United States v. Yolanda Goodlow

Procedural entryThis page is a short order in United States v. Yolanda Goodlow. Read the opinion of the Court — 389 F. App'x 961
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit·Decided July 29, 2010·No. 08-16250·Unpublished

Opinion

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________ FILED U.S. COURT OF APPEALS No. 08-16250 ELEVENTH CIRCUIT JULY 29, 2010 Non-Argument Calendar JOHN LEY ________________________ CLERK

D. C. Docket No. 08-00242-CR-5-IPJ-HGD

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

YOLANDA GOODLOW, ROBERT MICHAEL EVANS, a.k.a. Hot Dog, a.k.a. Hot Boy,

Defendants-Appellants.

________________________

Appeals from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama _________________________ (July 29, 2010)

Before BARKETT, WILSON and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:

Robert Michael Evans and Yolanda Goodlow appeal their convictions

stemming from a multi-count indictment in which they were co-defendants. Evans

appeals his convictions and sentence of life imprisonment for (1) conspiracy to

distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or less of

marijuana, and between 500 grams and 5 kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21

U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846; (2) distribution of a quantity of marijuana, in violation of

21 U.S.C. § 841; (3) use of a communication facility to facilitate the commission

of a felony drug-trafficking crime, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843; and (4) being a

felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Goodlow

appeals following her convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with

intent to distribute 100 kilograms or less of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§

841(a)(1), (b)(1), and 846, and use of a communication facility to facilitate the

commission of a felony drug-trafficking crime, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b).

On appeal, Evans argues that the district court: (1) plainly erred by trying

him and Yolanda Goodlow together; (2) plainly erred by admitting a drug lab

report into evidence without requiring the direct testimony of the lab technician, in

violation of Evans’s constitutional rights under the Confrontation Clause; (3) erred

in finding there was sufficient evidence to support his conviction for conspiracy;

2 (4) plainly erred by finding that Evans was a career offender; (5) clearly erred by

enhancing Evans’s offense level under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for possession of a

firearm; and (6) imposed an unreasonable sentence of life imprisonment. Goodlow

claims that the district court erred by denying her motion to suppress evidence

seized from her mobile home because the search warrant lacked probable cause

and did not identify her mobile home with specificity.

I. BACKGROUND

The indictments against Evans and Goodlow arose from the investigation of

a large-scale drug distribution enterprise involving Reco Willingham. The

government indicted thirty-three individuals, including Evans, Goodlow, and

Willingham, on a plethora of charges relating to a drug conspiracy they entered

into from 2004 to 2008. Willingham pleaded guilty and testified against Evans and

Goodlow.

Willingham testified that he purchased marijuana and cocaine in bulk from

Galdino Zamora. He then sold 10–15 pounds of marijuana to Evans 2–3 times a

month. Willingham also supplied Evans with cocaine, starting out with one

kilogram and then increasing to multiple kilograms. Evans had other suppliers of

cocaine and marijuana. In fact, Evans often supplied Willingham with high quality

marijuana and offered to supply Willingham with cocaine.

3 Goodlow is Willingham’s older sister who lived in a trailer home located on

a piece of Willingham’s property. Willingham kept large amounts of money in a

safe in Goodlow’s bedroom closet. Goodlow witnessed Willingham put money in

and take money out of the safe. Willingham also kept several kilograms of cocaine

in Goodlow’s trailer with Goodlow’s full knowledge. Goodlow witnessed

Willingham’s cousin come into her home to pick up a couple kilograms of cocaine

for Willingham. Furthermore, Goodlow arranged a deal for the sale of six pounds

of marijuana from Willingham to one of her coworkers.

When the government executed search warrants for Evans’s property they

recovered several firearms. At his restaurant, a pistol was found laying on top of a

safe containing $27,000 in cash. At Evans’s home, two rifles, a shotgun, and pistol

were recovered. A search warrant for Willingham’s property recovered 18

kilograms of cocaine in Goodlow’s trailer, $101,300 in cash from the safe in

Goodlow’s bedroom, and two handguns on Goodlow’s dresser. Additionally, 85

pounds of marijuana were recovered from another structure on the same property.

A jury found Evans guilty of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute

marijuana, use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense, and being a

felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing Evans received enhancements for

possessing dangerous weapons and being a career offender. Evans did not object

4 to being classified as a career offender. The court then sentenced Evans to life

imprisonment on the basis of his history, characteristics, the need to protect the

public, the desire to provide just punishment and future deterrence of others, and to

avoid unnecessary sentencing disparities among other defendants.

The same jury found Goodlow guilty of conspiracy involving marijuana less

than 100 kilograms and using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime.

Goodlow received a sentence of 41 months imprisonment.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Evans
1. Severance

First, Evans argues that he should have been tried separately from Goodlow

and that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move for severance.

Goodlow’s counsel previously represented the individual charged with murdering

Evans’s wife and Evans contends that this representation created a conflict of

interest because counsel “was privy to discovery relating” to Evans’s illegal

activities in the previous murder case.

Where the defendant has failed to raise an issue below, we review for plain

error. United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir. 2005).1

1 Plain error requires the defendant to show: (1) an error; (2) that is plain; (3) that affects substantial rights; and (4) “seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of

5 “[T]he general rule is that Defendants indicted together should be tried

together, especially in conspiracy cases.” United States v. Chavez, 584 F.3d 1354,

1360 (11th Cir. 2009). “To succeed on appeal the Defendant must carry the heavy

burden of demonstrating the lack of a fair trial due to actual, compelling

prejudice.” Id. There are four typical cases where severance may be required: “(1)

[w]here the Defendants rely upon mutually antagonistic defenses; (2) [w]here one

Defendant would exculpate the moving defendant in a separate trial, but will not

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