United States v. Jimenez Martinez

83 F.3d 488, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 9255, 1996 WL 188982
CourtCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit
DecidedApril 24, 1996
Docket95-1511, 95-1569
StatusPublished
Cited by36 cases

This text of 83 F.3d 488 (United States v. Jimenez Martinez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the First 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. Jimenez Martinez, 83 F.3d 488, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 9255, 1996 WL 188982 (1st Cir. 1996).

Opinion

COFFIN, Senior Circuit Judge.

Defendant-appellants Yesid F. Jimenez Martinez and Alvaro E. Moreno pled guilty to narcotics offenses under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & 846 arising from their participation in a cocaine conspiracy. At issue in this appeal are their claims of sentencing errors.

Both defendants challenge the district court’s decision to hold them responsible for over five kilograms of cocaine (implicating the ten year minimum sentence under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(l)(A)(ii)), and the court’s refusal to conduct an evidentiary hearing. Jimenez also contests the court’s determination that his disclosure to a probation officer did not satisfy the requirements of the “safety valve” provision contained in U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2, which permits a judge to impose a sentence below the statutory minimum. Finally, Moreno asserts that the evidence was insufficient to warrant a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice. Having concluded that the court considered insufficiently reliable evidence in determining the quantity of cocaine attributable to Jimenez, we vacate his sentence and remand for resentencing. As to all other issues, we affirm.

BACKGROUND 1

Facts

Defendants’ involvement in the conspiracy began in the fall of 1993, with co-conspirator Christopher Fazio’s efforts to broker a five-kilogram cocaine deal with an undercover agent. In an attempt to secure a source for the cocaine, Fazio contacted Moreno, who responded that he “would come through with the deal.” A meeting ensued between Moreno, Fazio and the agent, where in contemplation of the five-kilogram deal, the parties agreed to a preliminary one-kilogram purchase to take place on November 10, 1993. On November 9, Moreno introduced Fazio to Jimenez, the “man who worked for him, that delivers coke for him, and ... [who] was the transporter.” On November 10, Jimenez, accompanied by Fazio, delivered one kilogram of cocaine to the agent.

On December 30, further negotiations between Fazio, Moreno and the agent took place. Moreno proposed splitting the five-kilogram transaction into two separate sales. After two more meetings, the five-kilogram deal, to be broken up into two separate transactions, was scheduled for February 2, 1994.

On the morning of February 2, Moreno spotted surveillance agents outside his home, and cancelled the deal. Upon hearing of the cancellation, the agents left their positions outside Moreno’s and Jimenez’s homes, but returned a short time later. At that time, Jimenez was observed entering his home, followed shortly thereafter by co-conspirator Gabriel Uroujo Perez, who was carrying an empty shoulder bag. Uroujo exited with a *491 full shoulder bag, later found to contain just over 2 kilograms of cocaine. A search of Jimenez’s home uncovered an additional 128.8 grams of cocaine. The three kilograms that would have completed the transaction were never found.

Jimenez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Moreno went to trial, but, after the government rested its case, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and distribution of cocaine.

Sentencing: Jimenez

The probation department determined that Jimenez was accountable for 3.2615 kilograms of cocaine — the one kilogram sold on November 10, 1993 and the cocaine recovered on February 2, 1994. The government objected, contending that Jimenez should be liable for the whole five kilograms negotiated. On January 24, 1995, in response to the government’s objections, Jimenez requested an evidentiary hearing and order to the Government “to present any witnesses it intends to use in support of its objections.” This motion was denied.

Jimenez’s sentencing hearing took place on April 3, 1995. In support of its position, the government relied on circumstantial evidence and one piece of direct evidence, an affidavit from co-defendant Ramin Mojabi, prepared on February 6,1995, which stated that Jimenez was present dining a December 30, 1993 meeting with Moreno and Fazio, and took part in discussions concerning the five-kilogram deal.

Notwithstanding Jimenez’s challenges to the affidavit’s reliability, the court found that Jimenez was aware of the object of the conspiracy, the five-kilogram deal, and was, therefore, responsible for the whole five kilograms. In addition, the court denied Jimenez the benefit of U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2, which permits a court to impose punishment without regard to the statutory minimum sentence. While Jimenez had provided information to the probation department, he did not apprise the United States Attorney’s Office, and the court, therefore, found that he had not informed the “Government” as required by § 5C1.2(5). Consequently, Jimenez was subject to the 10 year minimum sentence— not the applicable guideline range of 70-87 months — and was sentenced accordingly to 120 months incarceration.

Sentencing: Moreno

Moreno’s sentencing hearings took place on March 23 and April 6, 1995. On March 13, the court denied Moreno’s motions for an evidentiary hearing and for issuance of subpoenas to co-conspirators Jimenez and Urou-jo to appear as witnesses at his sentencing. At the first hearing, Moreno testified that his role in the conspiracy was limited to playacting the role of a drug dealer in order to assist Fazio. He further contended that because he did not have the capability to produce the additional three kilograms of cocaine on February 2, he could not be held responsible for the total negotiated amount of five kilograms. The court rejected these arguments, finding Moreno responsible for over five kilograms, and increasing his offense level by two in accordance with his role as a manager and supervisor in the conspiracy. See U.S.S.G. § 3Bl.l(e).

The court further found that Moreno had phoned Fazio, and Moreno’s wife had visited Fazio, in an effort to influence Fazio’s testimony at Moreno’s trial. Accordingly, the court enhanced Moreno’s offense level another two levels for obstruction of justice. Moreno was sentenced to 188 months incarceration.

DISCUSSION

A. Sentencing Issues: Jimenez

1. Quantity of Drugs

As we have often recognized, sentencing calculations for drug trafficking offenses are largely quantity-driven. See United States v. Sepulveda, 15 F.3d 1161, 1196 (1st Cir.1993). In the conspiracy context, a defendant is accountable for “all reasonably foreseeable acts and omissions of others in furtherance of the jointly undertaken criminal activity.” United States v. Ovalle-Marquez, 36 F.3d 212, 223 (1st Cir.1994) (quoting U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B)). See also Sepulveda, 15 F.3d at 1197; United *492 States v. O’Campo,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
83 F.3d 488, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 9255, 1996 WL 188982, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-jimenez-martinez-ca1-1996.