United States v. Michael Niles

MEMORANDUM

Michael Ralph Niles appeals from the 211-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 , and for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c)(1)(A). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Niles contends that the district court erred in estimating the drug quantity attributable to him because the estimate was based on allegedly unreliable testimony from witnesses Linda Selph and Jonathan Rodriguez. The district court did not err because it applied the correct burden of proof, used reliable evidence, and erred on the side of caution. See United States v. Alvarez, 358 F.3d 1194, 1212-13 (9th Cir.2004) (testimony of co-conspirators given under oath and subject to cross-examination has sufficient indicia of reliability to support calculation’s probable accuracy); United States v. Culps, 300 F.3d 1069, 1076-77 (9th Cir.2002) (multiplier method is one permissible method of approximating drug quantity).

Niles also contends that his sentence is substantively unreasonable. In light…