Opinion ID: 2674
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Cavera's Sentencing

Text: At sentencing the district court calculated the Guidelines range for Cavera's offense to be 12 to 18 months and a fine of $3,000 to $30,000. However, the court decided to impose a non-Guidelines sentence of 24 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, a $60,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. In a 21-page opinion, the sentencing court explained its rationale for imposing a greater non-Guidelines sentence. Looking at factor (a)(2) of 18 U.S.C. § 3553, which directs the court to consider, inter alia, the seriousness of the offense and the need for deterrence, it reasoned that gun trafficking in an urban environment like New York City requires heavier sentences. United States v. Lucania, 379 F.Supp.2d 288, 293-96 (E.D.N.Y. 2005). The district judge also denied a downward departure for family circumstances noting that Cavera has ample financial resources and five adult children to care for his ill wife. Id. at 292-93. From the resulting judgment of conviction, Cavera timely appealed.