United States v. Eric L. Frazier, Jacoby Walker and Michael Mason

213 F.3d 409, 54 Fed. R. Serv. 867, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 11402, 2000 WL 666210
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedMay 23, 2000
Docket99-1441, 99-1654, 99-1720
StatusPublished
Cited by89 cases

This text of 213 F.3d 409 (United States v. Eric L. Frazier, Jacoby Walker and Michael Mason) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh 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. Eric L. Frazier, Jacoby Walker and Michael Mason, 213 F.3d 409, 54 Fed. R. Serv. 867, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 11402, 2000 WL 666210 (7th Cir. 2000).

Opinion

BAUER, Circuit Judge.

This is a consolidated direct appeal by three defendants convicted of various offenses stemming from a crack cocaine conspiracy. The defendants raise numerous issues on appeal. For the reasons stated below, we affirm in part and reverse in part.

I. Background.

From approximately 1983 to 1997, Michael Mason led a conspiracy to distribute powder cocaine and crack cocaine in the Gary, Indiana area. On July 17, 1997, a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and related offenses against Mason, *412 Jacoby Walker, and Eric Frazier. 1 They all pled not guilty. On November 20,1997, a third superseding indictment was returned charging Mason with ten counts, Walker with seven counts and Frazier with six counts. 2

After the superseding indictment, Frazier tendered his plea of guilty on January 6, 1998. The plea agreement provided that in return for his cooperation, the government would file a 5K1.1 departure motion for substantial assistance, a 15 year cap on his sentence and the dismissal of the other charges. On January 27, 1998, Frazier testified for the government against Mason and Walker. On April 17, 1998, the government filed a notice of its intention not to file the 5K1.1 motion and instead requested an enhancement for perjury and that Frazier not be granted acceptance of responsibility. Frazier objected and filed a motion to compel the government to file the 5K1.1 motion and an alternate motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Proceedings were held and the district court denied both motions. The court relieved the government from its duty to file the 5K1.1 motion and sentenced Frazier to life imprisonment. The court enhanced Frazier’s sentence for obstruction of justice, pursuant to the Sentencing Guidelines section 3C1.1 and found that he had not accepted responsibility for the crime.

Mason and Walker went to trial. 3 On January 30, 1998, after a five day jury trial, both Mason and Walker were found guilty on all counts. On March 12, 1999, the district court dismissed one of the firearms counts against both Mason and Walker and entered judgment on the verdicts.

Walker was sentenced to life imprisonment under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) (distribution of crack cocaine), 846 (conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine) and 861(a)(1) (use of a minor to distribute crack cocaine). This sentence was to run concurrently with a ten-year sentence under 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d) for possessing an unregistered firearm. Additionally, the court imposed a thirty-year sentence to run consecutively for carrying a silencer-equipped gun “during and in relation to” the charged drug conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 841(e)(1).

The court arrived at that sentence after imposing a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 and a three-level enhancement for an aggravating role as a manager or supervisor of criminal activity under U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(b). This raised Walker’s base offense level from thirty-eight to an adjusted offense level of forty-three, which combined with a criminal history category of III, required a life sentence under the Guidelines.

Mason’s base offense level was thirty-eight, reflecting the total quantity of drugs involved in the conspiracy. The court then added a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 and an additional four-level enhancement for his role as an organizer or leader of the conspiracy. A total offense level of forty-six, combined with a criminal history category of I, called for a life sentence plus the thirty years to run consecutively for carrying a silencer-equipped gun “during and in relation to” the charged drug conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 841(c)(1).

Mason and Walker raise several arguments on appeal. First, they argue that their convictions were based on improperly admitted hearsay testimony and evidence regarding the activities of John Allen and *413 his organization. The government presented evidence that established that since 1996, John Men supplied cocaine to Mason. Men, who owned Elite Electronics 4 which supplied and serviced pagers, also provided Mason’s organization with pagers. The pagers allowed callers to leave messages that would be sent by a computer at Elite Electronics to the customer’s pager. Mason’s girlfriend, Monica Linear, worked at Elite for several months transmitting messages to the pagers. Runners for Men, Samuel Johnson and Mthony Franklin, delivered cocaine to Mason at either the Stony Island car lot operated by Mason or his house. Occasionally, Men gave cocaine to Mason on credit.

Second, Mason and Walker argue insufficiency of the evidence with regard to the carrying of a pistol with a silencer during the commission of a drug transaction. Several witnesses testified to the use of guns in collection of drug debts including Frazier’s testimony of hitting Little Vic with a gun and pulling a gun on Courtney Johnson. Ronald Radford, a former employee of the car lot and security guard, testified to purchasing guns for Mason and his organization.

After Mason’s arrest Joe Torrence, a seventeen year old, hid the silencer in his dryer in the basement of his home at 26th and Tyler. Frazier then brought him an ounce of cocaine, which he put in the dryer and removed the silencer to his room where it remained until the Gary Police confiscated it a month later. The .22 caliber Colt semi-automatic was sent to the ATF laboratory. The silencer was found to be effective as a silencer as defined by federal statute. It was not registered.

Finally, Mason and Walker raise several arguments on the calculation of their sentences. Specifically that the court improperly enhanced their sentences for obstruction of justice. Walker also argues that the court incorrectly enhanced his sentence for finding that he was a manager/supervisor in the organization and that the court miscalculated his criminal history category.

Frazier appeals the district court’s denial of his motion to compel the government to file a 5K1.1 departure motion for substantial assistance per his plea agreement. Frazier’s plea agreement provided that, in exchange for his cooperation, the government would file a § 6K1.1 departure motion and that the parties would agree to a sentencing cap of fifteen years. The plea agreement further provided:

ii.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Gary Tinsley
Seventh Circuit, 2023
United States v. Louis Zayas
32 F.4th 211 (Third Circuit, 2022)
MASON v. LAMMER
S.D. Indiana, 2022
United States v. Jacoby Walker
Seventh Circuit, 2021
United States v. Michael Mason
Seventh Circuit, 2021
United States v. Calvin Wilson
Fourth Circuit, 2021
United States v. Keith Carr
695 F. App'x 953 (Seventh Circuit, 2017)
United States v. Franklin Brown
726 F.3d 993 (Seventh Circuit, 2013)
United States v. Ramirez
708 F.3d 295 (First Circuit, 2013)
United States v. Joshua
648 F.3d 547 (Seventh Circuit, 2011)
United States v. Aldridge
642 F.3d 537 (Seventh Circuit, 2011)
United States v. Eural Black
Seventh Circuit, 2009
United States v. Peterson, Adam
Seventh Circuit, 2008
United States v. Peterson
285 F. App'x 290 (Seventh Circuit, 2008)
United States v. Wantuch, Rafal
Seventh Circuit, 2008
United States v. Langford
Third Circuit, 2008
United States v. Collins, Jeffrey
503 F.3d 616 (Seventh Circuit, 2007)
United States v. Pittman, John C.
213 F. App'x 483 (Seventh Circuit, 2007)
United States v. Orozco-Vasquez
Seventh Circuit, 2006

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
213 F.3d 409, 54 Fed. R. Serv. 867, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 11402, 2000 WL 666210, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-eric-l-frazier-jacoby-walker-and-michael-mason-ca7-2000.