Opinion ID: 658545
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Explanations for Sentences Within Range Exceeding 24 Months

Text: 179 Finally, Rosa and Lopez contend that the district court failed to explain the reasons for their sentences as required by 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(c). That section requires that when a defendant is sentenced within a Guidelines range that spans more than 24 months, the sentencing court must state its reasons for the imprisonment period chosen within that range. We have interpreted this provision to require the sentencing judge to articulate a reason that demonstrates that he thoughtfully discharged his statutory obligation, with a degree of care appropriate to the severity of the punishment ultimately selected. United States v. Chartier, 933 F.2d 111, 117 (2d Cir.1991). It is sufficient for the court to advert to a given factor or factors in selecting a point within the range. See, e.g., United States v. Lopez, 937 F.2d 716, 728-29 (2d Cir.1991) (statement that though court would not depart on ground of defendant's attempt to mislead probation department, it would take that attempt into account in selecting sentence within the Guidelines range, was sufficient); United States v. Rivera, 971 F.2d 876, 895 (2d Cir.1992) (description of defendant as very violent and very dangerous and statement that his criminal history category did not appear to reflect adequately the seriousness of his past conduct or the likelihood of recidivism, followed by statement that court had chosen top of Guidelines range for the reasons I indicated, was sufficient). On the other hand, it is not sufficient for the court to stat[e] simply, 'I have considered everything.'  United States v. Zackson, 6 F.3d 911, 923 (2d Cir.1993). Nor is it sufficient for the court to indicate only why it has not sentenced at the bottom of a greater-than-24-month range without indicating why it has sentenced at the top. See United States v. Chartier, 933 F.2d at 117. 180 We conclude that the court adequately stated reasons as to Lopez but not as to Rosa. With respect to Lopez, the Guidelines recommended a range of 324-405 months' imprisonment, and the government sought an upward departure, noting (a) that though Lopez was not charged in the indictment with having obtained weapons unlawfully, the evidence showed he had done so, and (b) that Lopez was charged in the indictment with only some of the acts of violence that the trial evidence showed he had committed. At Lopez's sentencing hearing, the district court stated that it had heard and believed the evidence presented at trial, including that recounted by the government in its presentations with regard to sentencing. After adverting in particular to evidence that Lopez had, inter alia, supplied weapons to Organization members and participated in near-murderous acts of violence as disciplinary measures, the court stated that it would not depart upward, but that [i]n light of all the evidence I am going to sentence your client to the top end of the range. (Lopez Sentencing Transcript, October 25, 1991, at 22.) We conclude that the court sufficiently stated its reasons for selecting the point within the Guidelines range. 181 With respect to Rosa, however, for whom the Guidelines recommended a range of 360 months to life imprisonment, the court's statements were minimal. Rosa's attorney Charles Donovan urged the court to sentence Rosa at the bottom of the Guidelines range. The government urged the court to note the Organization's size, profitability, and history of murders and violent beatings and to note that Rosa had maintained his position as a lieutenant under three of the Organization's leaders. The AUSA concluded, It is for that extraordinary role that Mr. Rosa should be adequately punished. The court stated, I don't see any mitigating circumstances here, Mr. Donovan. I am going to sentence him to the maximum permitted by the guidelines.... (Rosa Sentencing Transcript, November 1, 1991, at 5.) Unlike the statements made at the Lopez sentencing hearing, the court at Rosa's hearing did not expressly adopt the government's description of Rosa's role, or refer to any specific aspect of Rosa's behavior, or advert to any or all of the evidence at trial. And though the statement that there were no mitigating circumstances explained the court's rejection of Rosa's plea for a sentence of 360 months, it did not explain why the court did not sentence him at some point in the range that was between the bottom and the top. We conclude that the court's reason for sentencing Rosa at the top of the Guidelines range was not explained sufficiently to comply with Sec. 3553(c).