US v. Michael Moore
Filing
920091106
UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 09-4189
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. MICHAEL L. MOORE, Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at Richmond. Henry E. Hudson, District Judge. (3:08-cr-00389-HEH-1)
Submitted:
September 29, 2009
Decided:
November 6, 2009
Before MICHAEL and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Michael S. Nachmanoff, Federal Public Defender, Frances H. Pratt, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Alexandria, Virginia, for Appellant. Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney, John D. Adams, Assistant United States Attorney, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM: Michael L. Moore appeals his convictions, following a jury trial, on one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, One"), in and violation one of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) of a (2006) in
("Count
count
of
possession
firearm
furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (2006) ("Count Three"), 1 and the ensuing 360month sentence. Moore of challenges his guilt the and sufficiency the district of the
Government's
evidence
court's
decision to sentence him as a career offender. that follow, we affirm.
For the reasons
I. In order
Sufficiency of the Evidence to establish a violation of 21 U.S.C.
§ 841(a)(1), the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant: substance; (3) with (1) knowingly; (2) possessed the controlled the intent to distribute it. United Moore
States v. Randall, 171 F.3d 195, 209 (4th Cir. 1999).
asserts the Government failed to meet its burden of proof on the third element.
Moore was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (2006), but raises no argument pertinent to this count.
1
2
To establish this element, the Government called DEA Task Force Agent Phil Johnakin, who testified as an expert on the pricing, packaging, to and distribution of marijuana is in
Virginia.
According
Johnakin,
marijuana
"typically
packaged in plastic bag corners, for smaller amounts, which are knotted . . . and cut." The drugs seized from Moore were
packaged in this manner, and each baggie contained between 1.5 and 2 grams of marijuana. Johnakin opined that each baggie
would sell for approximately $20, which was consistent with the $265 in five, ten, and twenty dollar bills found on Moore.
Finally, Johnakin testified that drug dealers frequently carry firearms to protect themselves, their drugs, and their money. Officer Frye, one of the police officers on the scene of Moore's arrest, waistband testified and that it Moore into a removed nearby a firearm prior from to his being
threw
bush
apprehended. Johnakin expressed his expert opinion that, "based on everything, inconsistent . . with . [Moore's possession and of marijuana consistent was] with
personal
use,
more
possession with the intent to distribute."
Johnakin elaborated,
noting his opinion was "[b]ased on the manner [in] which the drugs were packed, based on the amount of currency or the manner of the currency, the 10s and 20s and 5s, as well as the firearm being in close proximity to all the above." 3
Taken in the light most favorable to the Government, Evans v. United States, 504 U.S. 255, 257 (1992), this evidence was more than sufficient to satisfy the Government's burden and to permit a reasonable trier of fact to find Moore guilty of Count One. Moore Government's next challenges on Count the Three, sufficiency particularly of that the he
evidence
possessed the firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking offense. "[T]o prove the § 924(c) violation, the government was required to present evidence indicating that the possession of a firearm furthered, advanced, or helped forward a drug
trafficking crime.
However, whether the firearm served such a United States v.
purpose is ultimately a factual question."
Perry, 560 F.3d 246, 254 (4th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), petition for cert. filed, ___
U.S.L.W. ___ (U.S. June 19, 2009) (No. 08-11019). this determination, the jury may consider:
In reaching
[T]he type of drug activity that is being conducted, accessibility of the firearm, the type of weapon, whether the weapon is stolen, the status of the possession (legitimate or illegal), whether the gun is loaded, proximity to drugs or drug profits, and the time and circumstances under which the gun is found. United States v. Lomax, 293 F.3d 701, 705 (4th Cir. 2002)
(internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
4
In light of the Lomax factors, the Government's evidence that Moore's possession of a firearm was in furtherance of his drug activity was substantial. According to Frye's testimony,
Moore was carrying the firearm in the waistband of his pants, rendering it accessible and in close proximity to the marijuana and money found in his pants pockets. Moreover, Moore possessed Trial
the gun contemporaneously with his marijuana possession.
testimony further established that the firearm was loaded, with one bullet in its chamber. Because the facts amply satisfy the
Lomax factors, we affirm the conviction on Count Three.
II.
Career Offender Designation
Moore also argues the district court erred as a matter of fact and law in finding that his parole on two prior drug convictions was revoked such that both convictions counted
toward the career offender designation. A. This applying an court abuse Standard of Review reviews of a sentence for reasonableness, Gall v. United
discretion
standard.
States, 552 U.S. 38, ___, 128 S. Ct. 586, 597 (2007); see also United States v. Layton, 564 F.3d 330, 335 (4th Cir. 2009), petition for cert. filed, ___ U.S.L.W. ___ (U.S. July 24, 2009) (No. 09-5584). In so doing, we first examine the sentence for
"significant procedural error," including "failing to calculate 5
(or improperly calculating) the Guidelines range." Ct. at 597.
Gall, 128 S.
In reviewing the district court's application of
the Sentencing Guidelines, this court reviews findings of fact for clear error and questions of law de novo. at 334. B. Factual Basis for Enhancement and Guidelines Application On April 5, 1990, Moore was sentenced in Virginia Layton, 564 F.3d
state court for possession with intent to distribute cocaine ("possession conviction") and conspiracy to distribute cocaine ("conspiracy established conviction"). that, with The to pre-sentence the report ("PSR")
regard
possession
conviction,
Moore was released on discretionary parole on March 25, 1992, but his parole on was revoked 16, on June 6, 1994. He the was again
paroled
January the PSR
1997. that
Regarding "the
conspiracy parole
conviction,
noted
defendant's
adjustment is provided in the preceding narrative," referring to the possession conviction. To be sentenced as a career offender, the defendant must be at least eighteen at the time of the instant conviction, the offense must have been a crime of violence or a controlled substance convictions offense, for and the defendant of must have or two prior
felony
crimes
violence
controlled
substance offenses.
U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual ("USSG")
6
§ 4B1.1(a) (2008); United States v. Poole, 531 F.3d 263, 265 n.1 (4th Cir. 2008). The Only the third element is in dispute here. Moore was last incarcerated on his prior
date
convictions controls whether those convictions count toward the career offender designation. (k)(2)(B)(i). USSG § 4B1.2 Moore cmt. was n.3; USSG
§ 4A1.2(e)(1),
Although
originally
sentenced in 1990, his parole was revoked on June 6, 1994, and he was incarcerated until January 16, 1997. Thus, because Moore
was last released from incarceration in relation to the prior sentences within the fifteen-year look-back period, the
probation officer concluded both convictions counted. C. Moore concluding because that PSR first he Claim of Factual Error asserts two the district court erred in
had
qualifying
predicate establish
convictions whether and the the
the
did to
not or
conclusively both of the
revocation
went
one
convictions,
Government did not produce any evidence to prove this fact. This argument lacks merit. The PSR enumerated both
the possession and conspiracy convictions, detailed the parole adjustment reference imposed to that in same the possession in conviction, its and of made the
adjustment
discussion
conspiracy conviction.
Despite the Government's clear intent to
rely upon the parole revocation to reinvigorate Moore's prior sentences such that they would 7 be counted under USSG
§ 4A1.2(e)(1), (k)(2)(B)(i), Moore did nothing more than object in the district court; he did not provide any documentation to support his argument that parole was revoked as to only one of his prior convictions. "If the district court relies on information in the [PSR] in making findings, the the defendant bears the burden of
establishing objections accord 1990).
that
information . . . is Randall, 916 F.2d 171
incorrect; F.3d 162 at
mere
are
insufficient." States v. Terry,
210-11; Cir.
United
157,
(4th
Moore failed to satisfy this burden.
Accordingly, the
district court did not clearly err in finding Moore had two qualifying offenses. D. Claim of Legal Error predicate convictions for controlled substance
Moore next argues the district court misapplied the relevant guidelines and committed legal error in concluding he qualified as a career offender. argument is Application Note 11 At the cornerstone of Moore's to USSG § 4A1.2(k), which
clarifies the method for tacking terms of incarceration imposed upon revocation of parole or probation to original sentences. 2
This note directs that, when there is a single revocation of multiple sentences, the term of incarceration imposed upon revocation is added to the greater of the original terms of imprisonment, not to each term. USSG § 4A1.2 cmt. n.11.
2
8
The Ninth Circuit has concluded that Application Note 11 is not relevant to the issue raised by Moore. See United The
States v. Semsak, 336 F.3d 1123, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2003).
probation officer in Semsak relied on the revocation solely to bring the defendant's prior convictions within the fifteen-year window necessary to count them as prior sentences not to
satisfy the durational requirement to count them.
Id. at 1128.
Accordingly, the Ninth Circuit found that Application Note 11 did not apply as it "addresses only the points assigned due to the length of sentences, not the recency of the sentences." Id.
The court thus rejected Semsak's argument that Application Note 11 established that points should be assigned plain to only of one USSG
sentence,
finding
that,
"[u]nder
the
meaning
§ 4A1.2(e)(1) and § 4A1.1(k)(2)(a), both sentences fell within [the fifteen-year] period, and the district Id. The court correctly
added three points for each conviction."
We find the Ninth Circuit's reasoning persuasive.
probation officer here used the parole revocation proceeding to bring Moore's prior convictions within the fifteen-year lookback period. of There simply was no tacking of an additional term on to an original sentence, and thus
incarceration
Application Note 11 was not applicable.
Further, Moore cites no
authority to support his position that a similar approach should be employed in this particular context. 9
For convictions
the and
foregoing We
reasons, dispense
we with
affirm oral
Moore's argument
sentence.
because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED
10
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?