Court Opinion

ID: 2981581
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 19:41:58.934566+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:18:37.361290
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                           File Name: 13a0058n.06

                                        Nos. 11-2563/2578

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                            )                                  FILED
                                                     )                               Jan 11, 2013
       Plaintiff-Appellee,                           )                        DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
                                                     )
v.                                                   )
                                                     )       ON APPEAL FROM THE
WEN ZHANG (No. 11-2563),                             )       UNITED STATES DISTRICT
TENG CHEN (No. 11-2578),                             )       COURT FOR THE WESTERN
                                                     )       DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
       Defendants-Appellants.                        )

       BEFORE: MARTIN, SUHRHEINRICH, and GIBBONS, Circuit Judges.

       PER CURIAM. In this consolidated criminal appeal, Wen Zhang and Teng Chen appeal the

district court’s respective sentences of seventy-nine and ninety-seven months of imprisonment.

       Zhang and Chen pleaded guilty to access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2),

involving 741 access devices. The district court determined that each defendant’s base offense level

was six. The court added six levels because the offense involved 250 or more victims, two levels

because the offense involved sophisticated means, two levels because the offense involved the

possession or use of device-making equipment, and two levels for obstruction of justice. The district

court also added twelve levels under USSG § 2B1.1(b)(1)(G) because the amount of loss was

between $200,000 and $400,000. In calculating the loss amount, the court relied in part on a special

rule set forth in § 2B1.1 cmt. n.3(F)(i) that applies a minimum loss amount of $500 for each access

device. Based on the total offense level of thirty, a criminal history category of I, and a statutory
Nos. 11-2563/11-2578, United States v. Zhang and Chen

maximum sentence of 120 months, the district court determined that the advisory sentencing

guidelines range for each defendant was ninety-seven to 120 months of imprisonment. The court

granted Zhang a downward variance and sentenced him to seventy-nine months of imprisonment.

The court sentenced Chen to ninety-seven months of imprisonment.

        On appeal, Zhang argues that his sentence was procedurally unreasonable because the district

court improperly calculated his guidelines range using the special rule set forth in § 2B1.1 cmt.

n.3(F)(i). Zhang also argues that his sentence was rendered substantively unreasonable by the district

court’s reliance on the special rule. Chen contends that the court’s reliance on the special rule

violated his due process rights because it resulted in an arbitrary loss calculation and denied him a

reasonable opportunity to challenge the amount of loss. Chen also contends that his sentence was

unreasonable because the combination of applicable offense-level enhancements overstated the harm

resulting from his crime and the district court failed to give proper weight to his youth and

background.

        “A district court’s sentencing determination is reviewed under a deferential abuse-of-

discretion standard for reasonableness, which has both a procedural and a substantive component.”

United States v. O’Georgia, 569 F.3d 281, 287 (6th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks omitted).

A sentence is procedurally unreasonable where the district court improperly calculates the guidelines

range. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). “A sentence may be substantively

unreasonable if the district court selects the sentence arbitrarily, bases the sentence on impermissible

factors, fails to consider pertinent [18 U.S.C.] § 3553(a) factors or gives an unreasonable amount of

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Nos. 11-2563/11-2578, United States v. Zhang and Chen

weight to any pertinent factor.” United States v. Vowell, 516 F.3d 503, 510 (6th Cir. 2008) (internal

quotation marks and alterations omitted). We apply a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness to

a within-guidelines sentence. United States v. Vonner, 516 F.3d 382, 389 (6th Cir. 2008) (en banc).

        Zhang’s sentence is both procedurally and substantively reasonable. Despite Zhang’s

argument to the contrary, the district court properly calculated his guidelines range by determining

a loss amount using § 2B1.1 cmt. n.3(F)(i). See United States v. Lyles, Nos. 11-5774, 11-5818, 2012
WL 5907483, at *3 (6th Cir. Nov. 26, 2012). Further, before imposing the sentence, the district

court discussed several relevant sentencing factors that were unfavorable to Zhang, including the

seriousness of the offense, his initial failure to be truthful with authorities, and the need for general

deterrence. The district court also discussed several factors that were favorable to Zhang, including

his lack of criminal history, the short amount of time he was involved in the crime, and his ultimate

cooperation with authorities. Because there is nothing in the record demonstrating that the district

court selected the sentence arbitrarily, failed to consider a pertinent sentencing factor, or gave an

unreasonable amount of weight to any factor, Zhang cannot overcome the presumption that his

below-guidelines sentence was substantively reasonable. See id. at *11.

        Because Chen did not raise his due-process claim in the district court, we review the

argument for plain error. See United States v. Hart, 635 F.3d 850, 858 (6th Cir. 2011), cert. denied,

132 S. Ct. 1001 (2012). The district court’s reliance on the special rule set forth in § 2B1.1 cmt.

n.3(F)(i) did not deprive Chen of a reasonable opportunity to challenge the appropriate amount of

loss for purposes of the sentencing guidelines. In both his sentencing memorandum and at his

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Nos. 11-2563/11-2578, United States v. Zhang and Chen

sentencing hearing, Chen argued that the district court should disregard the special rule and instead

rely on the actual amount of loss. The district court recognized its discretion to disregard the

guidelines. Further, use of the special rule does not result in an arbitrary loss calculation because

the rule rationally attempts to estimate the intended loss amount that is relevant under the guidelines.

See USSG § 2B1.1(b)(1) & cmt. n.3.

        Chen’s sentence was also substantively reasonable. Chen has not shown that his offense-

level enhancements for the number of victims, the sophistication of the crime, the possession or use

of device-making equipment, and the amount of loss either were duplicative, or resulted in a

guidelines range that overstated the impact of his crime. In addition, before imposing the sentence,

the district court acknowledged defense counsel’s arguments concerning Chen’s youth and

background, and discussed pertinent sentencing factors, including the seriousness of the crime, the

fact that Chen was not truthful during grand jury proceedings, and the need to protect the public and

promote deterrence. Under the circumstances, Chen’s assertion that the district court failed to give

proper weight to his youth and background is insufficient to overcome the presumption that his

within-guidelines sentence was reasonable.

        We affirm the district court’s judgments.

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