Court Opinion

ID: 67680
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:24:25+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:58.605258
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                       ________________________                  FILED
                                                        U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              No. 08-13397                ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                              JUNE 15, 2009
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                                                           THOMAS K. KAHN
                        ________________________
                                                                CLERK

                    D. C. Docket No. 06-20494-CR-MGC

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

MAURICIO DEJESUS OSPINA-PINEDA,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

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

                               (June 15, 2009)

Before DUBINA, Chief Judge, TJOFLAT and BIRCH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Mauricio DeJesus Ospina-Pineda (“Ospina-Pineda”) appeals his 121-month
sentence imposed for conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin with

intent to import into the United States in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 963. Ospina-

Pineda argues that the district court incorrectly included a Massachusetts state

court conviction for cocaine trafficking when calculating his criminal history

category. Alternatively, he contends that the government should be estopped from

using the state court conviction in determining his criminal history category

because the government deported him immediately after that conviction. His

deportation, in turn, prevented him from perfecting his challenge against the state

court conviction. We find both arguments less than convincing. Accordingly, we

AFFIRM.

                                I. BACKGROUND

      Ospina-Pineda pled guilty, with the benefit of a plea agreement, to one count

of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin with the intent to import

into the United States, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 963. Ospina-Pineda was one of

many individuals involved in a heroin trafficking conspiracy to import shipments

of heroin into the United States from Colombia. The conspiracy required corrupt

Colombian law enforcement officials to smuggle drugs through airport checkpoints

and onto commercial flights bound for Miami, where purportedly corrupt airport

employees, i.e., undercover law enforcement officers, would offload the hidden

                                          2
drugs.

         The probation officer calculated Ospina-Pineda’s base offense level at 34

pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(a)(3)(Nov. 2007).1 After a three-level decrease for

acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, Ospina-Pineda’s total offense

level was 31. The probation officer calculated three criminal history points

resulting in a criminal history category of II. See U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(a). The

probation officer based those three points on Ospina-Pineda’s Massachusetts

cocaine trafficking conviction in which he was found guilty by a jury, sentenced to

ten years of imprisonment, and released to an immigration detainer. Based on a

total offense level of 31 and a criminal history category of II, Ospina-Pineda’s

guideline imprisonment range was 121 to 151 months of imprisonment. See

U.S.S.G. Ch.5 Pt.A. The statutory minimum term of imprisonment was ten years.

See 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(A).

         Ospina-Pineda filed pro se objections to the PSI, later adopted by his

attorney. Ospina-Pineda objected to the calculation of his criminal history points

and noted that his state court conviction had been remanded to the Superior Court

in Massachusetts. According to Ospina-Pineda, he was unable to pursue that case

because the government deported him back to Colombia. The probation officer

         1
             Ospina-Pineda conceded that the drug quantity at issue was 5.126 kilograms of heroin.

                                                   3
responded that the Massachusetts Appeals Court vacated the Superior Court’s

order denying Ospina-Pineda’s second motion for a new trial and remanded the

case to the Superior Court for further proceedings consistent with that opinion.

Because Ospina-Pineda’s conviction still stood, it produced the three criminal

history points at issue.

      The district court ultimately overruled Ospina-Pineda’s objections and

explained that

             [t]he only issue here, sir, now, on this point is whether or
             not the Massachusetts conviction stands. That’s the
             issue. That’s the issue I am concerned with right now.
             As far as I am concerned, from this point in time the
             Massachusetts conviction stands. It’s been five years,
             adequate time for that Court to have ruled and they
             haven’t.

             If at some point in time that issue changes, you can
             revisit what sentence, if any, there is. But as far as
             pointing this case for your guideline calculation, that
             conviction stays.

R3 at 8-9. The district court found that the advisory guideline range adequately

reflected the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors and sentenced Ospina-Pineda to 121-

months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Id. at 19-20.

                                 II. DISCUSSION

      We review the district court’s factual findings for clear error and its

application of the sentencing guidelines to the facts de novo. United States v.

                                          4
McGuinness, 451 F.3d 1302, 1304 (11th Cir. 2006) (per curiam). Section 4A1.2 of

the sentencing guidelines provides the district court with instructions for

computing a defendant’s criminal history. See generally U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2.

Pursuant to § 4A1.2(l), the district court counts prior sentences under appeal

toward a defendant’s criminal history. Id. § 4A1.2(l). However, the district court

does not count sentences that have been reversed or vacated because of legal

errors. Id. § 4A1.2, comment. (n.6). Additionally, the district court does not count

sentences that have been ruled constitutionally invalid. Id. Moreover, in United

States v. Walker, 198 F.3d 811, 813-14 (11th Cir. 1999) (per curiam), we held that

if a federal defendant has, in state court, successfully attacked a prior state

conviction previously used to enhance his federal sentence, the district court may

reopen and reduce his federal sentence in a federal habeas corpus proceeding.

With regard to estoppel, it is well established that to make out such a claim against

the government, a party must provide evidence of the following: “(1) words,

conduct, or acquiescence that induces reliance; (2) willfulness or negligence with

regard to the acts, conduct, or acquiescence; (3) detrimental reliance; and (4)

affirmative misconduct by the Government.” United States v. McCorkle, 321 F.3d

1292, 1297 (11th Cir. 2003).

      With that legal landscape in mind, we turn to Ospina-Pineda’s arguments.

                                            5
First, we conclude that the district court did not err by including the Massachusetts

cocaine trafficking conviction in Ospina-Pineda’s criminal history calculation.

However, pursuant to Walker, we recognize Ospina-Pineda’s right to petition the

district court to reopen and reduce his federal sentence in a federal habeas

proceeding if the state court vacates his cocaine trafficking conviction. Second, we

find that Ospina-Pineda has failed to provide any evidence to support an estoppel

claim against the government for his previous deportation. See McCorkle, 321

F.3d at 1297. Although the government deported Ospina-Pineda prior to the

completion of his state court challenge, no evidence has been presented that the

government induced reliance, acted negligently, or engaged in misconduct.

Consequently, Ospina-Pineda’s estoppel argument fails.

                               III. CONCLUSION

      Ospina-Pineda appeals his 121-month sentence and argues that the district

court incorrectly included a Massachusetts state court conviction for cocaine

trafficking when calculating his criminal history category. Alternatively, he

contends that the government should be estopped from using the state court

conviction in determining his criminal history category because the government

deported him immediately after that conviction. We find no merit in either

argument. Accordingly, we AFFIRM.

                                          6
AFFIRMED.

            7