Opinion · Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

United States v. Eliseo Rodrigo Romo

United States v. Eliseo Rodrigo Romo, 81 F.3d 84 (8th Cir. 1996)

Type
Opinion
Court
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1996-04-09
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • affirming denial of safety-valve relief where, although defendant provided limited information about his crime to government, PSR indicated that he had not been fully truthful
  • affirming denial of safety-valve relief where, although defendant provided limited information about his crime to government, presentence report indicated that he had not been fully truthful
  • upholding the district court’s finding of a failure to provide complete and truthful information when the defendant failed to respond to the government’s request for a written chronology of his drug trafficking activities or to a letter asking for more information
  • defendant was required to disclose all information he possessed about his involvement in crime and his chain of distribution, including identities and participation of others
  • to receive safety valve relief, defendant is obligated to provide information about identities and participation of others involved in chain of distribution
  • defendant failed to respond to government requests for specific information

Citator

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Cited by
67 opinions
UNITED STATES v. ROMO,81 F.3d 84(8th Cir. 1996)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, APPELLEE, v. ELISEO RODRIGO ROMO, APPELLANT.
No. 95-3937MN.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted March 11, 1996.
Decided April 9, 1996.
Page 85
Appeal from the United States States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
Counsel who presented argument on behalf of the appellant was Virginia G. Villa, Federal Public Defender, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Counsel who presented argument on behalf of the appellee was Mark D. Larsen.
Before FAGG, BRIGHT, and WOLLMAN, Circuit Judges.
FAGG, Circuit Judge.
[1] Under the "safety valve" exception to statutory minimum sentences, a drug defendant may be given a more lenient sentence within the otherwise applicable guidelines range if, among other things, the defendant "provide[s] to the Government all information and evidence the defendant has concerning the offense or offenses that were part of the same course of conduct or of a common scheme or plan."18 U.S.C. Section(s) 3553(f)(5) (1994); U.S.S.G. Section(s)5C1.2(5) (1995). After Eliseo Rodrigo Romo pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, the district court found Romo failed to satisfy Section(s) 3553(f)(5) and imposed the statutory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment. Romo appeals his sentence, asserting he satisfied Section(s) 3553(f)(5) because he gave the Government the names of persons involved in the offense and explained the drug distribution system and his role in it. We affirm.

[2] To satisfy Section(s) 3553(f)(5), Romo was required to disclose all the information he possessed about his involvement in the crime and his chain of distribution, including the identities and participation of others. United States v. Ivester,75 F.3d 182,184(4th Cir. 1996); United States v. Arrington,73 F.3d 144,148(7th Cir. 1996); United States v. Acosta-Olivas,71 F.3d 375,377-78(10th Cir. 1995). Romo had the burden to show, through affirmative conduct, that he gave the Government truthful information and evidencePage 86about the relevant crimes before sentencing. Ivester,75 F.3d at 184-85; Arrington,73 F.3d at 148; see also United States v. Dinges,917 F.2d 1133,1135(8th Cir. 1990). We review the district court's finding that Romo did not satisfy Section(s) 3553(f)(5) for clear error. Acosta-Olivas,71 F.3d at 378n. 3; United States v. Rodriguez,69 F.3d 136,144(7th Cir. 1995); United States v. Edwards,65 F.3d 430,433(5th Cir. 1995).

[3] The district court's finding is not clearly erroneous. The district court stated Romo had "placed his allegiance with gang activity rather than providing assistance to the government," and had not offered specific enough information about his role or the role or identity of others involved in his drug activity. Although Romo gave the Government some limited information about his crime, the presentence report indicated Romo did not tell the Government the whole story about his role in the distribution chain and his gang's involvement. See Edwards,65 F.3d at 433(considering information in presentence report to conclude defendant failed to satisfy Section(s) 3553(f)(5)). Romo failed to respond to the Government's initial request for a written chronological summary of his drug trafficking activities. See Arrington,73 F.3d at 148. Similarly, Romo failed to respond to the Government's presentence letter expressing concern about Romo's failure to give accurate and specific information about his criminal drug activities and asking Romo to provide more information before the sentencing hearing.

[4] We affirm Romo's sentence.