Court Opinion

ID: 1024192
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-05 06:29:38.115071+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:02.609826
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                   UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                               No. 06-5014

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff - Appellee,

          versus

JAMES ELMER GROSS, SR.,

                                                 Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of
Maryland, at Baltimore.     J. Frederick Motz, District Judge.
(1:02-cr-00201-JFM)

Submitted:   August 29, 2007                 Decided:   November 5, 2007

Before TRAXLER, GREGORY, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges.

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Francis A. Pommett, III, LAW OFFICES OF NATHANSON & POMMETT, P.C.,
Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellant.     Rod J. Rosenstein, United
States Attorney, Christine Manuelian, Assistant United States
Attorney, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

            James Elmer Gross, Sr. (hereinafter “Gross”) appeals the

district court’s judgment on remand for resentencing under United

States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005).              Finding no error, we

affirm.

            Gross first contends the court erred by punishing him for

a drug quantity greater than that found by the jury or admitted by

him.      Count    Three   of   the   superseding       indictment   alleged

distribution of one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms

or more of cocaine.    The district court found by a preponderance of

the    evidence,   after   considering    the   advisory    nature   of    the

guidelines, a quantity of three to ten kilograms of heroin.

            As alleged in the superseding indictment, Gross faced a

maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.                21 U.S.C.A.

§ 841(b)(1)(A) (West 2000 & Supp. 2007).            Following Booker, the

federal sentencing guidelines are now advisory.              However, when

calculating guideline ranges, sentencing courts may still make

factual   determinations     regarding    sentencing     enhancement      by   a

preponderance of the evidence.        United States v. Morris, 429 F.3d

65, 72 (4th Cir. 2005).

            As the indictment alleged Gross was responsible for one

kilogram or more of heroin, and as the district court’s finding of

three to ten kilograms did not increase Gross’ sentence beyond the

prescribed    statutory    maximum,   Gross’    first    challenge   to    the

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district court’s findings of fact is without merit.                See Booker,

543 U.S. at 244; Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000);

United States v. Hughes, 401 F. 3d 540, 546 (4th Cir. 2005).

               Gross next attacks the district court’s finding that he

possessed a firearm during the commission of a drug offense. Gross

asserts that no evidence was presented that he possessed a firearm.

Also, Gross did not admit to possession of a firearm, and he was

not    found    guilty   beyond   a    reasonable    doubt   by   the   jury   of

possession of a firearm.              Accordingly, Gross asserts that the

district court erred in enhancing his sentence two levels under

U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2D1.1(b)(1) (2002).

               Section 2D1.1(b)(1) provides for a two level increase to

a defendant’s base offense level if the defendant possessed a

dangerous weapon during a drug offense.              A § 2D1.1 enhancement is

to be applied unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was

connected with the offense.            U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, cmt. n.3.       “It is

well    established      that   even    where   no   conspiracy   is    charged,

enhancement is appropriate where a firearm is physically possessed

by another participant in the offense conduct to further the

illegal enterprise.”        United States v. Falesbork, 5 F.3d 715, 720

(4th Cir. 1993).

               Because there was overwhelming evidence that Gross’ co-

conspirators possessed weapons during and in furtherance of the

course of the criminal conduct for which Gross was convicted and as

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this possession was reasonably foreseeable by Gross, the court did

not err in enhancing Gross’ sentence under § 2D1.1.

             Gross raises a third challenge to the district court’s

calculation of his advisory guidelines range.                     Based on Gross’

three prior convictions, the district court determined Gross to be

a   career   offender.       According    to     Gross,   one     of   those   three

convictions was a 2001 conviction for distribution of heroin.

Gross argues that this conviction cannot be used to enhance his

guidelines range because the heroin distribution was a specific

predicate act used to convict him of RICO violations under Count

One.     This court rejected the argument Gross makes now in Gross’

and co-defendant Ronald Eddie’s prior appeal.                   United States v.

Gross,    199   F.   App’x   219,   244   (4th    Cir.    2006)    (unpublished).

Accordingly, Gross’ third alleged error is without merit.

             Gross’ final argument on appeal is that his sentence was

unreasonable.        Gross argues that his sentence of 600 months was

unreasonable as it was, due to his age, a de facto life sentence.

Also, Gross argues that the district court imposed a variance

sentence and failed to adequately explain the reasons for the

variance.

             Following Booker, a sentencing court must engage in a

multi-step process at sentencing.              After calculating the correct

guidelines range, the sentencing court must consider the guidelines

range, any relevant factors set forth in the guidelines, and the

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factors in 18 U.S.C.A. § 3553(a) (West 2000 & Supp. 2007); then the

court may impose sentence.        United States v. Hughes, 401 F.3d 540,

546 (4th Cir. 2005).      Considering the factors in § 3553(a) does not

require “discussion of each factor in a checklist fashion.” United

States v. Moreland, 437 F.3d 424, 433 (4th Cir. 2006).

           On appeal, this court reviews a sentence to determine

whether   it   is   reasonable.         Moreland,   437   F.3d    at   433.   A

post-Booker    sentence    may    be    unreasonable      for    procedural   or

substantive reasons.        However, a sentence that falls within a

properly calculated advisory guidelines range is presumed to be

reasonable.    Rita v. United States, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2462 (2007).

           Gross’ sentence was procedurally reasonable. In imposing

sentence, the district court recognized the advisory nature of the

guidelines and discussed the applicability of the § 3553(a) factors

to Gross’ case.     The district court specifically noted that: (1)

the nature and circumstances of the offense evidence a total

disrespect for the law; (2) a severe sentence was necessary to

reflect the seriousness of the offense and to promote respect for

the law; (3) a severe sentence was necessary to deter others; and

(4) a severe sentence was necessary to protect the public from

Gross. The court then sentenced Gross to 600 months’ imprisonment,

which fell within Gross’ advisory guidelines range.*

     *
      Gross’ 600-month sentence fell in his guidelines range of 360
months to life, so this was not a variance sentence.

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            Gross’ sentence was also substantively reasonable. Gross

was the leader of a large drug conspiracy and was responsible for

a number of criminal acts, including distributing five or more

kilograms   of    cocaine    and       three   to     ten    kilograms    of    heroin.

Additionally,     Gross     had    a    significant         criminal    history   that

included the rape of a twelve year old, which occurred while he was

on supervised release for a prior drug offense. As Gross’ sentence

fell   within    his   properly        determined     guidelines       range,   Gross’

sentence is presumed to be reasonable.                 Gross has failed to rebut

the presumption of reasonableness.

            We   affirm   the     judgment       of   the    district    court.     We

dispense with oral argument as the facts and legal contentions are

adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument

would not aid the decisional process.

                                                                               AFFIRMED

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