United States v. Cecil Coleman, Jr.

185 F. App'x 909
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedJune 27, 2006
Docket05-13748; D.C. Docket 04-00240-CR-J-20-HTS
StatusUnpublished

This text of 185 F. App'x 909 (United States v. Cecil Coleman, Jr.) 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. Cecil Coleman, Jr., 185 F. App'x 909 (11th Cir. 2006).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Cecil Coleman, Jr. appeals his 87-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A) and 846. On appeal, he argues that the district court violated his right to due process by relying on the drug amounts in the presentence investigation report (“PSI”) and failing to require the government to present evidence of the drug amount by a preponderance of the evidence. 1 For the reasons set forth more fully below, we affirm.

Coleman pled guilty to the above-mentioned charge pursuant to a plea agreement. The plea agreement incorporated a factual basis in which Coleman admitted to involvement in four drug transactions, which occurred on June 3,10, and 25, 2004, and involved a combined quantity of 120 grams of cocaine base. The agreement also contained a stipulation that, for the purposes of determining Coleman’s relevant conduct, the quantity of the cocaine base attributable to Coleman was at least 50 grams but less than 150 grams, resulting in a base offense level of 32 under U.S.S.G. § 2Dl.l(c)(4). The stipulation contained a provision, however, stating that Coleman understood that this agreement was not binding on the Court.

However, the PSI stated that Coleman was involved in the following seven transactions: On May 27, 2004, Coleman sold 13.3 grams of cocaine base. On May 28, 2004, Coleman sold 21.0 grams of cocaine base. On June 3, 2004, Coleman indicated that he had an ounce (28.35 grams) of cocaine base, but sold 12.9 grams of cocaine base. On June 10, 2004, Coleman sold 52.8 grams of cocaine base. On June 22, 2004, Coleman sold 14.5 grams of cocaine base. On June 25, 2004, Coleman sold 27.3 grams of cocaine base, and, later that day, sold 27.0 grams of cocaine base, which he provided in two approximately 14-gram quantities. Based on these transactions, the probation officer recommended that Coleman be held accountable for more than 150 grams of cocaine base and receive a base offense level of 34.

Coleman objected to the drug quantities not contained in the factual basis for his plea agreement, arguing that he “pled to this case and his amounts of distribution are contained in the plea agreement with dates of distribution. Defendant would object to any enhancement or amount that does not appear in the plea agreement.” He also argued that the total drug amount should read “120 grams as per plea agreement.” The probation officer responded that the statements were factually correct, and that the information was obtained from investigative reports by the Drug *911 Enforcement Administration and the Bradford County Drug Task Force, and from follow-up information that he received from the case agent.

Coleman renewed his objection at the sentencing hearing, arguing, “Basically, the discovery and in the plea agreement, my client in going over this case took responsibility for what was in the Factual Basis and in the plea agreement. We would dispute any additional drug quantity that does not appear in the plea agreement. ...” After noting that it was not bound by the parties’ stipulation as to the drug quantity, the district court stated, “So I guess the government will have to put on some evidence to assist me in determining how much it is.” The government responded that it was not prepared to put on any evidence of the drug quantity, as it had stipulated to the amount in the plea agreement. The district court, the government, and the probation officer then discussed the probation officer’s recommendation, and, after adding the amounts in the PSI, the district court overruled Coleman’s objection and held him accountable for 171.25 grams of cocaine base.

Where the defendant fails to object before the district court, our review is for plain error. United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 125 S.Ct. 2935, 162 L.Ed.2d 866 (2005). Under this standard of review, there must be (1) an error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects substantial rights. Id. If these three conditions are met, we may notice the error only if “the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted). In order for an error to be plain, it must be obvious or clear under current law. United States v. Baker, 432 F.3d 1189, 1207 (11th Cir.2005), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 1809, 164 L.Ed.2d 544 (2006).

Although Coleman objected to the drug quantity in the PSI on the grounds that it differed from the quantity to which he admitted in his plea agreement, this objection did not incorporate a due process objection to the district court’s fact-finding procedure. See United States v. Blanco, 920 F.2d 844, 846 (11th Cir.1991) (“It is well-settled that objections must be made with sufficient specificity to advise the trial court of the true basis for the objection .... [I]n the absence of a sufficient objection we apply the plain error standard .... ”); see also United States v. Cosgrove, 73 F.3d 297, 303 (11th Cir.1996) (reviewing due process claim for plain error where the district court could not “reasonably be charged with understanding [the defendant’s] statements to allege a due process violation.”). After the district court calculated the drug quantity, Coleman was given an opportunity to object, but failed to raise a due process objection. Accordingly, we review for plain error. Blanco, 920 F.2d at 846.

Due process at sentencing requires that facts be found by the district court under a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. United States v. Harden, 37 F.3d 595, 602 (11th Cir.1994). “Due process in sentencing demands, of course, that the relevant conduct considered by a court in any given case be supported by an ‘evidentiary basis beyond mere allegation in an indictment,’ and that the defendant be given an opportunity to rebut factors that might enhance a sentence.” United States v. Castellanos, 904 F.2d 1490, 1495 (11th Cir.1990) (internal citations omitted). Due process requires that any information presented at sentencing bear minimal indicia of reliability and that the defendant be given the opportunity to refute it. United States v. *912 Giltner, 889 F.2d 1004, 1007 (11th Cir. 1989).

In this case, the drug quantity was supported by the PSI, an evidentiary basis beyond the indictment, and Coleman had an opportunity to refute it. Coleman does not argue that the information in the PSI is unreliable.

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Bluebook (online)
185 F. App'x 909, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-cecil-coleman-jr-ca11-2006.