United States v. Michael Byrd

Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit·Decided May 16, 2024·No. 23-5116·Unpublished

Opinion

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION File Name: 24a0218n.06

Nos. 23-5116/5273

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

FILED

) May 16, 2024 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) KELLY L. STEPHENS, Clerk Plaintiff-Appellee, )

) ON APPEAL FROM THE v. ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT ) COURT FOR THE EASTERN MICHAEL A. BYRD (23-5116); JE’VON BYRD ) DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY (23-5273), )

) OPINION Defendants-Appellants. )

)

Before:BOGGS, McKEAGUE, and LARSEN, Circuit Judges.

BOGGS, Circuit Judge. Defendants-Appellants Michael A. Byrd and his nephew, Je’Von Byrd, are drug traffickers. They appeal, together, challenging (1) the attribution of fentanyl to Michael Byrd, (2) the sentence enhancement of Michael Byrd for possession of a firearm, (3) the sentence enhancement of Michael Byrd for maintaining a premises for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing controlled substances, (4) the sentence enhancement of Michael Byrd for his leadership in the drug-trafficking operation, and (5) the holding that reasonable suspicion supported the stop of a Ford Explorer that Je’Von Byrd was riding in at the time of a drug bust.

I. BACKGROUND Michael Byrd was indicted for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of

fluorofentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, and possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, also in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841. Byrd pleaded guilty to each count, and there was no plea agreement.

In March 2021, law enforcement responded to a narcotics overdose at a house in Lexington, Kentucky. At the scene, a “remaining occupant of the residence agreed to cooperate with police and became a cooperating individual (CI).” The CI provided the name of “Bird,” which investigators “determined to be Michael A. Byrd.”

Using this CI, investigators set up a narcotic deal. Michael Byrd’s cell phone was called, and he answered, advising the CI that he would call back. Later, Michael Byrd contacted the CI and advised him “to meet him at the Horseman[’s] Lane residence.” Investigators then began surveillance of 1100 Horseman’s Lane, Apartment #42, in Lexington, Kentucky.

In April 2021, while conducting surveillance on Apartment #42, investigators observed that a dark-colored sedan had arrived. A “drug runner” for Michael Byrd named “John John” got out of the sedan and entered the apartment. Investigators saw John John pull a “wad of money from his right pant pocket” before transferring “an unknown white substance from one bag to another bag.”

The CI received a phone call from Michael Byrd that he was five minutes away. The CI informed investigators that Michael Byrd was likely driving a blue 2017 Ford Explorer. After some time, a blue 2017 Ford Explorer and a small sedan pulled up to Apartment #42 together. Investigators observed the driver of the Explorer, identified as Wesley Reed, walking towards Apartment #42, and the passenger, identified as Je’Von Byrd, reaching towards his waist. At that point, investigators told Je’Von Byrd to raise his hands.

Investigators opened the door of the Explorer and immediately observed a handgun, which was later determined to be loaded. Investigators then patted down Je’Von Byrd and located a vacuum-sealed bag of what appeared to be fentanyl. A search of the vehicle recovered two more vacuum-sealed bags of what appeared to be fentanyl and multiple ownership documents with the name Michael Byrd.

Je’Von Byrd “took ownership of the drugs found on his person.” Michael Byrd was a passenger in the other car that arrived at Apartment #42 at the same time as the Explorer—the small sedan. No narcotics were found on Michael Byrd. Michael Byrd was detained while a search warrant was prepared for Apartment #42.

Je’Von Byrd’s person contained 924.4 grams of fluorofentanyl. The two bags in the vehicle contained 3.01 kilograms and 690.10 grams of fluorofentanyl.

Before leaving the scene, the officers knocked on the door at Apartment #42 and Savanna Asberry, Michael Byrd’s romantic partner, answered. According to Asberry, she was alone in the apartment even though investigators had watched John John “enter [it] and not exit.” Considering the circumstances, police conducted a protective sweep of the apartment. Police observed an “open safe with numerous pill bottles covered in a white powdery substance believed to be fentanyl” and an open back window. “Three additional firearms, suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia, including, but not limited to, a hydraulic press, baggies, operational digital scales, cutting agents, and a blender” were also found. The suspected narcotics were later identified as 65.138 grams of fentanyl, 0.223 grams of cocaine, and 5.155 grams of fluorofentanyl and fentanyl.

In April 2022, approximately one year later, an officer on routine patrol observed a vehicle, registered to Michael Byrd, illegally blocking a sidewalk. Later, a police officer observed Michael Byrd standing outside the vehicle. When approached, Michael Byrd ran, threw his jacket off his body, and was observed reaching his hand into his pants, pulling out something, and throwing it over a fence. Michael Byrd was then taken into custody, where a search of the jacket yielded $3,530 and a cell phone. In the area where he threw something was a bag of suspected fentanyl that had “broken or burst” and the suspected fentanyl was spread over the ground. It was later identified as 84.6 grams of fentanyl.

Michael Byrd continued to use Asberry to coordinate his drug-trafficking operation. In May 2022, Asberry went to Louisville to pick up narcotics. While driving back to Lexington, she and Michael Byrd spoke on the phone during a routine traffic stop in which Michael Byrd asked her if she “locked the shit in the thing” to which she advised that she had “everything” in the car. The car contained a Glock pistol, and “13.87 grams of cocaine, 60.605 grams of fentanyl, and 56.062 grams of methamphetamine.”

The lease agreement for Apartment #42 was signed by Michael Byrd. Photographs from his cell phone depicted him with large amounts of U.S. currency. They also depicted suspected narcotics and several individuals with firearms. Michael Byrd maintained that he resided elsewhere—365 Woodview Drive in Lexington, Kentucky—although his name was on the lease of Apartment #42.

In June 2022, based on all the above information, a grand jury ultimately indicted Je’Von Byrd, Michael Byrd, and Savanna Asberry. The Byrds pleaded guilty to the drug crimes. The district court sentenced Michael Byrd to 420 months of imprisonment, followed by ten years of supervised release and sentenced Je’Von Byrd to 120 months of imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release. These appeals followed.

II. ANALYSIS A. Fluorofentanyl in Explorer A district court’s factual calculation of the drug quantity attributable to a defendant is reviewed for clear error. United States v. Olsen, 537 F.3d 660, 663 (6th Cir. 2008). A “finding is ‘clearly erroneous’ when although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 384, 395 (1948). The Sentencing Guidelines instruct sentencing courts to calculate a defendant’s base offense level from the total quantity of drugs attributable to him. United States v. Thompson, 588 F. App’x 449, 452 (6th Cir. 2014). A drug quantity need only be established by a preponderance of the evidence, and an estimate will suffice. United States v. Anderson, 526 F.3d 319, 326 (6th Cir. 2008). The testimony of a co-conspirator may be sufficient to support the quantity of drugs attributable to another co-conspirator. United States v. Swanberg, 370 F.3d 622, 625 (6th Cir. 2004).

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