United States v. Moreno
2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 11208
| 8th Cir. | 2012Background
- Moreno participated in a methamphetamine conspiracy from 2002 to 2007.
- He traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to monitor meth deliveries and collect payments for the conspiracy's leader, Elfego Ignacio Cid.
- Moreno pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A)(viii) and 846.
- The district court sentenced Moreno to 152 months' imprisonment.
- Moreno challenged the district court's finding that he managed or supervised the conspiracy.
- The court upheld the enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b), affirming the district court.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Moreno was a manager/supervisor under § 3B1.1(b). | Moreno contends no control over participants is shown. | Moreno argues enhancement requires controlling at least one participant. | Enhancement upheld; control not required, sufficient evidence of management. |
Key Cases Cited
- United States v. Gaines, 639 F.3d 423 (8th Cir. 2011) (establishes preponderance standard for § 3B1.1(b) and broad interpretation)
- United States v. Erhart, 415 F.3d 965 (8th Cir. 2005) (defines 'manager' and 'supervisor' breadth)
- United States v. Plancarte-Vazquez, 450 F.3d 848 (8th Cir. 2006) (discusses supervisor factors in § 3B1.1(b))
- United States v. Payton, 636 F.3d 1027 (8th Cir. 2011) (further clarifies supervisory element requirement)
- United States v. Garcia, 512 F.3d 1004 (8th Cir. 2008) (standard of review for role determinations)
- United States v. Barker, 556 F.3d 682 (8th Cir. 2009) (guideline application and role assessment framework)
- United States v. Johnson, 47 F.3d 272 (8th Cir. 1995) (standard of review for factual findings)
- United States v. Martinez, 446 F.3d 878 (8th Cir. 2006) (reiterates deference standard for district court determinations)
- Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564 (1985) (clear error review; standard for overturning factual findings)