Court Opinion

ID: 5136569
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-20 21:01:59.174477+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:56.574597
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION
                                File Name: 21a0587n.06

                                           No. 21-1029

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT                                    FILED
                                                                                  Dec 20, 2021
                                                                              DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                        )
                                                 )
        Plaintiff-Appellee,                      )         ON APPEAL FROM THE
                                                 )         UNITED STATES DISTRICT
v.                                               )         COURT FOR THE WESTERN
                                                 )         DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SHONDALE GREGORY PRITCHETT,                      )
                                                 )
                                                                    OPINION
        Defendant-Appellant.                     )
                                                 )

Before: MOORE, CLAY, and READLER, Circuit Judges.

       KAREN NELSON MOORE, Circuit Judge. For criminal defendants who traffic drugs

and get caught, the use or possession of a firearm “in connection with” this trade threatens a hefty

sentencing enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). Shondale Gregory Pritchett

challenges the district court’s imposition of a four-level sentencing enhancement under this section

of the guidelines, arguing that the link between his trafficking of ecstasy and possession of a

handgun found in his home is too tenuous. That connection was sufficiently close for us to

AFFIRM.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

       Based on a tip from a confidential informant, law enforcement suspected that Pritchett had

been travelling to Chicago, Illinois to buy heroin and fentanyl to resell in Kalamazoo, Michigan

where he resided. R. 42 (PSR ¶ 15) (Page ID #174). Examination of Pritchett’s trash uncovered
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

two burnt pieces of tin foil with traces of methamphetamine, leading officers to secure a warrant

and search Pritchett’s home on November 19, 2019. Id. ¶¶ 16–17 (Page ID #174).

         During the search of the bedroom, officers found a box holding forty-three rounds of 9mm

ammunition. Id. ¶ 18 (Page ID #175). Also in that room, officers discovered a purse which

contained a single ecstasy tablet comprised of .58 grams of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

(MDMA).1 Id. In the bedroom’s closet, officers found two jackets belonging to Pritchett that were

of interest, one red and one white. Id.; R. 30 (Plea Agreement ¶ 6) (Page ID #113). One pocket

of the red jacket held a digital scale, while the other held a sandwich baggie containing pressed

pills comprised of a mixture of MDMA and methamphetamine weighing 5.17 grams. R. 42 (PSR

¶ 18) (Page ID #175); Pritchett Br. at 3. Officers found in a pocket of the white jacket a loaded,

9mm black handgun. R. 42 (PSR ¶ 19) (Page ID #175); R. 30 (Plea Agreement ¶ 6) (Page ID

#113).

         Law enforcement also examined Pritchett’s cell phone, which revealed a picture of the

black handgun sitting alongside a pink handgun. R. 46-1 (Exhibits to Gov’t Sent’g Mem. at 4)

(Page ID #636). That image was dated October 21, 2019. Id.

         Although police arrested Pritchett during the search, he appears to have been released. R.

42 (PSR ¶¶ 27, 29) (Page ID #176). In January 2020, police arrested Pritchett again after he

returned to Kalamazoo from driving to Chicago. Id. ¶¶ 29–30 (Page ID #176). When officers

searched Pritchett’s car, they found a bag containing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl weighing

29.59 grams. Id. ¶ 31 (Page ID #177). They did not find any firearms or ecstasy. Id.

         1
         MDMA is commonly known as ecstasy. See, e.g., United States v. Judge, 649 F.3d 453, 455 n.1 (6th Cir.
2011); United States v. Duckro, 466 F.3d 438, 440 (6th Cir. 2006).

                                                      2
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

       After this second arrest, the government charged Pritchett with being a felon in possession

of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g); possession—but not trafficking—of a mixture of

MDMA and methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844(a); and possession with intent to

distribute heroin and fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).             R. 9

(Indictment) (Page ID #31–34). In return for the government dropping the remaining charge,

Pritchett pleaded guilty to the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession

with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. R. 30 (Plea Agreement ¶¶ 1, 8) (Page ID #111, 115).

       In the final presentence report, a probation officer calculated Pritchett’s total offense level

as twenty-three, which, combined with a criminal history category of III, resulted in a

recommended guidelines range of between fifty-seven and seventy-one months. R. 42 (PSR ¶ 125)

(Page ID #195).      Part of this calculation included a four-level increase under U.S.S.G.

§ 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) for Pritchett’s possession of the black handgun in connection with his trafficking

in ecstasy. R. 42 (PSR ¶ 50) (Page ID #179). Pritchett repeatedly objected to this enhancement.

Id. at Addendum (Page ID #200); R. 43 (Pritchett Sent’g Mem. at 8–11) (Page ID #209–12).

       At sentencing, the district court determined that the firearm found in Pritchett’s closet was

used or possessed in connection with the trafficking of ecstasy. R. 55 (Sent’g Tr. at 11–12) (Page

ID #1071–72). Consequently, the district court overruled Pritchett’s objections and applied the

sentencing enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). R. 55 (Sent’g Tr. at 12:17–19)

(Page ID #1072). The court then sentenced Pritchett to fifty-seven months in prison as well as a

term of supervised release, noting that it would not have imposed the same prison sentence if the

enhancement did not apply. Id. at 22:7–14, 26:8–12 (Page ID #1082, 1086); R. 50 (J. at 2–3) (Page

ID #1021–22). Pritchett timely appealed. R. 52 (Notice of Appeal) (Page ID #1031).

                                                 3
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

                                          II. DISCUSSION

       On appeal, Pritchett disputes the procedural reasonableness of his sentence, maintaining

that the record does not support the district court’s application of a four-level enhancement under

U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). “Our review of procedural reasonableness includes determining

whether the district court properly calculated a defendant’s Guidelines range.” United States v.

Seymour, 739 F.3d 923, 929 (6th Cir. 2014). “In the specific context of the § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B)

firearm enhancement, ‘we review the district court’s factual findings for clear error and accord

“due deference” to the district court’s determination that the firearm was used or possessed “in

connection with” the other felony, thus warranting the application of the . . . enhancement.’” Id.

(quoting United States v. Taylor, 648 F.3d 417, 432 (6th Cir. 2011)). In the district court, “[t]he

government bears the burden of establishing the factors supporting this enhancement by a

preponderance of the evidence.” Id.

       To secure the four-level increase in offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B), the

government must establish that the defendant “used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in

connection with another felony offense.” Specifically, “per the application note, subsection

(b)(6)(B) applies ‘if the firearm or ammunition facilitated, or had the potential of facilitating,

another felony offense.’” United States v. Shanklin, 924 F.3d 905, 919 (6th Cir. 2019) (quoting

U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) cmt. 14(A)).       Relevant to Pritchett, who was not charged with

trafficking ecstasy, “[t]he application note further explains that ‘another felony offense’ is ‘any

federal, state, or local offense, other than the explosive or firearms possession or trafficking

offense, punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, regardless of whether a

criminal charge was brought, or a conviction obtained.’” Id. (quoting U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B)

                                                4
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

cmt. 14(C)). When that other felony offense is a drug-trafficking offense, the enhancement will

apply if “a firearm is found in close proximity to drugs, drug-manufacturing materials, or drug

paraphernalia.” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) cmt. 14(B).

        Given the scope of U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B), we have outlined several theories that could

support a sentencing enhancement. See United States v. Jackson, 877 F.3d 231, 237 (6th Cir.

2017). The government has chosen to pursue the “fortress theory” in Pritchett’s case. This theory

“applies ‘if it reasonably appears that the firearms found on the premises controlled or owned by

a defendant and in his actual or constructive possession are to be used to protect the drugs or

otherwise facilitate a drug transaction.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Angel, 576 F.3d 318, 321

(6th Cir. 2009)). Underpinning the fortress theory is the recognition that, although “proximity may

not be dispositive, it is certainly indicative of a connection between the guns and the drugs.” Angel,

576 F.3d at 321 (quoting United States v. Oglesby, 210 F. App’x 503, 506 (6th Cir. 2007)).

        It bears emphasizing that, with respect to the fortress theory, proximity is necessary but not

sufficient for an enhancement to apply under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). “[P]ossession of firearms

that is merely coincidental to the underlying felony offense is insufficient to support the application

of § 2K2.1.” Angel, 576 F.3d at 321 (quoting United States v. Ennenga, 263 F.3d 499, 503 (6th

Cir. 2001)). Put differently, the mere presence of a firearm in the same location as drugs does not

necessarily lead to an enhancement under this theory. A defendant may, for instance, possess both

a firearm and a small quantity of drugs solely for personal use without running afoul of

§ 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). See United States v. Shields, 664 F.3d 1040, 1045 (6th Cir. 2011).

        Proximity, however, looms larger when the defendant is involved with drug trafficking.

That is because it is “easier to see how a firearm facilitates drug trafficking transactions, than it is

                                                   5
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

to see how a firearm facilitates the mere possession of controlled substances” due to the fact that

“a firearm can embolden the offender to carry a large amount of drugs, to show up at a location

where the parties on the other side of the transaction are armed, and to ensure that both sides of

the transaction are completed, i.e., that both the money and the drugs change hands.” Id. at 1046.

Again, there are limits. A defendant may both sell drugs and own firearms without incurring an

enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B), if they are stored in separate locations and the guns

did not otherwise facilitate the drug sales. See Jackson, 877 F.3d at 239–41. But if a defendant

keeps both the drugs that they traffic and the firearm that they possess near one another, then that

defendant faces the possibility of a four-level increase at sentencing. See, e.g., Shanklin, 924 F.3d

at 920–21; Taylor, 648 F.3d at 432–33; United States v. Hardin, 248 F.3d 489, 496, 500 (6th Cir.

2001).

         Reviewing the evidence presented by the government at Pritchett’s sentencing hearing, the

district court determined that “there is very strong evidence of drug trafficking in ecstasy pills.”

R. 55 (Sent’g Tr. at 11:19–20) (Page ID #1071). If the only proof of trafficking in ecstasy pills

were the .58 grams of the drug found in Pritchett’s bedroom and the 5.17 more grams found in his

red jacket’s pocket, then whether the district court’s finding was clear error might be a closer

question. After all, the amount of ecstasy is not large.

         The search of Pritchett’s cell phone, however, presented the district court with more

evidence of trafficking in ecstasy than just the drug’s presence in his closet. On May 30, 2019,

Pritchett had the following exchange with a buyer via text message:

                                                 6
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

        [Pritchett]    u hmu
        Incoming       This Rock u got excasty
        [Pritchett]    yea
        [Pritchett]    wya
        Incoming       North wya
        [Pritchett]    leavin west omw
        Incoming       Bet
        [Pritchett]    comin dwn westmain wya
        Incoming       Stuart
        [Pritchett]    ight
        [Pritchett]    comin up street
        Incoming       Ok
        [Pritchett]    putside

R. 48 (Text Messages with “chi chi”) (Page ID #932). Pritchett had clearly been selling ecstasy

by this date.

        Had this been the only evidence of ecstasy trafficking, then the link between these dealings

and what officers found during their search on November 19 might still be too attenuated. But

Pritchett continued to document his ecstasy transactions. On September 29 and 30—only a month-

and-a-half before the search of his home—Pritchett had the following exchange of text messages

with one of his buyers:

        Incoming       These mfs are fake asf, someone better give me back my money!
        [Pritchett]    i dont take pills im just the middle person [emoji]
        [Pritchett]    Disliked “These mfs are fake asf, someone better give me back my
                       money!”
        [Pritchett]    [Emoji]
        Incoming       Well you need to let that personknow thati thats bullshit, he will b
                       found out, im moving out here this week to about a mile down the
                       road and ill b in a
        Incoming       house with more room and shit so thats the reason i needed those!
        [Pritchett]    i want repeat customers n you no that i dont deal in bs
        [Pritchett]    i already sent him a screenshot of your message I wont be dealin w
                       him any more i dont no how or wats the difference but ill find diff
                       ones

R. 48 (Text Messages with “Rick r”) (Page ID #975).

                                                 7
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

       Although Pritchett argues that the reference to “pills” is too vague to link these messages

to ecstasy, the only drug that officers found in pill form during their search of his house was

ecstasy. Therefore, regardless of whether the evidence was “very strong,” the district court did

not clearly err in concluding that Pritchett trafficked in ecstasy based on the text messages and on

the presence of the drug and digital scale in his home.

       Against this conclusion, Pritchett advances three counterarguments. To begin, Pritchett

contends that the first recorded date on which he possessed the black handgun—October 21,

2019—does not overlap with any of his documented ecstasy deals. The argument that there must

be a temporal and physical connection between the trafficked drugs and the facilitating firearm has

appeal. We have indicated that the defendant must be currently engaged in drug trafficking for

U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B)’s enhancement to apply under a proximity theory. See Shields, 664

F.3d at 1045 (“[W]hile close proximity between a firearm and drugs will suffice to justify the

enhancement when an offender is engaged in drug trafficking, in other cases the enhancement

applies only if the government can establish that the firearm actually or potentially facilitated that

offense.” (quoting United States v. McKenzie, 410 F. App’x 943, 945 (6th Cir. 2011) (first

emphasis added)). A defendant who retires from drug dealing, but who continues to possess small

amounts of illicit substances solely for personal use, may be able to escape a sentencing

enhancement under § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) if caught with a firearm.

       But that is not this case. Although Pritchett told officers after being arrested following the

search of his home that he regularly used ecstasy, the record calls this into question. R. 42 (PSR

¶ 24) (Page ID #176). Indeed, about a month-and-a-half before the search, Pritchett told a buyer

that he did not use ecstasy, but only sold it. R. 48 (Text Messages with “Rick r”) (Page ID #975).

                                                  8
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

This comment came during an exchange in which Pritchett sought to soothe a disgruntled buyer

of “pills” in order to ensure that he would have “repeat customers.” R. 48 (Text Messages with

“Rick r”) (Page ID #975). Law enforcement discovered ecstasy pills in Pritchett’s jacket a month-

and-a-half after this exchange. R. 42 (PSR ¶ 18) (Page ID #175). Nearby was the loaded black

handgun and more ammunition for it. Id. ¶¶ 18–19 (Page ID #175). Nothing in the record indicates

that Pritchett stopped selling ecstasy in the interim. The evidence in this case is sufficient to

conclude that the district court did not clearly err in finding that Pritchett was trafficking ecstasy

at the time officers searched his house, and that he possessed the handgun in connection with these

dealings.

        Next, Pritchett argues that the quantity of ecstasy was too small to support the district

court’s finding that he was trafficking in ecstasy. Perhaps this would be true if there was no other

evidence in the record of Pritchett’s trafficking of this drug aside from its quantity. The amount

of ecstasy located in Pritchett’s home, however, does not stand alone. Pritchett’s own words

support the inference drawn by the district court that the ecstasy was for selling rather than just

possessing.2

        Finally, Pritchett’s attempt to flip the inference drawn from the gun—that is, from

possessing the gun to selling it—is also unconvincing. Although “whether the defendant has an

innocent explanation for the firearm” is a factor to be considered in the enhancement calculation,

so, too, is “[t]he proximity of the gun to the drugs . . . . , the type of firearm[,] and whether it is

loaded.” Taylor, 648 F.3d at 432–33. The firearm was in the same closet as one of the stashes of

        2
           Pritchett additionally suggests that because there is no evidence that he sold ecstasy from his home, the
fortress theory is untenable, but we have previously rejected a similar argument. See Hardin, 248 F.3d at 500.

                                                         9
No. 21-1029, United States v. Pritchett

ecstasy. Handguns are also known tools of the drug trade. See United States v. Hough, 276 F.3d

884, 895 (6th Cir. 2002).

        Furthermore, it is unclear whether Pritchett ever sought to sell the black handgun rather

than just a different, pink one. Pritchett suggests that the exhibits attached to the government’s

sentencing memorandum indicate that both the black handgun, which law enforcement found in

his closet, and the pink handgun, which the police never recovered, were for sale and a buyer

merely picked one. R. 46-1 (Exhibits to Gov’t Sent’g Mem. at 1–5) (Page ID #633–37). Although

Pritchett and the government stipulated to the fact that he sent a photo of both handguns via text

message to another person on October 21, 2019, it is difficult to discern what his intentions in

sending this image were. R. 30 (Plea Agreement ¶ 6) (Page ID #113–14). In the text of the

messages that followed the image, Pritchett references having a gun for sale, but the only

discussion is about the pink handgun. R. 48 (Text Messages with “quarry cuhcuh”) (Page ID

#991). Two other exchanges with someone named “Brandon” on October 25 and October 29

indicate that Pritchett was interested in selling only the pink handgun to this person. R. 46-1

(Exhibits to Gov’t Sent’g Mem. at 1–3) (Page ID #633–35).

        Even if the black handgun had once been for sale, the fact that it was loaded when officers

discovered it indicates that Pritchett was more interested in the weapon’s use value than in its

exchange value at the time of the search. See United States v. Burns, 498 F.3d 578, 581 (6th Cir.

2007). Thus, the district court did not clearly err in finding by a preponderance of the evidence

that this use was to facilitate Pritchett’s ecstasy trafficking.

                                         III. CONCLUSION

        For those reasons, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.

                                                   10