United States v. Steven Washington

565 F. App'x 458
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedMay 5, 2014
Docket13-5270, 13-5271
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 565 F. App'x 458 (United States v. Steven Washington) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth 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. Steven Washington, 565 F. App'x 458 (6th Cir. 2014).

Opinion

DAMON J. KEITH, Circuit Judge.

A grand jury in the Eastern District of Kentucky indicted Defendants Steven Boyd Washington and Freddie Campbell, Jr., (“Campbell”) as well as six other individuals for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Campbell was also indicted for attempting to possess oxycodone with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

While the other co-defendants pleaded guilty, Washington and Campbell proceeded to trial. Both defendants made numerous motions to sever their trials; each motion was denied. The jury convicted both Washington and Campbell on Count One (conspiracy to distribute oxycodone) and additionally convicted Campbell on Count Eleven (attempted possession). The district court sentenced Washington to 80 months of imprisonment and Campbell to concurrent terms of 120 months of imprisonment on Count One and Eleven.

Both defendants raise a number of challenges to their convictions and sentences in this consolidated appeal. For the reasons that follow, we AFFIRM both convictions and REMAND to the district court for a hearing as to whether Campbell’s criminal history score was properly calculated.

I.

In early 2011, Kentucky police began noticing a large influx of oxycodone pills in Clark County, Kentucky and the surrounding area. Using undercover informants, detectives made a number of controlled purchases from Mr. James Martin, whom they identified as the source of the pills. During these transactions, Martin stated that he had obtained the pills from a Florida supplier named “Bear.” Detectives then made a number of controlled purchases from individuals associated with Martin, many of whom had familial or personal relationships with one another.

In June 2011, an undercover officer contacted Martin and ordered 1,000 oxycodone pills for $28,000. Martin agreed, and traveled with his wife to Florida, where they received the pills from Bear. On their way back, they stopped in Richmond, Kentucky as planned to deliver 1,000 oxycodone tablets to the undercover agent. After Martin displayed the pills to the agent, police surrounded his car, arrested him and his wife, and seized the pills. Martin agreed to cooperate with the police, informed them of his recent trip to Florida, and disclosed his intent to deliver 400 pills to Defendant Campbell. 1 Martin was then instructed to make several recorded telephone calls to other co-defendants, including calls to “Bear,” whom Martin and his wife would later identify in Court as Defendant Washington, and to Defendant Campbell. Detectives later determined that Washington was Martin’s Florida-based supplier, and Defendant Campbell was a mid-level distributer in the conspiracy.

Based upon the calls that were made, arrangements were made for the Martins to drop off 300 pills at a Best Western parking lot to Defendant Campbell. When Campbell arrived at the hotel to receive the pills, he was arrested.

A few weeks later, there was a second investigation by law enforcement which re- *461 suited in the bringing of the superseding indictments. A first Superseding Indictment consisting of fifteen counts was filed on September 01, 2011. (R. 37, Superseding Indictment, PgID# 94-99). A Second Superseding Indictment consisting of eighteen counts was subsequently filed on January 05, 2012. (R. 180: Superseding Indictment, PgID# 539-45.). The dates of the alleged conspiracy were from February 2011, continuing through August 2011. In addition to Campbell, and Washington, the other named co-conspirators in the indictment were Michael A. Marshall, Jr., James William Martin, Jr., Leslie Michelle Martin, Khevis Lee Campbell, Freddie L. Campbell, III, and Vonshell Lindsey.

Prior to trial, six of the eight defendants pleaded guilty; only Washington and Campbell proceeded to trial. Both defendants filed several motions to sever, all of which were denied. At trial, the government presented testimony from law enforcement, James and Michelle Martin, and several cooperating defendants describing the oxycodone supply chain and Washington and Campbell’s participation in it. The Martins testified that Washington was the man they referred to as “Bear” and that he had supplied James Martin with the pills. Washington filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, arguing that the government failed to prove that he was “Bear.” Campbell, acting pro se, filed a similar motion, arguing that the government’s evidence failed to establish his involvement in the conspiracy. The district court rejected both motions.

At the close of trial, both defendants renewed their motions. The district court again denied both motions and submitted the case to the jury, which convicted both defendants on the conspiracy charge and also convicted Campbell on one count of attempting to possess oxycodone with intent to distribute it. Defendants now appeal.

II.

Defendants Washington and Campbell, either jointly or individually, argue that their convictions should be overturned because (1) the evidence was insufficient to prove Washington’s involvement in the charged conspiracy; (2) there was a prejudicial variance between the indictment and evidence offered at trial, and that the district court erred when it refused to give a multiple conspiracy instruction; (3) the district improperly refused to sever Defendants’ trial; (4) the district court made erroneous evidentiary rulings; (5) the district court improperly refused to grant Campbell’s motion for a mistrial; and (6) the district court miscalculated Campbell’s advisory Sentencing Guideline range. We AFFIRM the judgment of the district court but REMAND for resentencing of Defendant Campbell.

1. Sufficiency of the Evidence

This Court reviews de novo the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction. United States v. Gunter, 551 F.3d 472, 482 (6th Cir.2009). In order to convict a defendant for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846, the jury must find the following beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) the existence of an agreement to violate drug laws, (2) the defendants’ knowledge and intent to join the conspiracy, and (3) the defendants’ participation in the conspiracy. See United States v. Robinson, 547 F.3d 632, 641 (6th Cir.2008).

A defendant bringing such a challenge bears a “very heavy burden.” United States v. Daniel, 329 F.3d 480, 485 (6th Cir.2003). Evidence is sufficient to sustain a conviction if “after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecu *462

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Bluebook (online)
565 F. App'x 458, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-steven-washington-ca6-2014.