Opinion ID: 31651
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: Our review of a sentence under the guidelines is “confined to determining whether a sentence was imposed in violation of law or as a result of an incorrect application of the sentencing guidelines.” United States v. Shipley, 963 F.2d 56, 58 (5th Cir. 1992). Further, we apply an abuse of discretion standard to the district court’s decision to depart upward and will “affirm a departure from the Guidelines ‘if the district court offers acceptable reasons for the departure and the departure is reasonable.’” See United States v. Ashburn, 38 F.3d 803, 807 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc)(quoting United States v. Lambert, 984 F.2d 658, 663 (5th Cir. 1993) (en banc)).