United States v. Gary J. Eschman

227 F.3d 886, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 23249, 2000 WL 1297994

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• Decided: September 14, 2000
• Docket: 00-1395
• Status: Published

Opinions

WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge.

Gary J. Eschman pleaded guilty to several drug-related charges and a gun charge. Rejecting Eschman’s objections to the quantity of drugs attributable to him for sentencing purposes and declining to reduce Eschman’s sentence for acceptance of responsibility, the district court sentenced Eschman to almost twenty years in prison. Eschman appeals his sentence, and for the reasons stated herein, we reverse.

I

Because Eschman does not challenge his conviction, we discuss only those facts relevant to his sentencing. Acting on a tip from a local Wal-Mart store that had sold Eschman’s son-in-law Anthony Jines a large quantity of pseudoephedrine, a precursor to methamphetamine, agents from the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI) conducted a search of the residence where Eschman lived with Anthony Jines and his daughter, Darlla Jines. The agents found, among other things, methamphetamine in the Jineses’ bedroom, and two firearms and 6,400 30-milligram pseudoephedrine pills in Eschman’s bedroom.¹ Shortly after criminal charges were filed against him, his daughter, and his son-in-law, Eschman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 846, maintaining a place for the manufacture of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).² In doing so, Eschman admitted that he “cooked” or manufactured methamphetamine in a shed next to the Jineses’ residence.

Since the sentencing guidelines base the applicable offense level on the drug quantity involved, the key question at Eschman’s sentencing was how much methamphetamine should be attributed to him. See U.S. Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.) § 2D1.1 (1998). Before his sentencing, the government (and later the Probation Department in its pre-sentence report) estimated the “production capacity” of Esch-man’s methamphetamine “laboratory” (¿e., the shed) to be 177 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine based on a 100% “theoretical” yield of the pseudoephedrine pills found in his possession (ie., converting pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine at a one-to-one ratio). Eschman, however, objected to this 100% conversion rate as a means for determining his base offense level.

At sentencing, Eschman introduced testimony from Dr. Terry Martinez, a chemist and professor at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, who stated that a 100% conversion rate is merely theoretical and that professional chemists can only obtain a 90% yield using professional equipment. Based on a scientific study conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety (“Iowa study”), Dr. Martinez indicated that an average yield for a clandestine laboratory is from 40% to 50%. He stated that a clandestine laboratory can, at most, obtain an 80% yield. He characterized Esch-man’s lab as “primitive” and testified that no expert, in his view, could determine the possible yield of methamphetamine for Eschman’s lab.

In rebuttal, the government offered the testimony of Virginia Kleekamp, a chemist with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Kleekamp testified that DEA chemists do a theoretical conversion rate of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine of 100%, or one-to-one, adjusted only for the difference in molecular weight. She explained that the DEA uses a one-to-one theoretical conversion ratio because it is difficult to obtain an accurate measure of the production capacity of a clandestine laboratory. She admitted, as a practical matter, that it is impossible to obtain a 100% yield. She indicated that an average yield for a clandestine laboratory is from 40% to 60%, but she has noted yields as high as 85%. However, she did not dispute the findings of the Iowa study.

After hearing testimony from these two experts, the district court found Dr. Martinez’s testimony not credible and accepted the one-to-one conversion ratio as a means to determine the applicable base offense level. The district court agreed with the pre-sentence report that the production capacity of Eschman’s laboratory was 177 grams of pure methamphetamine. Based on the statements and testimony of Anthony Jines, who sold methamphetamine produced by Eschman, the district court also determined that Eschman manufactured, at least, 36 ounces (or 1020.6 grams) of mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.

On the basis of these drug amounts, the district court determined that Eschman had a base offense level of 34,³ which when increased by two levels for his possession of a firearm, resulted in an offense level of 36. The district court then denied Esch-man a three-level reduction in his offense level for acceptance of responsibility, concluding that Eschman had not genuinely accepted responsibility under the sentencing guidelines. The court sentenced Esch-man to two 235-month sentences for the drug-related convictions (the upper limit of the relevant sentencing range) and a 120-month sentence for the felon-in-possession conviction, all to “be served concurrently.

On appeal, Eschman argues that the district court erred in calculating his base offense level by (1) holding him accountable for 177 grams of pure methamphetamine and (2) denying him a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility.

II

We review the district court’s calculation of drug quantity, as well as its determination of whether a defendant has accepted responsibility, for clear error. See United States v. Johnson, 200 F.3d 529, 537 (7th Cir.2000); United States v. Mancillas, 183 F.3d 682, 711 (7th Cir.1999).

A. Drug Quantity Calculation

Eschman argues that the district court erred by holding him accountable for 177 grams of pure methamphetamine based on the amount of pseudoephedrine found in his possession. Specifically, Eschman contends that the district court did not have a reliable factual basis for the drug quantity calculation.

In cases “[w]here there is no drug seizure or the amount seized does not reflect the scale of the offense, the court shall approximate the quantity of the controlled substance.” U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, cmt. 12 (1998). In making this approximation, the district court may consider “the price generally obtained for the controlled substance, financial or other records, similar transactions in controlled substances by the defendant, and the size or capability of any laboratory involved.” Id. Because there was no seizure of the substance charged in the offense, the district court in this case applied § 2D1.1 to approximate the amount of methamphetamine Eschman could have produced in his laboratory based upon the quantity of pseudoephed-rine found in his possession.⁴ The district court, in accepting the government’s recommendation set forth in the pre-sentence report, found that Eschman could have converted the pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine at a one-to-one conversion ratio (i.e., a 100% yield). We will uphold this finding to the extent it is based on reliable evidence. Johnson, 200 F.3d at 537.

From our review of the record, the district court’s finding lacks an evidentiary basis. Both parties’ experts testified that a 100% yield is merely theoretical (in other words, unattainable). The experts also testified that although an 80-85% yield might be possible with a clandestine laboratory, yields in the range of 40%-60% were more probable. This data is confirmed by the Iowa study, which Eschman introduced at sentencing. While the government must prove the quantity of drugs attributable to Eschman only by a preponderance of evidence, United States v. Galbraith, 200 F.3d 1006, 1011 (7th Cir.2000), the record is void of any evidence which would reasonably support the district court’s decision to base its methamphetamine quantity calculation on a one-to-one conversion ratio.

Criminal defendants, like Eschman, have a due process right to be sentenced on the basis of reliable information, id. at 1012, and district courts cannot quantify yield figures without regard for a particular defendant’s capabilities when viewed in light of the drug laboratory involved. See, e.g., United States v. Cole, 125 F.3d 654, 655 (8th Cir.1997) (relevant inquiry is on what defendant, not “an average cook,” is capable of yielding); United States v. Hamilton, 81 F.3d 652, 653-54 (6th Cir.1996) (rejecting standardized drug conversion formulas in favor of individualized assessment of defendant’s capabilities); United States v. Mahaffey, 53 F.3d 128, 132-33 (6th Cir.1995) (same). Here, the record contains no evidence regarding the sorts of yields Eschman could, with his equipment and recipe, obtain in his methamphetamine laboratory (or, for that matter, even evidence regarding yields of similarly-situated defendants).⁵ See United States v. Shaffer, 993 F.2d 625, 629 (7th Cir.1993) (court may approximate amount that laboratory could have produced based upon DEA chemist’s testimony regarding chemical operations and materials found at “farmhouse” laboratory and production capacity of defendant’s 12-liter flask when taking into account “sloppy” laboratory procedures); Mahaffey, 53 F.3d at 132 (court may approximate amount that laboratory could have produced based upon yields of similarly-situated defendants); United States v. Beshore, 961 F.2d 1380, 1383 (8th Cir.1992) (court may approximate amount that laboratory could have produced based upon quantity of precursor chemicals, size of laboratory, and recipes to “cook” methamphetamine seized); United States v. Short, 947 F.2d 1445, 1456-57 (10th Cir.1991) (court may approximate amount that laboratory could have produced based upon testimony of DEA chemist and characteristics of laboratory equipment seized). Thus, the district court erred in relying on the one-to-one conversion ratio when determining Esch-man’s base offense level.⁶

On remand, the district court must undertake a more precise inquiry into the quantity of methamphetamine attributable to Eschman, using reliable evidence to support its ultimate drug quantity calculation.

B. Acceptance of Responsibility

Eschman also challenges the district court’s refusal to grant him a three-level reduction in offense level for acceptance of responsibility under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. The district court refused to grant the reduction because, in its view, Eschman had not genuinely accepted responsibility, but instead was simply attempting to manipulate the criminal justice system in order to reduce his sentence.

Under U.S.S.G. § SE1.1, a defendant who clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his or her offense is entitled to a reduction in his or her offense level. To qualify for the reduction a defendant must, in a timely manner, (1) demonstrate sincere remorse or contrition, (2) truthfully admit the conduct comprising the offense, and (3) neither falsely deny nor frivolously contest relevant conduct. United States v. Mancillas, 183 F.3d 682, 711 (7th Cir.1999); United States v. Purchess, 107 F.3d 1261, 1269 (7th Cir.1997); U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, cmt. 1 (1998).

Here, Eschman pleaded very early in the case and never challenged the charges against him. Although he raised objections to the pre-sentence report at sentencing, he never expressed outright denials of relevant conduct and the district court found his challenge to the “production capacity” evidence not frivolous. Eschman also submitted a statement to the court acknowledging his wrongdoing and expressing regret, and at sentencing, he apologized for his conduct, stating that he was “sorry” for what he did. The district court, however, did not believe Eschman had genuinely accepted responsibility.

In light of his early, consistent, and repeated acceptance of responsibility, it appears that the district court’s determination was affected by the manner in which Eschman prefaced his statements. In accepting responsibility, Eschman stood firm in challenging the drug quantity calculation and our earlier discussion demonstrates that he had good reason for doing so. While we do not take lightly the district court’s apparent concerns about Eschman’s contrition, see U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, cmt. 5 (1998) (district court’s determination entitled to “great deference” on review), the court’s finding appears to have been colored by Eschman’s firm, but good faith challenge to the drug quantity calculation. Our decision rejecting the court’s drug quantity calculation places the acceptance of responsibility question in a new light. On remand, the district court should reevaluate whether Eschman is entitled to a three-level reduction in his base offense level for acceptance of responsibility.

Ill

For the foregoing reasons, we Vacate Eschman’s sentence and Remand for re-sentencing in accordance with this opinion.

1 . The MEGSI agents actually recovered 6,576 pseudophedrine pills, but the lower figure of 6,400 was used for sentencing purposes.

2 . Pursuant to the plea agreement, the government dismissed a charge for Eschman's possession of methamphetamine.

3 . In calculating Eschman’s base offense level, the district court converted the two amounts (177 grams of actual methamphetamine and 1020.6 grams of methamphetamine mixture) into marihuana equivalents (1,770 kilograms and 2,041 kilograms, respectively), and added the marihuana equivalents together to obtain a single base offense level. The resulting sum (3,811 kilograms of marihuana) placed Esch-man at offense level 34 (for marihuana amounts between 3,000 and 10,000 kilograms). See generally U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, cmt. 9 (1998).

4 . We find this approach somewhat curious because the sentencing guidelines refer to the size or capability of the laboratory. Under the government's approach, the production capacity of a laboratory turns on the amount of precursor drug (pseudoephedrine) found in the defendant's possession. This approach seems rather misguided because one would think that the size and equipment of the drug laboratory involved would determine its capacity to produce a controlled substance. However, Eschman does not challenge the government's approach so we reserve our concerns for another day.

5 . While the government asserts that Eschman gave methamphetamine to one of his co-defendants that allows one to calculate a 90% yield figure, the record indicates that this was not pure methamphetamine, but a mixture (which would have a much lower marihuana equivalent).

6 . The government contends that the error here is harmless because only a yield figure of less than 60% would require a lower base offense level and the record reasonably demonstrates that Eschman could obtain a 60% yield. However, we did not locate any record evidence that reasonably establishes that Eschman had the capacity to convert pseu-doephedrine into methamphetamine at yields of 60% or greater.