Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Ramon CHATMAN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2009-08-18
Citations: 340 F. App'x 922
Docket Number: No. 09-4061
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Ramon CHATMAN, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before MICHAEL and GREGORY, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 340
Pages: 922–923

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Ramon CHATMAN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 09-4061.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: July 31, 2009.
Decided: Aug. 18, 2009.
Michael E. Archenbronn, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for Appellant. Angela Hewlett Miller, Assistant United States Attorney, Greensboro, North Carolina, for Appellee.
Before MICHAEL and GREGORY, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Opinion:
Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Robert Ramon Chatman appeals from the 120-month sentence imposed following his guilty plea, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to one count of conspiracy to distribute fifty grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (2006). Chatman's counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), asserting that there are no meritorious grounds for appeal, but questioning whether Chatman's sentence was reasonable. Chatman has not filed a pro se brief, although he was informed of his right to do so. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.
Consistent with United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), the district court is required to follow a multi-step process at sentencing. First, it must calculate the proper sentencing range prescribed by the Guidelines. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 128 S.Ct. 586, 596, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007); see also United States v. Abu Ali, 528 F.3d 210, 260 (4th Cir.2008). It must then consider that range in light of the parties' arguments regarding the appropriate sentence and the factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) (2006), before imposing its sentence. Gall, 128 S.Ct. at 596; see also Abu Ali, 528 F.3 at 260.
We review the district comb's sentence for abuse of discretion. Gall, 128 S.Ct. at 591. First, we must ensure the district court did not commit any "significant procedural error," such as failing to properly calculate the advisory Guidelines sentence, consider the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, or adequately explain the sentence. Id. at 597. Once we have determined there is no procedural error, we must consider the substantive reasonableness of the sentence, taking into account the totality of the circumstances. Gall, 128 S.Ct. at 597. If the sentence imposed is within the appropriate Guidelines range, we consider it on appeal to be presumptively reasonable. United States v. Go, 517 F.3d 216, 218 (4th Cir.2008). The presumption may be rebutted by a showing "that the sentence is unreasonable when measured against the § 3553(a) factors." United States v. Montes-Pineda, 445 F.3d 375, 379 (4th Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Our review of the record reveals that the district court considered the Guidelines as advisory and properly calculated Chat-man's applicable Guidelines range, taking into account the ten-year statutory mandatory minimum sentence. Furthermore, Chatman's within-Guidelines sentence is presumptively reasonable on appeal and Chatman has not rebutted that presumption. Critically, because the Government did not move for a downward departure to reflect substantial assistance, the district court had no authority to depart below the mandatory minimum. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e); Melendez v. United States, 518 U.S. 120, 125-26, 116 S.Ct. 2057, 135 L.Ed.2d 427 (1996). Therefore, we find that the district court committed no reversible error in sentencing Chatman to 120 months' imprisonment.
In accordance with Anders, we have reviewed the record in this case and have found no meritorious issues for appeal. We therefore affirm Chatman's conviction and sentence. This court requires that counsel inform Chatman, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Chat-man requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was served on Chatman. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal conclusions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED.