Opinion ID: 180585
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bruce Rainey’s Sentence

Text: With a criminal history category of V, an offense level of 33, and an advisory guideline range of 210 to 262 months, Bruce Rainey was sentenced to 210 months in prison. He argues that the district court erred procedurally and substantively in sentencing by failing to consider the applicable § 3553(a) factors. As with George Rainey, his argument is based primarily on the court’s decision not to treat the crack cocaine/powder cocaine disparity as a mitigating factor. Nos. 09‐2834, 09‐2854, 09‐2912, 09‐3565, and 09‐3589 Page 9 With respect to the other applicable § 3553(a) factors, the judge noted that, having considered the seriousness of the crime, the defendant’s criminal record, and the § 3553(a) factors, as well as mitigating circumstances presented in the sentencing memorandum, he did not find convincing the argument for a below‐guideline sentence. “I just disagree with you and I choose not to [impose a below‐guideline sentence] because I believe that that kind of sentence is really not warranted under the facts and circumstances of this case.” B. Rainey Sent. Tr. 32. Bruce Rainey argues on appeal that the court erred by not considering his struggles growing up in a family dependent on drugs for survival and on a reservation. He also argues that the court should have considered and commented on his efforts to step away from his family and drugs. We find these arguments unconvincing. The judge simply disagreed that a lower sentence was warranted in this case. The judge’s dialogue with counsel and his statements that he considered the relevant factors show that he gave thoughtful consideration to the sentence, and we find the statements acknowledging the § 3553(a) factors sufficient.