United States v. Anniel Gomez

334 F. App'x 242
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedJune 16, 2009
Docket08-13518
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 334 F. App'x 242 (United States v. Anniel Gomez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Anniel Gomez, 334 F. App'x 242 (11th Cir. 2009).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Anniel Gomez appeals his convictions and sentence of 365 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to maintain a residence for manufacturing and distributing marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 846, and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 100 or more marijuana plants, 21 U.S.C. § 846. Gomez argues that the district court erred when it denied his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, the district court erred in its findings of fact related to his sentence, and his sentence is unreasonable. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

Gomez and several cohorts conspired to grow and harvest marijuana in six houses located in St. Lucie County, Florida. During the conspiracy, Gomez and his brother, Aznia Miranda, visited one grow house maintained by Gomez’s uncle, Jesus Miranda, at 2631 Southwest Feather Terrace. Miranda demanded money from Gomez and their discussion grew heated but eventually ended. Later that evening, Miranda resumed his argument with Gomez in the kitchen, and them disagreement escalated into a physical fight that ended when Gomez stabbed and killed Miranda. Gomez attempted to eradicate any evidence that would link him to the murder by setting fire to the house.

Police learned of the conspiracy and raided the grow houses, where they discovered over 500 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. A further investigation revealed that Gomez and his cohorts harvested several crops of marijuana in the six houses. When police arrived the Southwest Feather Terrace address, they discovered a partially burned house and a charred body that was later identified as Jesus Miranda.

Gomez was arrested and charged for conspiracy to maintain a residence to manufacture or distribute marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 846, and conspiracy to manufacture or disti'ibute 100 or more marijuana plants, id. Gomez waived prosecution by indictment and pleaded guilty to both conspiracy charges. Gomez avoided prosecution for the murder but agreed that the murder would potentially affect the calculation of *244 his sentence. The plea agreement provided that the district court would sentence Gomez after the probation office conducted an investigation and submitted a presen-tence investigation report to the court. The agreement stated that the prosecutor “reserve® the right to inform the court and the probation office of all facts pertinent to the sentencing process, including all relevant information concerning the offenses committed, whether charged or not, as well as concerning the defendant and the defendant’s background.”

At the change of plea hearing, Gomez acknowledged that he had discussed the plea agreement with counsel, he was satisfied with counsel’s representation, and he was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily pleading guilty. The government provided a factual basis for the plea and stated that “[t]he parties agree that there may be guidelines consequences for the death of Miranda. However, the parties reserve all rights to argue the application of the guidelines at sentencing.” Gomez “agree® to the factual basis as stated” and “stipulate® that” the conspiracy involved “over 100 [marijuana] plants.” Gomez thereafter acknowledged that the district court would impose a sentence after it received the presentence report and considered any challenges to that report but the court could impose a sentence “different from any estimate [Gomez]’s attorney may have given....” After a magistrate judge stated that he would recommend that the district court accept Gomez’s guilty plea, the judge reminded Gomez that he would be interviewed by a probation officer to prepare the presentence investigation report, an attorney could be present- for that interview, and Gomez could object to the report and argue those objections at sentencing.

The presentence investigation report provided a base offense level of 88 for an offense involving a second degree murder. 18 U.S.C. § 1111; United States Sentencing Guidelines § 2A1.2(a) (Nov.2006). The report reduced the base level by three points for acceptance of responsibility. Id. § 3E1.1. With a criminal history of I, the report provided a sentencing range for Gomez between 168 and 210 months of imprisonment.

The report contained details about the murder of Jesus Miranda. The report stated that after Miranda overpowered Gomez in the kitchen, Gomez grabbed a large kitchen knife off the counter and stabbed Miranda five times in the chest and back. Miranda fell to the floor and Gomez again stabbed Miranda in the chest. After Jesus Miranda died, Gomez and his brother, Az-nia Miranda, carried Jesus Miranda’s body to a bathtub and attempted to clean the kitchen floor, but when they were unsuccessful, Gomez used a tank of gas to start three separate fires inside Jesus Miranda’s house. The fire damaged, but did not destroy, the house. The report also stated that several of Gomez’s cohorts, including Lazaro Valdes, told federal officers that Gomez had admitted killing Jesus Miranda.

The government objected to the presen-tence report on two grounds. First, the government argued that Gomez’s statement was not sufficiently detailed to warrant a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. Second, the government argued that Gomez should receive a two point enhancement for obstruction of justice because he had lied about his use of cocaine, threatened his brother after he became a government witness, destroyed evidence, and provided false information to law enforcement during its investigation of the drug conspiracy and murder.

Gomez’s attorney, Jason Kriess, filed a motion to withdraw from the representation and stated that he had developed a *245 conflict with Gomez. The district court denied the motion. Kriess filed a second motion to withdraw on the basis that Gomez had instructed him to cease work in the case and Kriess believed that Gomez planned to file a complaint with the State Bar and file a complaint of ineffective assistance of counsel. After a hearing, at which the government explained the extensive work Kriess had performed on behalf of Gomez, the district court denied Kriess’s second motion to withdraw.

Gomez objected to the presentence report and responded to the objections of the government. Gomez argued that Jesus Miranda’s murder should be treated as voluntary manslaughter, which would reduce his base offense level to 29. 18 U.S.C. § 1112; U.S.S.G. § 2A1.3. Gomez also argued that he was entitled to a reduction based on his statement accepting responsibility for the conspiracies, and he objected to an enhancement for obstruction of justice.

Gomez moved to withdraw his guilty plea. Gomez argued that his plea was not made freely and voluntarily or knowingly and intelligently because he did not understand the consequences of his guilty plea or the stipulations that accompanied the plea. Kriess stated that he believed that Gomez would testify that he was coerced by Kriess to plead guilty.

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Related

United States v. Anniel Gomez
700 F. App'x 963 (Eleventh Circuit, 2017)

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Bluebook (online)
334 F. App'x 242, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-anniel-gomez-ca11-2009.