Opinion ID: 1254151
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Review for Procedural Reasonableness

Text: Review for procedural reasonableness is a three-step inquiry. An appellate court must determine whether the district court: (1) properly calculated the applicable advisory Guidelines range; (2) considered the other § 3553(a) factors as well as the parties' arguments for a sentence outside the Guidelines range; and (3) adequately articulated its reasoning for imposing the particular sentence chosen, including any rejection of the parties' arguments for an outside-Guidelines sentence and any decision to deviate from the advisory Guidelines range. United States v. Bolds, 511 F.3d 568, 581 (6th Cir.2007). Roller argues that his sentence was procedurally unreasonable and that the district court improperly calculated the Guidelines range because the district court considered acquitted conduct in determining the base offense level and erroneously applied a four-level leadership enhancement. [15] Roller also asserts that the district court impermissibly considered the role of public corruption in the conspiracy (which, Roller argues, was only attributed to Young). Roller further argues that the district court impermissibly considered that Roller would have had a criminal record but for the fact that the jury in Roller's state trial failed to reach a verdict. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by considering improper factors. The district court mentioned public corruption, but it did so in the context of considering how Roller's sentence would promote respect for the law, one of the factors a court must consider when imposing a sentence. J.A. at 1607 (Sent'g Tr. at 54); 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)(2)(A). Immediately before the district court mentioned the fact that Roller had escaped judgment in the state court, the district court also stated that Roller's lack of a criminal history was a favorable factor. J.A. at 1608 (Sent'g Tr. at 55). In this context, it does not seem that the district court used Roller's prior brush with the law against him or that the district court abused its discretion by mentioning this prior trial. The district court's sentencing decisions relating to Roller (as well as Young) specifically mentioned the § 3553(a) factors that led the district court to select their sentences. The district court's sentencing decisions referenced specific evidence from trial and the § 3553(a) factors that it found critical. The district court also specifically mentioned the mitigating evidence that Roller had presented, and noted that it believed that Roller had a good side that had been overshadowed by his bad role in a drug conspiracy. Given the district judge's explanations for the sentences it imposed and the deferential standard of review, we conclude that the district judge did not commit any significant errors and that Roller's sentence should not be overturned for procedural unreasonableness.