Court Opinion

ID: 45259
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 22:34:45+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:23.323077
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                     FILED
                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                        ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                              OCT 4, 2006
                               No. 06-10887                 THOMAS K. KAHN
                           Non-Argument Calendar                CLERK
                         ________________________

                  D. C. Docket No. 05-00220-CR-T-27-MAP

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                    versus

CAMILO OCHEA MORENO,

                                                           Defendant-Appellant.

                         ________________________

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

                              (October 4, 2006)

Before DUBINA, HULL and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

      Camilo Ochea-Moreno appeals his two concurrent 144-month sentences and

convictions for possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of
cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in

violation of 46 U.S.C. App. § 1903(a), (g), and 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(B)(ii), and

conspiracy to do the same, in violation of 46 U.S.C. App. § 1903, (a), (g), (j), and §

960(b)(1)(B)(ii). On appeal, Ochea-Moreno argues that the district court erred at

sentencing by (1) denying a minor-role reduction, and (2) imposing an

unreasonable sentence.1 After careful review, we affirm.

        We review the district court’s interpretation of the Guidelines de novo and

its factual findings for clear error. United States v. Jordi, 418 F.3d 1212, 1214

        1
         As for Ochea-Moreno’s argument that the district court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction
over the instant case because the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (“MDLEA”) represented an
ultra vires exercise of Congressional power under the Piracies and Felonies Clause of the
Constitution, even after a de novo review, we discern no error. Cf. United States v. Estupinan, 453
F.3d 1336, 1338 (11th Cir. 2006) (rejecting similar challenge to the MDLEA under de novo review,
after observing that there was no need to reach the government’s argument to apply plain error
because even under the higher de novo standard the challenge failed); United States v. Perez, 956
F.2d 1098, 1011 (11th Cir. 1992) (reviewing issue of district court’s subject matter jurisdiction de
novo). The Constitution empowers Congress “[t]o define and punish Piracies and Felonies on the
high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations.” U.S. Const., art. I, § 8, cl. 10. We have noted
that “this circuit and other circuits have not embellished the MDLEA with [the requirement of] a
nexus [between a defendant’s criminal conduct and the United States].” United States v. Rendon,
354 F.3d 1320, 1325 (11th Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 541 U.S. 1035 (2004); see also United States
v. Moreno-Morillo, 334 F.3d 819, 824 (9th Cir. 2003) (holding that Congress acted within
constitutionally conferred authority in enacting MDLEA); United States v. Ledesma-Cuesta, 347
F.3d 527, 532 (3d Cir. 2003) (“Congress had authority to enact [the MDLEA], pursuant to its
constitutional power to: ‘define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high seas, and
Offenses against the Law of Nations.’ Inasmuch as the trafficking of narcotics is condemned
universally by law-abiding nations, we see no reason to conclude that it is ‘fundamentally unfair’
for Congress to provide for the punishment of persons apprehended with narcotics on the high seas.”
(quoting United States v. Martinez-Hidalgo, 993 F.2d 1052, 1056 (3d Cir. 1993))). Simply put,
pursuant to our recent decision in Estupinan, a district court does not err by failing to sua sponte rule
that the MDLEA was unconstitutional because Congress had exceeded its authority under the
Piracies and Felonies Clause. See 453 F.3d at 1338.

                                                   2
(11th Cir. 2005). A defendant seeking a minor-role reduction bears the burden of

proving that he is entitled to the reduction by a preponderance of the evidence.

United States v. De Varon, 175 F.3d 930, 939 (11th Cir. 1999) (en banc). The

district court’s determination of a defendant’s role in a criminal offense “is heavily

dependent upon the facts of the particular case.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 cmt. n.3(C).

Accordingly, we review that determination for only clear error. De Varon, 175

F.3d at 937. “So long as the basis of the trial court’s decision is supported by the

record and does not involve a misapplication of a rule of law, . . . it will be rare for

an appellate court to conclude that the sentencing court’s determination is clearly

erroneous.” Id. at 945.

      Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker, 543

U.S. 220 (2005), we review a district court’s sentence, imposed after consulting the

Guidelines and considering the factors set forth at § 3553(a), for reasonableness.

543 U.S. at 264-65; United States v. Williams, 435 F.3d 1350, 1353 (11th Cir.

2006) (“Under Booker, we review                a defendant’s ultimate sentence for

reasonableness.”).   The reasonableness review is “deferential” and focuses on

whether the sentence imposed fails to achieve the purposes of sentencing as stated

in § 3553(a).    United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005).

Moreover, we recognize that a range of reasonable sentences exists from which the

                                           3
district court may choose. Id. “[T]he party who challenges the sentence bears the

burden of establishing that the sentence is unreasonable in the light of both [the]

record and the factors in section 3553(a).” Id.

      The relevant facts are these. On May 25, 2005, Ochea-Moreno was indicted

for possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while on

board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 46

U.S.C. App. § 1903(a), (g), and 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(B)(ii) (Count One), and

conspiracy to do the same, in violation of 46 U.S.C. App. § 1903, (a), (g), (j), and §

960(b)(1)(B)(ii) (Count Two).     Ochea-Moreno pled guilty to both charges and

proceeded to sentencing.

       According to the presentence investigation report (“PSI”), Ochea-Moreno, a

Colombian national, was a knowing and willing participant in a drug smuggling

venture involving the transportation of approximately 4,000 kilograms of cocaine

in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. From late April to early May 2005, Ochea-Moreno

and an Argentinian national stayed at a residence in Manta, Ecuador while they

awaited the departure of an Ecuadorian-flagged fishing vessel, the “Simon

Bolivar,” which was to participate in the drug smuggling venture.         Before the

“Simon Bolivar” departed Ecuador, Ochea-Moreno, the Argentinian national, and

others inspected the boat and its electronic equipment to ensure that it was suitable

                                          4
for the drug smuggling venture. The cocaine belonged to two different drug

trafficking organizations.   Ochea-Moreno participated in the scheme as a

“watcher,” or overseer, for a portion of the shipment belonging to one of these

organizations.   As a watcher, Ochea-Moreno was responsible for ensuring the

successful and complete transportation of the cocaine to its intended destination.

The Argentinian national had a similar role for the other drug trafficking

organization, which owned the remaining portion of the shipment.

      On May 2, 2005, the “Simon Bolivar” departed from Manta, Ecuador, with a

crew of Ecuadorian nationals and the two watchers (Ochea-Moreno and the

Argentinian national). On May 6, 2005, the boat met up with other boats in the

ocean, and 161 bales of cocaine were loaded onto the “Simon Bolivar.” Ochea-

Moreno assisted with the process of loading and counting the cocaine bales. Two

days later, on May 8, 2005, the U.S Coast Guard detected the “Simon Bolivar” in

international waters off the coast of Ecuador and obtained consent from the

government of Ecuador to board the vessel. While on board the “Simon Bolivar,”

the Coast Guard discovered that one of the crew members had opened the scuttling

valves, which caused the boat to take in water. Another crew member turned the

boat’s engines on “full throttle” and ran the vessel into a Coast Guard cutter,

thereby tearing a hole in the wooden bow of the “Simon Bolivar.” Thereafter, the

                                        5
Coast Guard discovered the 161 bales of cocaine, which weighed more than four

tons, or some 4000 kilograms, in two hidden compartments. After the Coast Guard

located the cocaine, the “Simon Bolivar” sank, and 111 of the cocaine bales were

recovered from the ocean when they broke free from the vessel. The Ecuadorian

government subsequently consented to the U.S. government’s exercise of

jurisdiction over Ochea-Moreno, and the Ecuadorian nationals were returned to

Ecuador for prosecution in Ecuador.

      The PSI recommended that Ochea-Moreno was responsible for the 4,051

kilograms of cocaine recovered from the “Simon Bolivar” and assigned him a base

offense level of 38, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(1). The PSI then increased his

offense level by two, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.2, because Ochea-Moreno created

a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury in the course of attempting to

flee from the Coast Guard. Finally, the PSI recommended that Ochea-Moreno was

entitled to a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, under U.S.S.G. §

3E1.1(a), (b). With a criminal history category of I and a total adjusted offense

level of 37, Ochea-Moeno faced a Guidelines range of 210 to 262 months’

imprisonment. The mandatory sentencing range for Ochea-Moreno’s offenses of

conviction was 10 years’ to life imprisonment, under 21 U.S.C. § 960.

                                          6
      Ochea-Moreno objected to the PSI’s failure to recommend a two-level

minor-role reduction, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b), and the PSI’s assessment of

the two-level enhancement under § 3C1.2. He also challenged the amount of drugs

attributed to him and filed a motion for downward departure under U.S.S.G.

§ 5K2.0, asserting that he was entitled to a downward-departure sentence because

it was unfair to hold him accountable for the entire load of cocaine when the other

participants had been released to the Ecuadorian authorities, and it was unknown

whether they were, or would ever be, prosecuted.

      At the sentencing hearing, Ochea-Moreno withdrew his objection to the

amount of drugs attributed to him. The district court sustained Ochea-Moreno’s

objection to the specific offense enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.2 because

Ochea-Moreno was not steering the boat. Ochea-Moreno reiterated his objection

to the failure of the PSI to include a minor-role reduction, arguing that his case was

unique because he was the only crew member being prosecuted in the United

States. He also highlighted that he was less culpable than the captain, the members

of the organizations that owned the cocaine, and the distributors of the cocaine. In

response, the court inquired whether Ochea-Moreno contested the facts in the PSI

regarding the scope of his conduct, and his attorney responded that Ochea-Moreno

did not contest the PSI’s factual statements, thereby acknowledging that Ochea-

                                          7
Moreno was in charge of overseeing a portion of the shipment. Ochea-Moreno

also reiterated his request for a downward departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0,

arguing that his case warranted a departure because he was the only crew member

prosecuted in the United States.   Alternatively, Ochea-Moreno argued that the

court should impose a sentence below the Guidelines range based on the

sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including the need to avoid

sentencing disparity, because Ochea-Moreno was the only crew member

prosecuted for the crime, and it was unknown what, if any, sentences the others

received.

      In response, the government urged the district court to impose a sentence at

the middle or upper-end of the Guidelines range because (1) the fact that the

Ecuadorian nationals were prosecuted in Ecuador did not affect the reasonableness

of Ochea-Moreno’s sentence; (2) there were 4,000 kilograms of cocaine on board

the boat; and (3) Ochea-Moreno was a representative for one of the owners. The

government agreed, however, that Ochea-Moreno qualified for safety-valve relief.

      In imposing sentence, the district court first found that Ochea-Moreno

qualified for the safety-valve reduction under U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2 and recalculated

the Guidelines imprisonment range as 135 to 168 months. The district court then

overruled Ochea-Moreno’s objection concerning a minor-role reduction, finding

                                        8
that according to the undisputed facts in the PSI, Ochea-Moreno did not show that

he was less culpable than most of the other participants and, in fact, the evidence

supported that Ochoa-Moreno could have been more culpable, given his

supervisory “watcher” role onboard the ship. The court denied Ochea-Moreno’s

request for a downward departure, stating that

             I don’t find this case presents a situation that’s outside
             the heartland. It’s just simply one of those unusual cases
             where this defendant is the only defendant being
             prosecuted in an offense involving several individuals.
             And I don’t find that there are circumstances that were
             not considered by the Sentencing Commission present to
             that degree.

Before imposing Ochea-Moreno’s sentence, the court stated that it had considered

“all of these matters,” including the circumstances of Ochea-Moreno’s offense, his

background, the advisory guideline range, and all the sentencing factors set forth in

18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). The court then imposed a 144-month term of imprisonment

for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. This appeal followed.

      First, Ochea-Moreno argues that the district court erred by denying him a

minor-role adjustment. Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, a defendant is entitled to a

two-point decrease in his offense level if he was a minor participant. See U.S.

Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, § 3B1.2 (Nov. 2004).                   The

determination of whether a defendant qualifies for a minor-role reduction is

                                          9
“heavily dependent upon the facts of the particular case.” Id., comment. (n.3(c)).

A “minor participant” is a person who is “less culpable than most other

participants, but whose role could not be described as minimal.” Id., comment.

(n.5). To determine whether the adjustment applies, a district court first should

measure the defendant’s role against the conduct for which he has been held

accountable. See De Varon, 175 F.3d at 934.            At this first step of the De

Varon inquiry, we have held that “the amount of drugs imported is a material

consideration in assessing a defendant’s role in [his] relevant conduct.” Id. at 943.

      Where there is sufficient evidence, after measuring the defendant’s role

against the conduct for which he is being held accountable, a district court also

may measure the defendant’s conduct against that of other participants in the

criminal scheme attributed to the defendant. See De Varon, 175 F.3d at 943. In

making this inquiry, a district court should look to other participants only to the

extent that they (1) are identifiable or discernable from the evidence, and (2) were

involved in the relevant conduct attributed to the defendant. See id. at 944 (stating

that “[t]he conduct of participants in any larger criminal conspiracy is irrelevant”).

      Here, the relevant conduct attributed to Ochea-Moreno at sentencing was the

importation and possession of 4,051 kilograms of cocaine, which represented the

amount of cocaine found on the “Simon Bolivar” when it was intercepted with

                                          10
Ochea-Moreno onboard.             The district court did not clearly err in finding that

Ochea-Moreno’s role in relation to this conduct was not minor because Ochea-

Moreno did not contest that, of the ten persons onboard the “Simon Bolivar,” he

acted as one of two watchers, the representatives of the owners of the cocaine who

were responsible for its safe delivery. Moreover, the smuggling venture involved a

significant amount of cocaine. Under De Varon, “the amount of drugs imported is

a material consideration in assessing a defendant’s role in [his] relevant conduct”

and “may be dispositive -- in and of itself -- in the extreme case.” 175 F.3d at 943.2

Therefore, the first principle of De Varon suggests that a minor-role reduction was

appropriate, and we can discern no clear error in the district court’s refusal to

award the adjustment.3

       2
         We are unpersuaded by Ochea-Moreno’s additional argument on this point, that the district
court relied only on the drug amount in denying the minor-role reduction. From our review of the
sentencing transcript, it is clear that in addition to the large armount of cocaine involved, the court
independently found that Ochea-Moreno had a supervisory role, given his watcher status. In any
event, even if the court had relied only on the drug amount, we have held that the amount of drugs
may be dispositive in extreme cases, and, therefore, the large amount of cocaine involved in this
case is arguably dispositive of the minor-role issue.

       3
          Given Ochea-Moreno’s failure to carry his burden on the first De Varon prong, we need
not reach the second prong, but we nevertheless observe that application of this second principle
would readily support the finding that a minor-role reduction should be denied. Ochea-Moreno
suggests that he was part of a larger conspiracy and that in the context of the larger conspiracy, he
played a minor role. But, the conduct of others who were involved in the overall scheme is
irrelevant to the assessment of Ochea-Moreno’s role, as he was not charged with a larger drug
trafficking conspiracy and the other conspirators were not identifiable from the evidence. See De
Varon, 175 F.3d at 944 (observing that, on second prong, “the district court may consider only those
participants who were involved in the relevant conduct attributed to the defendant” and “[t]he
conduct of participants in any larger criminal conspiracy is irrelevant”).

                                                  11
      As for Ochea-Moreno’s challenge to the reasonableness of his sentence, the

district court considered the following, which we consider pertinent to the 18

U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors: (1) Ochea-Moreno’s argument concerning the “unique

nature and circumstances of this case” given that the other crew members did not

face prosecution here, as they had been returned to Ecuador, see 18 U.S.C. §

3553(a)(1) (enumerating “the nature and circumstances of the offense”); (2)

Ochea-Moreno’s argument concerning the need to avoid sentencing disparities

between him and the other crew members, whom we note the record does not

reveal were ever found guilty, id. at § 3553(a)(6) (“the need to avoid unwarranted

sentence disparities amount defendants with similar record who have been found

guilty of similar conduct” (emphasis added)); and (3) the parties’ arguments and

the PSI’s calculations, which outlined “the kinds of sentences available,” id. at §

3553(a)(3). The court also heard Ochea-Moreno’s statement of remorse.

      After considering all of these factors, the court concluded that a Guidelines

sentence -- a term of 144 months’ imprisonment, which fell at the lower end of the

135 to 168 months’ range -- was warranted.           Contrary to Ochea-Moreno’s

argument, we can find no indication that the district court considered only the

amount of drugs involved in imposing sentencing.         Rather, the district court

explicitly stated that it had considered the § 3553(a) factors, the circumstances of

                                        12
the offense, and the parties’ arguments. Cf. Talley, 431 F.3d at 786 (holding that

“an acknowledgment by the district court that it has considered the defendant’s

arguments and the factors in section 3553(a) is sufficient under Booker”). Indeed,

we have held that “nothing in Booker or elsewhere requires the district court to

state on the record that it has explicitly considered each of the § 3553(a) factors or

to discuss each of the § 3553(a) factors.” United States v. Scott, 426 F.3d 1324,

1329 (11th Cir. 2005). Simply put, Ochea-Moreno’s sentence was reasonable, in

light of both the advisory Guidelines range and the § 3553(a) factors.

      AFFIRMED.

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