Court Opinion

ID: 47185
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 23:18:32+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:51.438053
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                     ________________________                   FILED
                                                      U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                        ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                            No. 05-10291                   February 17, 2006
                      ________________________           THOMAS K. KAHN
                                                               CLERK
                D. C. Docket No. 04-00246-CR-T-30-TBM

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

GERARDO DE JESUS MATUTE-SANTOS,

                                                       Defendant-Appellant.

                      ________________________

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

                          (February 17, 2006)

Before EDMONDSON Chief Judge, ANDERSON and FAY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Appellant challenges his 168-month sentence imposed for knowingly and

willfully conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and possession of five

kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel. Appellant pled guilty but

appeals the district court’s sentence, contending that his Fifth and Sixth

Amendment rights were violated. We conclude that the appellant’s rights were not

violated and that he affirmatively waived any and all objections under the Sixth

Amendment. Finally, we find no merit in appellant’s contention that his sentence

should be vacated because he was sentenced under mandatory guidelines. We

affirm.

                               I. Factual Background

      Gerardo de Jesus Matute-Santos (hereafter referred to as “Santos”), along

with six other defendants, was indicted on two counts: (1) knowingly and willfully

conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture

and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine while aboard a vessel, in

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

(2) knowingly and willfully possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or

more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine while

aboard a vessel, in violation of 46 App. U.S.C. § 1903(a), (g) and 21 U.S.C. §

960(b)(1)(B)(ii).

                                          2
      In April 2004, in international waters, approximately eighty nautical miles

off the coast of Panama, a United States Coast Guard law enforcement detachment

intercepted the Miss Lorraine, an eighty-foot-long Honduran fishing vessel.

Pursuant to the applicable international agreement, the Coast Guard requested and

received permission from Honduras to board and search the Miss Lorraine. During

the search, the Coast Guard discovered evidence of cocaine in the passageways

and the engine room. The Coast Guard also discovered a hidden compartment in

the fuel tank which contained approximately 2,640 kilograms of cocaine.

      With Santos present at the plea hearing, the government presented the above

mentioned facts of the criminal offenses. After the government’s factual recitation,

the court asked Santos, “Is that what occurred in this case?” Santos agreed only to

the facts necessary to prove all the elements of the offense and only to the facts set

forth in the indictment. The government then stated its position that, by entering a

guilty plea, Santos waived a jury trial on all issues, including having a jury

determination as to drug quantity. Santos agreed and pled guilty to all counts.

      Subsequently, a probation officer issued a presentence investigation report

(“PSI”), which recounted the above mentioned facts with some additional details.

The PSI stated that approximately 2,200 kilograms of cocaine were found in the

secret compartment on the vessel. In addition, the PSI stated that the captain

                                          3
informed the crew, while at sea, that he was to receive a shipment of cocaine and

$150,000 for delivering the cocaine, from which he would pay the crew.

        Utilizing the November 1, 2004, edition of the United States Sentencing

Guidelines, the probation officer performed the appropriate sentencing

calculations. He noted that a statutory minium of at least 10 years was applicable

with a statutory maximum of life in prison. The calculations started with a base

offense level of 38 pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(1).1 The probation officer

recommended an adjustment for acceptance-of-responsibility, pursuant to U.S.S.G.

§ 3E1.1(a),(b), which reduced the offense level by three. With a total offense level

of 35 and a criminal history category of I, the guidelines imprisonment range was

168 to 210 months as to both counts, well below the statutory maximum of life

imprisonment.

        At the sentencing hearing, the district court asked Santos if he objected to

the calculations set forth in the PSI. Santos reminded the court that he had only

admitted the drug quantity set forth in the indictment and that at this time, he was

raising a Blakely2 objection to the district court’s finding of drug quantity based

        1
            A base offense level of 38 is called for when the quantity of cocaine is 150 kilograms or
more.
        2
          Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004) (holding
that the sentencing judge violated the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial by enhancing the
guideline offense level based on facts that neither were charged in the indictment nor proven to a
jury beyond a reasonable doubt.)

                                                   4
upon a preponderance standard.

      There followed a discussion of the holding of Blakely and the difference

between factual findings made by a jury and those made by a judge for purposes of

sentencing. This discussion included the burden of proof governing both

procedures. The judge offered to empanel a sentencing jury to consider the drug

quantity question based upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt. In response,

Santos asked the court if exercising his right to a jury would result in losing his

acceptance-of-responsibility reduction. The judge answered in the affirmative,

explaining to Santos that by engaging in such a trial he would not be voluntarily

accepting responsibility and would lose the three point reduction. The district

court granted Santos a postponement so that he could confer with counsel and

consider the court’s offer.

      At the second sentencing hearing, Santos withdrew his earlier objection

based on the Sixth Amendment, and asked to preserve his Fifth Amendment

objection that the indictment contained no “notice” of drug quantity.

The district court clarified his request by asking;

            [S]o [Santos’] objection is that the indictment does not contain
      a specific weight above 5 kilograms? He does not object to me
      proceeding with the sentencing and the finding of weight based on a
      preponderance of the evidence standard?

The response was, “That’s correct, your honor.” The court made the appropriate

                                          5
finding as to quantity (2,220 kilograms as set forth in the PSI) and then explained

that “It’s my intention to give Santos the low end of the guidelines, which is 168

months.” Santos was sentenced to 168 months, to be followed by 5 years of

supervised release

                                   II. Standard of Review

      We review Santos’ Fifth Amendment claim de novo. See United States v.

Brown, 364 F.3d 1266, 1268 (11th Cir. 2004) (“We review questions of

constitutional law de novo.”), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 879 (2004). We review

questions of law de novo. See United States v. Unterburger, 97 F.3d 1413, 1415

(11th Cir. 1996).

                                         III. Analysis

      On appeal, Santos makes no argument as to a Sixth Amendment issue,3

rather, he argues that his sentence was imposed in violation of his Fifth

Amendment rights and must be vacated and remanded for re-sentencing pursuant

to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 , 125 S.Ct. 738. 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005).

Santos contends that the following errors occurred: (1) the district court violated

      3
          All such objections were waived at sentencing.

                                                6
his Fifth Amendment rights by sentencing him based on a quantity of cocaine that

was not alleged in the indictment, admitted by him, nor proven to a jury beyond a

reasonable doubt, (2) he was sentenced pursuant to the United States Sentencing

Guidelines, which, on the date of the sentencing hearing, were mandatory and

legally binding, (3) he did not receive adequate “notice” of the drug quantity, and

(4) the district court’s error in sentencing him was not harmless because it

impacted the district court’s selection of sentence. We find these arguments to be

without merit.

Waiver

      Before we address Santos’ Fifth Amendment claims, we turn to his waiver

of any Booker and Blakey objections. Santos argues that, based on Booker and

Blakey, his Fifth Amendment rights were violated because he was sentenced based

on a quantity of cocaine which was not alleged in the indictment, admitted by him,

or proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. This argument reflects a

fundamental misunderstanding of the Booker line of authority.

      Booker and Blakely are based on Sixth Amendment principles dealing with

the right to a jury trial, and do not support the proposition that Santos’ Fifth

Amendment rights were violated based on the indictment’s failure to allege the

quantity of cocaine. See generally, Blakely, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, L.Ed.2d

                                           7
403; Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621.

      In addition, our precedent has made it clear that it is not necessary that the

allegations in an indictment set forth any specific quantity of drugs. See United

States v. Maldenaldo Sanchez, 269 F.3d 1250 (11th Cir. 2001) cert denied, 535

U.S. 942.

     “[E]ven if an indictment for a[n] . . . offense does not allege a specific
     drug quantity, it is legally and constitutionally sufficient both before
     and after Apprendi, and a district court may still accept the defendant's
     guilty plea . . .or . . . sentence the defendant for that charge.
     Maldenaldo Sanchez, 269 F.3d at 1275 (emphasis added). Moreover,

     [w]hen a specific drug quantity triggers a mandatory minimum
     sentence or is used in a U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual
     calculation, and results in a sentence at or below the otherwise
     applicable maximum penalty . . . there is no Apprendi error and there
     is no requirement that a specific drug quantity be alleged in the
     indictment, submitted to a jury, and proven beyond a reasonable.
     doubt.
     Id. at 1288 (emphasis added).

      It is clear in this record that Santos waived any Booker and Blakely

arguments when he expressly withdrew his Sixth Amendment objection in the

district court. The district court explained to Santos that if it was his desire to have

a jury determine the quantities of drugs involved, such a request would be granted.

In that instance, the burden of proof would be beyond a reasonable doubt. The

court granted Santos a recess so that he could consider this offer. Santos declined

the offer. At the second sentencing hearing, Santos withdrew his earlier objection

                                           8
based on the Sixth Amendment, and asked the court to preserve his Fifth

Amendment objection that the indictment contained no “notice” of drug quantity.

The district court clarified his withdrawal by asking;

            [S]o [Santos’] objection is that the indictment does not contain
      a specific weight above 5 kilograms? He does not object to me
      proceeding with the sentencing and the finding of weight based on a
      preponderance of the evidence standard?

Defense counsel agreed. Under these circumstances Santos has waived any

objection to a “judicial” drug quantity finding based upon a preponderance of the

evidence standard, whether based on the Sixth Amendment or the Fifth

Amendment. In other words, the foregoing colloquy constitutes an express

agreement that the judge can find the weight of the drug based on a preponderance

of the evidence. Santos will not be heard now to argue, contrary to that agreement,

that the judge should not have made such findings.

Fifth Amendment

      In addressing Santos’ Fifth Amendment arguments, we find that Santos has

failed to establish a violation. The arguments presented are that: (1) a Booker error

is present, because, within the operation of a mandatory guideline system, any fact

that increases a defendant’s “statutory maximum sentence” range must first be

charged by indictment, and (2) the government failed to provide “notice” of drug

quantity as articulated in the Fifth Amendment. Both of these arguments are

unpersuasive.

                                         9
      We noted above that this first Fifth Amendment argument was waived when

Santos agreed that the judge could find the drug weight by a preponderance. Even

if the argument had not been waived, we reject it alternatively on the merits. The

indictment charged Santos with crimes that involved five kilograms or more of

cocaine which were found on the Miss Lorraine. Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 960(b),

the “statutory maximum sentence” is life in prison. It is irrelevant that the district

court ultimately sentenced Santos based on a quantity of cocaine not alleged in the

indictment, because this action did not alter the applicable “statutory maximum

sentence.” Ultimately, the district court imposed a sentence of 168 months in

prison, which is well below the “statutory maximum sentence.” The district court’s

judicial drug quantity finding, based upon a preponderance of the evidence

standard, did not violate Santos’ Fifth Amendment rights because the sentence

imposed did not exceed the statutory maximum based upon the allegations in the

indictment.

      Santos’ notice argument is also without merit. According to the record, it is

clear that Santos was aware of the quantity of cocaine found on the vessel at the

time he entered his guilty plea. The following facts are undisputed: (1) Santos was

present at the plea hearing when the government recited the quantity of cocaine

seized, (2) attached to the criminal complaint giving rise to the arrest warrant was

an affidavit setting forth the amount of cocaine seized from the Miss Lorraine, and

                                          10
(3) the PSI report referenced the quantity of cocaine seized. Prior to the entry of

his guilty plea and prior to sentencing, Santos was given repeated “notice” of drug

quantity.

      Santos also contends that the district court committed a Booker error when

it enhanced his sentence pursuant to a mandatory application of the Sentencing

Guidelines. Because Santos failed to raise this issue in the district court, we review

the mandatory nature of the guidelines for plain error. See United States v.

Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291 (11th Cir. 2005) cert. denied, 125 S.Ct. 2935 (2005). To

prevail under plain error review, Santos must prove an: "(1) error, (2) that is plain,

and (3) that affects substantial rights." Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1298.

We agree that after Booker there is error and that it is plain. As we explained in

Rodriguez, however, it is the third prong that is most difficult. Santos has the

burden of establishing a reasonable probability that if the sentencing judge had

known the guidelines were merely advisory and had taken into account any other

unconsidered § 35534 factors, he would have imposed a lower sentence. Santos

has failed to meet this burden. Although in sentencing Santos the judge stated,

“It’s my intention to give [Santos] the low end of the Guidelines,” the judge made

no indication that he would have imposed a shorter sentence had he known the

guidelines were merely advisory. The mere fact that the district judge sentenced

      4
          See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

                                          11
Santos at the low end of the range established by the Sentencing Guidelines does

not establish sufficient prejudice under the plain error standard. See United States

v. Fields, 408 F.3d 1356, 1361 (11th Cir. 2005) (concluding that a district court's

decision to sentence a defendant at the low end of the guidelines range, without

more, was insufficient to establish defendant's burden on the third prong of the

plain error test).

                                  IV. Conclusion

       Finding no merit in the contentions raised, we affirm.

              AFFIRMED

                                         12