United States v. Socrates Sierra, United States of America v. Emad Daniel Makhoul, A/K/A Carlos

OPINION OF THE COURT

SLOVITER, Chief Judge.

I

Introduction

Defendants Socrates Sierra and Emad Makhoul were charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(2). The jury found Sierra guilty on both counts and Makhoul guilty on the conspiracy count alone.

Makhoul was sentenced to 145 months imprisonment and five years supervised release; Sierra was sentenced to concurrent terms of 140 months on each…