U.S. v. Funchess

• Decision Date: 02 September 2005
• Docket Number: No. 05-1064.,05-1064.
• Citation: 422 F.3d 698
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff — Appellee, v. Christopher FUNCHESS, also known as C-Murder, Defendant — Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

422 F.3d 698

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff — Appellee, v. Christopher FUNCHESS, also known as C-Murder, Defendant — Appellant.

No. 05-1064.

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.

Submitted: June 21, 2005.

Filed: September 2, 2005.

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Mark C. Meyer, argued, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for appellant.

Richard Louis Murphy, Assistant U.S. Attorney, argued, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Teresa K. Baumann, on the brief), for appellee.

Before MELLOY, HEANEY, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

MELLOY, Circuit Judge.

Christopher Funchess appeals his conviction and sentence for crimes related to the distribution of crack cocaine. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for resentencing.

I.

The government charged Funchess with three counts for selling or aiding and abetting the sale of crack cocaine. The government alleged that, on October 27 and 28, 2003, Funchess drove a van from which Maurice "Snake" Pennington sold crack cocaine. The total quantity involved was several grams. Prosecutors filed a separate charge against Funchess for conspiring to possess with the intent to deliver fifty grams or more of crack cocaine from 2002 to October 2003. The conspiracy charge alleged that Funchess was involved in a larger conspiracy with Pennington to purchase, transport, and distribute crack cocaine. In another count, the government alleged that, on October 7, 2003, Funchess possessed with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The government dismissed this final count before trial.

The government filed a notice of intent to seek an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence for the conspiracy charge because Funchess had a prior felony drug conviction. Funchess filed objections to the penalty enhancement notice.

A jury found Funchess guilty of all four counts that went to trial. At the sentencing hearing, the district court made several findings regarding facts that were not decided by the jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Specifically, the district court found that the conspiracy offense involved more than two kilograms of crack cocaine and that Funchess possessed a firearm in connection with the conspiracy. The district court sentenced him to 324 months in prison. The sentencing occurred after the Supreme Court's decision in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), but before its decision in United States v. Booker, ___ U.S. ___, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005).

Funchess appeals his conviction and sentence. On appeal, he argues that: (1) the evidence was insufficient to convict him; (2) he is entitled to a new trial because the government knowingly allowed Pennington to present false testimony; (3) the base offense level was improperly computed; (4) the district improperly applied sentencing enhancements; and (5) his sentence was excessive and unreasonable.

II.

Funchess argues that there was insufficient evidence as to his guilt for charges related to the October 2003 sales and the conspiracy. In reviewing an appeal based upon the sufficiency of evidence we review de novo, viewing evidence in a "`light most favorable to the government, resolving conflicts in the government's favor, and accepting all reasonable inferences that support the verdict.'" United States v. Hamilton, 332 F.3d 1144, 1148 (8th Cir.2003) (quoting United States v. Washington, 318 F.3d 845, 852 (8th Cir.2003)). We will only reverse a jury's decision if "no reasonable jury could have found the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Espino, 317 F.3d 788, 792 (8th Cir.2003).

Concerning the October 2003 sales, viewing the testimony in favor of the jury's verdict, there is sufficient evidence to support Funchess's conviction. Witnesses testified that Funchess was the driver of the van during one of the October 27, 2003 transactions and during the October 28, 2003 sale. According to witnesses, the drugs were sold from the van. Funchess has attacked the credibility of the government witnesses. However, we do not consider attacks on witnesses' credibility when we are evaluating an appeal based upon the sufficiency of evidence. United States v. Dabney, 367 F.3d 1040, 1043 (8th Cir.2004). There was also corroborating evidence, including video surveillance, that was more than sufficient to justify the jury's verdict on Funchess's role during the October buys. We will not disturb a verdict when such clear evidence exists to support the conviction.

Funchess also argues that his conviction for the conspiracy charge was not supported by sufficient evidence. After reviewing the record, giving deference to the jury's verdict, we find no error. There is sufficient witness testimony and evidence linking Funchess to the larger conspiracy. And as we noted above, Funchess's attacks on witness credibility are not sufficient to make us question the jury's verdict.

Consequently, we find that there is sufficient evidence as to Funchess's convictions on all counts.

III.

Funchess argues the district erred by not granting a new trial because the government knowingly allowed Pennington to give false testimony on behalf of the government. Specifically, Funchess argues that the government took inconsistent positions in different trials as to Pennington's knowledge of the alleged drug transactions.

We review the district court's denial of a motion for a new trial for abuse of discretion. United States v. Walker, 393 F.3d 842, 848 (8th Cir.2005). The government may not use or solicit false evidence or allow it to go uncorrected. Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 153, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972). To prove prosecutorial use of false testimony, a defendant must show that: (1) the prosecution used perjured testimony; (2) the prosecution should have known or actually knew of the perjury; and (3) there was a reasonable likelihood that the perjured testimony could have affected the jury's verdict. United States v. Peterson, 223 F.3d 756, 763 (8th Cir.2000).

Funchess argues that Pennington's testimony was false because Pennington's plea agreement with the government said Pennington was not involved in the sale of crack cocaine on October 27 and 28, 2003. Yet, during Funchess's trial, Pennington testified about Funchess's role in selling crack cocaine on those days, presumably because Pennington was also present at the sales. After reviewing the record, we believe that this alleged inconsistency between Pennington's plea agreement and testimony is far from clear. Pennington wrote "codefendants did this" on certain paragraphs in his plea agreement. Funchess argues that these statements deny any involvement by Pennington for those paragraphs. In contrast, the government argues that Pennington used that phrasing because he did not receive controlled buy money for those purchases and did not want to pay restitution for those transactions. Further, the government argues there is no explicit statement by Pennington in the plea agreement where Pennington denies involvement in transactions on those days.

We cannot say that the district court abused its discretion by finding that there was no perjured testimony. The government and district court's interpretation of the plea agreement is reasonable, and we will not order a new trial under such circumstances. Because we find no perjury, we need not examine government intent nor evaluate prejudice to Funchess.

IV.

Funchess argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the district court's computation of the base offense level such that he was responsible for more than two kilograms of crack cocaine. Based upon our analysis of the record, we agree there is insufficient evidence to support the two kilogram finding.

We review a district court's factual findings underlying a calculation of a base offense level for clear error. United States v. Graham, 323 F.3d 603, 609 (8th Cir.2003). It is clear from the record that Funchess objected to the sufficiency of the evidence as to the two kilogram finding in the presentence report. The government's only response was that the record supported that finding. Specifically, in its trial memorandum, the government relied upon Exhibits 2 and 3, which are the debriefing reports from Pennington, in which he indicated that Funchess accompanied Pennington on trips to Chicago during which more than two kilograms of crack cocaine were obtained.

The sentencing transcript shows that there was considerable discussion about whether the district court could rely upon the debriefing reports, since neither Pennington nor the police officer who authored the reports were available for testimony or cross-examination. Ultimately, the court indicated that it was overruling the defendant's objection to the base offense level and stated:

The base offense level has been established by a preponderance of the evidence, that Defendant was involved in at least 2 kilograms of cocaine base, taking into account not only his own actions but the actions of his co-conspirators, as is permitted under the relevant conduct provisions in the guidelines. Base offense level is thirty-eight.

The district court gave no explanation as to how it arrived at the two kilogram...