Court Opinion

ID: 45247
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 22:34:36+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:23.658326
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                    FILED
                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                        ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                              OCT 5, 2006
                               No. 05-16008                 THOMAS K. KAHN
                           Non-Argument Calendar                CLERK
                         ________________________

                      D. C. Docket No. 05-00087-CR-2-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                    versus

CHRISTOPHER JAMES WILLIAMS,

                                                           Defendant-Appellant.

                         ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Southern District of Alabama
                       _________________________

                              (October 5, 2006)

Before ANDERSON, BLACK and BARKETT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Christopher James Williams appeals his convictions for conspiracy to
possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and

possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1),

as well as his 210-month sentence. According to the Presentence Investigation

Report (“PSI”), authorities executed a search warrant for Williams’s residence,

where they located a firearm and a small amount of marijuana. Williams then

confessed to selling crack cocaine from 1994 until 1999 and then, again, for at least

a 24-month period, beginning in 2003, selling a half ounce of crack per month.

Williams filed a motion to suppress evidence seized during a search of his home.

The district denied the motion, and, subsequently, Williams pled guilty, orally

reserving the right to appeal the motion to suppress.

                                  I. DISCUSSION

      A. Search

      On appeal, Williams argues that the district court failed to give full and

complete consideration to his motion to suppress evidence. Specifically, he

contends that, although the search warrant for his house correctly identified the

street address and his name, it contained an incorrect physical description of the

home. Williams argues that, when the district court denied his motion without

holding an evidentiary hearing, it violated his right to due process.

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      We review the district court’s failure to grant an evidentiary hearing on a

motion to suppress for an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Cooper, 203

F.3d 1279, 1285 (11th Cir. 2000). Regarding a district court’s determination that

an evidentiary hearing was unnecessary, we have held that:

      A motion to suppress must in every critical respect be sufficiently
      definite, specific, detailed, and nonconjectural to enable the court to
      conclude that a substantial claim is presented. In short, the motion
      must allege facts which, if proven, would provide a basis for relief. A
      court need not act upon general or conclusory assertions founded on
      mere suspicion or conjecture, and the court has discretion in
      determining the need for a hearing.

United States v. Richardson, 764 F.2d 1514, 1527 (11th Cir. 1985) (internal

citations omitted).

      Because Williams did not allege any facts, which, if proven, would have

provided a basis for relief, the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying

him an evidentiary hearing on his motion to suppress evidence.

      B. Drug Quantity

      Williams next argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the

district court’s calculation of the drug quantity attributable to him. He contends

that the district court’s calculation was “shrouded with inconclusive proof and the

use of ‘guesswork.’” Specifically, Williams argues that the only evidence

                                           3
supporting the calculation was a handwritten confession that he had provided to

authorities, but he originally used the generic term “drugs,” and the authorities

replaced it with the word “crack.”

      A district court’s determination of drug quantity used to establish a

defendant’s base offense level is reviewed for clear error. See United States

v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1296 (11th Cir.) cert. denied 125 S.Ct. 2935 (2005).

“When a defendant objects to a factual finding that is used in calculating his

guideline sentence, such as drug amount, the government bears the burden of

establishing the disputed fact by a preponderance of the evidence.” Id. The district

court’s factual findings may be based upon facts admitted by the defendant’s guilty

plea, undisputed statements in the PSI, or evidence presented at the sentencing

hearing. See United States v. Shelton, 400 F.3d 1325, 1329-30 (11th Cir. 2005).

“Section 2D1.1 of the guidelines provides that the base offense level for a

possession or a conspiracy drug offense is ordinarily calculated by determining the

quantity of drugs attributable to a defendant.” Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1296. The

application notes to § 2D1.1 also state that:

      Where there is no drug seizure or the amount seized does not reflect
      the scale of the offense, the court shall approximate the quantity of the
      controlled substance. In making this determination, the court may
      consider, for example, the price generally obtained for the controlled
      substance, financial or other records, similar transactions in controlled
      substances by the defendant, and the size or capability of any

                                        4
      laboratory involved.

U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment. (n.12); see also Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1296.

      Because Williams admitted to selling half an ounce of crack per month from

2003 until April 2005, resulting in sales of at least 210 grams of crack, the district

court did not clearly err in finding that he was responsible for more than 150 grams

of crack.

      C. Sentencing Issues Raised for First Time on Appeal

      Finally, Williams argues that his sentence was both procedurally and

substantively unreasonable. First, he asserts that the district court failed, in

contravention of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1), to state its reasons for imposing a

sentence in excess of 24 months. Second, he argues that his 210-month sentence

exceeded the mandates of § 3553(a) because it “over-reflected” the seriousness of

the offense, as he was a low-level drug dealer who only sold drugs to “meet

minimal financial obligations.” Third, Williams asserts that the government

presented no evidence indicating that he was capable of bringing large quantities of

drugs into the community. Williams then contests the district court’s refusal to

grant reductions for his role in the conspiracy and acceptance of responsibility.

Finally, he contends that, post-Booker, the district court now has the authority to

                                            5
consider factors such as the sentencing disparities between crack and powder

cocaine, and the Sentencing Commission has determined that those disparities are

unwarranted, and, thus, the court’s failure to consider that factor rendered his

sentence unreasonable.

      Because Williams did not raise any of these objections at sentencing, we

review the district court’s decision only for plain error. See United States v.

Chisholm, 73 F.3d 304, 307 (11th Cir. 1996).1

      1. Section 3553 Factors

      Prior to imposing its sentence, a district court is required, by statute, to

consider a variety of factors. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). In addition:

      The court, at the time of sentencing, shall state in open court the
      reasons for its imposition of the particular sentence, and, if the
      sentence -

      (1) is of the kind, and within the range, described in subsection (a)(4),
      and that range exceeds 24 months, the reason for imposing a sentence
      at a particular point within the range

      1
              Under plain-error review, we have discretionary power to correct an
error if the defendant shows: (1) there is an error, (2) the error is plain, and (3) the
error affects the defendant’s substantial rights. United States v. Le-Jarde Rada,
319 F.3d 1288, 1290 (11th Cir. 2003). If these three conditions are met, we may
choose to exercise our discretionary power to correct an error that “‘seriously
affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.’” Id.
(quoting United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732, 113 S.Ct.1770, 1776 (1993)).

                                            6
18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1) (emphasis added). “[A] sentencing court should--when

stating its reasons for imposing a particular sentence as required by

§ 3553(c)--tailor its comments to show that the sentence imposed is appropriate,

given the factors to be considered as set forth in § 3553(a).” United States

v. Parrado, 911 F.2d 1567, 1572 (11th Cir. 1990). The sentencing court’s failure to

provide the reasons for its sentence as required by § 3553(c)(1) means that the

sentence “is imposed in violation of law.” United States v. Veteto, 920 F.2d 823,

826 (11th Cir. 1991).

       After Booker, we review a defendant’s ultimate sentence for

unreasonableness, in the context of the § 3553 factors. United States v. Winingear,

422 F.3d 1241, 1246 (11th Cir. 2005). Section 3553 factors include (1) the nature

and circumstances of the offense, (2) the history and characteristics of the

defendant, (3) the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the seriousness of the

offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment, (4) the

need to protect the public, and (5) the guideline range. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

In analyzing the reasonableness of a sentence post-Booker, we have held that

“nothing in Booker or elsewhere requires the district court to state on the record

that it has explicitly considered each of the § 3553(a) factors or to discuss each of

the § 3553(a) factors.” Scott, 426 F.3d at 1329. Furthermore, there, we concluded

                                           7
that Scott’s sentence was reasonable when the district court considered the § 3553

factors and sentenced him at the low end of the guideline range, which took into

account his offense conduct, personal characteristics, just punishment, and

adequate deterrence, and nothing in the record indicated that the sentence was

unreasonable. Id.

          The district court’s failure to provide a reason for imposing a 210-month

sentence on Williams was not plainly erroneous. The court may have failed to

provide the requisite explanation for why it imposed the sentence, but Williams

cannot establish the third prong of the plain error test–that the error affected his

substantial rights. To meet this prong, “the error must have affected the outcome

of the district court proceedings.” Rodriguez, 398 F.3d at 1299. Williams does not

suggest that, had the court stated its reasons, it would have imposed a different

standard. Therefore, he cannot establish that the error affected his substantial

rights.

          2. Reasonableness

          Regarding the reasonableness of his sentence, Williams was held

accountable for the quantity of crack that he admitted selling over an

approximately two-year period, and it is not clear that Williams ever requested that

                                             8
the district court grant him a minor-role reduction. At sentencing, Williams asked

the court to consider his role as a low-level dealer, but this was done in the context

of asking for a reasonable sentence. Regardless, where a defendant’s relevant

conduct is identical to his actual conduct, he cannot establish that he is entitled to a

minor-role reduction merely by identifying some broader criminal scheme in which

he played a minor role, but for which he was not held accountable. United States

v. De Varon, 175 F.3d 930, 941 (11 th Cir. 1999) (en banc).

      3. Acceptance of Responsibility

      As for the reduction for acceptance of responsibility, Williams admitted to

probation officers that he had used marijuana while on pre-trial release, and the

court did not err in considering Williams’ continued drug use. In addition, post-

Booker, the district court still is required to calculate the guideline range correctly,

and the court did not err in doing so here. Scott, 441 F.3d at 1329.

      4. Disparity Between Crack and Powder Cocaine

      Finally, with regard to Williams’ allegation of sentencing disparities

between crack and powder cocaine, Williams argues that the district court was

required to consider the disparity between crack and powder cocaine, as set forth in

                                            9
the Guidelines, which Williams considers to be harsh, unfair and unreasonable.

Although Williams made a vigorous challenge in the district court to the fact of

whether he admitted to the investigating agents that his sales of cocaine were crack

cocaine, he at no point suggested to the district court that it should consider the

disparity in sentences and impose a lower sentence on that basis. We are aware of

no case in which a federal appellate court has mandated such action. Thus, we

readily conclude that Williams cannot demonstrate plain error. He cannot show

that the alleged error was obvious. Nor can he demonstrate that the alleged error

affected his substantial rights. There is no suggestion in the sentencing transcript

that the district court might have imposed a lesser sentence if such consideration

had been undertaken.

                            II. CONCLUSION

      The order of the district court is

      AFFIRMED.

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