Court Opinion

ID: 9556790
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-18 18:00:50.286955+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:00:57.159857
License: Public Domain

Case: 22-30280         Document: 00516863086             Page: 1      Date Filed: 08/18/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________                              United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit

                                       No. 22-30280                                    FILED
                                                                                 August 18, 2023
                                     Summary Calendar
                                     ____________                                 Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                       Clerk
   United States of America,

                                                                       Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   John Henry Butler, Jr.,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Western District of Louisiana
                               USDC No. 3:21-CR-104-1
                      ______________________________

   Before King, Higginson, and Willett, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          John Henry Butler, Jr., appeals the 240-month within-guidelines
   sentence imposed by the district court following his guilty plea conviction for
   conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of
   methamphetamine. He argues that the district court erred in imposing a
   four-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a) based on its finding that

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 22-30280        Document: 00516863086        Page: 2    Date Filed: 08/18/2023

                                    No. 22-30280

   he was a leader or organizer of an offense that involved five or more
   participants or was otherwise extensive. According to Butler, there was
   insufficient evidence in the factual basis and the case agent’s testimony at the
   sentencing hearing to support the enhancement.
          We review the finding of an aggravating role for clear error. United
   States v. Anguiano, 27 F.4th 1070, 1074-75 (5th Cir. 2022). “A factual finding
   that is plausible based on the record as a whole is not clearly erroneous.” Id.
   at 1073 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
          Here, the factual recitation in the PSR, which was based on the
   stipulated factual basis and the investigative materials, “bears sufficient
   indicia of reliability.” United States v. Zuniga, 720 F.3d 587, 591 (5th Cir.
   2013) (internal quotations marks and citation omitted). Butler therefore was
   required to present evidence demonstrating “that the information is
   materially untrue, inaccurate or unreliable.” Id. (internal quotations marks
   and citation omitted); see also United States v. Harris, 702 F.3d 226, 230 (5th
   Cir. 2012). Butler failed to do so at sentencing, and the district court was
   entitled to rely on the facts in the PSR. See Zuniga, 720 F.3d at 591; Harris,
   702 F.3d at 230.
          The record contains sufficient information to support the four-level
   enhancement for Butler’s leadership role, including information in the PSR,
   the factual basis, and the agent’s testimony concerning the investigation,
   surveillance, and intercepted telephone calls. See United States v. Romans,
   823 F.3d 299, 322 (5th Cir. 2016); United States v. Haines, 803 F.3d 713, 743-
   44 (5th Cir. 2015); § 3B1.1, comment. (n.4). In particular, the record
   established that Butler was a source of supply of methamphetamine,
   hydrocodone, and fentanyl in the Monroe, Louisiana area; he dealt directly
   with upstream suppliers; he gave instructions to others concerning where to
   pick up and drop off the drugs; and others frequently contacted Butler

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Case: 22-30280      Document: 00516863086          Page: 3    Date Filed: 08/18/2023

                                    No. 22-30280

   concerning previous drug sales and obtaining more drugs for future sales.
   Moreover, Butler was involved in setting prices and ensuring drug quality;
   large amounts of drug proceeds were wired to him on a weekly basis; and he
   was arrested in possession of a large amount of currency in small
   denominations, which he later admitted was drug proceeds. The record was
   also sufficient to establish that the offense involved five or more participants
   or was otherwise extensive. See § 3B1.1(a). The district court’s finding that
   Butler was a leader or organizer of the drug conspiracy involving five or more
   participants was not clearly erroneous because it was plausible in view of the
   record as a whole. See Anguiano, 27 F.4th at 1073.
          AFFIRMED.

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