FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC U IT JUNE 13, 2007 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 06- 15824 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D. C . Do c k e tNo . 0 6 - 0 0 1 9 0 - C R - T - 2 7 - E AJ U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s M A R T I N S I N I S T E R R A , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe M i ddl e D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( Ju n e 13, 2007) B efo re B IR C H , B L A C K an d M A R C U S , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

M a r t i n S i ni s t e rr aappe a l s hi s 121- m onth s e nt e nc e f orc ons pi r a c y a nd pos s e s s i on w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e c oc a i ne w hi l e on boa r d ave s s e l s ubj e c tt o the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f

th e U n i t e d St a t e s , 4 6 U . S. C. ap p . § 1 9 0 3 ( a ) , a n d ( g ) , 2 1 U . S. C. § 9 6 0 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ( ii) , a n d 1 8 U .S .C . § 2 ; a n d c o n s p ir a c y to p o s s e s s w ith in te n t to di stri bu t e c ocai ne w hi l e on b oard a ves se l subj ec tt o the j uri sdi ct i on of the U ni t ed S ta te s , 4 6 U .S .C . ap p . § 1 9 0 3 ( a ) , ( g ) , a n d ( j) , a n d 2 1 U .S .C . § 9 6 0 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ( ii) . I n itia lly , S in is te rr ah a s n o t d e m o n s tr a te d th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u r t c o m m itte d e rr o rin fai l i n g t o d i sm i ss th e i n d i ctm en tfo r l ack o f j u ri sd i ct i o n . S eco n d , th e reco rd sh o w s, a n d S i n i s t e rr ac o n c e d e s , th a tth e d i s tr i c tc o u r td i d n o tc l e a r l y e rrb y ap p l y i n g atwo l evel enhancem entfor bei ng the capt ai n o f the vess el . F i nal l y, the di stri ctcourt c ons i de r e d the 18 U . S . C . § 3553( a ) f a c t or s , a c c ur a t e l y c a l c ul a t e d the gui de l i ne ra ng e, and sent ence d S i ni st erraatthe l ow end o f the gu i del i nes r ange, and n o o ther ci rc um st ance s s ug gestthathi s s ent ence i s unrea sonabl e. A cc ordi ng l y, as di sc usse d b e l o w , w e A F F I R M. I . B AC KG RO UN D In M ay 2 0 0 6 , a fed eral g ran d j u ry en t ered a tw o -co u n ti n d i ctm en tag ai n st S i ni s t e rr a , aC ol om bi a n na t i ona l , a nd f ourothe r s . C ountone c ha r ge d tha ton 14 M a y 2006, the de f

e nda nt s c ons pi r e d t o pos s e s s w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e f i ve ki l og ra m s of c ocai ne w hi l e abo ar d a vess el subj ec tt o the j uri sdi ct i on of the U ni t edThe a ppendix t o Title 46 containing the subjec t provisions was repe aled e ffe ctive 6 1 October 2006, and re enacted as 46 U.S.C. §§ 70503 and 70506, re spectively, with no releva nt chang es. See Pub.L . No. 109-134, 120 Stat. 1485 (2006). 3 S ta te s , in v io la tio n o f

4 6 U .S .C . ap p . § 1 9 0 3 ( a ) , ( g ) , a n d ( j) , 2 1 U .S .C . § 1 9 6 0 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ( ii) . C o u n t tw o c h a r g e d th a t o n th e s a m e d a y th e d e f e n d a n ts pos s e s s e d w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e f i ve ki l ogr a m s of

c oc a i ne , i n vi ol a t i on of 46 U .S .C . ap p . § 1 9 0 3 ( a ) a n d ( g ) , 2 1 U .S .C . § 9 6 0 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ( ii) , a n d 1 8 U .S .C . § 2 . P r i ort o tr i a l , S i ni s t e rr aa gr e e d t o e nt e ragui l ty pl e at o c ount s one a nd tw o of the i nd i ctm ent . A thi s pl eahear i ng , the go vernm entproffe re d thaton 14 M ay 2 0 0 6 , w h ile o n p a tr o l in th e in te rn a tio n a l w a te r s in th e e a s te rn P a c if ic O c e a n , a U ni t ed S t at es m ar i t i m e patrol ai rc ra ftsi gh t ed a s uspect ed go -f as tvess el appr oxi m a t e l y one hundr e d f i f t e e n- na ut i c a l m i l e s s outhw e s tof the G a l apa gos I s la n d s . T h e g o - f

a s t v e s s e ls a r e typ ic a lly u s e d b y d ru g tr a f f ic k in g o p e r a tio n s to s m u g g le la r g e q u a n titie s o f c o c a in e f

r o m C o lo m b iato M e x ic o f o rd is tr ib u tio n to th e U n i t ed S t at es. A s th e U n i t ed S t at es C o astG u ard cl o sed i n o n th e g o -fast vess el , the cr ew on the go -f as tvess el se ti ton fi re , and al l fi ve cr ew m em bers ( d e f e n d a n ts ) ju m p e d in to th e w a te r . T h e C o a s t G u a r d c r e w r e s c u e d th e d e f e n d a n ts a n d a tte m p te d to e x tin g u is h th e f ir e b u t th e v e s s e l b r o k e u p a n d s ta r te d to s in k . M ul t i pl e bal es of cocai ne fl oat ed t o the surf ac e a s the vess el sunk . T he U ni t ed S t at es re covered thi rty- si x b al es of cocai ne pl us another s even hu nd re d and fi ft ee n4

i ndi vi dua l br i c ks f

r om the da m a ge d ba l e s , f orat ot a l w e i ghts e i z e d of f our th o u s a n d p o u n d s . A t th e tim e o f th e irin itia l a rr e s t, n o n e o f th e d e f e n d a n ts a d m itte d to b e in g th e c ap ta in o f th e v e s s e l. S in c e th e c ap ta in o f th e v e s s e l f

a ile d to m a k e a n y c la im o f

n a tio n a lity , th e C o a s t G u a r d d e c la r e d th e v e s s e l f la g le s s a n d to be ave s s e l w i thoutna t i ona l i ty , w hi c h a uthor i z e d the e nf or c e m e ntof

the l a w s of th e U n ite d S ta te s o n th e v e s s e l a n d its c r e w m e m b e r s , d e f e n d a n ts in th is c a s e . S in is te rr aa g r e e d w ith th e g o v e rn m e n t’s r e c ita tio n o f th e f a c ts a n d p le a d e d g u ilty to th e ch arg es. T h e p resen t en ce i n v est i g at i o n rep o rt(“ P S I”) assi g n ed S i n i st erra a b ase offe nse l evel of 38 pu rs uantt o U . S . S . G . § 2 D 1. 1(c) (3). T he P S I not ed thatothers arre st ed i dent i fi ed S i ni st erraas the capt ai n o f the “ go -f as t ” boat , and, there fore , re com m ended add i ng tw o p oi nt s pursuantt o U . S . S . G . § 2 D 1. 1(b)(2)(B). S i ni st erra w a s g r a n te d as a f

e ty - v a lv e r e d u c tio n a n d tw o p o in ts w e r e d e d u c te d p u r s u a n t to U .S .S .G . § 5 C 1 .2 . T h r e e p o in ts w e r e d e d u c te d f o ra c c e p tab le o f

r e s p o n s ib ility pu rs uantt o U . S . S . G . § 3 E 1. 1(a) , and (b). T he P S I r eport ed thatthe charged of f e ns e c a rr i e d am a nda t ory t e rm of i m pr i s onm e ntof

10 y e a r s pur s ua ntt o 21 U . S. C. § 9 6 0 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( B) . Si n i s t e rr a , h o w e v e r , me tth e c r i t e r i as e tf o r th i n 1 8 U . S. C. § 3 5 5 3 ( f ) ( 1 - 5 ) , a n d , th e r e f

o r e , th e d is tr ic t c o u r t c o u ld im p o s e as e n te n c e in ac cordance w i th the se nt enci ng gu i del i nes a nd w i tho utre gard t o the st atut ory5

m i ni m um se nt ence . A cc ordi ng l y, the prob at i on offi ce r r ec om m ended a t ot al of f e ns e l e ve l of

35, a nd c r i m i na l hi s t ory c a t e gory of I , w hi c h pr oduc e d a s e n te n c in g g u id e lin e r a n g e o f 1 6 8 - 2 1 0 m o n th s . N e ith e rS in is te rr an o rth e g o v e rn m e n t o b je c te d to th e P S I p r io rto s e n te n c in g . A t s e n te n c in g , S in is te rr ad id n o t e n te ra n y o b je c tio n s to th e P S I o rto the appl i c a t i on of

the a dvi s ory gui de l i ne s . A c c or di ngl y , the c our tthe n a dopt e d the g u id e lin e s c a lc u la tio n s s e t f o r th in th e P S I . S i ni st erraspok e t o the courti n al l ocut i on . D ef ense coun se l then st at ed that S i n i st erra d i d n o to b

j ectt o th e tw o l ev el i n crease fo r cap t ai n ’ s ro l e i n th e o ffen se because “ the l aw i s noton m y s i de. ” R 3 at8. N on ethel es s, defe nse c ou nsel as ked the c our tt o c ons i de rtha tthe de f e nda nt s w e r e l ow on the t ot e m pol e of the drug tra ff i cki ng organi za t i on , and thatany of them coul d t ec hn i ca l l y be the capt ai n si nce

“ [t ] hey a l l dri ve the bo at . ” I d. D ef ense coun se l re qu es t ed thati ti m po se a r e a s onabl e s e nt e nc e , a nd s ugge s t e d tha tat e rm of 120 m onths of

i m pr i s onm e nt w o u ld s e rv e th e s e n te n c in g g o a ls . T he courtfoun d thatS i ni st errahad d on e w hathe coul d t o l ow erhi s e xp osure i n t erm s of s ent enci ng by coop er at i ng ea rl y a nd i nd i ca t i ng hi s dec i si on t o p l ea d g u ilty e a r ly . T h e c o u r t n o te d th a t it c o n s id e r e d th e s e n te n c in g f a c to r s s e t f

o r th in 1 8 U .S .C . § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) , th e a d v is o ry g u id e lin e s , th e g o v e rn m e n t’s U .S .S .G . § 5 K 1 .16

m ot i on, a nd the s e r i ous ne s s of the of f e ns e . T he c our ta l s o di s c us s e d the goa l s of s e n te n c in g in c lu d in g th e n e e d f o rd e te rr e n c e a n d to p r o m o te r e s p e c t f o rth e la w s . B as ed on thi s, the courtdepart ed three l evel s t o o ff ense l evel 32 , and sent ence d S i ni st errat o 1 21 m on ths as t o eac h cou nt , the t erm s t o run concurrent l y, fol l ow ed by fi ve ye ar s of s up ervi se d rel ea se . T he part i es di d n otobj ec tt o the se nt ence . S in is te rr atim e ly ap p e a le d . I n h is b r ie f , S in is te rr as ta te s th a t h e w is h e d to a d o p t th e a r g u m e n ts f

ile d b y h is c o - ap p e lla n ts p r o v id in g th e y in u r e to h is b e n e f it. T he gove rnm e ntr e s ponds tha tS i ni s t e rr am a y notdo s o be c a us e he ha s no c oA pp el l ant s, and n on e of hi s c o-defendant s had fi l ed an appeal w hen h e s ub m i tt ed hi s bri ef . I I . DI S CUS S I ON A . W h eth er th e d i stri ct co u rt p l a i n l y erred b y fa i l i n g su a sp o n te to d i sm i ss t h e i n d i c t m e n t f

or l ac kof

j u r i s d i c t i on O n appe a l , S i ni s t e rr af

i r s ta r gue s tha tthe M a r i t i m e D rug L a w E nf or c e m e nt A ct(M D L E A ), 46 U . S . C . app. §§ 19 01 -190 4, i s uncon st i tut i on al t o the ext entthat i tco n fers j u ri sd i ct i o n o v er d ru g traffi ck i n g w i th i n i n t ern at i o n al w at ers reg ard l ess of proo f thatthe drug s w er e des t i ned for the U ni t ed S t at es . S peci fi ca l l y, S i ni st erra ar gu es thatthe di stri ctcourtdi d n othave j uri sdi ct i on ov erhi m because the vess el w a s s e i z e d now he r e ne a rthe U ni t e d S t a t e s , the r e w e r e no f a c t s s how i ng tha tthe ve s s e l w a s bound t o orc a m e f r om the U ni t e d S t a t e s , a nd the gove rnm e ntdi d not7

es t abl i sh a nexus betw ee n the vess el and the U ni t ed S t at es . S i ni st errafurther a r g u e s th a t th e f

a c t th a t th e g o - f

a s t v e s s e l w a s s im ila rto o th e rv e s s e ls k n o w n to tr a n s p o r t d ru g s w a s n o t e n o u g h to c o n f e rju r is d ic tio n o v e rh im . S in is te rr aa s s e r ts th a t th is is s u e s h o u ld b e r e v ie w e d d e n o v o . A tthe ou t se t , contra ryt o the go vernm ent ’ s a ss ert i on thatS i ni st erraw ai ved th is c h a lle n g e to th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s ju r is d ic tio n b y e n te r in g ag u ilty p le a , o u rla w is c le a rth a t ag u ilty p le ad o e s n o t b a ra n ap p e a l th a t r a is e s aju r is d ic tio n a l q u e s tio n . U n i t e d St a t e s v . Re y n o l d s , 2 1 5 F. 3 d 1 2 1 0 , 1 2 1 5 ( 1 1 th Ci r . 2 0 0 0 ) ( p e rc u r i a m) ( c i t a t i on om i tt e d) . R a the r , w e r e vi e w de novo adi s tr i c tc our t ’ s “ i nt e rpr e t a t i on a nd appl i ca t i on of st atut ory provi si on s” thatgo t o w hether the courthas s ubj ec tm att er j ur i s di c t i on. U ni t e d S t a t e s v. T i noc o, 304 F . 3d 1088, 1114 ( 11th C i r . 2002) (c i t at i on and q uo t at i on om i tt ed). “ C on se qu ent l y, defe ct s i n subj ec t -m att er j uri sdi ct i on re qu i re corr ec t i on re gardl es s of w hether the error w as ra i se d i n d i stri ct c our t . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. C ott on, 535 U . S . 625, 630, 122 S . C t . 1781, 1785 ( 2002) (c i t at i on s om i tt ed). T h e U n i t edS t at es C o n st i tu t i o n em p o w ers C o n g ress “ [t ] o d efi n e an d p u n i sh P i ra ci es and F el on i es com m i tt ed on the H i gh S ea s, and O ff ence s a gai nstthe L aw o f N at i o n s. ” U . S . C o n st . art . I, § 8 , cl . 1 0 . In en act i n g th e M D L E A , C o n g ress fo u n d an d d ecl ared th ese th i n g s:8

tr a f f i c ki ng i n c ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e s aboa r d ve s s e l s i s as e r i ous i nt ernat i on al prob l em and i s uni vers al l y c on dem ned. M oreover, such tra ff i cki ng pres ent s aspec i fi c threa tt o the se curi ty a nd soci et al w el l -b ei n g o f th e U n i t ed S t at es. 4 6 U .S .C . ap p . § 1 9 0 2 . T h e M D L E A p r o v id e s , in r e le v a n t p a rt, th a t “[ i]t is unl a w f ul f ora ny pe r s on . . . on boa r d ave s s e l s ubj e c tt o the j ur i s di c t i on of the U ni t ed S t at es . . . t o p osse ss w i th i nt entt o m anufacture or di stri bu t e, a c on trol l ed s ubs t a nc e . ” 46 U . S . C . app § 1903( a ) . A “ ve s s e l s ubj e c tt o the j ur i s di c t i on of the U ni t e d S t a t e s ” i nc l ude s “ ave s s e l w i thoutna t i ona l i ty . ” 46 U . S . C . app. § 1 90 3(c) (1)( A ). A dd i t i on al l y, “ a ‘ vess el w i tho utnat i on al i ty’ i ncl ud es . . . a ves se l aboard w hi ch the m as t eror pers on i n charge m akes a c l ai m of re gi stry , w hi ch cl ai m i s deni ed by the fl ag nat i on w ho se re gi stryi s c l ai m ed” or “ a ves se l aboard w hi ch the m as t eror pers on i n charge m akes a c l ai m of re gi stryand the cl ai m ed n a tio n o f r e g is try d o e s n o t a f

f irm a tiv e ly a n d u n e q u iv o c a lly a s s e r t th a t th e v e s s e l is of i t s nat i on al i ty. ” I d. at§ 1 90 3(c) (2)( A ), (C ). In U ni t ed S t at es v. E stup i nan, 45 3 F . 3d 13 36 , 13 39 (11th C i r. 20 06 ) ( per c ur i a m ) , w e not e d tha t“ the di s tr i c tc our tc om m i tt e d no e rr ori n f a i l i ng t o s ua spon t e rul e thatC on gres s e xcee ded i t s autho ri ty und erthe P i ra ci es and F el on i es C l ause i n enact i ng the M D L E A . ” I n T in o c o , w e a d d r e s s e d as im ila ris s u e w h e r e av e s s e l w a s in te r c e p te d in i nt e rna t i ona l w a t e r s , f

l e w no f l a g, c ont a i ne d no r e gi s tr a t i on doc um e nt a t i on or9

id e n tif y in g m a rk in g s , a n d C o lo m b ia n o f f ic ia ls w e r e u n ab le to c o n f irm its re gi stra t i on . 30 4 F . 3d at10 92 -94. W e c on cl ud ed thatthe vess el i n T i no co c om por t e d w i th the “ ve s s e l w i thoutna t i ona l i ty ” unde r§ 1903( c ) ( 2) ( C ) , a nd, c o n s e q u e n tly , w a s s ta te le s s . I d . a t 1 1 1 6 . “B e c a u s e s ta te le s s v e s s e ls d o n o t f a ll w i thi n the vei l of another s ov er ei gn ’ s t erri t ori al prot ec t i on , al l nat i on s c an tre at the m a s the i row n t e rr i t ory a nd s ubj e c tthe m t o the i rl a w s . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. R endo n, 35 4 F . 3d 13 20 , 13 25 (11th C i r. 20 03 ) ( ci t at i on and q uo t at i on om i tt ed). A ddi t i ona l l y , i n T i noc o, w e c onc l ude d tha t“ C ongr e s s , unde rthe ‘ pr ot e c t i ve p r in c ip le ’ o f

in te rn a tio n a l la w , m a y a s s e r t e x tr a te rr ito r ia l ju r is d ic tio n o v e rv e s s e ls i n the hi gh se as thatar e e ng aged i n con du ctthat‘ has apo t ent i al l y a dv er se ef fe ct and i s gener al l y r ec og ni ze d as acr i m e by nat i on s thathave rea sonabl y devel op ed l egal sy st em s. ’ ” I d. at11 08 (c i t at i on om i tt ed). F urther, ou r c i rc ui tand o ther c ir c u its h a v e n o t e m b e llis h e d th e M D L E A w ith an e x u s r e q u ir e m e n t. S e e , e .g ., U ni t ed S t at es v. M ena, 86 3 F . 2d 15 22 , 15 27 (11th C i r. 19 89 ) ( re j ec t i ng fa ci al chal l enge t o M D L E A base d o n a l ac k o f a“ m ea ni ng ful re l at i on shi p” t o the U ni t ed S t at es ). A c c or di ngl y w e r e

j e c tS i ni s t e rr a ’ s a r gum e nttha tthe di s tr i c tc our te rr e d by fa i l i ng t o sua spon t e di sm i ss the i nd i ctm entfor l ac k o f j uri sdi ct i on . A s not ed ab o v e , w e h a v e u p h e ld th e p r o s e c u tio n o f v e s s e ls w ith o u t n a tio n a lity u n d e r§ 1 9 0 3 .10

S e e T i noc o, 304 F . 3d a t1112. I n a ddi t i on, w e do nota tt a c h ane xus r e qui r e m e nt t o the M D L E A . S e e M e na , 863 F . 2d a t1527. F ur the rm or e , w e ha ve he l d tha tthe d i stri ctco u rtd o es n o tco m m i terro r i n fai l i n g t o su a sp o n t e fi n d th atC o n g ress e x c e e d e d its a u th o r ity in e n a c tin g th e M D L E A . S e e E s tu p in a n , 4 5 3 F .3 d a t 1 3 3 9 . T hu s, the di stri ctcourtcom m i tt ed no error on thi s i ss ue. B . W h e t h e r t h e d is t r ic t c o u r t e r r e d b y f in d in g t h a t S in is t e r r a w a s a c a p t a in a n d in c r e a s in g b y t w o le v e ls h is b a s e o f f e n s e le v e l O n appe a l , S i ni s t e rr ac onc e de s tha ta c c or di ng t o ourde c i s i on i n R e ndon, 354 F . 3 d 1 3 2 0 , th e d i stri ctco u rtp ro p erl y cal cu l at ed a tw o -l ev el i n crease in h i s o ffen se l e v e l f o rb e i n g ac ap t a i n i n th e o f f e n s e . Ne v e r th e l e s s , S i n i s t e rr ar e q u e s t s th a twe r e e x a m in e o u rp r io rd e c is io n s in b o a t c a s e s . S in is te rr aa r g u e s th a t a ll d e f e n d a n ts coul d and di d n avi gat e the vess el , and, there fore , no ne w as m ore c ul pabl e than a n o th e r . W e r e vi e w adi s tr i c tc our t ’ s f i ndi ngs of

f a c tf orc l e a re rr ora nd i t s appl i c a t i on of the s e nt e nc i ng gui de l i ne s de novo. U ni t e d S t a t e s v. J a c ks on, 276 F . 3d 1231, 1233 ( 11th C i r . 2001) ( c i t a t i on om i tt e d) . S e c t i on 2D 1. 1( b) ( 2) ( B ) i m pos e s the e nha nc e m e ntba s e d on the r ol e of the de f e nda nti n the i m por t a t i on ore xpor t a t i on of ac ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e : “ I f . . . the de f

e nda nta c t e d a s api l ot , c opi l ot , c apt a i n, navi gat or, fl i gh toffi ce r, or any other operat i on offi ce r abo ar d any cr af tor vess el c a rry i ng ac ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e . ” U . S . S . G . § 2D 1. 1( b) ( 2) ( B ) . M or e ove r , w e ha ve11

a dopt e d the rul e tha tapr i orde c i s i on of the c i r c ui t( pa ne l ore n ba nc ) c a nnotbe ov errul ed by a l at erpanel bu ton l y by the courtsi tt i ng en banc or by the U ni t ed S t at es S up re m e C ou rt . U ni t ed S t at es v. M ac hado , 80 4 F . 2d 15 37 , 15 43 (11th C i r. 19 86 ). H e r e , the di s tr i c tc our tdi d note rrf a c tua l l y by appl y i ng the e nha nc e m e nt base d o n i t s c on cl usi on thatS i ni st erraw as capt ai n o f the vess el thatw as tr a n s p o r tin g th e c o c a in e . S e e U n ite d S ta te s v . B o n illa , 4 6 3 F .3 d 1 1 7 6 , 1 1 7 9 ( 1 1 th C i r . 2006) . A ts e nt e nc i ng, S i ni s t e rr ac onc e de d tha the w a s , a tl e a s t , ac apt a i n of the v e s s e l. C . W h e t h e r S i n i s t e r r a’ s 121 m on t h s e n t e n c e w as u n r e as on ab l e , i n vi ol at i on of U n i t e d S t at e s v. B ook e r , 543 U . S . 220, 125 S . C t . 738 ( 2005) S i ni st errare qu es t s thatw e c on du ctan i nd ependentanal ys i s of hi s c as e r ather th a n ap p ly th e typ ic a l s e n te n c e s im p o s e din o th e rb o a t c a s e s f r o m th e M id d le D is tr ic t o f

F lo r id a . S in is te rr aa s s e r ts th a t s e n te n c e s in b o a t c a s e s w e r e h is to r ic a lly in f la te d d u e to th e m a n d a to ry s e n te n c in g g u id e lin e s , a n d h a v e r e m a in e d s o in s p ite of the now - a dvi s ory s c he m e . S i ni s t e rr aa r gue s tha the ha s no c r i m i na l hi s t ory , he ha d no know l e dge tha tthe drugs w oul d r e a c h the U ni t e d S t a t e s , he w i l l be de por t e d f

ol l ow i ng the c om pl e t i on of hi s s e nt e nc e , the r e i s no ne e d f orr e s t i tut i on, a n d h e w a s ap a w n in ala r g e d ru g c a r te l.12

P ur s ua ntt o the S upr e m e C our t ’ s i ns truc t i ons i n B ooke r , 543 U . S . 220, 125 S . C t . 738 ( 2005) , w e r e vi e w adi s tr i c tc our t ’ s s e nt e nc e , i m pos e d a f t e rc ons ul t i ng the gui de l i ne s a nd c ons i de r i ng the f a c t or s s e tf

or th a t18 U . S . C . § 3553( a ) , f or r e a s onabl e ne s s . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. W i l l i a m s , 435 F . 3d 1350, 1353 ( 11th C i r . 2006) ( pe rc ur i a m ) ( “ U nde rB ooke r , w e r e vi e w ade f e nda nt ' s ul t i m a t e s e nt e nc e f or r e a s onabl e ne s s . ” ) . S om e of the § 3553( a ) f

a c t or s i nc l ude the na tur e a nd c i r c um s t a nc e s of

the of f e ns e , the hi s t ory a nd c ha r a c t e r i s t i c s of the de f e nda nt , the ne e d f ora de qua t e de t e rr e nc e a nd pr ot e c t i on of the publ i c , pe r t i ne nts e nt e nc i ng gui de l i ne s , a nd the ne e d t o a voi d unw a rr a nt e d s e nt e nc i ng di s pa r i t i e s . S e e 18 U . S . C . § 3553( a ) . T he r e a s onabl e ne s s r e vi e w i s “ de f e r e nt i a l ” a nd f

oc us e s on w hether the se nt ence i m po se d fai l s t o achi eve the pu rposes of se nt enci ng as st at ed i n § 35 53 (a ). U ni t ed S t at es v. T al l ey , 43 1 F . 3d 78 4, 78 8 (11 th C i r. 20 05 ) ( per c u r ia m ) . M o r e o v e r , w e h a v e r e c o g n iz e d th a t ar a n g e o f r e a s o n ab le s e n te n c e s e x is ts f r om w hi c h the di s tr i c tc our tm a y c hoos e . I d. “ [ T ] he pa r ty w ho c ha l l e nge s the s e nt e nc e be a r s the bur de n of e s t abl i s hi ng tha tthe s e nt e nc e i s unr e a s onabl e i n the l i ghtof both [ the ] r e c or d a nd the f a c t or s i n s e c t i on 3553( a ) . ” I d. W e c o n c lu d e th a t S in is te rr a ’s 1 2 1 - m o n th s e n te n c e is r e a s o n ab le a n d a f f irm . F i rs t , the di stri ctcourtfol l ow ed the prop erprocedure i n d et erm i ni ng the se nt ence because i t : (1) c orre ct l y c al cul at ed the advi soryG ui del i nes r ange; and (2) i nd i ca t ed13

th a t it h a d c o n s id e r e d th e f a c to r s c o n ta in e d in 1 8 U .S .C . § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) . S e e id . S ec on d, the di stri ctcourti m po se d a se nt ence atthe bo tt om of the advi sory gui de l i ne s r a nge a nd f

a rf r om the s t a tut ory m a xi m um of l i f e i m pr i s onm e nt , both of wh i c h a r e i n d i c a t i o n s o f ar e a s o n ab l e s e n t e n c e . S e e i d . ( n o t i n g th a t“ o r d i n a r i l y we w o u l d ex p ecta sen t en ce w i th i n th e G u i d el i n es ran g e t o b e reaso n ab l e”). F i n al l y, S i ni st errahas f

ai l ed t o m ee thi s burden o f s ho w i ng thathi s s ent ence w as u n re as o n ab le in li g h t o f th e r ec o rd an d th e § 3 5 5 3 (a ) f ac to rs . S ee id . S in isterr a’s c la im th a t h is s e n te n c e w a s u n r e a s o n ab le b e c a u s e it w a s b a s e d a lm o s t e x c lu s iv e ly o n th e d ru g q u an t i ty, fai l s b ecau se th e g o al s o f th e sen t en ci n g g u i d el i n es are also re fl ec t ed i n the re as on abl enes s f ac t ors, i ncl ud i ng the need for the se nt ence i m po se d t o r e f l e c tthe s e r i ous ne s s of

the of f e ns e a nd t o pr ovi de j us tpuni s hm e ntf orthe of f e ns e , a nd the ki nds of

s e nt e nc e a nd the s e nt e nc i ng r a nge . S e e 18 U . S . C . §§ 35 53 (a )( 2)(A ), and (4). L i kew i se , S i ni st erra ’ s c l ai m thathi s s ent ence w as unr e a s onabl e be c a us e he ha s no c r i m i na l hi s t ory a l s o f a i l s be c a us e the s e nt e nc i ng gu i del i nes a re al so re fl ec t ed i n the re as on abl enes s f ac t ors. A l so, the di stri ctcourt di d c ons i de rS i ni s t e rr a ’ s r ol e i n the of f e ns e , a nd he c onc e de d tha the w a s the c ap ta in o f

th e v e s s e l. F in a lly , th e 1 2 1 - m o n th s e n te n c e im p o s e d o n S in is te rr ais onl y one m onth l onge rtha n the s e nt e nc e he a dvoc a t e d f ora ts e nt e nc i ng. A l s o, S i ni st erra ’ s off

ense s i nv ol ved a l ar ge drug qu ant i ty, ov er18 00 ki l og ra m s, w hi ch14

w a s s ubs t a nt i a l l y m or e tha n the 150 ki l ogr a m m i ni m um ne c e s s a ry t o a c hi e ve the m a x i m u m o f

f e n s e l e v e l c o n t e m p l a t e d b y th e s e n t e n c i n g g u i d e l i n e s u n d e rU. S . S . G. § 2 D 1 .1 ( c ) . I I I . CONCL US I ON B e c a us e the di s tr i c tc our tc orr e c t l y c a l c ul a t e d the gui de l i ne s r a nge a nd consi dere d the fa ct ors of § 35 53 (a ), and b ec ause S i ni st errafa i l ed t o est abl i sh that h i s s e n t e n c e a tth e l o w e n d o f th e a d v i s o ry Gu i d e l i n e s r a n g e i s u n r e a s o n ab l e , we AF F I RM .