Court Opinion

ID: 809169
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-09-25 19:21:50+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:08:41.634752
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-10677          Date Filed: 09/24/2012   Page: 1 of 6

                                                                         [DO NOT PUBLISH]

                      IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                                   FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                    ________________________

                                    Nos. 12-10677 & No. 12-10913
                                       Non-Argument Calendar
                                     ________________________

                             D.C. Docket Nos. 4:10-cr-10026-KMM-1,
                                     4:10-cr-10025-KMM-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll                             Plaintiff - Appellee,

                                                versus

ERNESTO GRIMON,

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll                             Defendant - Appellant.

                                     ________________________

                          Appeals from the United States District Court
                              for the Southern District of Florida
                                 ________________________

                                           (September 24, 2012)

Before CARNES, WILSON and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

         Ernesto Grimon appeals his 33-month sentence, imposed by the district
                Case: 12-10677        Date Filed: 09/24/2012       Page: 2 of 6

court after he pled guilty to conspiring to possess oxycodone with intent to

distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846 (“the oxycodone case”);

and counterfeiting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §471 (“the counterfeiting case”). On

appeal, Grimon argues that his sentence is procedurally and substantively

unreasonable because the district court failed to consider the factors listed in 18

U.S.C. § 3553(a) before it ordered that his federal sentence run consecutively to,

rather than concurrently with, his undischarged state sentence. Finding no

reversible error on the part of the district court, we affirm.

       We review the reasonableness of a sentence under a deferential abuse of

discretion1 standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 41, 128 S. Ct. 586 (2007).

The party challenging the sentence bears the burden of establishing that the

sentence is unreasonable in light of the record. United States v. Suarez, 601 F.3d
1202, 1223 (11th Cir. 2010). First, we must determine whether the district court

committed any significant procedural error, including failing to consider the §

3553(a) factors. United States v. Bradley, 644 F.3d 1213, 1303–04 (11th Cir.

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         The United States contends that this Court should apply a plain error standard of review
because Grimon failed to object to the alleged procedural flaws—specifically the district court’s
failure to consider the § 3553(a) factors—at either of the resentencing hearings. While it is true
that Grimon did not object, even when asked by the district court, he did explicitly state at both
resentencing hearings that he intended to appeal the district court’s ruling. To date, this Court
has not yet issued a published opinion that establishes the appropriate standard of review for
reasonableness under these specific circumstances. Nonetheless, the resolution of the standard of
review issue does not affect our reasonableness analysis or the ultimate outcome of this case.

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2011), cert denied, 132 S. Ct. 2375 (2012). Although the district court must

consider the § 3553(a) factors, it is not required to state on the record that it has

explicitly considered each of the factors or discuss each one individually. United

States v. McNair, 605 F.3d 1152, 1231 (11th Cir. 2010).

      If we find that the sentence is procedurally reasonable, we must then

determine whether the sentence is substantively reasonable under the totality of

the circumstances, including whether the § 3553(a) factors actually support the

sentence at issue. United States v. Barrington, 648 F.3d 1178, 1203 (11th Cir.

2011), cert denied, 132 S. Ct. 1066 (2012). Generally, we do not second-guess the

weight that the district court gave a certain factor. United States v. Snipes, 611
F.3d 855, 872 (11th Cir. 2010). This Court will only reverse a sentence as

substantively unreasonable if we are left with a definite and firm conviction that

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

factors, such that the sentence at issue falls outside of 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). Although there is not an explicit presumption,

usually a sentence within the Sentencing Guidelines range is expected to be

reasonable. United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005) (per

curiam).

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      The district court also has the discretion to order that a federal sentence run

concurrently with an undischarged state sentence. See 18 U.S.C. § 3584(a);

United States v. Fuentes, 107 F.3d 1515, 1519 n.6 (11th Cir. 1997); U.S.S.G. §

5G1.3(c) (2010). Generally, when determining whether a sentence should run

concurrently with or consecutively to another sentence, the district court is

mandated to consider the factors set forth in § 3553(a). 18 U.S.C. § 3584(b). As a

policy matter, unless the Sentencing Guidelines require otherwise, the district

court may choose to impose a concurrent or consecutive sentence in order to

achieve a reasonable punishment for the offense. U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c).

Additionally, when applying § 5G1.3(c), the district court should also consider:

(1) the type and length of the prior undischarged sentence; (2) the time served on

the undischarged sentence and the time likely to be served before release; (3)

whether the undischarged sentence was imposed in state court; (4) the time at

which the undischarged sentence was imposed; and (5) any other circumstances

relevant to the court’s decision. U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3, cmt. n.3(A).

      Although its discussion was terse, the district court set forth enough

information in the oxycodone case to demonstrate that it considered the § 3553(a)

and other requisite factors when it ordered that Grimon’s federal sentence run

consecutively to his undischarged state sentence. During the colloquy, the district

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court questioned Grimon’s attorney as to the effect that imposing a concurrent

sentence would have on the total time that Grimon would be incarcerated;

considered Grimon’s statement that he had learned his lesson during the time

already spent in prison and that he desired to watch his grandchildren grow up;

and explicitly stated that it imposed a consecutive sentence based on Grimon’s

criminal history. This colloquy illustrates that the district court considered

Grimon’s criminal history and characteristics, the need for adequate deterrence,

the kinds of sentences available, and the time that Grimon was likely to serve

before his release. 18 U.S.C. §§ 3553(a)(1), (2)(B), (3); U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3, cmt.

n.3(A)(iii). Thus, although the district court did not explicitly state that it

considered the § 3553(a) factors or discuss each of the factors individually, the

record indicates that the district court sufficiently considered the § 3553(a) and §

5G1.3 factors in order to establish procedural and substantive reasonableness and

support the determination that Grimon’s federal sentence should run consecutively

to his undischarged state sentence.

      The district court also set forth enough information in the counterfeiting

case to establish that it considered the § 3553(a) factors. Although the district

court did not explicitly set forth the factors that it considered, it nonetheless

explicitly referenced Grimon’s sentence in the oxycodone case. Moreover, when

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questioned during the colloquy, Grimon affirmed that the district court had made

itself and its reasoning “unambiguously clear” in the oxycodone case when it

determined that it would not order his federal and undischarged state sentences to

run concurrently. The district court further explained that it did consider a

concurrent sentence appropriate “under the circumstances.” This colloquy

demonstrates that the district court’s basis for its decision not to impose a

concurrent sentence mirrored the same reasoning that it discussed in the

oxycodone case, which the district court adequately supported with a

consideration of the § 3553(a) and § 5G1.3 factors.

      Ultimately, because the district court considered the § 3553(a) factors

before it ordered that Grimon’s federal sentence run consecutively to his

undischarged state sentence, Grimon’s sentence withstands the tests for procedural

and substantive reasonableness. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s ruling.

      AFFIRMED.

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