Opinion ID: 70089
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Trial, Directed Verdict and First Appeal

Text: A federal grand jury charged Barriera-Vera with: (1) robbing the Florida Central Credit Union in Brandon, Florida on June 2, 2006, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d) (Count 1); (2) brandishing a handgun during that June 2 robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count 2); (3) attempting to rob a Florida Central Credit Union in Lakeland, Florida on June 28, 2006, in violation of § 2113(a), (d) (Count 3); and (4) carrying and attempting to use a handgun during that June 28 attempted robbery, in violation of § 924(c) (Count 4). After a trial, the jury found Barriera-Vera guilty on all four counts. The district court adjudicated Barriera-Vera guilty on Counts 1 and 2. However, the district court granted Barriera-Vera’s motion for a judgment of 3 acquittal on Counts 3 and 4, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support those convictions. At sentencing, the district court imposed a mid-range sentence of 57 months’ imprisonment on Count 1 followed by the statutory mandatory minimum, consecutive 7-year (84-month) sentence on Count 2, for a total of 141 months’ imprisonment. The government appealed, and Barriera-Vera cross-appealed. This Court reinstated the jury verdicts on Counts 3 and 4, affirmed as to Barriera-Vera’s grounds for cross-appeal, and remanded for resentencing. See United States v. Barriera-Vera, No. 07-13908 (11th Cir. Dec. 15, 2008).