Opinion ID: 3000920
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Ingram’s Sentence

Text: The district court sentenced Ingram to a total of 660 months’ imprisonment: 600 months’ imprisonment on the conspiracy count to run consecutively with 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm possession count, plus a concurrent term of 120 months’ imprisonment on the felon in possession count. Conceding that his conviction on the conspiracy count qualified him as a career offender under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1, which put him in an advisory guideline range of 360 months to life, he argues that his sentence does not conform to the sentencing factors specified in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). He asserts that his sentence is greater than necessary to comply with the purposes of § 3553(a)(2); that his sentence is disproportionately severe when compared with the average sentence imposed on career offenders sentenced around the country in drug-trafficking cases; and that it is more than is necessary to afford adequate deterrence and to protect the public from him in the future. Our review of the sentencing court’s application of the § 3553(a) sentencing factors is deferential. United States v. Jung, 473 F.3d 837, 844 (7th Cir. 2007). “Post-Booker, a district court must engage in a two-part sentencing procedure: (1) properly calculate the Guidelines sentence; and (2) consider the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) to arrive at a reasonable sentence.” United States v. Holt, 486 F.3d 997, 1004 (7th Cir. 2007). The district court is not required to make findings as to each § 3553(a) factor; instead, “[i]t is enough that the record confirms meaningful consideration of the types of factors that § 3553(a) identifies.” United States v. Laufle, 433 F.3d 981, 987 (7th Cir. 2006). “[A]ny sentence that is properly calculated under the Guidelines is entitled to a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness.” United States v. Mykytiuk, 415 F.3d 606, 608 (7th Cir. 2005). See Rita v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 127 S. Ct. 2456 (June 18 Nos. 05-3303 and 05-3336 21, 2007) (noting that the presumption of reasonableness applies only on appellate review). In this case, the record shows that the district court considered carefully the § 3553(a) factors, cogently explaining its reasoning for the sentence imposed: “The offense was a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 20-kilograms of cocaine, to distribute that material in the community where it tears up individual lives, families and neighborhoods . . . . The conspiracy was to go forward and obtain this material with guns.” The district court noted that the offense was not even a typical drug distribution conspiracy: “This was a conspiracy to engage in conduct that was far more dangerous to carry out, an armed robbery of victims who in all likelihood would themselves be armed.” Had the robbery been what Ingram and his co-conspirators expected, the district court explained, “[c]hances are that this robbery would have launched further retaliation and further violence in the community. . . .” The district court also explained that Ingram was an organizer and leader of the conspiracy and his long criminal record showed “violence, abuse, bullying of those who are weaker and not armed. They show someone who has no respect for the law, civilization that binds us together, someone who is constantly making threats.” Comparing Ingram’s sentence with the sentences of the other defendants, the district court recognized that Ingram’s sentence was heavier but justified by his role as leader and organizer, his more serious criminal history, and his failure to accept responsibility for his actions, which four of his co-conspirators did. The district court further justified the sentence, explaining that the most important factors in arriving at the sentence were the need to protect the public from future crimes committed by Ingram and the need to deter him and others from future criminal conduct. We are satisfied with the disNos. 05-3303 and 05-3336 19 trict court’s consideration of the § 3553(a) factors in imposing Ingram’s sentence and will not disturb its ruling.