Opinion ID: 2802975
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: McGinn’s Sentence

Text: We review sentences under a “deferential abuse-of-discretion standard” for procedural and substantive reasonableness. United States v. Cavera, 550 F.3d 180, 189 (2d Cir. 2008). We review a district court's interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and its findings of fact for clear error. United States v. Mejia, 461 F.3d 158, 162 (2d Cir. 2006). To impose a procedurally reasonable sentence, a district court must (1) determine the applicable Guidelines range, (2) consider the Guidelines and other section 3553(a) factors and (3) 19 No. 13-3164-cr determine whether to impose a Guidelines or a non-Guidelines sentence. United States v. Villafuerte, 502 F.3d 204, 206-07 (2d Cir. 2007). A sentence is substantively unreasonable only if it “cannot be located within the range of permissible decisions,” Cavera, 550 F.3d at 189, and would “damage the administration of justice” because it was shockingly high or low or not legally supportable, United States v. Rigas, 583 F.3d 108, 123 (2d Cir. 2009). McGinn argues that his sentence was procedurally unreasonable because the district court made erroneous factual findings as to loss calculation; the specific offense characteristics of the Guidelines impose cumulative punishments and disproportionately emphasize loss amount; and the district court failed to adequately consider the section 3553(a) factors. Our examination of the record, however, indicates that the district court had reviewed the Pre-Sentence Investigation Report (“PSR”), considered all of the sentencing submissions, and correctly applied the Guidelines. The court adopted the PSR’s calculations of loss amounts, and, consistent with those calculations, did not hold McGinn accountable for total investor losses. Moreover, the district court appropriately took into account the fact that, for years, McGinn had run MS&C with little apparent regard for the legality of his conduct and that he continued to lack contrition. Thus, we see no basis for concluding that the district court failed to adequately consider the section 3553(a) factors or otherwise fashioned a sentence that was procedurally unreasonable. Finally, McGinn argues that his sentence was substantively unreasonable. We see no merit to this contention. Notably, he received a sentence of 180 months, a sentence that was significantly lower than his Guidelines range of 210 to 262 months. In any event, we cannot say that the sentence the district court imposed was unreasonable in view of the large number of investors who were 20 No. 13-3164-cr defrauded, the large amounts of money that they lost, and the lengthy time period during which his sophisticated criminal activity was ongoing.