Case ID: f-appx_31/html/0797-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, v. Quintino VASQUEZ, Appellant.
    No. 01-2158.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) April 1, 2002.
    Filed April 2, 2002.
    Before SLOVITER, FUENTES and MICHEL, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       Hon. Paul R. Michel, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, sitting by designation.
    
   OPINION OF THE COURT

SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

I.

As appellant Quintino Vasquez states in his brief: “The only issue raised in this appeal is the extent of the departure granted by the Court.” Appellant’s Br. at 3. Vasquez, who was charged in a five-count indictment, pled guilty to three counts: conspiracy, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (count one); possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance within one thousand feet of a school, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 860 (count four); and carrying and aiding and abetting the carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (count five). Vasquez entered the guilty plea pursuant to a cooperation agreement with the government.

The Presentence Investigation Report found that the base offense level was 31 and the criminal history was O. Because there was a ten year mandatory on counts one and four, and a five year consecutive mandatory on count five, the range became 180 to 195 months. During the sentencing hearing, the government confirmed the assistance given by Vasquez, stating that he “provided some important additional details” and that even the information that he provided that was untimely “was still helpful to the government.” App. at 21-22. The government moved for a downward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 and 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e). The District Court granted the motion and departed downward 36 months in total, making the net sentence 144 months of incarceration followed by five years of supervised release. Vasquez filed a timely notice of appeal. He asks this court to review the District Court’s discretionary decision to grant a three year departure.

II.

Although this court may review sentencing errors based upon a mistake of law or incorrect application of the Guidelines, United States v. Torres, 251 F.3d 138, 145 (3d Cir.2001) (citing United States v. Spiropoulos, 976 F.2d 155, 160 n. 2 (3d Cir. 1992)), we lack jurisdiction to review the District Court’s discretionary decision to depart only three years. See Torres, 251 F.3d at 143; United States v. Khalil, 132 F.3d 897, 898 (3d Cir.1997) (holding that extent of district court’s discretionary downward departure from applicable sen-fencing guidelines range, pursuant to government’s motion for departure based on defendant’s substantial assistance to government, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 was not subject to appellate review).

First, appellant attacks the propriety of the District Court’s discretionary decision to depart only three years from the guidelines. Pursuant to Torres, this court lacks jurisdiction to review that decision. Torres, 251 F.3d at 143; Khalil, 132 F.3d at 898.

Second, Vazquez appears to suggest that the District Court did not adequately analyze the evidence before it when considering the government’s departure motion. In Torres, we stated:

[Wjhen presented with a motion for downward departure a sentencing judge must, at the very minimum, indicate his or her consideration of § 5Kl.l’s five factors in determining whether and to what extent to grant a sentencing reduction. Further, a sentencing judge must indicate his or her consideration of any factors outside those listed in § 5K1.1. We strongly urge sentencing judges to make specific findings regarding each factor and articulate thoroughly whether and how they used any proffered evidence to reach their decision.

251 F.3d at 147. This is to ensure that a sentencing judge “is meeting his or her solemn duties in the most responsible way possible.” Id. Finally, the district court’s consideration of the “seriousness of the crime” and the “impact on the victim” in determining the extent of a departure under § 5K1.1. is well within its discretion. Id. at 148 (citing United States v. Casiano, 113 F.3d 420, 431 (3d Cir.1997)).

A district court’s consideration of the § 5K1.1 factors will be adequate if it balances the seriousness of the defendant’s offense against his or her efforts to assist the government’s investigation. Id. at 149. Although in Torres the government characterized Torres’ assistance as “substantial and important,” “vital,” “diligent! ] and aggressive,” “very helpful,” “extraordinary,” “pro-active,” “tremendously significant,” “immensely significant,” and of “enormous benefit,” Torres, 251 F.3d at 144, the district departed only one month from the guidelines. The district court in Torres explained:

We have heard what he has said. We have heard what his attorney has said with regard to this apparent rehabilitation of Mr. Torres. However, it remains that Mr. Torres, nevertheless, committed a serious crime in 1991 and for that he should be punished.
Now, the extent of punishment can readily be tempered by the grant, which I do, of the motion 5K1.1. But, I’m not placing him on probation because what he did cannot just be forgotten or erased or made to disappear because of the subsequent cooperation with the Government, nevertheless, even though, according to the Government, it was fruitful.

Id. at 149 (quoting district court transcript). This court concluded that the district court’s consideration in Torres was adequate, even if minimally so. Id.

The District Court in Vasquez’s case gave Vasquez equal, if not more, consideration than the court gave in Torres. The District Court heard evidence presented by the government that Vasquez:

(1) “was prepared to provide collaborative testimony at the preliminary hearing and also at a trial” regarding a murder;
(2) helped provide information regarding a criminal appeal;
(3) provided help in a timely fashion;
(4) “was a highly culpable person,” who “loaned a firearm!,]” and who said he would “hit [a police officer] with a car, make it look like an accident” instead of shooting him if he “interfered with the drug deal[;]”
(5) “enlisted the aid of his live-in girlfriend,” who took “extraordinary steps to assist him[;]”
(6) “cooperated peacefully about the arrest” and “never attempted to go for the gun or assaulted anyone.”

App. at 20-25. The District Court departed 36 months, based on the government’s motion, and explained:

Mr. Vasquez, I have given you three years off of the sentence that you faced ... I feel that is warranted under the circumstances.
But, I also feel that you should be punished significantly for your criminal activity, and being actively involved and basically setting this up and organizing it to the degree that the guns and the cocaine were available for this transaction ....

App. at 31-32.

Though the District Court did not “make specific findings regarding each factor and articulate thoroughly whether and how [it] used any proffered evidence to reach [its] decision[,]” Torres, 251 F.3d at 147, the record does reveal that it balanced the seriousness of Vasquez’s offense against his substantial efforts to assist the government. Id. at 149. Furthermore, the District Court considered the seriousness of Vasquez’s crime when it took note of Vasquez’s active involvement in and organization of the narcotics activity. Consideration of the “seriousness of the crime” in determining the extent of a departure under § 5K1.1 is a consideration well within the District Court’s discretion. Torres, 251 F.3d at 148 (citing United States v. Casiano, 113 F.3d 420, 431 (3d Cir.1997)).

III.

In summary, we lack jurisdiction to review the extent of the departure granted by the District Court. We reject Vasquez’s contention that the District Court gave inadequate justification for its decision. We will affirm the District Court’s order.