United States v. Ian Gordon, United States of America v. Ian Gordon

895 F.2d 932

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: March 31, 1990
• Docket: 89-5003, 89-5038
• Status: Published

Opinions

WILKINS, Circuit Judge:

Ian Gordon appeals his conviction of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. 21 U.S.C.A. § 841(a)(1) (West 1981). He claims violations of the fourth and fifth amendments and that the district court erroneously denied him offense level reductions for acceptance of responsibility and for being a minimal participant. The United States cross-appeals Gordon’s sentence claiming that the district court erroneously found Gordon to be a minor participant. We affirm the conviction but reverse and remand for resentencing.

I.

On September 14, 1988, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Callahan and Loudoun County Deputy Becerra were engaged in general surveillance of passengers at Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. They observed Gordon deplane from a Pan Am shuttle from New York. While the officers knew that New York was a “source city” for narcotics, they had no prior information about this particular flight or Gordon, nor did Gordon meet a “drug courier profile.”

Callahan and Becerra followed Gordon outside the terminal, where Callahan approached Gordon and explained that he was part of a Drug Enforcement Administration drug interdiction team. Callahan asked for and received permission to search Gordon’s bag. Finding no contraband, Callahan requested permission to “pat him down.” Gordon again gave verbal permission. Upon discovering a bulge in Gordon’s pocket, Callahan requested to see its contents. Although he claimed that the pocket contained only a sandwich, Gordon removed a small clear plastic bag partially wrapped in gray duct tape containing 249.-50 grams of white powder, which Callahan recognized to be cocaine. The officers placed Gordon under arrest and informed him of his Miranda rights.

When the officers asked Gordon if he would answer some questions he responded, “What do you want to know?” When asked the question, “Where were you taking this stuff?” Gordon shook his head in response. He was immediately transported to a nearby police station, a trip which Gordon concedes took no more than five minutes. Becerra testified that at the station he asked Gordon “if he was high, at which he said no. I asked him if he snorted or smoked cocaine. He said no.” When asked how Gordon indicated that he did not snort or smoke cocaine, Becerra stated that Gordon “made a negative gesture with his head.”

At a preliminary hearing, Gordon moved to suppress the cocaine as the product of an illegal search and seizure. He also moved to suppress any inculpatory statements made at the police station on the basis that their admission would violate his fifth amendment rights under Miranda. Both motions were denied and Gordon was subsequently convicted by a jury of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

At sentencing, Gordon admitted that he was guilty of simple possession of cocaine and requested a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. However, on the advice of counsel he would not acknowledge that he possessed the cocaine with the intent to distribute. He refused to elaborate, expressing his desire to preserve any fifth amendment rights in the event of a successful appeal and retrial. He also requested a four-level reduction of his offense level, claiming that as a courier he was entitled to be classified as a minimal participant under section 3B1.2(a) of the guidelines. Over the government’s objection, the court granted Gordon a two-level reduction for being a minor participant. U.S.S.G, § 3B1.2(b). The resulting offense level of 18 with a criminal history category of I produced a guideline range of 27-33 months. The court sentenced Gordon to 27 months.

II.

On appeal, review of a district court determination regarding role in the offense is governed by the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Daughtrey, 874 F.2d 213 (4th Cir.1989) (determination that defendant was neither minimal nor minor participant is a factual question and due deference requires affirmance unless clearly erroneous); see United States v. Sanchez-Lopez, 879 F.2d 541 (9th Cir.1989); United States v, Wright, 873 F.2d 437 (1st Cir.1989); United States v. Nunley, 873 F.2d 182 (8th Cir.1989); United States v. Rojas, 868 F.2d 1409 (5th Cir.1989).

Gordon bases his claim that he was a minimal participant on the commentary to section 3B1.2 of the guidelines, which states that an offense level reduction for minimal participation would be appropriate “in a case where an individual was recruited as a courier for a single smuggling transaction involving a small amount of drugs.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, comment, (n.2). Gordon also argues that the government’s reference to him during the trial as a courier entitles him to a reduced offense level. However, as this circuit and the Fifth Circuit have held, the fact that a defendant is a drug courier does not automatically entitle him to a reduction. United States v. White, 875 F.2d 427, 434 (4th Cir.1989); see United States v. Buenrostro, 868 F.2d 135, 138 (5th Cir.1989). In Buenrostro the court, referring to the commentary cited by Gordon, stated that “[t]he example suggests that some couriers may appropriately receive the reduction; it does not suggest that all couriers are entitled to a downward adjustment.” Buenrostro, 868 F.2d at 138. In White we adopted the reasoning of Buenrostro and held that section 3B1.2 of the guidelines turns upon culpability, not courier status. White, 875 F.2d at 434. A defendant may be a courier without being less culpable than the other participants. Id. Gordon offered absolutely no evidence to support a finding that he was a minimal participant. Therefore, we affirm the refusal by the district court to grant Gordon a four-level reduction of his offense level on this basis.

In its cross-appeal, the government urges that Gordon was not entitled to the two-level reduction for minor participant status. Its position is simply that Gordon was apprehended while possessing, with the intent to distribute, a quantity of cocaine. The government had no knowledge of the source of the cocaine or that Gordon was involved in a conspiracy with others. At sentencing Gordon offered no evidence regarding the scope of his involvement with another participant or any other evidence on which the district court could base a finding of reduced culpability or involvement justifying his classification as a minor participant. Although Gordon correctly asserts that the number of defendants indicted does not determine whether there was more than one participant involved in the offense, there was no evidence here of participation by anyone else.

The government is correct that mitigating role adjustments apply only when there has been group conduct and a particular defendant is less culpable than other members of the group to such a degree that a distinction should be made at sentencing between him and the other participants.¹ When seeking a mitigating adjustment, a defendant has the burden of proof to convince the district court of its application by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. Urrego-Linares, 879 F.2d 1234, 1239 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 110 S.Ct. 346, 107 L.Ed.2d 334 (1989). Since there are no facts in the record to support Gordon’s position, he is forced to rely on two conclusory statements, one by the prosecuting attorney and the other by the probation officer who prepared the presentence report. During trial, the prosecuting attorney referred to Gordon as a courier, and Gordon argues that this entitles him to be viewed as a minimal participant. Interestingly, Gordon continues to deny that he intended to deliver the cocaine to anyone, yet at the same time he contends that the government’s reference to him as a courier entitles him to a reduced offense level. Also, a worksheet prepared by the probation officer and submitted to the court recommended a two-level reduction as a minor participant. But, as we have previously held, the decision of the district court on whether to apply a particular guideline is not controlled by the probation officer’s recommendation. White, 875 F.2d at 431. Further, in paragraph 5 of the presentence report entitled “Defendant’s Role in the Offense,” it is reported that “[t]he defendant is solely responsible for the charge for which he is before the court.” The district court adopted the report in its statement of findings and reasons for the sentence imposed.

We are faced with a record devoid of any justification for the conclusion of the district court that “[t]he court finds that the base level should be reduced by 2 for the defendant’s role in the offense....” The court offered no explanation nor pointed to any fact to support its conclusion. See United States v. White, 888 F.2d 490, 495 (7th Cir.1989) (“Every sentence under the Guidelines must be supported by reasons.”).

Under the new sentencing system mandated by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 3551, et seq. (West 1985 & Supp.1989), a request for the district court to find and apply an aggravating or mitigating factor when determining the appropriate guideline sentence must be based on some evidence. The moving party cannot meet his burden simply by offering conclusory statements. Here, the record is devoid of any evidence, aggravating or mitigating, other than that Gordon was simply a participant not entitled to any adjustment. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.4. While the finding of the applicability of an aggravating or mitigating factor is protected on appeal by the clearly erroneous standard of review, this protection does not extend to a determination made without any factual foundation. To follow Gordon’s logic, everyone apprehended for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine under these circumstances would be entitled to a reduced offense level because of the general nature of the drug trade where contraband passes from its primary source to the ultimate user through a number of hands.

Consequently, because the district court erroneously applied a two-level reduction for minor role, we remand for resentencing within the sentencing guidelines range resulting from an offense level of 20 and a criminal history category of I.

III.

Gordon also argues that the district court erred by not reducing his offense level for acceptance of responsibility. See U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. Although at sentencing he did admit that he was guilty of simple possession of cocaine, he did not accept responsibility for his intent to distribute it. He maintains that to have done so would have rendered a successful appeal a hollow victory. He contends that in the event of retrial his admission to the probation officer and district court could be used against him to prove intent to distribute (a fact which Gordon has contested throughout). Gordon characterizes this as a Hobson’s choice between obtaining a reduction and preserving his right to appeal. He likens the choice to the impermissible situation where a defendant must choose to surrender one constitutional right to assert another one. Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968). Gordon relies on United States v. Perez-Franco, 873 F.2d 455 (1st Cir.1989), and contends that it supports his position. Although we do not accept the holding and reasoning of Perez-Franco as correct, it nevertheless offers Gordon no support. In Perez-Franco, the First Circuit held that a defendant need only accept responsibility for the count to which he has pled guilty as part of a plea agreement. Id. at 463. We believe the approach taken by the Second and Fifth Circuits is correct and hold that in order for section 3E1.1 of the guidelines to apply, a defendant must first accept responsibility for all of his criminal conduct. See United States v. Moskowitz, 888 F.2d 223 (2d Cir.1989); United States v. Tellez, 882 F.2d 141 (5th Cir.1989). However, a defendant is not penalized for failing to accept responsibility. Rather, acceptance of responsibility is a mitigating factor available under appropriate circumstances.

Gordon further argues that the district judge’s comment that “I don’t really view acceptance of responsibility as a post-guilty finding or plea factor” indicated that he believed that acceptance of responsibility would never be available as a mitigating factor after trial. However, in holding that Gordon was not entitled to the reduction, the district judge also stated that “I don’t think he is automatically denied the two points merely because he goes to trial.” The district court found that Gordon had done nothing to indicate his acceptance of responsibility. Indeed, Gordon’s claim that he was entitled to this mitigating factor while at the same time denying the criminal conduct for which he- was convicted by a jury borders on the frivolous.

The determination of whether to give a reduction under section 3E1.1 of the guidelines is a factual one reviewable under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. White, 875 F.2d 427, 431 (4th Cir.1989). The sentencing judge is in “a unique position to carefully examine the particular circumstances of each case.” Id. As the district court correctly pointed out, the timeliness of the defendant’s conduct in accepting responsibility is a consideration. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, comment, (n. 1(g)). There is nothing in the record to indicate that Gordon was entitled to the reduction for acceptance of responsibility except for his counsel’s assertion that he was sincere in accepting his guilt for simple possession of cocaine. The district court did not clearly err in denying Gordon the reduction for acceptance of responsibility.

IV.

Gordon also challenges the denial of his motion to suppress the cocaine by first arguing that he was “seized” in violation of his rights under the fourth amendment. But, before addressing the constitutional issue, we must first resolve the issue of whether a seizure took place. This determination is a question of fact subject to a clearly erroneous standard on appeal. United States v. Gooding, 695 F.2d 78, 82 (4th Cir.1982). In determining whether a person has been “seized,” the issue is whether “in view of all the circumstances surrounding the incident, a reasonable person would have believed that he was not free to leave.” Immigration & Naturalization Service v. Delgado, 466 U.S. 210, 215, 104 S.Ct. 1758, 1762, 80 L.Ed.2d 247 (1984) (quoting United States v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 554, 100 S.Ct. 1870, 1877, 64 L.Ed.2d 497 (1980) (plurality opinion)). We have frequently used this standard in reviewing district court decisions. See United States v. Gray, 883 F.2d 320, 322 n. 2 (4th Cir.1989).

Gordon argues that because the officers had no justification for interfering with his travel this encounter was a seizure. However, the fact that Gordon did not meet a “drug courier profile” and the officers had no other reason to suspect Gordon does not mandate that the officers were prohibited from having a brief police-citizen encounter. Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 497, 103 S.Ct. 1319, 1324, 75 L.Ed.2d 229 (1983) (fourth amendment not violated when law enforcement officers merely approach an individual in public and ask him to answer some questions). In fact, it is only when an encounter is classified as a seizure that the court must determine whether there was a reasonable suspicion. United States v. Harrison, 667 F.2d 1158, 1160 (4th. Cir.), cert. denied, 457 U.S. 1121, 102 S.Ct. 2937, 73 L.Ed.2d 1335 (1982).

Gordon argues that an Arlington County, Virginia, ordinance making it a misdemeanor for a person in a public place to refuse to identify himself when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer² and the fact that his father was a former police officer who taught him to respect and obey law enforcement personnel demonstrate that he believed that he was not free to leave. But Gordon misinterprets the Mendenhall objective test of whether a reasonable person under the circumstances would have believed that he was not free to leave.

As Gordon testified, the officers were polite and quiet, did not instruct him that he could not leave, did nothing to prevent him from leaving, and did not tell him that he must permit the search. Based on all the facts and circumstances, the district court was not clearly erroneous in finding that there was not a seizure of Gordon’s person.

Gordon also challenges the voluntariness of the search. The voluntariness of a defendant’s consent to a search is a factual question determined in light of the totality of the circumstances and should be upheld unless clearly erroneous. United States v. Peterson, 524 F.2d 167, 178 (4th Cir.1975) (citing Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 226, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 2047, 36 L.Ed.2d 854 (1973)), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1088, 96 S.Ct. 881, 47 L.Ed.2d 99 (1976). Moreover, the government need not demonstrate that the defendant knew of the right to refuse to consent for the search to be deemed a voluntary one. Schneckloth, 412 U.S. at 248-49, 93 S.Ct. at 2058-59. When the officer discovered a bulge in Gordon’s pocket, he asked Gordon what the pocket contained. When Gordon replied, “A sandwich,” the officer asked to see it. Gordon then removed the bag of cocaine from his pocket. The district court was correct in finding that this was a voluntary search.

V.

Gordon also argues that shaking his head in a negative manner in response to a question at the police station of whether he used cocaine, thus implying that the cocaine may not be for personal use, was obtained in violation of his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. Gordon characterizes the shaking of his head after being asked at the airport where he was taking the cocaine as ending the interrogation so that a subsequent question at the police station without renewed warnings did not “scrupulously honor” his “right to cut off questioning” under Miranda as interpreted by Michigan v. Mosley, 423 U.S. 96, 96 S.Ct. 321, 46 L.Ed.2d 313 (1975). Gordon’s reliance on Mosley is misplaced. Mosley held that the principles of Miranda were not violated when, after a defendant had terminated an interrogation and a significant amount of time had elapsed before another officer sought to question the defendant about an unrelated crime, the Miranda warnings were given again. Here, only a few minutes had passed between the Miranda warnings at the airport and the questioning at the police station. Under these circumstances, it was unnecessary for the officers to recite the Miranda warnings again.³

Additionally, the finding by the district court that Gordon did not indicate that he was terminating the interrogation is fully supported by the evidence. In response to whether he would answer questions, Gordon asked, “What do you want to know?” When asked where he was taking the cocaine, he replied by shaking his head. Reasonable interpretations of this act are that he did not know or that he did not intend to answer that question — not that he was refusing to answer other questions. We agree with the district court that Gordon did not indicate that he intended to conclude all questioning. The dissent would hold that Gordon did not waive his Miranda rights. However, a waiver “need not be explicit, but may be inferred from all of the circumstances.” United States v. Hicks, 748 F.2d 854, 859 (4th Cir.1984); see also North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 373, 99 S.Ct. 1755, 1757, 60 L.Ed.2d 286 (1979) (“The question is not one of form, but rather whether the defendant in fact knowingly and voluntarily waived the rights delineated in the Miranda case.”). Here, Gordon indicated that he understood his rights, did not request counsel, and when asked whether he would answer some questions, responded by asking “what do you want to know.” All of the circumstances support the conclusion by the district court that Gordon waived his rights, a finding which we cannot say was clearly erroneous. See United States v. Smith, 608 F.2d 1011, 1013 (4th Cir.1979). Additionally, his statement at the police station was freely and voluntarily made and not in violation of his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination.

AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; and REMANDED.

1 . The language of Chapter Three, Part B, Role in the Offense, requires that for an aggravating or mitigating adjustment to apply, evidence of group conduct is necessary. In addition, a defendant’s role in the offense should be weighed against the elements of the offense of conviction. Daughtrey, 874 F.2d at 216.

2 . Gordon offered no evidence to show that he was aware of this ordinance at the time of his arrest.

3 . The dissent indicates puzzlement by a discussion of Mosley. However, in his brief Gordon relied heavily on Mosley and urged this court to hold that he had terminated the interrogation at the airport and, thus, because the agents did not inform him of his Miranda rights a second time before beginning questioning at the police station, his Miranda rights were not scrupulously honored.