UNITED STATES v. MICKEY AKA (2018)

MEMORANDUM **

Willie Dwayne Mickey appeals his conviction, after a five-day jury trial, for two counts of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, coercion, or any combination of such means in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a) and (b)(1). We here address Mickey's evidentiary and sentencing claims.¹ Because the parties are familiar with the facts, we do not recite them here. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

I. Rule 404(b) Ruling

The district court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted evidence of Mickey's 2012 Valentine's Day assault on K.I. United States v. Romero, 282 F.3d 683, 688 (9th Cir. 2002). Evidence of the assault was admissible to show Mickey's intent, plan, and motive in using violence to traffic the prostitutes working for him, including K.I. See Fed. R. Evid. 404(b).

Nor did the district court abuse its discretion in finding that evidence of this assault was admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. See Fed. R. Evid. 403; United States v. Wiggan, 700 F.3d 1204, 1210 (9th Cir. 2012). Evidence of the assault corroborated the prosecution's theory that Mickey used force in causing prostitutes to work for him, and the risk of unfair prejudice from the photos did not substantially outweigh their probative value. In any event, any claimed error was also harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence supporting conviction. See United States v. Derington, 229 F.3d 1243, 1247 (9th Cir. 2000).

II. Sixth Amendment Claim

The district court's refusal to include a specific unanimity requirement with respect to the means that Mickey used to traffic A.P. and K.I. did not violate the Sixth Amendment, a claim we review de novo. See United States v. Lizarraga-Carrizales, 757 F.3d 995, 997 (9th Cir. 2014). The lack of such an instruction did not increase the mandatory minimum sentence that Mickey faced. See Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99, 107–08, 133 S.Ct. 2151, 186 L.Ed.2d 314 (2013). Mickey's indictment charged him with violating 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a) and (b)(1). That section of the statute states in relevant part that “if the offense was effected by means of force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion ․ or any combination of such means ․” the punishment is “imprisonment for any term of years not less than 15 or for life.” 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(b)(1). Hence, Mickey only faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

Mickey argues that because a different subsection of the statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2), permits a mandatory minimum sentence of only 10 years, the district court was required by Alleyne to provide a specific unanimity instruction. See 570 U.S. at 107–08, 133 S.Ct. 2151; see also Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). That is not so. To see why, one need only review 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(b)(1) and (b)(2) together:

“(1) if the offense was effected by means of force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion described in subsection (e)(2), or by any combination of such means, or if the person recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, patronized, or solicited had not attained the age of 14 years at the time of such offense, by a fine under this title and imprisonment for any term of years not less than 15 or for life; or

(2) if the offense was not so effected, and the person recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, patronized, or solicited had attained the age of 14 years but had not attained the age of 18 years at the time of such offense, by a fine under this title and imprisonment for not less than 10 years or for life.” 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(b)(1), (b)(2) (emphases added).

As the emphasized language indicates, the statute sets out a binary choice between two mandatory minimums. If the offense is effected by “means of force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion ․ or by any combination of such means,” the mandatory minimum is 15 years. By contrast, “if the offense was not so effected,” the mandatory minimum could be 10 years. Id.

Mickey was neither indicted nor tried for violating 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2). Because the only mandatory minimum Mickey ever faced was 15 years, Alleyne does not apply, and no Sixth Amendment violation occurred.

AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Mickey's specific unanimity and constructive amendment claims are addressed in the concurrently-filed Opinion.