United States v. Norberto Alaniz , 726 F.3d 586 ( 2013 )

Case: 11-41376 Document: 00512323905 Page: 1 Date Filed: 07/29/2013
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
July 29, 2013
Nos. 11-41376 c/w 11-41392
Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
NORBERTO ALANIZ; JOSEFINA GALAVIZ; MAYRA LOPEZ; YESICA
MAGANA; LEANDRO SALAS-GALAVIZ, also known as Daniel Obregon, also
known as Lic,
Defendants-Appellants.
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
Before STEWART, Chief Judge, and BENAVIDES and HIGGINSON, Circuit
Judges.
CARL E. STEWART, Chief Judge:
Defendants-Appellants, Salas-Galaviz (“Salas”), Alaniz, Lopez, Galaviz,
and Magana appeal their convictions and sentences for drug trafficking, money
laundering, and conspiracy thereof.1 For the reasons provided herein, we wholly
AFFIRM Alaniz’s convictions and sentences. Due to a Sentencing Guidelines
error conceded by the government, we VACATE the sentences of Salas and the
1
We collectively refer to all Defendants-Appellants as the “Appellants.” We collectively
refer to Lopez, Galaviz, and Magana only as the “Money Laundering” or “ML Appellants.”
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ML Appellants as to Count 10 only, and REMAND for re-sentencing. We
otherwise AFFIRM the convictions and sentences in full.
BACKGROUND
A. Salas
Salas is an illegal immigrant from Mexico who cannot speak or understand
English. During most of the period at issue in this case, Salas resided in Laredo,
Texas, where he used an “assumed Social Security number” and the criminal
alias “Daniel Obregon.” Salas was apprehended in January 2010 as part of the
joint DEA/IRS “Operation Reload,” which targeted U.S. appendages of the
Mexican drug cartels, Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel.
Salas was convicted of running a large-scale cocaine and marijuana
trafficking operation out of Laredo—an epicenter of U.S.-Mexico drug
trafficking—while ostensibly working as a Spanish-language car salesman.
Before moving to Laredo and displaying sudden, large amounts of wealth, Salas
worked behind the counter at a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Dallas. The district
court found that Salas moved from Dallas to Laredo, at the behest of Los Zetas
and the Gulf Cartel, where he organized and led a drug trafficking operation
from the Laredo border to various points throughout the United States.
B. Alaniz
Alaniz, who is not related to Salas, was one of more than two-dozen
individuals who worked for Salas as a drug transporter.2 He was apprehended
in Texas on July 18, 2006 with a tractor-trailer full of drugs. Alaniz previously
was convicted of similar drug trafficking offenses to those charged in this case.
C. The ML Appellants
Lopez is Salas’s wife, Galaviz is Salas’s mother, and Magana is Salas’s
younger sister. The three laundered drug trafficking proceeds for Salas.
2
The other transporters either pled guilty and cooperated, or were subject to trial in
other federal district courts. They are not party to this appeal.
2
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Lopez lived with Salas in Laredo, while Galaviz lived with Magana in the
vicinity of Dallas. Magana claimed Galaviz as a federal tax dependant.
D. The Money Laundering Conspiracy
To launder his drug trafficking proceeds, Salas ran a sham construction
company called “LC Contractors.” Lopez ran a sham import-export business
called “Via Italia Devine.” Galaviz bought and sold real estate, and Magana
bought and sold motor vehicles.
In all, Salas accrued $1,913,937 in drug trafficking proceeds between 2002
and 2009, which he and the ML Appellants laundered through 38 bank accounts.
Lopez, Galaviz, and Magana were apprehended with Salas in January 2010.
E. Procedural History
On June 8, 2010, Appellants were charged by a sixteen-count indictment.
Appellants proceeded to a joint jury trial, where the prosecutor, in part, relied
on the testimony of confidential informants, Ester Ramirez and Roberto Garcia.3
Collectively, Appellants were convicted on thirteen of the sixteen counts.
Salas was sentenced to life imprisonment, Alaniz to 30 years imprisonment, and
each of the ML Appellants to 11 years, 3 months imprisonment.4 In addition to
the prison terms, the district court imposed substantial fines and forfeitures.
DISCUSSION
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence Challenges
The ML Appellants all raise sufficiency of the evidence challenges on
appeal, with respect to both their conspiracy and substantive money laundering
convictions. All three were convicted of conspiracy under Count 10 of the
3
Both “Ester Ramirez” and “Roberto Garcia” were aliases under which the district
court allowed the two informants to testify. In their briefs, the parties refer to Ramirez as
“Confidential Source” or “CS1” and Garcia as “CS2.” We do the same.
4
For ease of reference, we have included charts documenting the counts charged and
the convictions and sentences imposed in an Appendix at the end of this opinion.
3
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indictment. Lopez was convicted of substantive money laundering under Count
11, Galaviz under Counts 13 and 14, and Magana under Count 12.
Upon review, we conclude the evidence was plentiful that all three
Appellants (i) experienced sudden wealth in the form of property valued at more
than $10,000; (ii) knew the property came from Salas’s unlawful drug
trafficking; and (iii) implicitly agreed to launder the property in order to
facilitate Salas’s trafficking.
A. Standard of Review
“This court reviews preserved challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence
de novo.” United States v. Grant, 683 F.3d 639, 642 (5th Cir. 2012) (citation
omitted).5 “When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we view all evidence,
whether circumstantial or direct, in the light most favorable to the government,
with all reasonable inferences and credibility choices to be made in support of
the jury’s verdict.” United States v. Ford, 558 F.3d 371, 375 (5th Cir. 2009) (per
curiam) (citation omitted).
“A jury is free to choose among reasonable constructions of the evidence.”
United States v. Pigrum, 922 F.2d 249, 254 (5th Cir. 1991). “It is not necessary
that the evidence exclude every rational hypothesis of innocence or be wholly
inconsistent with every conclusion except guilt, provided a reasonable trier of
fact could find the evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United
States v. Valdez, 453 F.3d 252, 256 (5th Cir. 2006) (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted).
In all, this Court’s “inquiry is limited to whether the jury’s verdict was
reasonable, not whether we believe it to be correct.” United States v. Moreno-
Gonzalez, 662 F.3d 369, 372 (5th Cir. 2011) (citation and internal quotation
5
All three ML Appellants properly preserved their challenges for appeal.
4
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marks omitted). This inquiry “is highly deferential to the verdict.” United
States v. Harris, 293 F.3d 863, 869 (5th Cir. 2002).
“Circumstantial evidence may establish the existence of a conspiracy, as
well as an individual’s voluntary participation in it, and circumstances
altogether inconclusive, if separately considered, may, by their number and joint
operation . . . be sufficient to constitute conclusive proof.” United States v.
Fernandez, 559 F.3d 303, 315 (5th Cir. 2009) (citations and internal quotation
marks omitted) (alterations in original).
B. Applicable Law
1. Conspiracy Charges
Count 10 charged the three ML Appellants, as well as Salas, with: (i) the
concealment of drug trafficking proceeds; (ii) in order to avoid a reporting
requirement; (iii) by moving funds outside the United States and engaging in
monetary transactions of a value greater than $10,000 through a financial
institution. This amounted to a charge for conspiracy to commit money
laundering in violation, inter alia, of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
The elements of a conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), are: (i) “that there was an agreement between two or more
persons to commit money laundering”; and (ii) “that the defendant joined the
agreement knowing its purpose and with the intent to further the illegal
purpose.” United States v. Fuchs, 467 F.3d 889, 906 (5th Cir. 2006) (citations
omitted). “The government need not prove an overt act in furtherance of the
conspiracy.” Id. (citing Whitfield v. United States, 543 U.S. 209, 219 (2005)).
“It is settled law that conspiring to commit a crime is an offense wholly
separate from the crime which is the object of the conspiracy.” United States v.
Threadgill, 172 F.3d 357, 367 (5th Cir. 1999) (citation omitted). “Thus, we have
consistently held that a conspiracy charge need not include the elements of the
substantive offense the defendant may have conspired to commit.” Id. (citations
5
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omitted). “Evidence that a defendant’s cash outflow in a financial transaction
exceeds [her] legitimate income is sufficient to show that the transaction
involves the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, even if the defendant claims
income from other sources.” United States v. Westbrook, 119 F.3d 1176, 1191
(5th Cir. 1997) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
2. Substantive Money Laundering Charges
Count 11 charged Lopez with knowingly laundering $15,000 in unlawfully
derived property from a Wells Fargo account on April 17, 2007. Count 13
charged Galaviz with knowingly laundering $30,000 in unlawfully derived
property, by means of a Laredo National Bank cashier’s check, on or about
January 23, 2008. Count 14 charged Galaviz with knowingly laundering
$48,304.31 in unlawfully derived property, by means of a check drawn from
BBVA Compass Account No. 1782, on or about April 17, 2008. Count 12 charged
Magana with knowingly laundering $15,000 in unlawfully derived property, on
or about March 29, 2007, by making a payment on Salas’s house in Laredo using
a check drawn on Chase Account No. 7697. These amounted to charges for
money laundering in violation, inter alia, of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a).
The elements of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a), are:
(i) “property valued at more than $10,000 that was derived from a specified
unlawful activity”; (ii) “the defendant’s engagement in a financial transaction
with the property”; and (iii) “the defendant’s knowledge that the property was
derived from unlawful activity.” Fuchs, 467 F.3d at 907 (citations omitted).6
“Unlawfully” or “criminally derived property” is “property constituting, or
derived from, proceeds obtained from a criminal offense,” such as drug
6
We emphasize that the knowledge inquiry looks only to whether the property was
derived from an “unlawful activity.” Accordingly, the mens rea element of the offense does not
extend to whether the defendant knowingly laundered the funds, only whether the defendant
knew the funds were illicit and engaged in a “financial transaction” with them regardless.
6
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trafficking. See 18 U.S.C. § 1957(f)(2). A “financial” or “monetary transaction”
is “the deposit, withdrawal, transfer, or exchange, in or affecting interstate or
foreign commerce, of funds or a monetary instrument . . . by, through, or to a
financial institution,” but “does not include any transaction necessary to
preserve a person’s right to representation as guaranteed by the [S]ixth
[A]mendment to the Constitution.” Id. § 1957(f)(1).
C. Analysis
1. Lopez
a. Evidence of Sudden Wealth
Lopez is Salas’s wife. From 2005 through 2009, Salas reported income of
approximately $30,000 in total. However, his bank accounts showed cash
deposits and wire transfers of approximately $761,000. Between 2002 and 2008,
Lopez and Salas went from living in a one-bedroom rental apartment to building
a house valued at approximately $500,000. During that period, they reported
a combined total income of less than $50,000.
Lopez herself was an occasional seller of Mary Kay and Avon products.
Prior to 2008, she had earned $12,000 in total from Mary Kay sales and $5000
in total from Avon sales. Lopez otherwise had no meaningful income from any
source between 2003 and 2009. Nevertheless, her bank accounts showed cash
deposits and wire transfers totaling $361,934 during that period.
Finally, in 2008, Via Italia—Lopez’s ostensible import-export
business—reported a loss of approximately $48,000. During that same year, it
received cash deposits and wire transfers of approximately $61,800.
Together, this evidence demonstrates that Lopez experienced sudden
wealth in the form of property valued at more than $10,000.
b. Evidence of Knowledge of Drug Trafficking
Between 2002 and 2009, the record reflects instances where Lopez knew
that Salas was using the alias “Daniel Obregon.” Moreover, on May 24, 2007,
7
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Lopez expressly told CS1 that she was going to Dallas, on behalf of Salas, to
retrieve drug proceeds and return them to Laredo. Salas then added, in Lopez’s
presence, that Alaniz had transported drugs for him before his apprehension.
Finally, on March 28, 2008, Lopez confided to CS1 that LC Contractors (Salas’s
construction company) was not in business “to make money.” If not in business
“to make money,” it stands to reason LC Contractors actually was in business
to front for Salas’s drug trafficking.
In light of this evidence, a reasonable jury could infer that Lopez knew
that her sudden wealth came or derived from Salas’s drug trafficking, an
unlawful activity.
c.
Evidence of an Implicit Agreement to Launder
Funds Derived from Salas’s Trafficking
Between May 2008 and June 2008, Lopez withdrew $35,000 from an
account with IBC Bank in the name of Via Italia. She used the $35,000 to
purchase a certificate of deposit (“CD”), and then used the CD as collateral for
a loan of approximately the same amount. This transaction had no conceivable
purpose other than the intentional obscurement of the $35,000’s initial source.
In light of Lopez’s knowledge that she had obtained property in excess of
$10,000, and that the property was derived from Salas’s unlawful drug
trafficking, Lopez’s intentional obscurement of the $35,000 could permit a
reasonable jury to infer that Lopez implicitly agreed to launder the source of the
property for Salas in order to facilitate his drug trafficking.
d. Conclusion
Based on the above evidence, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude
that Lopez conspired to launder Salas’s drug trafficking proceeds in violation,
inter alia, of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
On April 17, 2007, Lopez made a $15,000 payment to Chrysler Financial,
from Wells Fargo Bank Account No. 3431, towards a Dodge Durango truck used
8
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by Salas. For the reasons stated above, Lopez knew that the $15,000 was drug
trafficking proceeds. Accordingly, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude that
Lopez laundered Salas’s drug trafficking proceeds in violation, inter alia, of 18
U.S.C. § 1957(a).7
2. Galaviz
a. Evidence of Sudden Wealth
Galaviz is Salas’s mother. From 2002 through 2008, Galaviz reported less
than $18,000 in income, but received $509,665 in wire transfers and cash
deposits into the seven different bank accounts that she controlled.
This evidence demonstrates that Galaviz experienced sudden wealth in the
form of property valued at more than $10,000.
b. Evidence of Knowledge of Drug Trafficking
Galaviz received multiple wire transfers from individuals residing in
Mexico, who the trial record implies are drug traffickers. Notably, BBVA
Compass Bank Account No. 1782 received $245,995 in international wire
transfers from three such individuals: Hilario Martinez-Garcia, Jesus Garza-
Rodriguez, and Hector Vicente Becerra. $32,000 of those transferred funds
arrived from Mexico shortly after Galaviz opened the account. The account also
received $38,000 in cash deposits. Similarly, IBC Account No. 0654 received two
international wire transfers, totaling $27,970, from Alejandro Lara-Davila,
another individual in Mexico who the trial record implies is a trafficker.
On the day that Galaviz opened it, Wells Fargo Account No. 1432 received
a $50,000 wire transfer from Lara-Davila. Galaviz used the $50,000 to buy a CD
on April 25, 2007. When the CD matured, Galaviz wired $52,500 from the
account to Salas. The account also received $43,500 in cash deposits.
7
All three ML Appellants waived any challenges to whether the transactions
underlying their convictions were “financial transactions.”
9
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In light of this evidence, a reasonable jury could infer that Galaviz knew
that her sudden wealth came or derived from Salas’s drug trafficking, an
unlawful activity.
c.Evidence of an Implicit Agreement to Launder
Funds Derived from Salas’s Trafficking
In April 2007, Galaviz wired $52,130.51 to Magana who, in turn, wired
$58,692 back to Galaviz in July 2008. On January 17, 2008, Galaviz wired
$33,000 to herself, from a Wells Fargo account she controlled to BBVA Compass
Account No. 1782. Later that year, on June 25, 2008, Galaviz opened BBVA
Compass Account No. 6826 with a $136,147.60 transfer from Account No. 1782.
These transfers served no apparent purpose other than the intentional
obscurement of the initial sources of the transferred funds.
In light of Galaviz’s knowledge that she had obtained property in excess
of $10,000, and that the property was derived from Salas’s drug trafficking,
Galaviz’s intentional obscurement of the above-described funds could permit a
reasonable jury to infer that Galaviz implicitly agreed to launder the source of
the property for Salas.
d. Conclusion
Based on the above evidence, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude
that Galaviz conspired to launder Salas’s drug trafficking proceeds in violation,
inter alia, of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
e. Challenge to Count 14
On January 17, 2008, Galaviz wired $33,000 from Wells Fargo Account No.
1432 to BBVA Compass Account No. 1782. On or about January 23, 2008,
Galaviz used those funds to purchase a $30,000 cashier’s check from Laredo
National Bank. Galaviz used the cashier’s check to make the down payment on
a house she purchased from Salas in Laredo’s Patron Loop neighborhood. As
part of the transaction, Galaviz financed $120,000, and falsely referred to Salas
10
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as “Daniel Obregon” in the attendant documentation. Through December 2009,
Galaviz made payments on the house approximating $29,000 from two BBVA
Compass accounts. At that time, after less than two years had passed, Galaviz
sold the house for a $140,071 profit. For the reasons stated above, Galaviz knew
that the $30,000 cashier’s check was funded with drug trafficking proceeds.
Accordingly, with respect to Count 13, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude
that Galaviz laundered Salas’s trafficking proceeds in violation, inter alia, of 18
U.S.C. § 1957(a).
On April 16, 2008, Galaviz drew a check for $48,304.31 on BBVA Compass
Account No. 1782. The following day, Galaviz used the funds to purchase a lot
with Salas in Laredo’s Deer Ridge neighborhood. The settlement sheet and
other closing documents listed Galaviz as the “buyer,” even though Salas
contributed more than two-thirds of the purchase funds. For the reasons stated
above, Galaviz knew that the $48,304.31 check drew on drug trafficking
proceeds. Accordingly, with respect to Count 14, it was reasonable for the jury
to conclude that Galaviz laundered Salas’s trafficking proceeds in violation, inter
alia, of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a).
3. Magana
a. Evidence of Sudden Wealth
IRS Agent Juan Rodriguez testified that, from 2006 through 2008, Magana
reported income of approximately $140,000 in total from work as a hair dresser
at a salon. She did not file a tax return in 2009. Yet, during that period,
Magana received approximately $220,000 in wire transfers and cash deposits
into the eleven different bank accounts that she controlled.
This evidence demonstrates that Magana experienced sudden wealth in
the form of property valued at more than $10,000.
b. Evidence of Knowledge of Drug Trafficking
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From 2002 to 2009, the record reflects instances where Magana knew that
Salas—her brother—was using the alias “Daniel Obregon.” Moreover, on April
3, 2007, Galaviz wired $52,130 into Chase Bank Account No. 7697, which
Magana controlled. Magana used those funds to purchase a $50,000 CD on April
17, 2007. Subsequently, Magana increased the CD purchase to $80,000, using
some of the approximately $74,600 in cash that had been deposited into the
account between July 2006 and April 2007. Upon the CD’s maturation, Magana
wired $25,000 from the account to Becerra in Mexico and another $58,692 back
to Galaviz.
Together, this evidence—especially the $25,000 transfer to Becerra, a drug
trafficker—could permit a reasonable jury to infer that Magana knew her
sudden wealth came or derived from Salas’s drug trafficking, an unlawful
activity.
c. Evidence of an Implicit Agreement to Launder
Funds Derived from Salas’s Trafficking
In 2007 alone, Magana purchased a new Ford F150 pickup truck for
$41,694, a new Jeep Commander SUV for $38,500, and a new Mercedes-Benz
SUV for $73,641.95. With respect to each purchase, someone other than Magana
made most of the payments and someone other than Magana ultimately drove
the vehicle (generally Salas). There was no apparent purpose to Magana making
the purchases other than the intentional obscurement of the true purchaser.
In light of Magana’s knowledge that she had obtained property in excess
of $10,000, and that the property was derived from Salas’s unlawful drug
trafficking, Magana’s intentional use of the property to act as a straw purchaser
of the vehicles could permit a reasonable jury to infer that Magana implicitly
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agreed to launder the source of the property in order to facilitate Salas’s
trafficking.8
d. Conclusion
Based on the above evidence, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude
that Magana conspired to launder Salas’s drug trafficking proceeds in violation,
inter alia, of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h).
On or about March 29, 2007, Magana drew a $15,000 check on Chase
Account No. 7969 in order to make a payment on Salas’s house in Laredo. For
the reasons stated above, Magana knew the check was funded with Salas’s drug
trafficking proceeds. Accordingly, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude that
Magana laundered those proceeds in violation, inter alia, of 18 U.S.C. § 1957(a).
II. Identification of Magana at Trial
Magana contends that the prosecution did not sufficiently identify her at
trial because no witness for the prosecution personally identified her to the jury.
This contention, however, is directly at odds with our longstanding precedent.
Identity may be established “by inference and circumstantial evidence.” United
States v. Seals, 987 F.2d 1102, 1110 (5th Cir. 1993) (citations and internal
quotation marks omitted). In other words, a witness need not “actually ‘point
out’ the defendant in the courtroom.” Id.Here, the prosecution called DEA Agent Royce Clayborne at trial, who
testified that Magana’s driver’s license bore a home address matching the home
address listed on Magana’s 2007 and 2008 tax returns. The license was
8
To be clear, evidence that simply demonstrates a defendant made purchases
above—even grossly above—her means, is not sufficient alone to establish money laundering
or conspiracy to commit money laundering. Here, the multiple and unexplained wire
transfers, deposits, and contrivances (e.g., purchasing the CD) established Magana’s
knowledge of sudden wealth from Salas’s trafficking. Only within this context was Magana’s
otherwise inexplicable purchase of numerous expensive vehicles for Salas sufficient to
establish her implicit agreement to launder his proceeds in order to facilitate his trafficking.
13
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introduced into evidence, which allowed the jury to compare the picture on it
with Magana. Under Seals, this was sufficient to establish Magana’s identity.
III. Challenges to the Admission or Exclusion of Evidence
A. Standard of Review
“Review of a trial court’s evidentiary rulings is for abuse of discretion,
subject to harmless error review.” United States v. Jackson, 636 F.3d 687, 692
(5th Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). “A trial court abuses its discretion when its
ruling is based on an erroneous view of the law or a clearly erroneous
assessment of the evidence.” United States v. Ragsdale, 426 F.3d 765, 774 (5th
Cir. 2005) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
A “trial court is afforded wide discretion in assessing the relevance and
prejudicial effect of evidence.” United States v. Seale, 600 F.3d 473, 494 (5th Cir.
2010) (citation omitted). Therefore it has the power to exclude, inter alia,
witness “testimony that would be cumulative and marginally relevant.” See
United States v. Wallace, 32 F.3d 921, 929 (5th Cir. 1994).
“Alleged violations of the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment
during cross-examination are reviewed de novo, applying a harmless error
standard.” United States v. El-Mezain, 664 F.3d 467, 491 (5th Cir. 2011).
B. Limitations on Magana’s Introduction of Character Evidence
Magana submits that the district court abused its discretion when it
limited her introduction of character evidence on the question of whether she is
naive and gullible, or unduly influenced by her brother (Salas).
1. Applicable Law
“Evidence of a person’s character or character trait is not admissible to
prove that on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the
character or trait.” Fed. R. Evid. 404(a)(1). However, in a criminal case, “a
defendant may offer evidence of the defendant’s pertinent trait, and if the
evidence is admitted, the prosecutor may offer evidence to rebut it.” Id.14
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404(a)(2)(A). When such “evidence of a person’s character or character trait is
admissible, it may be proved by testimony about the person’s reputation or by
testimony in the form of an opinion. On cross-examination of the character
witness, the court may allow an inquiry into relevant specific instances of the
person’s conduct.” Id. 405(a).
2. Analysis
Magana listed a friend and co-worker from the hair salon, Kim Montee, as
a character witness. Montee would have testified that Magana was naive and
gullible, or unduly influenced by Salas, and therefore did not know that Salas
was a drug trafficker. The district court rejected the proffered testimony,
explaining: “[T]he fact that [Magana] is or is not naive will not establish
whether or not she has knowledge.” The court added that Magana “could be
naive and still have done it willfully and knowingly. . . .” On appeal, Magana
argues that Montee’s testimony was relevant under Rules 404(a)(2)(A) and
405(A). She submits that Montee’s testimony would have helped to establish a
character trait of naivete which, Magana posits, would have undermined the
jury’s determination that she knew Salas was a drug trafficker. Thus, Magana
contends the district court abused its discretion by not allowing the testimony.
We note at the outset that this argument fails on appeal in light of our
broad deference to district court evidentiary determinations. See Seale, 600 F.3d
at 494; Wallace; 32 F.3d at 929. That said, Magana presented a naivete defense
at closing argument. It failed to persuade the jury, presumably because of the
overwhelming evidence of Magana’s guilt. The incremental testimony of
Montee—Magana’s conceded friend—would not have changed that outcome (at
least not for legally cognizable reasons). The district court did not abuse its
discretion when it limited Magana’s introduction of Montee’s testimony on the
question of whether Magana is naive and gullible, or unduly influenced by Salas.
C. Alaniz’s Crawford Challenge
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Alaniz contends that the district court abused its discretion when it denied
his request for Crawford jury instructions, and admitted a recorded conversation
between Salas and a confidential informant that criminally implicated him. See
Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004).
1. Applicable Law
“Where nontestimonial hearsay is at issue, it is wholly consistent with the
Framers’ design to afford the States flexibility in their development of hearsay
law . . . . Where testimonial evidence is at issue, however, the Sixth Amendment
demands what the common law required: unavailability and a prior opportunity
for cross-examination.” Crawford, 541 U.S. at 68. “Statements made between
co-conspirators in furtherance of a conspiracy are not testimonial.” United
States v. King, 541 F.3d 1143, 1145-46 (5th Cir. 2008) (citation omitted).
2. Analysis
Alaniz argues that the district court abused its discretion by admitting a
recorded conversation between Salas and a confidential informant that
criminally implicated Alaniz because the court had denied Alaniz’s request for
accompanying Crawford jury instructions. Alaniz contends that the confidential
informant on the tape was not CS1 or CS2, but a third confidential informant
who did not testify. He also contends that admission of the tape without an
accompanying instruction as to the parameters of Crawford and its progeny
violated the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment because neither
Salas nor the purported third informant testified at trial.
The government responds that it was CS2 on the tape, that he did testify
at trial, and that he was subjected to cross-examination. The government also
argues that, regardless, the contents of the recordings were non-testimonial
statements between co-conspirators in furtherance of their conspiracy and,
therefore, fell outside the ambit of the Confrontation Clause’s protections.
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a. Whether the Confrontation Clause Extends to the
Recorded Conversation.
“A defendant is presumed to continue in a conspiracy unless he makes a
substantial affirmative showing of withdrawal, abandonment, or defeat of the
conspiratorial purpose.” United States v. Torres, 114 F.3d 520, 525 (5th Cir.
1997). “The defendant has the burden of proving affirmative acts that are
inconsistent with the conspiracy and are communicated in a manner reasonably
calculated to reach his coconspirators.” Id. (citation omitted).
Here, unlike the three ML Appellants, Alaniz has not challenged the
sufficiency of the evidence underlying his conspiracy conviction. Therefore, he
is bound by that conviction on appeal. Furthermore, in his brief, he provides no
evidence that he had withdrawn from the conspiracy at the time of the recorded
conversation. Accordingly, for purposes of our review, Alaniz was a co-
conspirator with Salas and the confidential informant (who was pretending to
conspire) with respect to any recorded statements pertaining to the conspiracy.
“Statements made between co-conspirators in furtherance of a conspiracy
are not testimonial.” King, 541 F.3d at 1145-46 (citing Crawford, 541 U.S. at
56). From the material discussed on the recordings and Officer Colon’s
identification of the speakers, the district court reasonably concluded that the
statements were made between Salas and a co-conspirator in furtherance of the
conspiracy. While the recorded conversation here was not between Salas and
Alaniz, or between Alaniz and the informant, all three individuals were common
to the conspiracy being discussed. Thus, the Confrontation Clause did not
extend to the recorded statements. There was no need for a curative Crawford
jury instruction, and the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting
the statements without one.
D. Challenges to the Testimony of CS1 and CS2
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Salas, Alaniz, and Lopez submit that the district court abused its
discretion when it imposed limitations on defense counsel’s cross-examinations
of CS1 (Ramirez) and CS2 (Garcia), and allowed the two informants to testify
under aliases without disclosing their dates of birth or social security numbers.
1. Additional Facts
Prior to jury selection, the government shared the “true names” of CS1 and
CS2 with defense counsel, as well as other background information including
criminal histories, plea agreements, confidential informant agreements,
payment schedules, and prior testimonies. Defense counsel then requested CS1
and CS2’s dates of birth and social security numbers, ostensibly to facilitate
further background investigation for purposes of cross-examination. The district
court denied that request. On July 11, 2011, the district court granted the
government’s requests that CS1 and CS2 be allowed to testify under aliases at
trial, and that defense counsel be prohibited from referring to them by their
actual names. The two informants proceeded to testify under aliases and were
subjected to cross-examination, albeit with the following limitations.
a. CS1
At the time of trial, CS1’s husband was in jail on unrelated drug
trafficking charges. During cross examination, defense counsel asked CS1 how
many years her husband was involved in the drug trade and, in a follow-up
question, how many years she was aware of it. The prosecution objected to both
questions, and the court sustained both objections on the ground that they were
improper lines of impeachment. The court noted that defense counsel remained
“free to bring up bias or prejudice.”
b. CS2
CS2 admitted at trial that, like Salas, he previously had worked with the
Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas. CS2 acknowledged his prior involvement with
cocaine and marijuana trafficking, and other violent crimes including murder.
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During cross-examination, defense counsel asked CS2 whether he had reported
his past income from the Gulf Cartel to the IRS. The district court rejected the
question as irrelevant.
2. Applicable Law
a. The “Informant Privilege” and the “Roviaro
Limitation” on That Privilege
The “informant privilege” is a privilege held by the government “to
withhold from disclosure the identity of persons who furnish information of
violations of law to officers charged with enforcement of that law.” Roviaro v.
United States, 353 U.S. 53, 59 (1957) (citations omitted). “The purpose of the
privilege is the furtherance and protection of the public interest in effective law
enforcement. The privilege recognizes the obligation of citizens to communicate
their knowledge of the commission of crimes to law-enforcement officials and, by
preserving their anonymity, encourages them to perform that obligation.” Id.In Roviaro, the confidential informant at issue “was not produced,
identified, or otherwise made available” and, thus, did not testify at trial. Id. at
55. However, other witnesses for the prosecution testified concerning the
informant’s role in the investigation. Id. During cross-examination of those
witnesses, the district court rejected defense counsel’s attempts to learn the
informant’s identity. Id. The Supreme Court reversed the defendant’s ultimate
conviction, explaining: “Where the disclosure of an [informant’s] identity, or of
the contents of his communication, is relevant and helpful to the defense of an
accused, or is essential to a fair determination of a cause, the privilege must give
way.” Id. at 60-61 (citations omitted). This “limitation on the applicability of the
privilege arises from the fundamental requirements of fairness.” Id. at 60.
b. “Roviaro Balancing” to Determine Whether the
Informant Privilege Must Give Way to Disclosure
“[N]o fixed rule with respect to disclosure is justifiable. The problem is one
that calls for balancing the public interest in protecting the flow of information
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against the individual’s right to prepare his defense.” Roviaro, 353 U.S. at 62.
“Whether a proper balance renders nondisclosure erroneous [depends] on the
particular circumstances of each case . . . .” Id. The non-exhaustive list of
factors taken into consideration includes (i) “the crime charged”; (ii) “the possible
defenses”; and (iii) “the possible significance of the [informant’s] testimony.” Id.Professors Mueller and Kirkpatrick have advocated that the optimum forum for
this balancing of the public interest is an in camera hearing before the trial
judge. See 2 Christopher B. Mueller & Laird C. Kirkpatrick, Federal Evidence
§ 5.63 (3d ed. 2007).
c. Smith and the Use of Confidential Informants As
Trial Witnesses
In Smith v. Illinois, the Supreme Court expressly distinguished Roviaro,
and its attendant balancing, as applicable only where the informant did not
testify under alias at trial (or did not testify at all). See 390 U.S. 129, 133 (1968).
The Court explained that a government witness’s “name and address open
countless avenues of in-court examination and out-of-court investigation. To
forbid this most rudimentary inquiry at the threshold is effectively to emasculate
the right of cross-examination itself.” Id. at 131. Smith, however, did not
mandate a per se rule requiring disclosure in open court of any government
witness’s name and address. Research reveals two cases, unaddressed by the
parties, in which courts addressed situations, like this one, in which government
witnesses whose true names were provided to the defense were permitted to
testify at trial under pseudonyms. See United States v. Celis, 608 F.3d 818 (D.C.
Cir. 2010); United States v. Maso, No. 07-10858, 2007 WL 3121986 (11th Cir.
2007) (per curiam) (unpublished). Those courts concluded that such testimony
did not violate the Confrontation Clause, under the balancing framework set
forth in Alford, Smith, and Roviaro, because the witnesses had a reasonable fear
for their safety, and the non-disclosure of their true identities did not unduly
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hamper the defendants’ ability to prepare their defenses. Celis, 608 F.3d at832–33; Maso, 2007 WL 3121986, at *4.
3. Analysis
a. CS1 and CS2’s Testimony Under Aliases
Here, CS1 and CS2 testified at trial and were subjected to cross-
examination. While they testified under aliases, defense counsel were provided
with their “true names” and significant background information. The only
restrictions were that defense counsel could not use the informants’ actual
names in open court, and did not have access to the informants’ dates of birth
and social security numbers.
Balancing the public interest in protecting the flow of information against
the defendants’ confrontation rights, we conclude that the limited use of
pseudonyms did not violate the Confrontation Clause in this case. Defense
counsel were provided with the true names of the witnesses, information about
their backgrounds, their criminal records, the amount of compensation they
received for their DEA cooperation, and trial testimony they gave in previous
cases. And the witnesses were not strangers; Salas had known them for years.
The only information not disclosed to defense counsel was the witnesses’ dates
of birth and social security numbers. We fail to see how the non-disclosure of
such information, in light of the information provided, “frustrated meaningful
investigation into their respective backgrounds.” The defendants do not identify
what additional background information they sought to uncover. Nor do they
provide apposite authority supporting their position that the non-disclosure of
a witness’s date of birth and social security number violates the Confrontation
Clause; indeed, the only authority they cite is a case in which the true name of
a pseudonymous government witness was not disclosed to the defense, United
States v. Fuentes, 988 F. Supp. 861 (E.D. Pa. 1997), a different situation than the
one presented here. In fact, the situation here is strikingly similar to the
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situations in Celis and Maso: in all three cases, the pseudonymous witnesses
were informants for the DEA who feared reprisal from drug trafficking
organizations.
The principal difference is that the government here did not offer specific
evidence that the witnesses had a legitimate fear of reprisal and the court did
not make any findings on this issue. But the defendants did not raise a Roviaro
objection to the district court, and we are aware of no case holding that a district
court has the obligation to consider the Confrontation Clause implications of
pseudonymous testimony sua sponte. Because the defendants raised a discovery
objection, but not a confrontation objection, to the district court’s ruling allowing
the confidential informants to testify under aliases, our review is for plain error.
Under the circumstances, we perceive no plain error.
b. Limitations on Defense Counsel’s Cross-
Examinations of CS1 and CS2
With respect to its limitations on defense counsel’s ability (i) to re-question
CS1 about her possible involvement in her husband’s drug trafficking; and (ii)
to question CS2 about his tax reporting practices for past drug trafficking
income, the district court did not abuse its discretion. “[T]rial judges retain wide
latitude insofar as the Confrontation Clause is concerned to impose reasonable
limits on . . . cross-examination based on concerns about, among other things,
harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness’ safety, or
interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.” Van Arsdall, 475
U.S. at 679. Here, the duplicative question to CS1 was “repetitive” at a
minimum. Moreover, the question to CS2 was, at best,“marginally relevant.”
“The relevant inquiry is whether the jury had sufficient information to
appraise the bias and motives of the witness.” Tansley, 986 F.2d at 886 (citation
omitted). Here, cross-examination provided the jury with ample insight into CS1
and CS2’s respective associations and criminal pasts, and possibly self-interested
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motivations for cooperating with the government. The district court, which
reminded defense counsel it remained “free to bring up bias or prejudice,” did not
abuse its discretion by imposing its limitations on cross-examination.
IV. Challenges to Jury Instructions
A. Standard of Review
“When a challenge to jury instructions is properly preserved for appeal, we
review the challenged instructions for abuse of discretion.” United States v.
Newell, 315 F.3d 510, 528 (5th Cir. 2002) (citation and internal quotation marks
omitted). “In deciding whether the evidence reasonably supports the jury
charge, the court reviews the evidence and all reasonable inferences that may
be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the government.” Id. at 529(citation and internal quotation marks omitted).9
B. Challenges to the District Court’s “Deliberate Ignorance”
Instruction
Salas, Lopez, and Galaviz contend the district court abused its discretion
when it gave this Circuit’s pattern jury instruction concerning “deliberate
ignorance” as to the money laundering counts (Counts 10 through 15).
1. Additional Standard of Review
“Appellate review of a deliberate ignorance instruction is necessarily a
fact-intensive endeavor. To determine the validity of the instruction, this Court
must carefully examine the totality of the evidence.” United States v. Lara-
Velasquez, 919 F.2d 946, 952 (5th Cir. 1990).
“Even if the district court errs in its decision to give the deliberate
ignorance instruction, any such error is harmless where substantial evidence of
actual knowledge was presented at trial.” United States v. Miller, 588 F.3d 897,
906 (5th Cir. 2009) (alteration, citation, and internal quotation marks omitted).
9
All Appellants raising challenges to jury instructions properly preserved their
challenges by objecting contemporaneously.
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2. Additional Facts
After a colloquy with the prosecution and the various defense counsel for
Salas and the ML Appellants, the district court found a sufficient basis for the
“deliberate ignorance” instruction with respect to Salas, Lopez, and Galaviz.
Accordingly, the district court gave a “deliberate ignorance” instruction that
matched our pattern instruction word-for-word, see Fifth Circuit Pattern Jury
Instructions (Criminal Cases) §§ 1.37, 1.37A (2012), with the added final
sentence that “[t]his instruction does not apply to defendant [Magana].”
3. Applicable Law
“If a deliberate ignorance instruction is given, a ‘balancing’ instruction
should be considered upon [the] request of [the] defendant.” United States v.
Vasquez, 677 F.3d 685, 695-96 (5th Cir. 2012) (per curiam) (citation omitted).
That is, a “deliberate ignorance instruction does not lessen the government’s
burden to show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the knowledge elements of the
crimes have been satisfied.” Id. at 696 (citations and internal quotation marks
omitted). “Although a deliberate ignorance instruction should rarely be given,
we have permitted its use to inform the jury that it may consider evidence of the
defendant’s charade of ignorance as circumstantial proof of guilty knowledge.”
United States v. Bieganowski, 313 F.3d 264, 289 (5th Cir. 2002) (citations and
internal quotation marks omitted). “It is only to be given when a defendant
claims a lack of guilty knowledge and the proof at trial supports an inference of
deliberate indifference.” Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
“[I]n a multiple-defendant case where only some of the defendants justify
a deliberate ignorance charge, singling out the defendant who merits the
instruction, based, perhaps, on disputed or equivocal evidence, may be unfairly
prejudicial to that defendant.” Id. at 290 (citation and internal quotation marks
omitted). “It is equally true, however, that giving the instruction generally,
without naming a specific defendant, may prejudice those co-defendants who do
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not merit the instruction.” Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
“Thus, we have indicated that the better approach in this situation is to give the
instruction and indicate that it may not apply to all of the defendants.” Id.(alteration, citation, and internal quotation marks omitted).
4. Analysis
A “deliberate ignorance” instruction is proper when the evidence shows (i)
“subjective awareness of a high probability of the existence of illegal conduct”;
and (ii) “purposeful contrivance to avoid learning of the illegal conduct.”
Bieganowski, 313 F.3d at 289 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
“The essential feature of deliberate ignorance is the conscious action of the
defendant—the defendant consciously attempted to escape confirmation of
conditions or events he strongly suspected to exist.” Vasquez, 677 F.3d at 697(citations, emphasis, and internal quotation marks omitted).
Here, Lopez commented to CS1 that Salas’s LC Contractors was not in
business “to make money.” Also, in 2008 and 2009, Lopez’s Via Italia business
received significantly more funds from cash deposits and loans than from sales.
Additionally, both Lopez and Galaviz controlled bank accounts for which they
did not receive monthly statements, as well as accounts that received large cash
deposits and wire transfers from drug traffickers in Mexico. Moreover, Lopez
controlled bank accounts from which she regularly allowed others to sign checks
that drew on those accounts. Finally, Lopez and Galaviz made multiple false
statements on loan, sale, or other official documents. For example, they referred
to Salas (their immediate relative) as “Daniel Obregon.” Salas, Lopez, and
Galaviz initiated or participated in large transfers of money across 38 bank
accounts that they controlled, and engaged in a host of transactions for which
they did not have sufficient legitimate finances to have conducted. For example,
they deposited many times more money into the various bank accounts than
they had earned from legitimate occupations.
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On appellate review in these circumstances, this Court considers “the
totality of the evidence.” Lara-Velasquez, 919 F.2d at 952. In light of the above
evidence, the district court did not abuse its discretion by determining that there
had been “a high probability of the existence of illegal conduct,” and that Lopez
and Galaviz had “consciously attempted to escape confirmation” of it. See
Vasquez, 677 F.3d at 697 (citations omitted); Bieganowski, 313 F.3d at 289(citation omitted).10
C. Challenges to the District Court’s Pinkerton Instruction
Alaniz and the ML Appellants submit that the district court abused its
discretion in the manner in which it gave this Circuit’s pattern jury instruction
concerning “Pinkerton liability” as to Counts 3 through 4, 6 through 9, and 11
through 15. See Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 645-48 (1946).
1. Additional Standard of Review
“We review claimed deficiencies in a jury charge by looking to the entire
charge as well as the arguments made to the jury.” United States v. Chagra, 807
F.2d 398, 402 (5th Cir. 1986). “Our inquiry is whether in the context of the true
trial scene the jury was given incorrect instructions.” Id. “This is a common
sense approach that recognizes that the jury charge does not stand alone for
separate examination; that the charge is part of a larger picture of what the jury
was told.” Id. “Examined apart from context, charges frequently have seemingly
ambiguous expressions and understandably so, given the need of trial courts to
assemble the divergent requests of counsel into a meaningful whole.” Id.10
To the extent that the district court did err by giving the “deliberate ignorance”
instruction—perhaps with respect to Salas who almost certainly had “actual knowledge”—the
error was harmless because the evidence was sufficient to support a finding of either
“deliberate ignorance” or “actual knowledge” with respect to Salas and all three ML Appellants
(including Magana). Miller, 588 F.3d at 906 (citation omitted); see also United States v.
Demmitt, 706 F.3d 665, 677 n.1 (5th Cir. 2013) (“Even if both prongs of the test were not
satisfied and the district court erred in giving the deliberate ignorance instruction, we hold
the error harmless because there was substantial evidence that Demmitt was aware of the
scheme.” (citation omitted)).
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2. Additional Facts
Here, the jury instruction given matched our pattern instruction word-for-
word. See Fifth Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal Cases) § 2.22 (2012).
Alaniz, however, argues that the instruction was not clear that, while he was
charged with his co-conspirators’ substantive drug trafficking conduct, he was
not charged with conduct arising out of the separate money laundering
conspiracy (even though Salas was common to both). The ML Appellants make
the same argument with respect to their charge encompassing substantive
money laundering conduct but not the separate drug trafficking conspiracy. The
crux of these arguments is that the district court did not pay sufficient heed to
our language in United States v. Armstrong that “Pinkerton liability attaches
only to substantive crimes, not to other conspiracies.” See 619 F.3d 380, 387 (5th
Cir. 2010).
3. Applicable Law
“[A] substantive conviction cannot be upheld solely under Pinkerton unless
the jury was given a Pinkerton instruction.” United States v. Polk, 56 F.3d 613,
619 n.4 (5th Cir. 1995) (citations omitted). In this Circuit, the pattern Pinkerton
instruction is read in the disjunctive, allowing for liability “if the offense was
committed in furtherance of, or as a foreseeable consequence of, the
conspiracy[.]” See Fifth Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal Cases) § 2.22
(2012) (emphasis added). Armstrong, 619 F.3d at 387 (citations omitted); but see
United States v. Gonzalez, 570 F.3d 16, 26 n.8 (1st Cir. 2009) (citations omitted)
(reading the First Circuit’s comparable instruction in the conjunctive).
4. Analysis
Alaniz and the ML Appellants argue that the district court did not
sufficiently distinguish between the drug trafficking conspiracy (Count 1) and
the money laundering conspiracy (Count 10), and the substantive counts
respectively relating to each (drug trafficking: Counts 3-4, 6-9; money
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laundering: Counts 11-15). Because they raise this objection for the first time
on appeal, review is for plain error.
The district court distinguished between the substantive drug trafficking
charges, which it called “the possession counts” and specifically linked to “the
conspiracy charged in Count 1”; and the money laundering charges, which it
called “the transactional counts” and specifically linked to “the conspiracy
charged in Count 10.” In light of the unavoidable ambiguity in a jury charge
involving multiple defendants and multiple instances of alleged conduct, and the
“common sense approach” to examining a jury charge that this Court has
adopted, see Chagra, 807 F.2d at 402, we perceive no error, plain or otherwise.
D. Challenges to the District Court’s Decision Not to Eliminate
Count 10’s “in Order to Avoid a Reporting Requirement”
Lopez and Magana maintain that the district court abused its discretion
when it declined to amend its jury instructions to eliminate Count 10’s “in order
to avoid a reporting requirement” in the specific charges against them.
1. Additional Standard of Review
The applicable standard for reviewing a properly preserved challenge to
the district court’s jury instructions, including those not given, is set forth supra
under Part IV.A. We presume that a jury follows the instructions given by the
district court. See United States v. Ebron, 683 F.3d 105, 132 (5th Cir. 2012)
(citation omitted).
2. Additional Facts
Count 10 charged Salas and the ML Appellants with: (i) the concealment
of drug trafficking proceeds; (ii) in order to avoid a reporting requirement; (iii)
by moving funds outside the United States and engaging in monetary
transactions of a value greater than $10,000 through a financial institution.
At closing argument, the prosecutor stated the following:
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You can convict every one of these four defendants on a
different theory of money laundering. For example, the
only person who is really involved with the avoidance of
currency transaction reports is going to be [Salas]. . . . He
would be the one that you could convict beyond a
reasonable doubt for conspiracy to engage in money
laundering for the purpose of avoiding a monetary
currency transaction report.
Lopez and Magana contemporaneously objected that the prosecutor’s statement
at closing argument had amounted to abandonment of the “in order to avoid a
reporting requirement” as to all Appellants except Salas, and that the applicable
jury instructions required amendment to reflect the abandonment.
3. Analysis
This challenge is unavailing. Here, the district court already had
instructed the jury (i) to base its verdict “solely upon the evidence”; (ii) to
“consider only the evidence presented during the trial”; and (iii) to “[r]emember
that any statements . . . made by the lawyers are not evidence” and “not
binding.” The jury is presumed to have followed those instructions. See Ebron,
683 F.3d at 132 (citation omitted). The district court rightly rejected Lopez and
Magana’s objection because the jury is presumed to have understood that the
prosecutor’s statement was merely her assessment of the evidence, rather than
evidence in and of itself. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its
discretion when it declined to amend its jury instructions.
V. Challenges to Various Statements Made by the Prosecutor
A. Standard of Review
Where a defendant had objected to allegedly improper statements made
by a prosecutor, and the district court admitted the challenged statements over
the defendant’s objection, we review the admission of those statements for abuse
of discretion. United States v. Gracia, 522 F.3d 597, 600 n.2 (5th Cir. 2008)
(citations omitted). In doing so, “we must first decide whether the prosecutor
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made an improper remark” and, “if an improper remark was made, we must
determine whether the remark affected the substantial rights of the defendant.”
Id. (citations omitted). To determine whether a remark prejudiced the
defendant’s substantial rights, we assess “the magnitude of the statement’s
prejudice,” “the effect of any cautionary instructions given,” and “the strength
of the evidence of the defendant’s guilt.” United States v. Gallardo-Trapero, 185
F.3d 307, 320 (5th Cir. 1999) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
Where the defendant had made no contemporaneous objection to the
challenged statements, we review only for plain error. Gracia, 522 F.3d at 600
n.2 (citations omitted). To demonstrate plain error, the defendant must show
that there was error, it was plain, and it affected his or her substantial rights.
Id. at 600 (citations omitted). Even if the defendant can meet this burden, “we
still would have discretion to decide whether to reverse, which we generally will
not do unless the plain error seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or public
reputation of the judicial proceeding.” Id. (citations omitted).
B. Analysis
All five Appellants argue that various statements made by the prosecutor
amounted to misconduct. These arguments can be grouped into four overarching
challenges. We address them in turn.11
1. Challenge I
The prosecutor said the following during closing argument:
Rather than address the evidence . . . [Salas would] rather
say, well, they should have done this. They should have
gotten DNA off the bundles. They should have gotten hair
fibers. Does he think the bundles of marijuana were
raked? I mean, these agents who testified in this case . . .
11
Because Salas personally raised all four of these challenges, while each remaining
Appellant raised only some of the challenges, we focus on the specific challenges raised by
Salas. All challenges raised by the other Appellants fail for the same reasons that Salas’s do.
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are agents who have many, many years of experience
handling these kinds of cases. They know what to do.
(emphasis added). Salas objected, and the district court sustained. Presently,
Salas contends that the district court mishandled his objection by not declaring
a mistrial. He had not contemporaneously requested one.
When a defendant asks this Court to reverse his conviction under such
circumstances, he essentially asks us “to go against the implicit judgment of both
the trial court and [his] trial counsel that the trial court’s corrective action was
adequate and appropriate.” See United States v. Salinas, 480 F.3d 750, 756 (5th
Cir. 2007) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). Our review of the
district court’s decision not to declare a mistrial is for plain error only. Id.(citation omitted).
“[A] prosecutor’s closing argument cannot roam beyond the evidence
presented during trial: Except to the extent the prosecutor bases any opinion on
the evidence in the case, he may not express his personal opinion on the merits
of the case or the credibility of witnesses.” Gallardo-Trapero, 185 F.3d at 320(alteration, citation, and internal quotation marks omitted). Nonetheless, for
“improper comment or questioning to represent reversible error, it generally
must be so pronounced and persistent that it permeates the entire atmosphere
of the trial.” United States v. Castillo, 77 F.3d 1480, 1497 (5th Cir. 1996)
(citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
Here, the prosecutor’s statement amounted to minor bolstering, which the
district court rightly struck. Therefore, even if the statement were improper
under Gallardo-Trapero, it certainly was not “so pronounced and so persistent
that it permeate[d] the entire atmosphere of the trial.”
2. Challenge II
The following is an additional statement that the prosecutor made during
closing argument:
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[I]n every single one of those recordings, ladies and
gentlemen, [Salas] implicates himself as being a member
of the conspiracy as having not only possessed the cocaine
that was seized with him. We proved it was cocaine, yes.
We have to prove it was cocaine. That’s why we brought
chemist after chemist after chemist to testify that the
substance that was seized. . . .
(emphasis added). The district court halted this statement sua sponte, without
Salas’s trial counsel proffering an objection. Thus, we review Salas’s present
challenge for plain error. Gracia, 522 F.3d at 600 n.2.
Salas’s challenge cannot withstand review. First, Salas cannot show that
the “chemist after chemist after chemist” statement triggered plain error
because the prosecution had called four forensic chemists from the DEA to
testify. If anything, the prosecutor understated in her summation of the
evidence. Moreover, the district court halted the statement sua sponte. Thus,
the only plain error would have been not declaring a mistrial, which Salas’s trial
counsel did not request and which would have been unwarranted regardless.
Second, even if repetition of the word “chemist” could be interpreted as
bolstering, it did not come close to “seriously affect[ing] the fairness, integrity,
or public reputation” of the trial. Gracia, 522 F.3d at 600 n.2 (citations omitted).
3. Challenge III
The following is a third statement that the prosecutor made during the
rebuttal phase of closing argument, this time pertaining to CS2:
Ladies and gentlemen, confidential informants, yes, they
get paid. This isn’t Crime Stoppers, an anonymous tip and
you collect a little something. This is more involved. You
heard [CS2,] as a result of his involvement in another
investigation, he and his entire family had to be relocated
for his safety and security. This isn’t easy coming in here.
...
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(emphasis added). Salas did not contemporaneously object. Presently, Salas
pursues two challenges on appeal concerning this statement. We review his
challenges for plain error. Gracia, 522 F.3d at 600 n.2.
Salas first contends that the prosecutor’s statement amounted to improper
bolstering. To determine “whether a prosecutor’s comment was improper, it is
necessary to look at the comment in context.” United States v. Insaulgarat, 378
F.3d 456, 461 (5th Cir. 2004) (citation omitted). Here, two other statements at
trial preceded the prosecutor’s statement during closing rebuttal. On direct
examination, CS2 testified to exactly what the prosecutor later summarized
during closing argument: that due to his involvement as a DEA informant in an
unrelated investigation, the government had needed to relocate him and his
family for their safety and security. Salas did not contemporaneously object to
that testimony either. Subsequently, during his closing argument, Salas’s trial
counsel implied that CS2’s prior testimony had been colored by the
approximately $300,000 that CS2 had earned over his approximately six and
one-half years as a DEA informant.
In context, we conclude that it was reasonable for the prosecutor to rebut
defense counsel’s closing argument by summarizing CS2’s earlier testimony with
the statement that it “isn’t easy coming in here.” After all, a prosecutor may
“present what amounts to be a bolstering argument if it is specifically done in
rebuttal to assertions made by defense counsel in order to remove any stigma
cast upon [her] witnesses.” United States v. Munoz, 150 F.3d 401, 415 (5th Cir.
1998) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover, in making her
rebuttal argument, the prosecutor “may argue fair inferences from the evidence
that a witness has no motive to lie.” Gracia, 522 F.3d at 601 (citation omitted).
We therefore reject Salas’s first contention.
Salas also contends that the prosecutor’s statement amounted to an
impermissible appeal to passion or prejudice. See United States v. Crooks, 83
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F.3d 103, 107 n.15 (5th Cir. 1996) (citations omitted) (“Counsel is not permitted
to make an appeal to passion or prejudice calculated to inflame the jury.”). This
contention cannot stand. Here, rather than appealing to passion or prejudice,
the prosecutor simply was stating the obvious—that Laredo (where the jurors
themselves lived) is an epicenter of drug violence. Especially within the context
of cleansing the stigma upon CS2 cast by Salas’s counsel, the prosecutor’s
statement was permissible. At a minimum, the district court’s failure to strike
it sua sponte was not plain error. We therefore reject Salas’s second contention.
4. Challenge IV
Finally, the prosecutor stated the following during the opening phase of
closing argument: “The defense is going to get up here. They’re going to attack
me. They’re going to attack the agents. They’re going to attack the confidential
sources. And they’re going to attack the cooperating defendants, ladies and
gentlemen. . . .” No defendant contemporaneously objected to this statement.
We review any challenges to it for plain error only. Gracia, 522 F.3d at 600 n.2.
Salas and the other Appellants presently contend that the prosecutor’s
statement amounted to an improper attack on the integrity of the various
defense counsel. The government makes the argument that the prosecutor
anticipated attacks by defense counsel and, therefore, acted preemptively. We
need not decide whether the statement was improper because, under our
precedent, the statement—even if improper—would not have caused the
defendants substantial prejudice.
In Gallardo-Trapero, we were confronted with a prosecutor’s improper
attempt “to bolster [her] credibility . . . and that of the DEA agents who testified
by invoking the authority of the United States and cloaking [her argument and
the agents’ testimony] in the mantle of the federal government.” 185 F.3d at
319. Specifically, the prosecutor had stated: “I repeat, do you think that agents
for the federal government and a prosecutor for the federal government, for the
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United States of America, are going to . . . get on the witness stand and commit
perjury and risk their career[s]. It’s not going to happen, ladies and gentlemen.”
Id.; see also id. n.5 (providing a larger excerpt from the trial transcript).
We found the prosecutor’s remarks to have been improper, explaining that
“‘it is particularly improper, indeed, pernicious, for a prosecutor to seek to invoke
[her] personal status as the government’s attorney or the sanction of the
government itself as a basis for convicting a criminal defendant.’” See id. at 319-
20 & n.6 (alteration added) (quoting United States v. Goff, 847 F.2d 149 (5th Cir.
1988) (citation omitted)). Nonetheless, we concluded that the prosecutor’s
remarks had not prejudiced the defendants’ substantial rights. See id. at 321.
Here, unlike in Gallardo-Trapero, Salas and the other Appellants had
made no contemporaneous objection to the prosecutor’s remarks. Also, counsel
has pointed to no on-point authority dictating that the remarks were improper.
This is rightly so since chiding the zealousness of defense counsel’s presentation,
even if improper, is a sin of lesser magnitude than suggesting that a witness for
the prosecution be believed simply because he or she is a federal agent. In
contrast to the circumstances in Gallardo-Trapero, where there was not
reversible prejudice, this is an easier case. We therefore reject this challenge.
VI. Sentencing Challenges
A. Standard of Review
A challenge to alleged sentencing errors is properly preserved if raised
below. See United States v. Villegas, 404 F.3d 355, 358 (5th Cir. 2005) (per
curiam) (citations omitted). If not properly preserved, we review only for plain
error. Id. (citations omitted). If properly preserved, we review for abuse of
discretion. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007).
“We apply the clearly erroneous standard of review to the district court’s
factual determination regarding the quantity of drugs used to establish the base
offense level. A factual finding is not clearly erroneous if it is plausible in light
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of the record as a whole.” United States v. Johnston, 127 F.3d 380, 403 (5th Cir.
1997) (citation omitted). “Ultimately, the district court need only determine its
factual findings at sentencing by a preponderance of the relevant and sufficiently
reliable evidence.” United States v. Betancourt, 422 F.3d 240, 247 (5th Cir. 2005)
(citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
“Generally, a PSR bears sufficient indicia of reliability to permit the
sentencing court to rely on it at sentencing. . . . [I]n the absence of rebuttal
evidence, the sentencing court may properly rely on the PSR and adopt it.”
United States v. Ollison, 555 F.3d 152, 164 (5th Cir. 2009) (citations omitted).
“The defendant bears the burden of showing that the information in the PSR
relied on by the district court is materially untrue.” United States v. Valencia,
44 F.3d 269, 274 (5th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted). “Mere objections do not
suffice as competent rebuttal evidence.” United States v. Parker, 133 F.3d 322,
329 (citation omitted).
B. Challenges to the Statutory Maximum Sentence Used by the
District Court for Count 10
1. Additional Facts
Count 10 charged Salas and the ML Appellants with a conspiracy in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), the object of which was a violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 1957 and various violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a). Count 10 was submitted
to the jury without any special interrogatories asking the jury to specify which
of the provisions each defendant had conspired to violate. Thus, it is unclear
whether the four convictions were for conspiracies to violate § 1957 or for
conspiracies to violate one of the provisions of § 1956(a).
Upon the four defendants’ convictions, the district court credited the
penalties prescribed by § 1956(a), as referenced by § 1956(h), in setting the
defendants’ maximum sentences at 20 years each. The problem is that, while §
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1956(a) prescribes a maximum penalty of 20 years for its violation, § 1957
prescribes a maximum penalty of only 10 years.
Salas received the full 20 years imprisonment. The three ML Appellants
each received 11 years, 3 months imprisonment. On appeal, the ML Appellants
argue that it is unclear under which statute—§ 1957 or § 1956(a)—the jury
convicted them. Thus, they argue that their Count 10 sentences should not
exceed § 1957’s lower, 10-year, maximum.12
2. Analysis
“[W]here a jury verdict is ambiguous, a sentence imposed for a conviction
on a count charging violations of multiple statutes or provisions . . . may not
exceed the lowest of the potentially applicable maximums . . . .” United States
v. Conley, 349 F.3d 837, 840 (5th Cir. 2003) (citation and footnote omitted).
Here, the government rightly concedes that Conley is controlling, and that the
sentences of Salas and the ML Appellants should therefore be vacated. We thus
vacate those Appellants’ sentences—as to Count 10 only—and remand for re-
sentencing.
C. Appellants’ More General Challenges to Their Sentences
Aside from their challenges to the statutory maximum sentence used for
Count 10, Salas and the ML Appellants also raise more general challenges to
their respective sentences. We address them in turn.
1. Salas
Salas’s raises two issues. The first is whether the district court erred by
attributing the entire $1,913,937—which was deposited into the 38 bank
12
Salas, by contrast, does not challenge his Count 10 sentence. Presumably, Salas
does not pursue a challenge because, even if successful, it would have no bearing in light, inter
alia, of his concurrent life sentences for Counts 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9. Nevertheless, as discussed
below, the government concedes that Salas’s sentence—as well as the ML Appellants’
sentences—should be vacated for re-sentencing in light of controlling authority. We agree and,
accordingly, vacate Salas’s unchallenged Count 10 sentence as plain error.
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accounts controlled by Salas and the ML Appellants—to drug trafficking, and
then converting the $1,913,937 into marijuana-equivalent for purposes of
applying the Sentencing Guidelines. The second is whether the court erred by
adopting the recommendation of the probation officer (“PO”) that Salas receive
a 4-level leader/organizer enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a).13
a. Additional Facts
Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2, the PO grouped the various counts on which
Salas was convicted. She then applied the Sentencing Guidelines using Count
10 because it resulted in the highest base offense level.14 In Salas’s pre-sentence
report (“PSR”), the PO held him liable for all of the activities of both the drug
trafficking and the money laundering conspiracies. Thus, the PO held Salas
accountable for all cocaine and marijuana actually seized, as well as for any
historical loads (trafficked in the past).
In order to combine the cocaine and marijuana offenses for sentencing
purposes, the PO converted all seized cocaine to marijuana-equivalent using the
Drug Equivalency Table provided in U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, Application Note 10(E).
The PO then derived a combined (cocaine and marijuana) offense pertaining to
28,978 kg. of marijuana-equivalent.
Salas and the ML Appellants controlled 38 bank accounts into which
$1,913,937 was deposited between 2002 and 2009. The PO attributed the entire
$1,913,937 to drug trafficking. In accordance with the instructions provided in
U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, Application Note 12, she assumed that they had received $280
in revenue per lb. of marijuana trafficked.15 The PO divided the $1,913,937 by
13
The PO applied the 2010 edition of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines Manual.
14
The PO similarly grouped the counts of conviction, and applied the Sentencing
Guidelines using Count 10, for Lopez, Galaviz, and Magana.
15
The PO explained that Salas generally had sold marijuana for $280 to $300 per lb.
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$280 to derive an offense pertaining to 6835.5 lbs. of marijuana-equivalent. She
then restated the derived offense as pertaining to its metric equivalent: 3100.5
kg. of marijuana-equivalent. Adding the 3100.5 kg of marijuana-equivalent from
historical loads to the 28,978 kg. of marijuana-equivalent from drugs actually
seized, the PO calculated an aggregate base offense pertaining to 32,078.5 kg.
of marijuana-equivalent. Using the Drug Quantity Table provided in U.S.S.G.
§ 2D1.1(c)(1), the PO identified a Base Offense Level of 38.
In light, inter alia, of the trial testimony of cooperating witness Heriberto
Benavides, the PO later added 107,000 kg. of previously uncounted marijuana-
equivalent (300 kg. of cocaine) to Salas’s base offense, for an amended aggregate
base offense pertaining to 139,078.5 kg. of marijuana-equivalent. Since 38 was
the maximum Base Offense Level, and Salas already had been responsible for
more than the 30,000 kg. threshold of that Base Offense Level, the amended
aggregate had no meaningful effect with respect to the Drug Quantity Table.
The PO recommended a 2-level enhancement for conviction under 18
U.S.C. § 1956(a). She recommended another 2-level enhancement for
“sophisticated” money laundering. She also recommended a 4-level
enhancement for leading/organizing. The PO declined to recommend a reduction
for acceptance of responsibility. Thus, the PO recommended a Total Offense
Level of 43.16 Since Salas had zero prior convictions, he had zero criminal
history points and, therefore, a Criminal History Category of I.17 Accordingly,
Salas’s Guidelines range was “life.”
16
The PO noted that 43 is the maximum Total Offense Level and, therefore, proceeded
to treat Salas’s Total Offense Level as 43 even though it actually amounted to 46 post-
adjustments.
17
All four Appellants raising Sentencing Guidelines challenges had a Criminal History
Category of I.
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At the sentencing hearing, the district court adopted the PSR (as
amended) in full, including the 107,000 kg. of added marijuana-equivalent, as
well as the three upward adjustments and the one downward adjustment. Salas
chose not to speak in his own defense. After the district court asked Salas’s trial
counsel for a proposed sentence under the factors enumerated in 18 U.S.C. §
3553(a), counsel requested that the sentence not exceed 25 years. The district
court stated that it had considered the § 3553(a) factors, and had concluded that
Salas’s conduct warranted “very stiff . . . statutory penalties.”
b. Analysis
i.Whether the district court erred by
attributing the entire $1,913,937 to drug
trafficking, and by converting it into
marijuana-equivalent.
On appeal, Salas argues that the district court erred by adopting the
PSR—in which the PO had attributed the entire $1,913,937 to historical drug
loads, and had converted it into 3100.5 kg. of marijuana-equivalent. Specifically,
Salas contends that it is improper to derive historical drug loads in this manner
when there were actual drugs seized.
This argument is flawed. After all, Salas does not challenge the
amendment to the PSR based on Benavides’s testimony, in which the PO added
the 107,000 kg. of previously uncounted marijuana-equivalent. The district
court adopted the PSR in full, including the amendment. Because the 107,000
kg. of marijuana-equivalent alone were sufficient to surpass the 30,000 kg.
threshold for the maximum Base Offense Level of 38, whether or not the derived
3100.5 kg. of historical loads were included in the aggregate base offense is
inconsequential. Thus, without deciding whether the district court erred when
it attributed the entire $1,913,937 to drug trafficking, and when it converted the
$1,913,937 into marijuana-equivalent for purposes of applying the Sentencing
Guidelines, any error was harmless.
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ii. Whether the district court erred by
adopting the 4-level sentencing
enhancement for leading or organizing the
money laundering conspiracy.
“If the defendant was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that
involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive, increase [the
offense level] by 4 levels.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a) (2010) (emphasis omitted). A
“participant” is a person who “participate[d] knowingly in some part of the
criminal enterprise.” United States v. Glinsey, 209 F.3d 386, 396 (5th Cir. 2000)
(citation omitted).
“In distinguishing a leadership and organizational role from one of mere
management or supervision, titles . . . are not controlling.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1,
cmt. n.4 (2010). Instead, the sentencing court should consider (i) “the exercise
of decision making authority”; (ii) “the nature of participation in the commission
of the offense”; (iii) “the recruitment of accomplices”; (iv) “the claimed right to a
larger share of the fruits of the crime”; (v) “the degree of participation in
planning or organizing the offense”; (vi) “the nature and scope of the illegal
activity”; and (vii) “the degree of control and authority exercised over others.”
Id.
Here, the district court adopted the PSR in full. In the PSR, the PO had
observed that Salas, at a minimum, had conspired with the ML Appellants—as
well as Omar Compean, Javier Hugo Perez, and Miguel Davalos—in the money
laundering offenses.18 Thus, the money laundering conspiracy involved “five or
more participants.” The PO also had observed that the conspiracy involved 38
different bank accounts and the movement of $1,913,937 in drug trafficking
proceeds. Thus, the conspiracy was “otherwise extensive.”
18
Compean, Perez, and Davalos apparently were additional targets of the joint
DEA/IRS “Operation Reload.” They are not party to this appeal.
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“The district court’s determination that a defendant was a leader or
organizer under subsection 3B1.1(a) is a factual finding that this court reviews
for clear error.” United States v. Cabrera, 288 F.3d 163, 173 (5th Cir. 2002) (per
curiam) (citation omitted). A factual finding on a sentencing factor is not clearly
erroneous so “long as it is plausible in light of the record read as a whole.”
United States v. Morris, 46 F.3d 410, 419 (5th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted).
Here, regarding the seven factors from § 3B1.1, Salas, inter alia, had (i)
recruited his wife, mother, and sister into the conspiracy; (ii) exercised authority
and control over Compean, Perez, and Davalos; and (iii) disproportionately
enjoyed the fruits of the conspiracy by purchasing luxury vehicles and real estate
(through his co-conspirators). In light of the considerable evidence discussed
throughout this opinion, and “the record read as a whole,” the district court’s
determination that Salas was an organizer or leader was not clearly erroneous.
Accordingly, the district court did not err by adopting the PO’s recommendation
that Salas receive the 4-level leader/organizer enhancement.
For the above-stated reasons, we wholly affirm Salas’s sentence, other
than as discussed supra in Part VI.B with respect to the statutory maximum
sentence used for Count 10.
2. The ML Appellants
We proceed to the sentencing challenges raised by the three ML
Appellants. First, all three Appellants challenge the district court’s decision to
hold them liable for the entire $1,913,937 laundered, as opposed to just the
amounts that each had personally laundered. Second, all three Appellants
challenge the district court’s adoption of a 2-level sentencing enhancement for
“sophisticated laundering” pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1(b)(3). Third, Lopez and
Magana challenge the district court’s denial of a 2-level sentencing reduction
under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b) for being a “minor participant” in the money
laundering conspiracy. Fourth, Lopez challenges the district court’s denial of her
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request for a downward departure under the “family ties and responsibilities”
policy statement contained in U.S.S.G. § 5H1.6. Fifth and finally, all three
Appellants argue that the district court insufficiently considered the 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a) sentencing factors.
a. Additional Facts
Count 10 charged each ML Appellant, inter alia, with a conspiracy in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) involving the full $1,913,937 in laundered funds.
The Sentencing Guideline applicable to § 1956(h) is U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1(a)(2) which,
in turn, references U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1). Applying these two Guidelines to each
Appellant’s § 1956(h) conviction for an offense involving more than $1,000,000
but less than $2,500,000, the PO identified a Base Offense Level of 24.
For each Appellant, the PO recommended a 6-level enhancement because
the Appellant knew, or should have known, that the laundered funds were drug
trafficking proceeds. The PO recommended a 2-level enhancement for conviction
under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a), see U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1(b)(2) (2010), and another 2-level
enhancement for laundering that involved “sophisticated” means. She declined
to recommend a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. Thus, for each
Appellant, the PO recommended a Total Offense Level of 34.
At the sentencing hearing, Lopez and Magana each asserted entitlement
to a 2-level reduction for being a “minor participant” in the money laundering
conspiracy. Lopez also requested a downward departure in light of U.S.S.G. §
5H1.6’s “family ties and responsibilities” policy statement. She represented that
her children would be left parentless for an extended period of time were both
she and Salas given lengthy sentences. Lopez stressed that her son has special
needs, which cannot be properly attended to in her absence.
The district court adopted each Appellant’s PSR in full, with one limited
exception. As discussed supra in Part VI.B, there were no special interrogatories
specifying whether the jury convicted the Count 10 defendants for the
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substantive 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a) offenses or for the 18 U.S.C. § 1957 offense.
Recognizing this infirmity in the context of U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1(b)(2)’s sentencing
enhancement, the court adopted the lower 1-level enhancement from §
2S1.1(b)(2)(A) (for violation of § 1957) rather than the higher 2-level
enhancement from § 2S1.1(b)(2)(B) (for violation of § 1956(a)). Accordingly, the
court adopted a Total Offense Level of 33. Each Appellant’s Guidelines range
was “135-168” months.
b. Analysis
i. The District Court’s Decision to Hold Each
ML Appellant Liable for the Entire
$1,913,937 Laundered, As Opposed to Just
the Amounts That Each Had Personally
Laundered
“The court need only make a reasonable estimate of the loss” (in other
words, “the amount laundered”). U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, cmt. n.3(C) (2010) (citation
omitted). “The sentencing judge is in a unique position to assess the evidence
and estimate the loss based upon that evidence. For this reason, the court’s loss
determination is entitled to appropriate deference.” Id. (citation omitted). In
calculating the Base Offense Level, “the sentencing judge holds the defendant
accountable for losses due to the defendant’s own conduct as well as for those
due to the defendant’s ‘relevant conduct.’” United States v. Hammond, 201 F.3d
346, 351 (5th Cir. 1999) (per curiam) (citing U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3 (2010)). “A
defendant’s relevant conduct includes ‘all reasonably foreseeable acts and
omissions of others in furtherance of jointly undertaken criminal activity.’” Id.
(quoting U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B) (2010)).
“The Government [is] only required to prove the loss amount by a
preponderance of the evidence.” Ollison, 555 F.3d at 164 (citation omitted). If
the loss amount “is difficult or impracticable to determine, the value of the
laundered funds . . . is the total amount of the commingled funds.” U.S.S.G. §
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2S1.1, cmt. n.3(B); see also United States v. Jamieson, 427 F.3d 394, 404 (6th Cir.
2005) (citation omitted). The burden lies with the defendant to “provide[]
sufficient information to determine the amount of criminally derived funds
without unduly complicating or prolonging the sentencing process.” Id.• Lopez
Here, Lopez contends (i) that at least some of the $1,913,937 was
legitimately derived income; (ii) that she had not been aware of Salas’s drug
trafficking; and (iii) that Via Italia was a legitimate business. The district court
rejected all three contentions.
With respect to Lopez’s first contention, the district court found that Lopez
had not provided sufficient information or records to determine whether any of
the $1,913,937 was legitimate and, therefore, presumed that all of it was
illegitimate under Note 3(B) of the Commentary to U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1. Regarding
Lopez’s second contention, the court found that it had been “reasonably
foreseeable” to Lopez that at least some of the $1,913,937 was drug trafficking
proceeds, which Lopez was then laundering through the 38 different bank
accounts controlled by Salas and the other ML Appellants. Finally, concerning
Lopez’s third contention, the court found that if Via Italia had indeed been a
legitimate business, then Lopez would not have used one of its bank accounts to
purchase the $35,000 CD that she then used as collateral for a loan. Also, Via
Italia’s bank accounts would not have received $24,000 in checks from Salas, or
two cross-border wire transfers from Becerra.
In light of the “appropriate deference” to the district court articulated in
Note 3(C) of the Commentary to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, we conclude that the court did
not err by holding Lopez liable for the entire $1,913,937. After all, this opinion
is replete with evidence that the drug trafficking and money laundering
activities were “reasonably foreseeable,” and that Via Italia was a sham entity.
As for Lopez’s claim that at least some of the $1,913,937 was legitimate, it
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fails—even if true—because Lopez co-mingled any legitimate funds and did
produce records to un-mingle them.
• Galaviz
Here, the district court adopted the PSR, in which the PO had found that
Galaviz had (i) opened seven bank accounts and used them to launder $509,665;
(ii) received a $58,692 wire transfer from Magana for no apparent legitimate
purpose; (iii) engaged in the various check transactions involving the Deer Ridge
lot; and (iv) allowed Salas to buy a house in her name using drug trafficking
proceeds. At a minimum, Galaviz is personally responsible for those
transactions, which collectively involved more than $1,000,000 in illicit funds.
Accordingly, Galaviz’s liability for those transactions alone sufficiently supports
her sentence.
That said, the court also noted additional “relevant conduct,” which
indicated that Galaviz knew Salas was a drug trafficker. See Hammond, 201
F.3d at 351 (citing U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3 (2010)). Specifically, the court noted that
Galaviz (i) had been a signatory on the bank account of LC Contractors (Salas’s
sham construction company); (ii) had referred to Salas (her son) by his criminal
alias in official documents; and (iii) had “flipped” Salas’s Patron Loop house for
a $150,000 profit. In light of the “appropriate deference” this Court affords the
sentencing judge’s loss determination, see U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, cmt. n.3(C) (2010)
(citation omitted), the above-recited evidence was more than sufficient to
establish Galaviz’s knowledge and hold her liable for all laundering of the
$1,913,937 in drug trafficking proceeds. See Hammond, 201 F.3d at 351 (“A
defendant’s relevant conduct includes ‘all reasonably foreseeable acts and
omissions of others in furtherance of jointly undertaken criminal activity.’”
(quoting U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B) (2010))).
For these reasons, we conclude that the district court did not err when it
held Galaviz liable for the entire $1,913,937 laundered.
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• Magana
Magana contends that, at most, she should be liable for the $154,792 in
funds that passed through Chase Account No. 7697, which she controlled. While
Magana personally opened ten additional bank accounts during the time period
applicable to this case, she asserts that those accounts were used for legitimate
purposes and that at least some of them were opened jointly with either her ex-
husband or current boyfriend.
The district court adopted the PSR, in which the PO had found that
Magana had personally deposited $74,600 in cash into Chase Account No. 7697,
but also had received a $52,130.51 wire transfer from Galaviz into that account.
Magana worked at a hair salon at the time she deposited the $74,600 in cash,
which greatly exceeded her legitimate income. Also, Galaviz lived with Magana
at the time Galaviz transferred the $52,130.51. Magana was claiming Galaviz
as a dependant for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, knew or should
have known that Galaviz likely had not derived the $52,130.51 from legitimate
sources.
Magana used the funds transferred from Galaviz (in addition to the cash
Magana had previously deposited) to purchase an $80,000 CD. Upon the CD’s
maturation, Magana wired $25,000 of its proceeds to Becerra. She wired the
remaining $58,692 of the proceeds back to Galaviz (specifically, to BBVA
Compass Account No. 6826, which Galaviz controlled). There was no apparent
purpose to this sequence of transactions other than to launder funds that
somehow were illicit. Under Hammond, the district court did not err in holding
Magana accountable for the reasonably foreseeable acts of her co-conspirators.
Judge Alvarez explained to Magana at the sentencing hearing that: (i) she
did not “understand how [Magana] could not have known what [her] brother was
doing”; (ii) laundering drug trafficking proceeds is “part of what makes these
types of operations work”; and (iii) both launderers and traffickers are “equally
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responsible for the serious problem that we have, both on this side and on that
side of the border.” We agree. The district court did not err by holding Magana
liable for the entire $1,913,937 laundered.
ii.The District Court’s Adoption of a
“Sophisticated Laundering” Enhancement
for Each ML Appellant
U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1 prescribes a 2-level enhancement for an offense that
involved “sophisticated laundering.” U.S.S.G. § 2S1.1(b)(3) (2010).
“[S]ophisticated laundering means complex or intricate offense conduct
pertaining to the execution or concealment of the 18 U.S.C. § 1956 offense.” Id.§ 2S1.1, cmt. n.5(A) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Sophisticated
laundering typically involves the use of . . . (i) fictitious entities; (ii) shell
corporations; (iii) two or more levels . . . of transactions . . . involving criminally
derived funds that were intended to appear legitimate; or (iv) offshore financial
accounts.” Id.; see also Fernandez, 559 F.3d at 320.
• Lopez
Here, the district court found that Lopez had acknowledged that LC
Contractors was a sham when she had conceded to CS1 that it was not in
business “to make money.” Moreover, the district court found that Lopez had
used Via Italia to engage in a layered transaction—involving the purchase of a
CD and the use of that CD as collateral for a loan. Finally, the district court
found that bank accounts controlled by Lopez or Via Italia had been used to
make wire transfers of large dollar values to and from accounts in Mexico
controlled by drug traffickers. Because the district court’s findings covered all
of the indicia of “sophisticated” laundering provided in Note 5(A) of the
Commentary to § 2S1.1, we conclude that it did not err by adopting the 2-level
sentencing enhancement.
• Galaviz
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Here, the same evidence set forth in Part VI.C.2.b supra, concerning
Galaviz’s challenge to the district court holding her liable for the entire
$1,913,937 laundered, applies equally to the Note 5(A) indicia of “sophisticated
laundering.” Additionally, Galaviz shared control of IBC Account No. 0654 with
Lopez. Between February 2008 and April 2008, that account received $27,970
in cross-border wire transfers from Becerra in Mexico. Galaviz and Lopez also
shared control of BBVA Compass Account No. 1782. Between February 2008
and May 2008, that account received $245,995 in cross-border wire transfers
from Becerra, Garza-Rodriguez, and Martinez-Garcia in Mexico. Altogether, this
evidence implicated every Note 5(A) indicium of “sophisticated laundering.” We
therefore conclude that the district court did not err when it adopted the §
2S1.1(b)(3) sentencing enhancement.
• Magana
Here, as with Galaviz, the same evidence set forth in Part VI.C.2.b supra,
concerning Magana’s challenge to the district court holding her liable for the
entire $1,913,937 laundered, applies equally to the Note 5(A) indicia of
“sophisticated laundering.” Together with the fact that Magana acted as a
strawman for Galaviz in the Becerra wire transfer to Mexico, and that Magana
used a CD to launder Galaviz’s transferred funds, this evidence implicated
almost all of the Note 5(A) indicia. We therefore conclude that the district court
did not err when it adopted the sentencing enhancement.
iii. The District Court’s Denial of a “Minor
Participant” Reduction to Lopez and
Magana
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 prescribes a 2-level reduction if a “defendant was a minor
participant in [the] criminal activity.” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b) (2010). A “minor
participant” is a defendant who is “substantially less culpable than the average
participant,” but “whose role could not be described as minimal.” Id. § 3B1.2,
cmt. nn.3(A), 5.
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“When a defendant timely objects to a district court’s failure to make a
downward adjustment based on section 3B1.2, this court reviews [her] sentence
for clear error.” United States v. Martinez-Larraga, 517 F.3d 258, 273 n.12 (5th
Cir. 2008). The defendant’s participation level in the offense is not evaluated “in
reference to the entire criminal enterprise of which [she was] a part.” United
States v. Garcia, 242 F.3d 593, 598 (5th Cir. 2001) (citation omitted). Rather, it
is evaluated in reference to “that of an average participant.” Id. (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted). The defendant’s role was not minor if it was
“actually coextensive with the conduct for which [she] was held accountable.”
Id. at 598-99 (citations omitted).
The defendant “bears the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the
evidence, her minor role in the offense.” United States v. Zuniga, 18 F.3d 1254,
1261 (5th Cir. 1994) (citation omitted). “The sentencing court is free to consider
all relevant evidence, even inadmissible evidence, in determining whether an
adjustment is warranted so long as the evidence has . . . sufficient indicia of
reliability to support its probable accuracy.” United States v. Miranda, 248 F.3d
434, 446 (5th Cir. 2001) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
• Lopez
Here, Lopez argues that because she played a lesser role in the money
laundering scheme than did Salas, her role was “minor” within the meaning of
§ 3B1.2(b) even if not “minimal” within the meaning of § 3B1.2(a). This
reasoning is flawed. After all, it only shows that Lopez was an average
participant, rather than the organizer or leader. The district court found that,
at a minimum, Lopez personally opened ten Wells Fargo bank accounts and
laundered $361,934 in drug trafficking proceeds. Thus, her role was not
“substantially less” than the other participants. We therefore conclude that the
district court did not err by denying § 3B1.2(b)’s 2-level reduction.
• Magana
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Here, even though Magana’s name is on fewer incriminating documents
than those of Lopez and Galaviz, it is apparent that Magana played at least an
average role in the money laundering conspiracy, and certainly not a
“substantially lesser” one. After all, the district court found that Magana had
opened eleven of the 38 bank accounts used in the conspiracy and had engaged
in direct contact with Becerra in Mexico. Accordingly, the district court did not
clearly err in denying Magana the § 3B1.2(b) sentencing reduction.
iv. The District Court’s Denial to Lopez of a
Downward Departure Under the U.S.S.G. §
5H1.6 “Family Ties and Responsibilities”
Policy Statement
The district court declined to grant a downward departure for “family ties
and responsibilities” because Lopez and Salas had knowingly risked the
possibility their children would be left parentless by engaging in their criminal
activities. Lopez challenges this denial. However, her challenge is foreclosed as
a matter of law.
We have “jurisdiction to review a district court’s decision not to depart
downward from the guideline range only if the district court based its decision
upon an erroneous belief that it lacked the authority to depart. . . . [S]omething
in the record must indicate that the district court held such an erroneous belief.”
United States v. Landerman, 167 F.3d 895, 899 (5th Cir. 1999) (citations
omitted). Here, nothing in the record indicates that the district court
erroneously believed that it lacked authority to grant a departure. Indeed, the
district court expressly explained that a departure was unwarranted. Thus, this
challenge is beyond our jurisdiction. We reject it without reaching the merits.
v. The Sufficiency of the District Court’s
Consideration of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)
Factors with Respect to All Three ML
Appellants
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We conclude that the district court’s consideration of the various § 3553(a)
factors was sufficient. The district court, for example, noted its consideration of
the principle that Lopez, Galaviz, and Magana should be sentenced similarly for
similar crimes. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6). Judge Alvarez also made the
following two statements in open court: (i) “The Court has, in preparing for the
sentencing, also gone back and reviewed the 3553 factors as it does in every
single case”; and (ii) “The Court, as I touched on, has considered the 3553 A
factors.” At least on the specific facts of this case, this amounted to sufficient
consideration of the § 3553(a) factors as to the three ML Appellants.
Additionally, to the extent the Appellants challenge the district court’s
denial of a downward departure under the § 3553(a) factors, rather than just the
sufficiency of the court’s consideration of those factors, that challenge is not
reviewable. See Landerman, 167 F.3d at 899 (citations omitted).
VII. Applicability of the Cumulative Error Doctrine
The final issue on appeal is whether the cumulative error doctrine applies
to this case. The cumulative error doctrine “essentially summarizes the other
issues raised” in an appeal. See United States v. Stephens, 571 F.3d 401, 411
(5th Cir. 2009) (footnote omitted). Under the doctrine, “relief may be obtained
only when constitutional errors so fatally infect the trial that they violate the
trial’s fundamental fairness.” Id. at 412 (citations and internal quotation marks
omitted). Where a defendant-appellant “has not established any error . . . there
is nothing to cumulate.” See United States v. McIntosh, 280 F.3d 479, 484 (5th
Cir. 2002) (citation omitted).
Here, other than as discussed supra regarding the statutory maximum
sentence used for Count 10, Appellants have not established any errors—let
alone constitutional errors that infringe upon fundamental fairness. We
therefore conclude that the cumulative error doctrine does not apply.
CONCLUSION
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For the foregoing reasons, we wholly AFFIRM Alaniz’s convictions and
sentences. Due to a Sentencing Guidelines error conceded by the government,
we VACATE the sentences of Salas, Lopez, Galaviz, and Magana as to Count 10
only, and REMAND for re-sentencing. We otherwise AFFIRM the convictions
and sentences in full.
APPENDIX
A. The Indictment
Appellants were charged by the following sixteen-count indictment:
Count Charge Statutes Appellants
Implicated Implicated
1 Conspiracy to Unlawful Act: Salas; Alaniz
possess with 21 U.S.C. §
intent to 841(a)(1)
distribute (a)
over 5 kg. of Penalty:
cocaine; and (b) 21 U.S.C. §
over 1000 kg. of 841(b)(1)(A)
marijuana
Conspiracy:
21 U.S.C. § 8462 Dismissed prior to trial
3 Possession with Unlawful Act: Salas; Alaniz
intent to 21 U.S.C. §
distribute over 5 841(a)(1)
kg. of cocaine on
July 18, 2006 Penalty:
21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(A)
Aiding &
Abetting:
18 U.S.C. § 253
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4 Possession with Unlawful Act: Salas
intent to 21 U.S.C. §
distribute over 5 841(a)(1)
kg. of cocaine on
February 26, Penalty:
2007 21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(A)
Aiding &
Abetting:
18 U.S.C. § 25 Possession with Unlawful Act: Salas
intent to 21 U.S.C. §
distribute over 841(a)(1)
100 kg. of
marijuana on Penalty:
February 27, 21 U.S.C. §
2007 841(b)(1)(B)
Aiding &
Abetting:
18 U.S.C. § 26 Possession with Unlawful Act: Salas
intent to 21 U.S.C. §
distribute over 841(a)(1)
1000 kg. of
marijuana on Penalty:
September 18, 21 U.S.C. §
2007 841(b)(1)(A)
Aiding &
Abetting:
18 U.S.C. § 254
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7 Possession with Unlawful Act: Salas
intent to 21 U.S.C. §
distribute over 841(a)(1)
100 kg. of
marijuana on Penalty:
October 10, 2007 21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(B)
Aiding &
Abetting:
18 U.S.C. § 28 Possession with Unlawful Act: Salas
intent to 21 U.S.C. §
distribute over 841(a)(1)
100 kg. of
marijuana on Penalty:
October 18, 2007 21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(B)
Aiding &
Abetting:
18 U.S.C. § 29 Possession with Unlawful Act: Salas
intent to 21 U.S.C. §
distribute over 841(a)(1)
1000 kg. of
marijuana on Penalty:
December 21, 21 U.S.C. §
2009 841(b)(1)(A)
Aiding &
Abetting:
18 U.S.C. § 255
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10 Conspiracy to Unlawful Acts & Salas; Lopez;
launder the Penalties: Galaviz; Magana
proceeds of drug 18 U.S.C. §§
trafficking (a) so 1956(a)(1)(B)(i),
as to conceal the 1956(a)(1)(B)(ii),
nature, location, 1956(a)(2)(B)(i),
and source of the 1957
proceeds; (b) so
as to avoid a Conspiracy:
transaction 18 U.S.C. §
reporting 1956(h)
requirement; and
(c) by moving or
attempting to
move monetary
instruments and
funds from the
United States to
a place outside
the United
States. (d)
Conspiracy to
knowingly
engage in
monetary
transactions,
affecting
interstate
commerce, in
criminally
derived property
of a value
greater than
$10,000, such
property having
been derived
from drug
trafficking.
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11 Knowingly Unlawful Act & Lopez
engaging in a Penalty:
monetary 18 U.S.C. § 1957transaction in
criminally Aiding &
derived property Abetting:
of a value grater 18 U.S.C. § 2than $10,000, on
April 17, 2007,
such property
having been
derived from
drug trafficking
12 Knowingly Unlawful Act & Magana
engaging in a Penalty:
monetary 18 U.S.C. § 1957transaction in
criminally Aiding &
derived property Abetting:
of a value grater 18 U.S.C. § 2than $10,000, on
March 27, 2007,
such property
having been
derived from
drug trafficking
13 Knowingly Unlawful Act & Galaviz
engaging in a Penalty:
monetary 18 U.S.C. § 1957transaction in
criminally Aiding &
derived property Abetting:
of a value grater 18 U.S.C. § 2than $10,000, on
January 23,
2008, such
property having
been derived
from drug
trafficking
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14 Knowingly Unlawful Act & Galaviz
engaging in a Penalty:
monetary 18 U.S.C. § 1957transaction in
criminally Aiding &
derived property Abetting:
of a value grater 18 U.S.C. § 2than $10,000, on
April 17, 2008,
such property
having been
derived from
drug trafficking
15 Knowingly Unlawful Act & Salas
engaging in a Penalty:
monetary 18 U.S.C. § 1957transaction in
criminally Aiding &
derived property Abetting:
of a value grater 18 U.S.C. § 2than $10,000, on
April 17, 2008,
such property
having been
derived from
drug trafficking
16 Knowingly Unlawful Act & Galaviz
engaging in a Penalty:
monetary 18 U.S.C. § 1957transaction in
criminally Aiding &
derived property Abetting:
of a value grater 18 U.S.C. § 2than $10,000, on
September 18,
2009, such
property having
been derived
from drug
trafficking
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B. Convictions/Acquittals
Appellants were convicted or acquitted as follows:
Appellant Counts Counts
Convicted Acquitted
Salas 1; 3; 4; 6; 7; 8; 9; 5
10; 15
Alaniz 1; 3
Lopez 10; 11
Galaviz 10; 13; 14 16
Magana 10; 12
C. Sentences
Appellants were sentenced as follows:
Appellant Counts Sentences
Convicted (concurrent)
Salas 1 Life
imprisonment
3
4
6
9
7 40 years
imprisonment
8
10 20 years
imprisonment
15 10 years
imprisonment
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Alaniz 1 30 years
imprisonment
3
Lopez 10 11 years, 3
months
imprisonment
11 10 years
imprisonment
Galaviz 10 11 years, 3
months
imprisonment
13 10 years
imprisonment
14
Magana 10 11 years, 3
months
imprisonment
12 10 years
imprisonment
60