’s testimony and the telephone transcripts, the

district court did not clearly err in holding Rosario-Oquendo accountable for more

than 150 kilograms of cocaine. See Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1296.

      Accordingly, based on our review of the record and consideration of the

parties’ briefs, we affirm Rosario-Oquendo’s 300-month sentence.

      AFFIRMED.

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