Opinion ID: 3063109
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sentence Recommendations and Objections

Text: The probation office prepared a presentence investigation report (“PSI”). For the firearm possession count (Count Four), the PSI recommended a base offense level of 33 and a total offense level of 39. The PSI noted that the base 9 offense level for firearm possession is governed by § 2K2.1 of the advisory sentencing guidelines. Although § 2K2.1(a) sets the base offense level for firearm possession by a prohibited person, § 2K2.1(c)(1)(A) states that if “the defendant used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with the commission or attempted commission of another offense,” § 2X1.1, governing attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy, should apply if the resulting offense level is greater than the base offense level under § 2K2.1(a). U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(c)(1)(A) (2007). Section 2X1.1(a) provides that the base offense level is the base offense level from the substantive offense that was attempted, solicited, or the object of a conspiracy. The PSI recommended that, based on the shooting at the United States Marshals, the appropriate substantive offense was first-degree attempted murder, which pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A2.1(a)(1) has a base offense level of 33. After applying a six-level enhancement for obstruction of justice, based on Smith’s assault of the marshals, the PSI recommended a total offense level of 39. Because the offense level for the firearm conviction was higher than that for the bank robbery conviction, the PSI recommended that it govern Smith’s sentence. See U.S.S.G. ch. 3, pt. D, introductory cmt. (2009) (stating that, when finding advisory guidelines range for independent instances of assault or robbery, one should “start with the offense level for the most serious count and use the number and severity 10 of additional counts to determine the amount by which to increase that offense level”).3 The PSI calculated that Smith had nine criminal history points, yielding a criminal history category of IV. Smith’s total offense level of 39 and his criminal history category of IV yielded an advisory guidelines range of 360 months’ to life imprisonment. The PSI noted, however, that the statutory maximum for Smith’s bank robbery conviction was 240 months, and the statutory maximum for the firearm possession conviction was 120 months, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(a)(2), 2113(a). Smith objected to the PSI’s enhancement of his offense level for the firearm conviction based on conduct (the shooting) for which he was acquitted. The government sought an additional six-level “official victim” enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3A1.2(c)(1) because the shooting at the time of Smith’s arrest involved law enforcement officers, plus a two-level obstruction of justice enhancement pursuant to § 3C1.1 because Smith asked Jackson to lie about who fired the shots at the marshals. 3 For the bank robbery count, the PSI recommended a base offense level of 20, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(a), a two-level increase under § 2B3.1(b)(1) because property of a financial institution was taken, and a two-level increase under § 2B3.1(b)(2)(F) because a threat of death was made during the robbery when Smith told Gurley he had a weapon. Thus, the PSI recommended a total offense level of 24 for the bank robbery conviction. Because the total offense level for the bank robbery conviction was more than eight levels less than the firearm possession offense level, under § 3D1.4(c) Smith did not receive a multi-count adjustment. 11 After holding an initial hearing on the sentencing issues, the district court issued a written opinion on the parties’ objections to the PSI. As to the enhancement of the firearm offense level based on acquitted shooting conduct under § 2K2.1(c)(1)(A), the district court concluded that: (1) Smith’s arguments that considering the acquitted conduct violated his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights were foreclosed by Eleventh Circuit precedent; (2) the government proved by a preponderance of the evidence that Smith fired the shots at the door when the marshals tried to enter Jackson’s house; (3) the shooting was relevant to the firearm possession conviction because the trial evidence showed Smith possessed the gun only on the evening of his arrest, and thus Smith shot at the marshals during his commission of the offense of conviction; and (4) Smith’s shooting at the marshals did not amount to attempted first-degree murder, as the government argued, but instead amounted to attempted second-degree murder. The district court also concluded that both the six-level official victim enhancement and the two-level obstruction of justice enhancement were appropriate. Smith filed a pro se objection to the PSI’s inclusion of his juvenile conviction under Alabama’s Youthful Offender Act in its calculation of his criminal history points. The government conceded Smith should not have received the three points in his criminal history calculation arising from that conviction, and 12 the district court sustained this objection. The probation office amended the PSI to reflect the district court’s rulings. On the firearm possession conviction, the amended PSI recommended a base offense level of 27, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A2.1(a)(2), governing second-degree murder. It applied the six-level official victim enhancement and the two-level obstruction of justice enhancements, for a total offense level of 35. The amended PSI re-calculated Smith’s criminal history points, yielding a new criminal history category of III. Smith’s total offense level of 35 and criminal history category of III yielded an advisory guidelines range of 210 to 262 months’ imprisonment.