Court Opinion

ID: 1036143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-08-01 21:09:26.940026+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:44.006843
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-51094       Document: 00512326665           Page: 1    Date Filed: 07/31/2013

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                              FILED
                                                                             July 31, 2013
                                     No. 12-51094
                                   Summary Calendar                          Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                  Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                   Plaintiff – Appellee

v.

ANDREA KAY THOMPSON,

                                                   Defendant – Appellant

                   Appeals from the United States District Court
                         for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 6:12-CR-114-1

Before SMITH, PRADO, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Andrea Kay Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully
transporting, transmitting, or transferring in interstate commerce stolen goods
with a value of $5,000 or more, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. She was
sentenced within the guidelines to 30 months of imprisonment and a three-year
term of supervised release.

       *
         Pursuant to 5TH CIR . R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .
R. 47.5.4.
    Case: 12-51094      Document: 00512326665       Page: 2    Date Filed: 07/31/2013

                                   No. 12-51094

      For the first time on appeal, Thompson challenges her sentence, arguing
that the district court plainly erred in calculating the guidelines range by
applying a 14-level increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1)(H), which she
contends resulted in an unreasonable sentence.
      We review sentences for reasonableness under an abuse-of-discretion
standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 46-50 (2007). This reasonableness
review involves two steps. Id. at 51. First, we determine whether the district
court committed any significant procedural error, such as improperly
calculating the guideline range. Id. If there is no procedural error or the error
is harmless, we review the substantive reasonableness of the sentence. Id.;
United States v. Delgado-Martinez, 564 F.3d 750, 752-53 (5th Cir. 2009).
      The district court’s calculation of the amount of loss under § 2B1.1 is a
factual finding that is reviewed for clear error. See United States v. Scher, 601
F.3d 408, 412 (5th Cir. 2010); United States v. Crawley, 533 F.3d 349, 356 (5th
Cir. 2008). However, because Thompson raised no objection to her sentence in
the district court, our review is for plain error.            See United States v.
Mondragon-Santiago, 564 F.3d 357, 361 (5th Cir. 2009). To show plain error,
Thompson must show a forfeited error that is clear or obvious and that affects
her substantial rights. Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009). If
she makes such a showing, this court has the discretion to correct the error but
only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial
proceedings. Id. We have held that “[q]uestions of fact capable of resolution by
the district court upon proper objection at sentencing can never constitute
plain error.” United States v. Lopez, 923 F.2d 47, 50 (5th Cir. 1991); see also
United States v. Claiborne, 676 F.3d 434, 438 (5th Cir. 2012).
      In this case, the presentence report (PSR) noted the evidence relied upon
in making the loss determination, and the district court was “in a unique

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       Case: 12-51094   Document: 00512326665    Page: 3   Date Filed: 07/31/2013

                                 No. 12-51094

position to assess the evidence and estimate the loss based upon that evidence”
and was required only to “make a reasonable estimate of the loss.” § 2B1.1,
comment. (n.3(C)). Further, because the unobjected-to PSR had “some indicia
of reliability,” the district court was entitled to rely on it. Scher, 601 F.3d at
413.     Thompson has, thus, failed to show that the district court’s loss
determination and application of the 14-level increase constituted plain error.
She also has failed to rebut the presumption of reasonableness given to her
properly calculated, within-guidelines sentence. See United States v. Rashad,
687 F.3d 637, 644 (5th Cir. 2012).
        The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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