FI LED U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT M ar c h 6, 2008 T HOM AS K. KAHN CL E RK [ 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. 07- 11149 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D. C . Do c k e tNo . 0 6 - 0 0 1 1 0 - C R - T - 2 4 - MAP 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 J A M E S L O N G , 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

_________________________ ( M ar c h 6, 2008) B efo re T JO F L A T , B IR C H an d B L A C K , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: Jam es L on g app ea l s hi s s ent ence of l i fe pl us fi ve ye ar s i m po se d aft era j ury2

f o u n d h im g u iltyo f

c o n s p ir in g a n d a tte m p tin g to p o s s e s s w ith in te n t to d is tr ib u te f iv e k ilo g r a m s o rm o r e o f c o c a in e , k n o w in g lyc a rry in g af ir e a rm d u r in g a n d in r e la tio n to ad ru g tr a f

f ic k in g c r im e , a n d b e in g af e lo n in p o s s e s s io n o f

af ir e a rm . L ong a r gue s tha t( 1) the di s tr i c tc ourtvi ol a t e d hi s S i xth A m e ndm e ntr i ght s by u s in g h is p r io rc o n v ic tio n s to e n h a n c e h is s e n te n c e w ith o u t r e q u ir in g th e ju ryto m a k e f a c tu a l f in d in g s r e g a r d in g th o s e c o n v ic tio n s , ( 2 ) th a t h is s e n te n c e s c o n s titu te c rue l a nd unus ua l puni s hm e nti n vi ol a t i on of the E i ghth A m e ndm e nt , a nd ( 3) th a th i s s e n t e n c e s a r e u n r e a s o n ab l e . A f t e rr e v i e w , w e f

i n d n o e rr o ra n d A F F I R M. I . B AC KG RO UN D L on g and another m an, L eon W i l l i am s, w er e i ntrodu ce d t o an u nd er cover a ge nt( “ U C ” ) of

the B ur e au of

A l c ohol , T oba c c o, F i r e a rm s , a nd E xpl os i ve s , w ho c la im e d to b e ac o u r ie rf o rC o lu m b ia n d ru g tr a f

f ic k e r s . T h e m e n f

o rm e d ap la n to r ob the drug tr a f

f i c ke r s ’ s t a s h hous e , w hi c h purport e dl yw oul d c ont a i n be tw e e n 22 a nd 39 ki l ogr a m s of

c oc a i ne . L ong i ndi c a t e d tha tthe yw e r e pl a nni ng t o ki l l a ny drug tra ff

i cker s a tthe ho use the course of the robb ery. L on g, W i l l i am s, and a thi rd m a n , E rn e s tKi n g , m e tth e UC o n th e m o rn i n g o f th e p l a n n e d r o b b e ry . T h e UC dr ove the thr e e m e n t o apr e a rr a nge d l oc a t i on, am i ni - s t or a ge f a c i l i ty , w he r e the U C t ol d the m e n t o hi de aport i on of the c oc a i ne a f

t e rthe r obbe ry . T he U C t ook the m en t o the st orage uni tthathe cl ai m ed t o h ave r ent ed, gave them a key(w hi ch3

w o u ld n o t o p e n th e lo c k ) , a n d to ld th e m h e n e e d e d to le a v e a n d u s e ap h o n e to a n s w e rap a g e . L o n g a n d th e o th e rm e n w e r e th e n a rr e s te d a n d f o u n d to b e in p o s s e s s io n o f

f o u rf ir e a rm s . L o n g w a s in d ic te d f

o rc o n s p ir in g a n d a tte m p tin g to p o s s e s s w ith in te n t to di s tr i but e f

i ve ki l ogr a m s orm or e of c oc a i ne , i n vi ol a t i on of 21 U . S . C . §§ 846 a nd 841( b) ( 1) ( A ) ( i i ) ( C ount s 1- 2) , know i ngl yc a rry i ng af i r e a rm dur i ng a nd i n r e l a t i on t o adrug tr a f

f i c ki ng c r i m e , i n vi ol a t i on of 18 U . S . C . § 924( c ) ( 1) ( C ount3) , a nd be i ng af e l on i n pos s e s s i on of

af i r e a rm , i n vi ol a t i on of

18 U . S . C . §§ 922( g) ( 1) ( C ount5) . T he gove rnm e ntf i l e d anot i c e of

pr i orc onvi c t i ons , i ndi c a t i ng tha tL ong w as su b j ectt o a m an d at o ry l i fe sen t en ce fo r C o u n t s 1 an d 2 b ecau se h e h ad atl east two p r i o rc o n v i c t i o n s f

o rf e l o n y d ru g o f

f e n s e s , u n d e r2 1 U. S . C . § § 8 4 1 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A) a n d 8 5 1 . A j u ry f

o u n d Lo n g g u i l tyo n f

o u rc o u n t s o f

th e i n d i c tme n ta g a i n s th i m. A s t o C ou nt s 1, 2 and 5, L on g rec ei ved a base off ense l evel of 34 un der U . S . S . G . § 2D 1. 1 ( 2006) be c aus e the of f e ns e i nvol ve d a tl e a s t15 ki l ogr a m s but l e s s th e n 5 0 k i l o g r a m s o f c o c a i n e . L o n g ’ s b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l wa s i n c r e a s e d b ytwo po i nt s bec ause he ob struct ed j ust i ce by com m i tt i ng perj ury duri ng the tri al , un der U . S . S . G . § 3C 1. 1. T hi s w oul d ha ve gi ve n L ong aba s e of f e ns e l e ve l of

36, but L o n g qu al i fi ed as a career o ffen d er u n d er U . S . S . G . § 4 B 1 . 1 b ecau se h e h as atl east tw o p ri or fe l on y c on vi ct i on s of e i ther acr i m e of vi ol ence or a c on trol l ed subst ance4

offe nse. T here fore , hi s t ot al offe nse l evel i s 37. B oth L on g’ s 16 cri m i nal hi st ory p o in ts a n d h is c a r e e ro f f e n d e rs ta tu s e s tab lis h e d ac r im in a l h is to ryc a te g o ryo f 6 . T he G ui de l i ne s r a nge a s t o C ount s 1 a nd 2 i s l i f e i m pr i s onm e nt , w hi c h i s the st atut ory m andat ory s ent ence un der 21 U . S . C . § 8 41 (b)( 1)(A ) i f the defendanthas a t le a s t tw o p r io rf

e lo n y d ru g c o n v ic tio n s . A s to C o u n t 5 , th e G u id e lin e s r a n g e is 120 m onths of

i m pr i s onm e nt , w hi c h i s the s t a tut orym a xi m um t e rm of i m pr i s onm e nt . F i na l l y , f orC ount3, the G ui de l i ne s i m pr i s onm e ntr a nge i s f i ve ye ar s t o run consec ut i vel y t o the se nt ence i m po se d for the un derl yi ng offe nse, p u r s u a n t to U .S .S .G . § 2 K 2 .4 ( b ) a n d 1 8 U .S .C . § 9 2 4 ( c ) . L ong f i l e d no obj e c t i ons t o the P r e s e nt e nc e I nve s t i ga t i on R e port( P S I ) pr i or to h is s e n te n c in g h e a r in g , a n d , a t th e h e a r in g , L o n g s ta te d h e h a d n o o b je c tio n s to the f a c tua l s t a t e m e nt s i n the P S I . H ow e ve r , he i ndi c a t e d tha the w a nt e d t o pr e s e rve a n obj e c t i on t o the m a nda t ory m i ni m um puni s hm e ntbe i ng c rue l a nd unus ua l a nd a n obj e c t i on t o the us e of e nha nc e m e nt s notf

ound bythe j ury , a l though he u n d e r s to o d th a t th e la w o n th is is s u e is c le a r . T he di stri ctcourtdet erm i ned the appl i cabl e G ui del i nes r ange t o b e that f o u n d in th e P S I , a n d th e d is tr ic t c o u rt r e v ie w e d th e s e n te n c in g f a c to r s s e t f

o rth in 18 U . S . C . § 3 55 3(a) . T he di stri ctcourtse nt ence d L on g t o con curr entt erm s of l i fe i m pr i s onm e nton C ount s 1 a nd 2, 120 m onths of i m pr i s onm e nton C ount5, a nd a5

6 0 mo n th t e rm o f

i mp r i s o n me n to n Co u n t3 , t o ru n c o n s e c u t i v e l yt o th e t e rms i m po se d for C ou nt s 1, 2, and 5 . L on g exp re ss ed no obj ec t i on s t o the se nt ence . I I . DI S CUS S I ON A . T he D i s tr i c tC ourtP r ope r l y R e l i e d U pon L ong’ s P r i orC onvi c t i ons L on g argues thathi s s ent ence i s uncon st i tut i on al because i tw as enhanced ba s e d on f

e l ony c onvi c t i ons tha tw e r e nota l l e ge d i n the i ndi c tm e ntorpr ove n t o a j ury be y ond ar e a s onabl e doubt . T hi s a r gum e ntl a c ks m e r i t . W e r e vi e w que s t i ons o f c o n s titu tio n a l la w d e n o v o . U n ite d S ta te s v . C h au , 4 2 6 F .3 d 1 3 1 8 , 1 3 2 1 ( 1 1 th C i r. 20 05 ) ( per c uri am ). T he S up re m e C ou rthas hel d thatthe C on st i tut i on do es notr e qui r e ade f

e nda nt ’ s pr i orc onvi c t i ons t o be a l l e ge d i n the i ndi c tm e nta nd pr ove n t o the j ury be f

or e the y m a ybe us e d i n s e nt e nc i ng. A l m e nda r e z - T orr e s v. U ni t e d S t a t e s , 523 U . S . 224, 243- 44, 118 S . C t . 1219, 1230- 31 ( 1998) . T he S up re m e C ou rtre af

fi rm ed thi s hol di ng i n A pp re nd i v. N ew Je rs ey , st at i ng that

“ [o] ther than the fa ctof a pri or conv i ct i on , any f ac tthati ncre as es the penal ty f or a c r i m e be y ond the pr e s c r i be d s t a tut orym a xi m um m us tbe s ubm i tt e d t o aj ury , a nd pr ove d be y ond ar e a s onabl e doubt . ” A ppr e ndi v. N e w J e r s e y , 530 U . S . 466, 490, 120 S . C t . 2348, 2362- 63 ( 2000) ; s e e a l s o U ni t e d S t a t e s v. C a m a c ho- I ba r que n, 410 F .3 d 1 3 0 7 , 1 3 1 5 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) ( p e rc u r ia m ) ( “th e g o v e rn m e n t n e e d n o t a lle g e in i t s i nd i ctm entand n ee d n otprov e bey on d a re as on abl e dou btthata def endanthad6

pri or conv i ct i on s” before a di stri ctcourtm ayuse tho se conv i ct i on s t o enh ance a s e nt e nc e ) ; U ni t e d S t a t e s v . B ooke r , 543 U . S . 220, 244, 125 S . C t . 738 ( 2005) (“ A ny fa ct(other than a pri or conv i ct i on ) w hi ch i s nec es saryt o sup po rta s ent ence exce edi ng the m axi m um autho ri ze d b y the fa ct s e st abl i shed by a pl eaof gu i l ty or a j ury ve r di c tm us tbe a dm i tt e d by the de f e nda ntorpr ove d t o aj urybe y ond a r e a s o n ab l e d o u b t . ” ) . A l th o u g h A p p r e n d i a n d s u b s e q u e n td e c i s i o n s o f th e Su p r e me C ourtha ve c a s tdoubton the c ont i nui ng vi t a l i tyof A l m e nda r e z - T orr e s , w i thout a c tu a l l y o v e rru l i n g i t , s e e , e . g . , Ap p r e n d i , 5 3 0 U. S . a t4 8 9 - 9 0 , 1 2 0 S . C t . 2 3 6 2 , we a r e b o u n d to ap p lyA lm e n d a r e z - T o rr e s u n til th e S u p r e m e C o u rt c h o o s e s to ov errul e i t . U ni t ed S t at es v. G i bson , 43 4 F . 3d 12 34 , 12 46 -47 (11 th C i r. 20 06 ). F urthe r, as e nt e nc i ng c ourtm a yr e l yon undi s put e d f a c t s a nd pr i or c o n v ic tio n s d e s c r ib e d in aP S I to d e te rm in e th e n a tu r e o f ap r io rc o n v ic tio n . U n ite d S ta te s v . B e n n e tt, 4 7 2 F .3 d 8 2 5 , 8 3 2 - 3 3 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 6 ) ( p e rc u r ia m ) . L on g’ s P S I i nd i ca t ed thathe has tw o p ri or fe l on y drug con vi ct i on s, and h e never o b je c te d to th is f

a c t. T h is a m o u n ts to a n a d m is s io n . I d . a t 8 3 3 - 3 4 ( af a ilu r e to m ake an o bj ec t i on t o the un derl yi ng fa ct s i n the P S I or a tse nt enci ng i s an a d m is s io n th a t s u c h f

a c ts a r e tru e ) . T h e r e f

o r e , th e d is tr ic t c o u rt d id n o t e rr, a n d d id n o tv i o l at e L o n g ’ s co n st i tu t i o n al ri g h t s, b y rel yi n g u p o n L o n g ’ s P S I t o est ab l i sh the f a c tof hi s pr i orf

e l ony c onvi c t i ons f

orthe purpos e of

as e nt e nc i ng7

e n h a n c e m e n t. B . L ong’ s S e nt e nc e D i d N otC ons t i tut e C rue l a nd U nus ua l P uni s hm e nt T he E i ghth A m e ndm e ntpr ovi de s tha t“ [ e ] xc e s s i ve ba i l s ha l l notbe r e qui r e d, n o re x c e s s i v e f

i n e s i mp o s e d , n o rc ru e l a n d u n u s u a l p u n i s h me n t s i n f l i c t e d . ” U . S. C ons t . a m e nd. V I I I . A s appl i e d t o nonc api t a l c a s e s , the E i ghth A m e ndm e nt c ont a i ns onl y a“ na rr ow pr oport i ona l i typr i nc i pl e . ” S e e E w i ng v. C a l i f orni a , 538 U .S . 1 1 , 2 0 , 1 2 3 S . C t. 1 1 7 9 , 1 1 8 5 ( 2 0 0 3 ) . “W e m u s t m a k e ath r e s h o ld d et erm i n at i o n th ata sen t en ce i m p o sed i s g ro ssl y d i sp ro p o rt i o n at e t o th e o ffen se c om m i tt e d a nd, i f

i ti s gr os s l y di s pr oport i ona t e , w e m us tthe n c ons i de rthe se nt ence s i m po se d o n o thers conv i ct ed i n the sa m e j uri sdi ct i on and the se nt ence s i m po se d for the com m i ss i on of the sa m e c ri m e i n o ther j uri sdi ct i on s. ” U ni t ed S ta te s v . A r ia s - I z q u ie r d o , 4 4 9 F .3 d 1 1 6 8 , 1 1 8 6 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 6 ) . “I n g e n e r a l, a s e nt e nc e w i thi n the l i m i t s i m pos e d bys t a tut e i s ne i the re xc e s s i ve norc rue l a nd unus ua l unde rthe E i ghth A m e ndm e nt . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M or i a rty , 429 F . 3d 1012, 1024 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( pe rc ur i a m ) ( quot a t i on a nd c i t a t i on om i tt e d) . S uc c e s s f ul c h a lle n g e s to th e p r o p o rtio n a lityo f an o n c ap ita l s e n te n c e u n d e rth e E ig h th A m en d m en t are ex trem ely r ar e b ec au se o f th e d ef er en ce ac co rd ed to C o n g re ss ’s author i ty t o de t e rm i ne the type s a nd l i m i t s of puni s hm e nt s . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. R a a d, 406 F . 3d 1322, 1323 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( pe rc ur i a m ) . T he bur de n i s on the de f e nda nt8

t o s how tha tthe s e nt e nc e the di s tr i c tc ourti m pos e d i s di s pr oport i ona t e t o the o f f e n s e c o m m itte d . S e e id . a t 1 3 2 4 n .4 . L on g’ s l i fe se nt ence w as m andat ed by st atut e and w e genera l l y f i nd that s u c h s e n t e n c e s a r e n o tc ru e l a n d u n u s u a l . Se e i d . a t1 3 2 3 ; 2 1 U . S. C. §§ 841( b) ( 1) ( A ) a nd 851. I n l i ghtof the e xtr e m e l ys e r i ous c r i m e s f orw hi c h L ong w a s c o n v i c t e d , i n w h i c h h e c o n s p i r e d t o a n d a tt e mp t e d t o s t e a l c o c a i n e f r o m a s t a s h hous e a nd ki l l a ny drug tr a f f i c ke r s w ho w e r e pr e s e nt , w e c onc l ude tha tL ong h a s n o te s t ab l i s h e d th a tth i s i s o n e o f th e e x c e p t i o n a l l yr a r e c a s e s i n wh i c h we s h o u ld n o t d e f

e rto C o n g r e s s ’s au th o r ityto d e te rm in e th e ap p r o p r ia te p u n is h m e n t. A c c or di ngl y , w e de c i de tha tL ong’ s l i f e s e nt e nc e i s notdi s pr oport i ona t e t o the of f e ns e he c om m i tt e d. C . T h e S e n te n c e s I m p o s e d b y th e D is tr ic t C o u rt a r e R e a s o n ab le F i nal l y, L on g argues thatthe se nt ence s i m po se d b y the di stri ctcourtar e unr e a s onabl e . W e “ m us tf i r s te ns ur e tha tthe di s tr i c tc ourtc om m i tt e d no s i gni f i c a ntpr oc e dur a l e rr or , ” a nd the n w e s houl d “ c ons i de rthe s ubs t a nt i ve re as on abl enes s of the se nt ence i m po se d u nd eran abuse- of-di sc re t i on st andard. ” G a ll v . U n ite d S ta te s , 5 5 2 U .S .____ , ____ , 1 2 8 S . C t. 5 8 6 , 5 9 7 ( 2 0 0 7 ) .

“ S e nt e nc i ng i s atw o s t e p pr oc e s s , r e qui r i ng ( 1) the c orr e c tc a l c ul a t i on of the gu i del i ne rang e and (2) the consi dera t i on of the 18 U . S . C . § 3 55 3(a) fa ct ors. ”9

U ni t e d S t a t e s v . C i s z kow s ki , 492 F . 3d 1264, 1270 ( 1 1th C i r . 2007) ( c i t a t i on o m itte d ) . I n c lu d e d a m o n g th e f a c to r s th a t ad is tr ic t c o u rt m u s t c o n s id e rin f a s hi oni ng ar e a s onabl e s e nt e nc e a r e “ ( 1) the na tur e a nd c i r c um s t a nc e s of the o f f e n s e ” ; ( 2 ) “th e h is to ry a n d c h a r a c te r is tic s o f th e d e f e n d a n t” ; ( 3 ) th e n e e d “to r e f l e c tthe s e r i ous ne s s of

the of f e ns e , t o pr om ot e r e s pe c tf orthe l a w , a nd t o pr ovi de ju s t p u n is h m e n t f

o rth e o f f e n s e ” ; ( 4 ) th e n e e d f

o rd e te rr e n c e ; ( 5 ) th e n e e d “to p r o te c t th e p u b lic ” ; ( 6 ) th e S e n te n c in g G u id e lin e s r a n g e ; a n d ( 7 ) “th e n e e d to a v o id u n w a n te d s e n te n c [ in g ] d is p a r itie s .” 1 8 U .S .C . § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) . T h e d is tr ic t c o u rt is n o t r e q u ir e d to s ta te o n th e r e c o r d th a t it h a s e x p lic itly c o n s id e r e d e a c h o f

th e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f

a c to r s o rto d is c u s s e a c h § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c to r . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. S c ott , 426 F . 3d 1324, 1329 ( 11th C i r . 2005) . I ti s s uf f i c i e nti f the di stri ctcourtac kn ow l edges thati tconsi dere d the § 3 55 3(a) fa ct ors. Id. “ T he fa ct thatthe appel l at e c ou rtm i gh tre as on abl y have c on cl ud ed thata di ff er entse nt ence w a s appr opr i a t e i s i ns uf f i c i e ntt o j us t i f

yr e ve r s a l of

the di s tr i c tc ourt . ” G a l l , ___ U .S . a t _

___ , 1 2 8 S . C t. a t 5 9 7 . W e h a v e n o te d th a t “th e r e is ar a n g e o f r e a s o n ab le s e nt e nc e s f

r om w hi c h the di s tr i c tc ourtm a yc hoos e . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. T a l l e y , 431 F . 3d 78 4, 78 8 (11 th C i r. 20 05 ) ( per c uri am ). T he party c hal l engi ng the se nt ence b e a r s th e b u r d e n o f

e s tab lis h in g th a t th e s e n te n c e w a s u n r e a s o n ab le . I d . U nde r21 U . S . C . §§ 846, 841( a ) , a nd ( b) ( 1) ( A ) , a ny one w ho c ons pi r e s or10

a tt e m pt s 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 ogr a m s orm or e of c oc a i ne a nd ha s tw o orm or e pr i orc onvi c t i ons f orf e l ony drug of

f e ns e s i s t o be s e nt e nc e d t o a m a n d a to ry lif

e s e n te n c e . I n a d d itio n , a n y o n e w h o c a rr ie s af ir e a rm d u r in g a n d in r e l a t i on t o a ny c r i m e of vi ol e nc e ordrug tr a f

f i c ki ng c r i m e s ha l l be s e nt e nc e d t o not l e s s tha n f

i ve y e a r s of

i m pr i s onm e nti n a ddi t i on t o the puni s hm e nta l r e a dy p r o v id e d f

o rth e u n d e r ly in g o f

f e n s e . 1 8 U .S .C . § 9 2 4 ( c ) . F u rth e rm o r e , af e lo n in p o s s e s s io n o f

af ir e a rm m a y b e im p r is o n e d f o rn o m o r e th a n te n y e a r s . 1 8 U .S .C . § 92 4(a) (2). I n thi s c a s e , the di s tr i c tc ourtpr ope r l ys e nt e nc e d L ong. A tthe s e nt e nc i ng hear i ng , the di stri ctcourtexpres sl y r em arked thati thad revi ew ed the § 3 55 3(a) se nt enci ng fa ct ors and foun d thatthe se nt ence s are m andat ed by st atut e and ar e

“ s uf f i c i e nt , butnotgr e a t e rtha n ne c e s s a ryt o c om pl yw i th the s t a tut orypurpos e s of se nt enci ng . ” R 5 at13 . Itca l cul at ed the advi soryG ui del i nes r ange and con si dere d it, a lo n g w ith th e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c to r s , in d e te rm in in g a n ap p r o p r ia te s e n te n c e . L o n g ’s lif

e s e n te n c e s f

o rC o u n ts 1 a n d 2 a n d h is f iv e - y e a rs e n te n c e f

o rC o u n t 3 w e r e th e s ta tu to ry m a n d a to ry m in im u m s e n te n c e s f o rth e o f f e n s e s o f c o n v ic tio n . S e e 18 U . S . C . § 924( c ) ; 21 U . S . C . §§ 841( a ) , ( b) ( 1) ( A ) , a nd 846. L ong c a nnot sh o w th atth ese sen t en ces are u n reaso n ab l e b ecau se h i s co n d u cti n th i s case r e s u l t e d i n as t a tu t o r i l y m a n d a t e d o v e r a l l s e n t e n c e o f l i f e p l u s f i v e y e a r s , a n d we11

c onc l ude tha tthos e s e nt e nc e s a r e r e a s onabl e be c aus e the di s tr i c tc ourtdoe s not h a v e th e au th o r ityto im p o s e as e n te n c e b e lo w th e s ta tu to rym in im u m s e n te n c e . S e e U ni t e d S t a t e s v. S he l t on, 400 F . 3d 1325, 1333 n. 10 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( e m pha s i z i ng tha tpos t - B ooke r , di s tr i c tc ourt s a r e s t i l l bound by s t a tut orym i ni m um se nt ence s) . L on g’ s t en-y ear pri son sent ence for C ou nt5 i s w i thi n the st atut ory s e nt e nc i ng r a nge , though i ti s the hi ghe s ts e nt e nc e author i z e d byC ongr e s s . S e e 18 U . S . C . § 922( g) a nd 924( a ) ( 2) . H ow e ve r , gi ve n L ong’ s c r i m i na l hi s t orya nd the e xtr e m e l e ve l of

vi ol e nc e tha the i nt e nde d t o i nf l i c tdur i ng the c our s e of the p l an n ed arm ed ro b b ery, w e d eci d e th atth i s sen t en ce i s reaso n ab l e. A cco rd i n g l y, w e affi rm L o n g ’ s sen t en ces. I I I . CONCL US I ON L o n g ap p e a ls h is s e n te n c e s o f lif e p lu s f iv e y e a r s im p o s e d f

o llo w in g h is c onvi c t i ons f

orc ons pi r i ng a nd a tt e m pt i ng 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 ogr a m s orm or e of

c oc a i ne ; know i ngl yc a rry i ng af i r e a rm dur i ng a nd i n r e l a t i on to ad ru g tr a f

f ic k in g c r im e ; a n d b e in g af e lo n in p o s s e s s io n o f

af ir e a rm . W e c o n c lu d e th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u rt p r o p e r lyr e lie d u p o n L o n g ’s p r io rc o n v ic tio n s to e nha nc e hi s s e nt e nc e w i thoutr e qui r i ng aj urym a ke f a c tua l f i ndi ngs r e ga r di ng tho se conv i ct i on s, thathi s s ent ence do es no tconst i tut e c ruel and u nu sual pu ni shm ent , and thathi s s ent ence s are re as on abl e. W e di sc ern n o err or.12

AF F I RME D.