Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jason Steven SPRAGUE, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-05-31
Citations: 132 F. App'x 539
Docket Number: No. 03-41733
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jason Steven SPRAGUE, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 132
Pages: 539–540

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jason Steven SPRAGUE, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 03-41733.
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided May 31, 2005.
Traci Lynne Kenner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas, Tyler, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
Garland Don Cardwell, Munson, Mun-son, Pierce & Cardwell, Sherman, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before REAVLEY, JOLLY and HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Jason Steven Sprague appeals appeal his sentence of 405 months of imprisonment following his guilty plea to one count of racketeering activity under the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering (ITAR), and one count of conspiring to transport illegal aliens. The district court determined Sprague's base offense level by using the offense level for second degree murder. The district court also increased Sprague's offense level for the special circumstances of vulnerable victims, use of special skill, and restraint of victims. United States v. Dock, 293 F.Supp.2d 704 (E.D.Tex.2003).
Sprague attacks the district court's determination of his base offense level and each enhancement. Sprague has not shown that the district court erred in determining his base offense level. United States v. Posadar-Rios, 158 F.3d 832, 855-56, 880-81 (5th Cir.1998). Sprague has not shown that the district court clearly erred in finding that Sprague's victims were vulnerable. Sprague has not shown that the district court was clearly erroneous in finding that he used a special skill to commit the offense. United States v. Deville, 278 F.3d 500, 508 (5th Cir.2002). Sprague has not shown that the district court clearly erred in finding that Sprague restrained his victims. United States v. Huerta, 182 F.3d 361, 364 (5th Cir.1999).
Sprague argues that his sentence was unconstitutional under Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004). While Sprague's appeal was pending, United States v. Booker, -U.S.-,---, 125 S.Ct. 738, 755-56, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), held Blakely applicable to the federal sentencing guidelines. Sprague filed a supplemental letter brief arguing the applicability of Booker to his sentence. Because the Blakely/Booker issue was not raised in the district court, review is for plain error only. United States v. Mares, 402 F.3d 511, 520-21 (5th Cir.2005), petition for cert. filed, No. 04-9517 (U.S. Mar. 31, 2005).
To show that the error affected substantial rights, Sprague must show that the error "affected the outcome of the district court proceedings," i.e., "that the sentencing judge — sentencing under an. advisory scheme rather than a mandatory one— would have reached a significantly different result." Mares, 402 F-.3d at 520-21. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In this case, the district court stated the reasons for imposing the enhancements in a published opinion. See Dock, 293 F.Supp.2d at 706-15. Sprague does not suggest and the record gives no indication that the court would have reached a significantly different result had it been aware that the guidelines were discretionary. Mares, 402 F.3d at 521. Sprague has not carried his burden of proving that his substantial rights were affected and, therefore, cannot show plain error.
AFFIRMED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.