Case Name: UNITED STATES of America v. Mark WAGEMANN, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2008-05-21
Citations: 278 F. App'x 153
Docket Number: No. 07-1350
Parties: UNITED STATES of America v. Mark WAGEMANN, Appellant.
Judges: Before: McKEE and GARTH, Circuit Judges, and RODRIGUEZ, District Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 278
Pages: 153–155

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America v. Mark WAGEMANN, Appellant.
No. 07-1350.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) May 15, 2008.
Filed: May 21, 2008.
Roberta Benjamin, Roberta Benjamin, Office of United States Attorney, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellee.
Paul A. Sarmousakis, Avalon, NJ, for Appellant.
Before: McKEE and GARTH, Circuit Judges, and RODRIGUEZ, District Judge.
The Honorable Joseph H. Rodriguez, Senior District Judge for the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, sitting by designation.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
RODRIGUEZ, District Judge.
Defendant Mark Wagemann appeals his conviction and judgment of sentence. We have jurisdiction over the case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Wagemann's attorney has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel and has submitted a brief under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967). Wagemann did not file a pro se brief. We will affirm.
I.
Beginning on November 2, 2005 and continuing until his December 16, 2005 arrest, from his home in Missouri, Wagemann corresponded via computer with an undercover FBI agent posing as a fourteen year old girl from Philadelphia. Using instant messaging, e-mail, and telephone, he arranged to meet the female individual for sex. Wagemann was arrested in Philadelphia and held without bail. He was indicted on March 9, 2006, charged with using interstate communications to seduce a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) and with travel and attempt to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b). Facing a maximum sentence of sixty years imprisonment, Wagemann pled guilty to both counts of the indictment without a plea agreement on May 31, 2006. Although Wagemann's guideline range was calculated at 46-57 months, he was sentenced to sixty months, the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment provided by 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), as well as five years of supervised release, a fine of $10,000 and a special assessment of $200.
II.
Third Circuit Local Appellate Rule 109.2(a) provides: "[wjhere, upon review of the district court record, trial counsel is persuaded that the appeal presents no issue of even arguable merit, trial counsel may file a motion to withdraw and supporting brief pursuant to Anders v. California . " Our inquiry when counsel submits an Anders brief is "twofold: (1) whether counsel adequately fulfilled the rule's requirements; and (2) whether an independent review of the record presents any nonfrivolous issues." United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir.2001). In the Anders brief, Appellant contends that the mandatory minimum sentence of sixty months required by 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) is unconstitutional.
In United States v. Kellum, we rejected the argument that a district court has authority under 18 U.S.C. § 3558(a) to impose a sentence below the statutory minimum even if it believes the statutory minimum is greater than necessary to achieve the goals of sentencing. 356 F.3d 285, 289 (3d Cir.2004). The two narrow exceptions in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e) and (f) are "the only authority a district court has to depart below a mandatory minimum sentence...." Id. Neither is applicable here.
We are guided further by the requirement that we grant "substantial deference to the broad authority that legislatures necessarily possess in determining the types and limits of punishments for crimes," United States v. Walker, 473 F.3d 71, 76 (3d Cir.2007). In addition, we have "squarely addressed and rejected the argument that mandatory sentences violate the doctrine of separation of powers and the Due Process Clause." Id. (citing United States v. MacEwan, 445 F.3d 237 (3d Cir.2006)).
Other circuits specifically have found that the minimum sentence mandated by section 2422(b) does not violate the separation of powers doctrine. See, e.g., United States v. Gagliardi, 506 F.3d 140, 148 (2d Cir.2007). Nor is 18 U.S.C. § 2242(b) unconstitutionally vague or overbroad. Id.; United States v. Tykarsky, 446 F.3d 458, 472-73 (3d Cir.2006) (also finding 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) constitutional in face of Commerce Clause challenge); United States v. Thomas, 410 F.3d 1235, 1244 (10th Cir.2005); United States v. Dhingra, 371 F.3d 557, 563 (9th Cir.2004); United States v. Panfil, 338 F.3d 1299, 1301 (11th Cir.2003); United States v. Bailey, 228 F.3d 637, 639 (6th Cir.2000).
In addition, Wagemann's Due Process challenge is without merit. Through the Presentence Report and the applicable statute, Wagemann had notice of both the factual predicate and the potential punishment of his crime. At the time, 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) provided for a "fine . and imprison[ment of] not less than 5 years and not more than 30 years." 18 U.S.C. § 2242(b) (2006). See also United States v. Ausburn, 502 F.3d 313 (3d Cir.2007) (rejecting a due process challenge to a 144-month sentence for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), but vacating and remanding because the district court did not provide a statement of reasons sufficient for circuit to review for reasonableness).
Finally, the mandatory sentence imposed is not grossly disproportionate to the gravity of Wagemann's offenses so as to bring it within the purview of the Eighth Amendment's proportionality principle. See United States v. Munro, 394 F.3d 865, 873 (10th Cir.2005) (considering the seriousness of attempted sexual abuse of a child, five-year mandatory minimum sentence for using the Internet in attempt to persuade minor to engage in sexual acts is not so grossly disproportionate to the crime as to constitute "cruel and unusual punishment," even for first offense). Our review of the record reveals, as Appellant's counsel contends, there are no non-frivolous issues. We therefore affirm the conviction and judgment of sentence. Defense counsel's motion to withdraw is granted.
. Wagemann's counsel did not move for departure or variance from the calculated guidelines, nor was a motion ever filed attacking the constitutionality of the statutes charged in the indictment or the mandatory minimum penalty provided by statute.
. "The duties of counsel when preparing an Anders brief are (1) to satisfy the court that counsel has thoroughly examined the record in search of appealable issues, and (2) to explain why the issues are frivolous." United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir.2001). "An appeal on a matter of law is frivolous where none of the legal points are arguable on their merits." Id. at 301.
. The statute has since been amended to provide a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life. See Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act of 2006, Pub.L. No. 109-248, § 203, 120 Stat. 587, 613 (July 27, 2006).