Opinion ID: 166542
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mandatory Sentencing

Text: In this case, the district court applied the applicable Guidelines range of 151 to 188 months imprisonment, and imposed a 188-month sentence. We consider whether the district court committed a non-constitutional Booker error by mandatorily applying the Sentencing Guidelines, which we review for plain error, given Mr. Mohammed failed to raise it before the district court. See United States v. Gonzalez-Huerta, 403 F.3d 727, 732 (10th Cir.), petition for cert. filed, (U.S. Sep. 6, 2005) (No. 05-6407). “Plain error occurs when there is (1) error, (2) that is plain, which (3) affects substantial rights, and which (4) seriously affects the -12- fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted). In reviewing Mr. Mohammed’s sentence, it is clear the first two factors in our plain error analysis occurred, because the district court sentenced him under a mandatory sentencing scheme. Id. In reviewing the third factor, as to whether the error affected substantial rights, the burden is on Mr. Mohammed to show the error is prejudicial; i.e., the error “‘must have affected the outcome of the district court proceedings.’” Id. (citations omitted). In meeting this burden, he must show “‘a reasonable probability that, but for the error claimed, the result of the proceeding would have been different.’” Id. at 733 (citation omitted). Mr. Mohammed can meet this burden by demonstrating a reasonable probability that, under the specific facts of the case as analyzed under the sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), the district court would reasonably impose a sentence outside the Guidelines range. See United States v. Dazey, 403 F.3d 1147, 1175 (10th Cir. 2005). In Dazey, we explained a defendant might make such a showing “if during sentencing the district court expressed its view that the defendant’s conduct, based on the record, did not warrant the minimum Guidelines sentence.” Id. We have said “a defendant can show a non-constitutional Booker error affected substantial rights with evidence of (1) a disconnect between the § 3553(a) factors -13- and his sentence, and (2) the district court’s expressed dissatisfaction with the mandatory Guidelines sentence in his case.” United States v. Clifton, 406 F.3d 1173, 1181 (10th Cir. 2005). In this case, nothing in the record indicates the district court would impose a lesser sentence under an advisory, rather than a mandatory, sentencing scheme. The district court sentenced Mr. Mohammed at the high end of the sentencing range at 188 months, declined his subsequent request to reduce it to the low end of that range at 151 months, and did not otherwise express a view his conduct warranted a lesser sentence. The fact the district court imposed a sentence at the top of the Guidelines range, even though it could have sentenced him anywhere within that range, supports our conclusion Mr. Mohammed has failed to meet his burden of showing the district court would impose a lesser sentence under an advisory Guidelines scheme. See United States v. Ambort, 405 F.3d 1109, 1121 (10th Cir. 2005). Thus, he fails to establish “‘a reasonable probability that, but for the error claimed, the result of the proceeding would have been different.’” Id. at 1118 (quotation marks and citations omitted). -14-