Opinion ID: 546890
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: benitez's sentence

Text: 57 Benitez contends that the twenty-year sentence he received for his conviction on Count Three was excessive in comparison to the sentences of his co-defendants. We note at the outset that because the events in question occurred in February and March 1987, the Sentencing Guidelines, which are applicable to crimes committed after November 1, 1987, do not govern here. See Pub.L. No. 98-473, Sec. 235, as amended, reprinted at 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3551 note (1988) (effective date of Guidelines). In a pre-Guidelines case, the sentencing judge has very broad discretion in determining the appropriate punishment in a particular situation. Williams v. Illinois, 399 U.S. 235, 243, 90 S.Ct. 2018, 2023, 26 L.Ed.2d 586 (1970). An appellate court will ordinarily not review a sentence unless it exceeds statutory limits or is so disproportionate to the offense for which it was imposed that it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. United States v. Francesco, 725 F.2d 817, 823 (1st Cir.1984); see also United States v. Bernal, 884 F.2d 1518, 1520 (1st Cir.1989). Furthermore, a defendant is not entitled to a lighter sentence merely because his co-defendants received lighter sentences. United States v. Bernal, 884 F.2d at 1520; Gregory v. United States, 585 F.2d 548, 550 (1st Cir.1978); see also United States v. Ibern-Maldonado, 823 F.2d 698, 699 (1st Cir.1987) (sentencing court's imposition of longer sentence on defendant did not demonstrate judicial vindictiveness). 58 The statutory penalty for Benitez's crime, conspiracy to import cocaine, is a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years and not more than life ..., a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $4,000,000 ..., or both. 21 U.S.C. Sec. 960(b)(1) (1988). While a twenty-year term of imprisonment is lengthy, it is within these limits. Furthermore, it is in line with defendant's role in the conspiracy. By introducing the pilot Martinez to Gomez, Benitez made possible not only the initial plan to fly cocaine from Colombia to Puerto Rico but also the subsequent marijuana importation scheme. While it is true that Benitez's sentence for Count Three, the only count with which he was charged and convicted, is longer than the sentences of his co-conspirators on the same count, 9 it does not exceed the statutory limit and does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.