Opinion ID: 152379
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Carrillo's Claims on Appeal

Text: Carrillo maintains the district court erred by (1) conducting an improper Guidelines calculation, and (2) considering inappropriate and irrelevant factors. We review the district court's sentence for an abuse of discretion. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S.Ct. 586, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). In conducting our review, we must first determine whether the district court committed a significant procedural error, such as miscalculating the Guidelines range, treating the Guidelines as mandatory, or selecting a sentence based on clearly erroneous facts. Id. If we find the district court's sentence is procedurally sound, we next consider whether it is substantively reasonable. Id. We may find the district court abused its discretion if the court fails to consider a relevant factor, gives significant weight to an improper or irrelevant factor, or commits a clear error of judgment when weighing the appropriate factors. See United States v. Haack, 403 F.3d 997, 1004 (8th Cir.2005). Based upon Carrillo's total offense level of 43 and criminal history category III, the advisory Guidelines recommended a sentence of life imprisonment. The district court noted the government charged Carrillo with conspiracy to commit money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), which has a maximum sentence of 20 years. This resulted in a Guidelines range of 240 months imprisonment. The district court then examined the government's motion for a downward departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 for Carrillo's substantial assistance. Carrillo contends the district court used the wrong Guidelines range as a starting point when calculating the appropriate downward departure, and the district court's discussion of his potential sentence of life imprisonment demonstrates the district court erred in its calculation. We disagree. The district court recognized with the statutory cap in place, that the point of departure to be considered is the 240 months statutory cap and not what the guidelines would have otherwise been. The court continued its analysis with a lengthy discussion of the benefit Carrillo received from his plea agreement and the government's decision to charge him under a statute with a statutory cap well below his otherwise applicable Guidelines range. The district court instructed, in some situations, one might consider a sentence of 360 months imprisonment to be the equivalent of a life sentence. The district court explained, under that theory, Carrillo already received the benefit of a six-level reduction from the government's charging decision. The district court contemplated whether, in light of the benefit Carrillo already received, it would be appropriate to grant the government's U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 motion. The district court then decided to grant the government's motion for a 12-month downward departure, resulting in a Guidelines range of 228 to 240 months. The district court used the proper starting point240 monthsfor calculating an appropriate downward departure. Further, the district court did not consider an inappropriate or irrelevant factor by considering the benefit Carrillo received from the government's charging decision. See United States v. Carnes, 945 F.2d 1013, 1014 (8th Cir.1991) (holding it was within the district court's discretionwhen determining the extent of a downward departure pursuant to the government's U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 motionto weigh the assistance the defendant provided the prosecution against the benefit the defendant received from the prosecution's decision not to press an additional charge). Carrillo's within Guidelines sentence is both procedurally sound and substantively reasonable. See Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 347, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007) (holding a court of appeals may apply a presumption of reasonableness to a district court sentence that reflects a proper application of the Guidelines).