US v. Demetrious Moore

Filing

UNPUBLISHED PER CURIAM OPINION filed. Originating case number: 6:08-cr-00124-HMH-1. Copies to all parties and the district court/agency. [998470308] [09-4175]

US v. Demetrious Moore

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UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 09-4175 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. DEMETRIOUS ADONIS MOORE, a/k/a Meechie, Defendant - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, at Greenville. Henry M. Herlong, Jr., Senior District Judge. (6:08-cr-00124-HMH-1) Argued: September 23, 2010 Decided: November 22, 2010

Before WILKINSON, Circuit Judge, HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge, and Robert J. CONRAD, Jr., Chief United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, sitting by designation. Affirmed in part; vacated and remanded by unpublished per curiam opinion. ARGUED: Thomas Edward Vanderbloemen, GALLIVAN, WHITE & BOYD, PA, Greenville, South Carolina, for Appellant. William Jacob Watkins, Jr., OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Greenville, South Carolina, for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Garrett M. Heenan, CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT, LLP, Washington, D.C., for Appellant. W. Walter Wilkins, United States Attorney, Columbia, South Carolina, E. Jean Howard, Assistant United States

Dockets.Justia.com

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Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED South Carolina, for Appellee.

STATES

ATTORNEY,

Greenville,

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

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PER CURIAM: Defendant Demetrious Moore gave an unfortunate victim a

night he will never forget.

For his actions that night, Moore He

was convicted of carjacking, extortion, and bank robbery.

now appeals the carjacking and bank robbery convictions, as well as the sentence imposed by the district court. For the

following reasons, we affirm in part, vacate and remand.

I. On September 9, 2007, Defendant Demetrious Moore and two accomplices accosted a man ("the victim") in the parking lot of the victim's apartment complex. p.m., when the victim had just The episode began around 9:45 returned home from evening

prayers.

As he got out of his car, Moore and his accomplices

rushed at the man, held both his arms, and forced him into the back seat. They took his wallet, cell phone, and car keys, and When the victim resisted disclosing

drove him to a nearby ATM.

his ATM PIN, Moore struck him once or twice, and the victim eventually capitulated. The assailants withdrew the maximum

amount allowed by the machine, $500, and discovered the victim had a significant balance in his account. Moore and his accomplices demanded more money, and when the victim said he had none on his person, they demanded he write a check. They eventually drove back to the victim's apartment to 3

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retrieve his checkbook.

While there, they stole the victim's

laptop and checkbooks as the victim waited in the car under the watch of one of the accomplices. They forced him to write out a Moore put the check in

check for $9,000 to a "John Cummings." his pocket. Moore told the victim that they

could

not

release

him

because they feared he would call the bank, but that they would let him go after they cashed the check in the morning. stop at Taco and Bell, Moore and his in contingent victim's After a the an

blindfolded vehicle, to

victim

drove

him,

still

the

Economy Inn. bathroom. his

They rented a room and forced the victim into the

From the comfort of the bathroom that night, he heard enjoying themselves in the hotel room. They

assailants

would pull him out when someone needed to use the bathroom and force him back in when finished. During this time, they

threatened to kill the victim by tying him up and burning him alive inside his car. Later that night, Moore and one accomplice took the debit card and withdrew another $500 at a different ATM. or early the next morning, hit in Moore the gave head. the The victim next That night a Tylenol after

because

he

had

been

day,

discovering that there was no branch of National City Bank (the victim's bank) in Greenville, at Moore's direction, the group decided to try a check-cashing store. 4

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After the victim told Moore that he only had one form of identification, his driver's license, and that the bank might thus become suspicious of the $9,000 check, Moore made the

victim draft a $4,000 check.

Moore and his partners told the

victim that if he would cash the check, then they would release him. Moore stayed at the hotel and directed three accomplices The accomplices before finally

to take the victim to cash the $4000 check. took the victim to three or four businesses

finding a check cashing store, which they believed would accept the check. They sent the victim inside alone to cash the check. As an

incentive to comply, they reminded the victim that they knew where he lived and told him that if he alerted the police, they would have someone kill him. Once inside the store, the victim

wrote on his hand "help call police" as a signal to the clerk. The clerk called the police and allowed the victim to enter the secure area of the store with her. The police arrived after

about ten minutes and arrested Moore's accomplices outside the store. In Moore as their the post-arrest leader of statements, their group. the The accomplices officers named

noticed

bruises, marks, swelling, and a small laceration on the victim's face and called for medical assistance. EMS responded to the

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scene

and

examined

the

victim.

Once

cleared,

the

victim

declined their offer to transport him to the hospital. Officers arrested Moore the next day at a motel near the Economy Inn. At the time of his arrest, Moore dropped a

crumpled up check, which was the $9,000 check they had forced the victim to make payable to "John Cummings." Moore was named in a five-count Superseding Indictment

charging him with carjacking (Count I); extortion (Count II); bank robbery (Counts III and IV); and attempted robbery of a check cashing store (Count V). On September 11, 2008, Moore On

went to trial and was found guilty on Counts I, II, and III.

February 11, 2009, the district court sentenced Moore to 480 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Judgment

was entered on February 18, 2009, and Moore timely appealed on February 19, 2009.

II. Moore appeals his bank-robbery conviction (Count III), for which he was sentenced to the statutory maximum twenty years. He argues that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the conviction because the Government failed to prove the bank was FDIC insured. The Government concedes this point on appeal and

agrees that Moore's conviction and sentence on Count III should be vacated. 6

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III. Moore next appeals his conviction for carjacking (Count I). He contends there was insufficient evidence to support the

jury's determination that he acted with the requisite intent to sustain a federal carjacking conviction. Moore faces a "heavy burden" in contesting the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a jury verdict. United States v.

Abuelhawa, 523 F.3d 415, 421 (4th Cir. 2008) (citation omitted). In resolving issues of sufficiency of the evidence, this Court does not weigh evidence or reassess the fact finder's assessment of witness credibility. United States v. Sun, 278 F.3d 302, 313

(4th Cir. 2002). Moore's jury conviction must be sustained if, taking the view most favorable to the Government, there is

substantial evidence to support the verdict. States, 315 U.S. 60, 80 (1942).

Glasser v. United evidence is

Substantial

evidence that a rational trier of fact could have found adequate and sufficient to establish the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. 319 (1979). Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

Reversal is reserved for the rare case where the United

prosecution's failure to produce such evidence is clear. States v. Jones, 735 F.2d 785, 791 (4th Cir. 1984).

To sustain a conviction for carjacking under 18 U.S.C. § 2219, the Government must prove that the defendant had the This

specific intent "to cause death or serious bodily harm." 7

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intent

element

is

conditional:

"the

Government

[must]

prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant would have at least attempted to seriously harm or kill the driver if that action had been necessary to complete the taking of the car." v. United States, 526 U.S. 1, 12 (1999). Holloway

"[A]n empty threat, or

intimidating bluff, . . . standing on its own, is not enough to satisfy § 2119's specific intent element." Moore argues there was no Id. at 11. that he or any

evidence

accomplice -- all unarmed -- intended to kill or maim the victim at the time they took his car. He places much emphasis on the

fact that no firearm or other weapon was used in the taking of the car. However, the plain language of § 2119 makes no mention

of a weapon, but rather requires an intent to kill or cause serious bodily harm. While the lack of a weapon may be a factor

the jury considers on the issue of intent, there still may be evidence from which a "rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319. In this case, the Government presented testimony from both the victim and Moore's co-defendant that at the moment the

defendants stole the victim's car, they charged at him, grabbed both of his arms, and forced him into the back of his car.

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During the carjacking, * Moore punched the victim in the course of demanding his ATM PIN. victim that if he was A co-defendant testified Moore told the uncooperative, Moore would kill him.

Further, some defendants threatened to kill the victim if he refused to give them the money in his possession. As the victim

testified, "they said they will tie me in the car and burn the car." Moore contends there was insufficient evidence of intent. Rather than intending to harm the victim, he argues, they wanted the victim alive and well so that he could make an ATM

withdrawal.

But Moore's desire for the victim's compliance, so

he could transport the victim to multiple locations and steal his money from various venues, says nothing of what Moore would have done had the victim at any point resisted the taking of the car. Moore further contends that he hit the victim only one

time, and he points to the victim's trial testimony that "I wasn't seriously injured but they hit me just to frighten me and The First, Sixth, and Ninth Circuits have held that "the commission of a carjacking continues at least while the carjacker maintains control over the victim and [the victim's] car." Ramirez-Burgos v. United States, 313 F. 3d 23, 30 n.9 (1st Cir. 2002); United States v. Vazquez-Rivera, 135 F.3d 172, 178 (1st Cir. 1998); United States v. Cline, 362 F.3d 343, 353 (6th Cir. 2004); United States v. Hicks, 103 F.3d 837, 844 n. 5 (9th Cir. 1996) (reasoning that a carjacking continues until the victim is permanently separated from her car).
*

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threaten me many times with my life."

This statement is taken

out of context, however, as the victim also stated, "I was . . . mentally and physically tortured by them, . . . as well as by the thought that I may not come alive out of this incident." Finally, Moore notes that he provided the victim with Tylenol while at the hotel, and that he had an accomplice bring the victim a cup of water when they stopped at Taco Bell. These

supposed acts of caretaking simply reflect Moore's treatment of the victim while the victim cooperated; they fail to shed light on the key question the jury was asked to determine: what Moore would have done if the victim had resisted the taking of the car. Faced with this difficult inquiry, the jury found that

Moore would have killed or seriously injured the victim if he had resisted Moore's taking of the car. favorable victim, to the Government, with his Moore's to In the light most abuse of the if

physical kill

paired

threat

the

victim

uncooperative, provides sufficient evidence for a rational trier of fact to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Moore had the intent required by § 2219.

IV. At sentencing, the district court applied a three-level

enhancement for bodily injury pursuant to USSG §2B3.1(b)(3)(D) 10

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and a two-level adjustment for obstruction of justice pursuant to USSG §3C1.1. in error. The district court found Moore to have a combined adjusted offense level of 42, with a Criminal History Category of I. His Moore maintains these determinations were made

resulting Guidelines range was 360-660 months, and the district court sentenced Moore to 480 months. not file a sentencing memorandum Moore's trial attorney did and did not make written He

objections to the Presentence Investigation Report ("PSR").

did make an oral objection at sentencing to the enhancement for use of a minor. When the district court asked Moore whether he

had any objections, he stated: "I still don't truly understand how I'm receiving all these enhancements when my co-defendants didn't receive so many." He further expressed displeasure that

his Guidelines range was significantly higher than theirs. Moore argues that this statement, while lacking detail and specificity, clearly implicated the many Sentencing Guidelines enhancements recommended in the PSR. He contends that as a

result, he is entitled to de novo review regarding his current challenges to the bodily injury and obstruction of justice

enhancements.

Moore agreed at sentencing that he had enough

time to discuss his PSR with his attorney, and before the judge sentenced Moore, Moore told the judge that he had nothing

further to say. 11

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The

lack

of

a

specific to a

objection waiver"

to of

these Moore's

sentencing right to

determinations

"amounts

challenge them on appeal, absent plain error.

United States v.

Brothers Const. Co. of Ohio, 219 F.3d 300, 320 (4th Cir. 2000). This Court will only correct plain error if four conditions are present: (1) [A]n error, such as deviation from a legal rule; (2) the error must be plain, meaning obvious or, at a minimum, clear under current law; (3) the error must affect substantial rights-in other words, the error must be so prejudicial as to affect the outcome of the proceedings in the district court; and, finally, (4) . . . the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. (quoting United States v. Castner, 50 F.3d 1267, 1277 (4th Cir. 1995)). A. Section 2B3.1 of the Guidelines allows a two- to six-level increase in offense level if the victim of a robbery sustains bodily injury. The Guidelines suggest that "bodily injury"

warrants a two-level increase, "serious bodily injury" warrants a four-level increase, and "permanent or life-threatening bodily injury" warrants a six-level increase. The U.S. Sentencing

Commission clarified "bodily injury" as "any significant injury; e.g., an injury that is painful and obvious, or is of a type for which medical attention ordinarily 12 would be sought." USSG

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§1B1.1, comment. (n.1(B)).

"[T]o be `significant' an injury

need not interfere completely with the injured person's life but cannot be wholly trivial and, while it need not last for months or years, must last for some meaningful period." United States

v. Lancaster, 6 F.3d 208, 209 (4th Cir. 1993) (per curiam). "Serious bodily injury" is an "injury involving extreme physical pain or the protracted impairment of a function of a bodily member, organ, or as mental faculty; or requiring or medical physical

intervention

such

surgery,

hospitalization,

rehabilitation."

USSG §1B1.1, comment. (n.1(L)).

The district

court applied a three-level enhancement for bodily injury to the victim in Moore's case, for harm falling between "bodily injury" and "serious bodily injury." See USSG §2B3.1(b)(3)(D).

The evidence in this case is that Moore punched the victim once or twice and that the defendants rushed at the victim and forced him into his car, causing multiple dark bruises on his face and a laceration above his right eye. The victim

experienced enough pain for Moore to have felt the need to offer him pain medication. Further, the victim testified, "I was

. . . mentally and physically tortured by them, . . . as well as by the thought that I may not come alive out of this incident." In addition, EMS was ready to take him to the hospital, but he declined. On this record, the district court did not plainly

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err

in

applying

a

three-level

bodily-injury

enhancement

with

respect to Moore's carjacking conviction (Count I). B. Moore obstruction sentencing also of challenges justice. the two-level "a from defendant her trial adjustment objects to for a a

Where

enhancement

resulting

testimony,

district court must review the evidence and make independent findings necessary to establish a willful impediment to or

obstruction of justice, or an attempt to do the same, under the perjury definition we have set out." 507 U.S. 87, 95 (1993). United States v. Dunnigan,

Here, the district court did not make

specific factual findings as to obstruction of justice. While Moore voiced a general dissatisfaction with the PSR at his sentencing hearing, he made no specific objection to the obstruction adjustment. Even if he had, "[a] mere objection to

the finding in the presentence report is not sufficient . . . . Without an affirmative showing the information is inaccurate, the court is `free to adopt the findings of the [presentence report] without more specific inquiry or explanation.'" States v. Love, 134 F.3d 595, 606 (4th Cir. 1998) United (quoting The

United States v. Terry, 916 F.2d 157, 162 (4th Cir. 1990)).

district court was thus entitled to adopt the PSR's findings. See . . Fed. . R. Crim. accept P. any 32(i)(3)(A) undisputed 14 ("At sentencing, of the the court

may

portion

presentence

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report as a finding of fact . . . .").

The PSR noted that this

adjustment was proper because Moore made "false statements while under oath regarding his involvement" in the offense. During the sentencing hearing, the district court adopted the Guideline calculations from the PSR, ultimately finding that Moore was lying as opposed to incorrectly remembering the events about which he testified. Moore provides no evidence indicating The district court thus

the PSR misstated his trial testimony.

did not plainly err in adopting the PSR's finding and applying the two-level obstruction adjustment I) and with his respect extortion to Moore's

carjacking (Count II).

conviction

(Count

conviction

V. For carjacking the reasons set (Count forth I) above, and we affirm Moore's

conviction

sentencing

enhancements,

vacate the bank robbery conviction (Count III) and the portion of his sentence is related for the to it, and remand of for resentencing. Moore's

Such

remand

limited

purpose

imposing

sentence in the absence of his bank robbery conviction. AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED AND REMANDED

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