Court Opinion

ID: 3212941
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-14 21:00:35.479667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:49.421072
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                         FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                              _____________

                                   No. 15-3103
                                  _____________

                        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                         v.

                               FREMO SANTANA,
                              a/k/a Manuel Gierbolini

                                   Fremo Santana,
                                       Appellant
                                  _____________

                 On Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                        District Court No. 1-12-cr-00091-001
               District Judge: The Honorable Christopher C. Conner

                Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                 May 17, 2016

         Before: SMITH, HARDIMAN, and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges

                               (Filed: June 14, 2016)
                             _____________________

                                    OPINION*
                             _____________________

*
 This disposition is not an opinion of the full court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does
not constitute binding precedent.
SMITH, Circuit Judge

      Fremo Santana pleaded guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to a

one-count information charging him with conspiring to distribute and to possess

with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms or more

of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846. Following the guilty plea, a

probation officer prepared a presentence report (PSR), which computed Santana’s

offense level based on at least 60 kilograms of heroin and at least 450 kilograms of

cocaine.   This yielded a base offense level of 38.       After application of the

acceptance of responsibility adjustment and enhancements for maintaining a stash

house and for Santana’s leadership role in the offense, see U.S.S.G. §§

2D1.1(b)(12) and 3B1.1(a), the total offense level increased to 42. This offense

level and a Criminal History Category of II resulted in an advisory guideline range

of 360 months to life.

      Santana objected to the drug quantity calculation, as well as the application

of both enhancements.      An evidentiary hearing was conducted at which the

Government offered the testimony of Eric Shuffelbottom, an agent with the Drug

Enforcement Agency. Thereafter, the District Court issued a memorandum, setting

forth its reasons for rejecting the PSR’s findings with regard to the drug

calculation. After discussing Agent Shuffelbottom’s testimony, the District Court

found that his testimony, together with certain hearsay statements he related in his

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testimony, were credible. Based on Agent Shuffelbottom’s testimony, the District

Court calculated a conservative drug quantity to be used for purposes of computing

the advisory guideline range. The Court’s findings with regard to drug quantity,

while lower than the amounts calculated in the PSR, were nonetheless substantial.

It found Santana responsible for 34.2 kilograms of heroin and 276 kilograms of

cocaine.

      At sentencing, the District Court heard argument on the applicability of the

two sentencing enhancements, ultimately concluding that each enhancement

should be applied. Given the drug quantity the Court had calculated, Santana’s

total offense level of 40 and his Criminal History Category of II yielded an

advisory guideline range of 324 to 405 months. The Court proceeded to consider

the sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), discussed its reasons for the sentence

it would impose, and sentenced Santana to, inter alia, 324 months of

imprisonment. This timely appeal followed.1

      Santana contends that the District Court erred because its factual findings

with regard to the drug quantity and the sentencing enhancements were not

supported by a preponderance of the evidence. We review the sufficiency of the

evidence for clear error. United States v. Grier, 475 F.3d 556, 570 (3d Cir. 2007)

(en banc). We are not persuaded by Santana’s argument. The District Court

1
  The District Court exercised jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have
jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
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carefully set out its analysis of the evidentiary hearing, explaining why it rejected

or credited certain testimony. At sentencing, the Court explained its reasons for

applying the enhancements. After reviewing the record and the District Court’s

analysis, we conclude that the District Court did not err, clearly or otherwise.

         Santana also attacks the 324-month sentence as substantively unreasonable.

We review for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Tomko, 562 F.3d 558, 567

(3d Cir. 2009) (en banc). This argument lacks merit given the District Court’s

thorough consideration of the evidence, its discussion of the § 3553(a) sentencing

factors, and the reasons it set out for imposing the sentence.

         Finally, for the purpose of preserving the issue for further appeal, Santana

argues that the District Court erred because under Alleyne v. United States, 133 S.

Ct. 2151 (2013), the sentencing factors that increased his advisory guideline range

had to be charged in the indictment and proved beyond a reasonable doubt. We

rejected this argument in United States v. Freeman, 763 F.3d 322 (3d Cir. 2014),

and do likewise here.

         For the above stated reasons, we will affirm the judgment of the District

Court.

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