Court Opinion

ID: 867129
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-05-10 14:55:25.234735+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:26:37.167686
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-15332   Date Filed: 05/10/2013   Page: 1 of 6

                                                        [DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                       ________________________

                             No. 12-15332
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                       ________________________

                D.C. Docket No. 2:11-cr-00119-JES-DNF-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

FELIX ALBERTO BERNAL,
a.k.a. Chiparro,

                                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

                Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Middle District of Florida
                      ________________________

                              (May 10, 2013)

Before TJOFLAT, MARCUS and PRYOR, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
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      Felix Alberto Bernal appeals his 135-month total sentence, imposed after

pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute,

methamphetamine (Count 1) and possessing with intent to distribute, and

distributing methamphetamine (Count 2). On appeal, Bernal argues that: (1) his

sentence was unreasonable because the district court failed to consider any 18

U.S.C. § 3553(a) factor except the advisory guideline range; and (2) the court

improperly considered Bernal’s lack of candor during his safety-valve debriefing

and before the court, thus unfairly punishing him for unsuccessfully seeking

safety-valve relief. After thorough review, we affirm.

      We review the sentence a district court imposes for “reasonableness,” which

“merely asks whether the trial court abused its discretion.” United States v. Pugh,

515 F.3d 1179, 1189 (11th Cir. 2008) (quoting Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338,

351 (2007)). However, we review de novo whether a district court considered an

impermissible factor. United States v. Clay, 483 F.3d 739, 743 (11th Cir. 2007).

      In reviewing sentences for reasonableness, we perform two steps. Pugh, 515

F.3d at 1190. First, we “‘ensure that the district court committed no significant

procedural error, such as failing to calculate (or improperly calculating) the

Guidelines range, treating the Guidelines as mandatory, failing to consider the §

3553(a) factors, selecting a sentence based on clearly erroneous facts, or failing to

adequately explain the chosen sentence -- including an explanation for any

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deviation from the Guidelines range.’” Id. (quoting Gall v. United States, 552 U.S.

38, 51 (2007)).1 A district court may consider “any information concerning the

background, character and conduct of the defendant, unless otherwise prohibited

by law.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.4; see 18 U.S.C. § 3661 (providing that a sentencing

court may consider the defendant’s background, character, and conduct).

       If we conclude that the district court did not procedurally err, we consider

the “‘substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed under an abuse-of-

discretion standard,’” based on the “‘totality of the circumstances.’” Pugh, 515

F.3d at 1190 (quoting Gall, 552 U.S. at 51). Applying “deferential” review, we

must determine “whether the sentence imposed by the district court fails to achieve

the purposes of sentencing as stated in section 3553(a).” United States v. Talley,

431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005). “[W]e will not second guess the weight (or

lack thereof) that the [court] accorded to a given factor ... as long as the sentence

ultimately imposed is reasonable in light of all the circumstances presented.”

United States v. Snipes, 611 F.3d 855, 872 (11th Cir. 2010) (quotation, alteration

and emphasis omitted), cert. denied, 131 S.Ct. 2962 (2011). We will “vacate the

1
        The § 3553(a) factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the
history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the
seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the
offense; (3) the need for the sentence imposed to afford adequate deterrence; (4) the need to
protect the public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with educational or vocational training
or medical care; (6) the kinds of sentences available; (7) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (8) the
pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (9) the need to avoid unwanted
sentencing disparities; and (10) the need to provide restitution to victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
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sentence if, but only if, we are left with the definite and firm conviction that the

district court committed a clear error of judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors

by arriving at a sentence that lies outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated

by the facts of the case.” United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160, 1190 (11th Cir.

2010) (en banc) (quotation omitted), cert. denied, 131 S. Ct. 1813 (2011).

      The party challenging the sentence bears the burden to show it is

unreasonable. United States v. Tome, 611 F.3d 1371, 1378 (11th Cir.), cert.

denied, 131 S.Ct. 674 (2010). While we do not automatically presume a sentence

falling within the guideline range to be reasonable, we ordinarily expect that

sentence to be reasonable. Talley, 431 F.3d at 788. A sentence imposed well

below the statutory maximum penalty is another indicator of reasonableness. See

United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir. 2008) (holding that the

sentence was reasonable in part because it was well below the statutory maximum).

Though the court is required to consider all the factors contained within § 3553(a),

it need not necessarily reference or discuss each one. Talley, 431 F.3d at 786.

      First, Bernal fails to show that his sentence was procedurally unreasonable.

The court addressed each of Bernal’s arguments regarding his sentencing and said

that it had considered the policy goals and factors encompassed within § 3553(a).

So although the court did not address each § 3553(a) factor, its acknowledgement

that it had, indeed, considered all of these factors was sufficient. See id. Further,

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Bernal’s lack of candor at his safety-valve debriefing and sentencing hearing was

evidence of his character and conduct and, thus, not an improper consideration for

sentencing purposes. See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.4. And in any event, his lack of candor

is properly considered as part of his history and characteristics. 18 U.S.C. §

3553(a)(1). As for Bernal’s claim that he was punished for attempting to comply

with the debriefing requirements in obtaining a safety-valve reduction, he claims

no error in the district court’s finding that he was not truthful.

      Nor has Bernal demonstrated that his sentence was substantively

unreasonable. To the extent that Bernal is objecting to the court’s weighing of the

§ 3553(a) factors, his argument fails. First, the weight given to any specific §

3553(a) factor is committed to the sound discretion of the district court. Clay, 483

F.3d at 743. Moreover, Bernal’s lack of candor at his debriefing and before the

court was relevant to evaluating his “history and characteristics,” and we will not

second guess the district court’s judgment regarding the appropriate weight to give

a § 3553(a) factor. Snipes, 611 F.3d at 872; 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1). Because

Bernal’s sentence was within the applicable guideline range, we would ordinarily

expect the sentence to be reasonable. Talley, 431 F.3d at 788. Finally, Bernal’s

135-month sentence (equivalent to 11.25 years) was substantially below the

statutory maximums for both Counts One and Two, life and 40 years respectively,

yet another indicator of reasonableness. See Gonzalez, 550 F.3d at 1324.

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AFFIRMED.

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