Court Opinion

ID: 3062913
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Date Created: 2015-10-14 20:54:28.059237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:04:06.731384
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[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                       ________________________           FILED
                                                U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                             No. 09-12241         ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                      APRIL 16, 2010
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                                                       JOHN LEY
                       ________________________
                                                         CLERK

                 D. C. Docket No. 08-00433-CR-T-27EAJ

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

DELORES VANILLA SHULER,
JOHN BAPTISTE PIERRE,

                                                        Defendants-Appellants.

                       ________________________

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

                              (April 16, 2010)

Before TJOFLAT, MARCUS and FAY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Delores Vanilla Shuler appeals from her conviction for possession of

cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844, and John Baptiste Pierre appeals from his

convictions and 130-month sentences for four counts of possession with intent to

distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, and one count of possession of a firearm

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

appeal, Shuler challenges only her conviction, arguing that the district court erred

in denying her motion for judgment of acquittal. Pierre, however, challenges both

his conviction and sentences, arguing that the district court: (1) erred in denying

his motion for judgment of acquittal; (2) erred in denying his motion to sever

counts; (3) abused its discretion when it refused to make the instruction for simple

possession applicable to Pierre for all five counts; and (4) clearly erredy when it

applied the obstruction-of-justice enhancement. After thorough review, we affirm.

                                          1.

      First, we reject the claims by Shuler and Pierre that the district court erred in

denying their motions for judgment of acquittal. We review de novo the district

court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal, “viewing the evidence in the

light most favorable to the government and drawing all reasonable inferences and

credibility choices in favor of the jury’s verdict.” United States v. Tampas, 493

F.3d 1291, 1297-98 (11th Cir. 2007) (quotation omitted).         “The jury is free to

                                          2
choose among alternative reasonable interpretations of the evidence . . . and the

government’s proof need not exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence.”

Id. at 1298 (citation and quotation omitted). We will affirm “if a reasonable juror

could have concluded that the evidence established [the defendant’s] guilt beyond

a reasonable doubt.” Id.

       Under the “waiver doctrine,” a defendant waives his objection to the denial

of his motion for judgment of acquittal made at the close of the Government’s

evidence if he presents evidence on his behalf following that denial. United States

v. White, 611 F.2d 531, 536 (5th Cir. 1980).1 “If a defendant renews his motion

for judgment of acquittal at the end of all the evidence, the ‘waiver doctrine’

requires the reviewing court to examine all the evidence rather than to restrict its

examination to the evidence presented in the Government’s case-in-chief.” Id.

       If a defendant chooses to testify on his own behalf, any statements he makes,

“if disbelieved by the jury, may be considered as substantive evidence of the

defendant’s guilt.”     United States v. Williams, 390 F.3d 1319, 1325 (11th Cir.

2004) (quotation omitted). Thus, the jury is entitled not only to disbelieve the

defendant’s testimony but also to conclude the opposite of what he said is true. Id.

at 1325-26. “This rule applies with special force where the elements to be proved

       1
        In Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir.1981) (en banc), we
adopted as binding precedent all decisions of the Fifth Circuit issued before October 1, 1981.

                                                3
for a conviction include highly subjective elements: for example, the defendant’s

intent or knowledge.” Id. at 1326 (citation omitted).

       To establish the crime of possession with intent to distribute, the government

must establish three elements: (1) knowledge, (2) possession, and (3) intent to

distribute.   United States v. Mercer, 541 F.3d 1070, 1076 (11th Cir. 2008).

Possession of a controlled substance is a lesser-included offense, which does not

require proof of intent to distribute. See United States v. Catchings, 922 F.2d 777,

780 (11th Cir. 1991). Possession may be established by showing either actual or

constructive possession. United States v. Hernandez, 433 F.3d 1328, 1333 (11th

Cir. 2005). Constructive possession may be exclusive or joint. United States v.

Tamargo, 672 F.2d 887, 890 (11th Cir. 1982). “Constructive possession exists

when a defendant has ownership, dominion, or control over an object itself or

dominion or control over the premises . . . in which the object is concealed.”

Hernandez, 433 F.3d at 1333 (quotation omitted).        There must be some nexus

between the defendant and the contraband. Holmes v. Kucynda, 321 F.3d 1069,

1080 (11th Cir. 2003).

       “[M]ere presence at the crime scene is insufficient to prove guilt beyond a

reasonable doubt” but “it is material, highly probative, and not to be discounted.”

United States v. Gamboa, 166 F.3d 1327, 1331-32 (11th Cir. 1999) (quotation

                                          4
omitted). Additionally, there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction when

“presence is combined with other evidence from which guilt can be inferred.”

United States v. Mejia, 97 F.3d 1391, 1393 (11th Cir. 1996).

      Evidence showing a “consciousness of guilt” is sufficient to support an

inference that the defendant had the requisite knowledge.         United States v.

Leonard, 138 F.3d 906, 909 (11th Cir. 1998). Moreover, in order “to sustain a

conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, it need

not be proved that the defendant had knowledge of the particular drug involved, as

long as he knew he was dealing with a controlled substance.” United States v.

Gomez, 905 F.2d 1513, 1514 (11th Cir. 1990). Thus, we upheld a conviction for

possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine where the

defendant admitted that he knew drugs were hidden in the car but maintained that

he believed it to be only a small quantity of marijuana. Id.

      To establish possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime under 18

U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), the government must prove that “the firearm helped,

furthered, promoted, or advanced drug trafficking.”       Mercer, 541 F.3d at 1076

(quotation omitted). The government must show a nexus between the firearm and

the drug trafficking.   Id.   “The nexus may be established by the kind of drug

activity that is being conducted, accessibility of the firearm, the type of firearm,

                                          5
whether the firearm is stolen, the status of the possession (legitimate or illegal),

whether the firearm is loaded, proximity of the firearm to the drugs or drug profits,

and the time and circumstances under which the firearm is found.” Id. at 1076-77

(citation omitted).

       As an initial matter, because both Pierre and Shuler chose to present

evidence after the close of the government’s case-in-chief, the waiver doctrine

applies, and we must consider all of the evidence presented at trial rather than

limiting our review to the evidence presented in the government’s case-in-chief.

See White, 611 F.2d at 536. Additionally, because they both testified as part of

their defense, if the jury disbelieved their testimony, it was free to conclude that the

opposite of what was testified to was true and use that as substantial evidence

against the testifying defendant. See Williams, 390 F.3d at 1325-26.

       On the record here, there was sufficient evidence to sustain Shuler’s

conviction because she (1) evidenced a consciousness of guilt when she hid the

drugs in her body, see Leonard, 138 F.3d at 909, and (2) admitted that she knew

that she was hiding marijuana. See Gomez, 905 F.2d at 1514.2

       2
         We need not address whether there was sufficient evidence for a jury to find that she
intended to distribute that cocaine. Even if we were to conclude on de novo review that there
was not sufficient evidence to establish Shuler’s intent, that conclusion would not necessitate a
new trial. The district court recognized at the time it issued its ruling that an instruction on the
lesser-included offense might be appropriate, the government could have sought an instruction
on the lesser-included offense if Shuler’s motion for judgment of acquittal had been granted, and
there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction actually imposed. See Fed. R. Crim. P.

                                                 6
       There also was sufficient evidence to sustain Pierre’s conviction on Count

One because he admitted he intended to sell the cocaine. As for Counts Two to

Five, Pierre argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he possessed

either the drugs or the firearms. While mere presence at the scene is insufficient to

convict him, it is a relevant consideration when combined with other evidence

from which guilt can be inferred. See Mejia, 97 F.3d at 1393. Thus, the evidence

showing that he spent a considerable amount of time at 226 Century Boulevard,

had previously conducted drug transactions at that location, and had some of his

personal belongings there all suggest that he exercised some degree of possession

and control over the premises.     Moreover, the jury was free to disbelieve his

denials and conclude the opposite of what he claimed, including that the drugs and

firearms belonged to him. See Williams, 390 F.3d at 1325-26. Therefore, there

was sufficient evidence to sustain both Shuler’s and Pierre’s convictions.

                                         2.

       Next, we are unpersuaded by Pierre’s claim that his motion to sever should

have been granted. We typically undertake a two-step review when determining

whether separate counts were properly tried together. United States v. Hersh, 297

F.3d 1233, 1241 (11th Cir. 2002). First, we review de novo whether the initial

31(c)(1).

                                          7
joinder was proper under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 8(a). Id. Second, we

determine whether the district court abused its discretion under Federal Rule of

Criminal Procedure 14 when denying the motion to sever. Id.

      The district court abuses its discretion when “compelling prejudice” results

from the joinder. Id. at 1243. The test for compelling prejudice is whether “under

all the circumstances of a particular case it is within the capacity of jurors to follow

a court’s limiting instructions and appraise the independent evidence against a

defendant solely on that defendant’s own . . . conduct in relation to the allegations

contained in the indictment and render a fair and impartial verdict.” Id. (citation

and quotation omitted; alteration in original).      If this is within the capacity of

jurors, then there is no compelling prejudice even if it is difficult for them. Id.

      If any possible prejudice resulting from the joinder can be cured through a

limiting instruction, then severance is not required. Id. at 1244. Accordingly, we

held that a district court did not abuse its discretion where “the jury was expressly

instructed that it was to consider each count of the Indictment separately and was

further instructed that merely finding [the defendant] guilty of one charged offense

was not to influence its verdict as to the other charged offenses.” United States v.

York, 428 F.3d 1325, 1334 (11th Cir. 2005). We presume the jury was able to

follow the court’s instructions and properly evaluate the separate evidence absent

                                            8
proof to the contrary. Hersh, 297 F.3d at 1244. We also require the defendant to

present some proof of “actual prejudice or jury confusion.” Id.

       Pierre has not shown compelling prejudice with respect to Count One.3 He

conceded his guilt to that count when he testified at trial, and asserts in his brief

that he wanted to “plead guilty” with respect to that count. However, compelling

prejudice is not established merely because the defendant would like to testify

regarding some counts but not others. Id. at 1243 n.15.

       Pierre’s argument that the district court’s refusal to sever the counts allowed

the jury to consider proof applicable to only one offense to find him guilty of the

other offenses, even though such proof would not have been admissible in a

separate trial, also fails. Evidence of prior and subsequent bad acts is admissible

under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) to prove intent, and the government made

clear that even if the counts were severed, it would seek to introduce all of the

evidence in both trials.

       We likewise disagree with Pierre’s claim that the jury was unable to follow

the court’s limiting instructions. He offers the fact that it was revealed during voir

dire that some jurors would find the defendant guilty of all the charges if he

       3
        Because Pierre has not challenged the propriety of the initial joinder of the offenses, we
need only consider whether the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion to
sever.

                                                9
admitted guilt to one of those charges, as evidence of the jury’s inability to follow

those instructions. However, none of the questionable jurors actually sat on the

jury. Therefore, Pierre has not contradicted the presumption that the jury follows

the court’s instructions. See Hersh, 297 F.3d at 1244. We therefore affirm the

district court’s denial of Pierre’s motion to sever.

                                           3.

      We also find no merit in Pierre’s claim that the district court abused its

discretion when it refused to make the instruction for simple possession, a lesser-

included offense for the possession with intent to distribute charged in the

indictment, applicable to Pierre for all five counts. We review a district court’s

refusal to give a requested jury instruction for abuse of discretion. United States v.

Lee, 68 F.3d 1267, 1273 (11th Cir. 1995). “An abuse of discretion may occur

where the evidence would permit a rational jury to find the defendant guilty of the

lesser offense and not the greater.”       Id.   However, a lesser-included offense

instruction is not proper where the factual issues to be resolved by the jury are the

same as to both the lesser and greater offense.        Catchings, 922 F.2d at 780.

Moreover, “[w]hen a defendant relies on an exculpatory defense that, if believed,

would lead to acquittals on both the greater and lesser charges, it is no abuse of

discretion to refuse to instruct the jury on a lesser included offense.” United States

                                           10
v. Brown, 26 F.3d 119, 120 (11th Cir. 1994).

      Here, although Pierre argues that the district court abused its discretion by

not instructing the jury that they could find Pierre guilty of simple possession

rather than possession with intent to distribute on Count One, at trial he admitted

his intent to distribute the cocaine. As a result, no rational jury could find him

guilty of simple possession but not possession with intent to distribute as to Count

One. See Lee, 68 F.3d at 1273.

      As for Counts Two through Four, Pierre’s defense rested on the theory that

he did not possess the drugs seized from 226 Century Boulevard. If the jury found

that the government had not established possession, then it could not convict him

of either crime. Therefore, a lesser-included offense instruction would not have

been proper. See Brown, 26 F.3d at 120.

                                          4.

      Finally, we disagree with Pierre’s argument that the district court committed

clear error when it applied the obstruction-of-justice enhancement because it did

not make specific findings concerning which trial testimony amounted to perjury

and voiced doubts as to whether “Pierre was the drug dealer the government

painted him to be.” We review a district court’s application and interpretation of

the Guidelines de novo, and its factual findings for clear error. United States v.

                                        11
Rhind, 289 F.3d 690, 693 (11th Cir. 2002). “For a factual finding to be clearly

erroneous, . . . after reviewing all of the evidence, [we] must be left with a definite

and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.”             United States v.

Rodriguez-Lopez, 363 F.3d 1134, 1137 (11th Cir. 2004) (quotation omitted).

      Under the Sentencing Guidelines, a two-level enhancement is applied for

obstruction of justice if the defendant, among other things, commits perjury.

U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. For purposes of applying this enhancement, perjury is defined

as “false testimony concerning a material matter with the willful intent to provide

false testimony, rather than as a result of confusion, mistake, or faulty memory.”

United States v. Dunnigan, 507 U.S. 87, 94 (1993). A matter is material where “if

believed, [it] would tend to influence or affect the issue under determination.”

United States v. Singh, 291 F.3d 756, 763 (11th Cir. 2002).

      If it determines that the obstruction of justice enhancement applies, the

district court should “make specific findings as to each alleged instance of

obstruction by identifying the materially false statements individually.”           Id.

(citation and quotation omitted). “However, a general finding that an enhancement

is warranted suffices if it encompasses all of the factual predicates necessary for a

perjury finding.” Id. (quotation omitted). Finally, we afford “great deference to

the district court’s credibility determinations.” Id. at 763-64 (quotation omitted).

                                          12
      As the record shows, the district court made sufficient factual findings to

justify the imposition of the enhancement.          At the sentencing hearing, the

government argued that Pierre perjured himself by denying possession of the drugs

and firearms at 226 Century Boulevard. The district court then pointed out a list of

facts tending to contradict his testimony and noted that the jury did not believe

Pierre’s testimony. The facts relied on by the district court were gleaned from the

testimony of the government’s witnesses. The district court’s determination that

the testimony of those witnesses was more credible than Pierre’s testimony is

entitled to deference. See id. at 763. The district court then specifically found by a

preponderance of the evidence that Pierre had perjured himself through his

testimony. Therefore, the district court’s findings were sufficiently detailed.

      Moreover, his false testimony concerned a material matter.              One of the

elements that the government had to establish was his possession of the drugs and

firearms. His denials, if believed, would have led the jury to conclude that the

government had not established the element of possession. Accordingly, we affirm

the district court’s application of the obstruction of justice enhancement.

      AFFIRMED.

                                          13