Court Opinion

ID: 2733204
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-16 15:00:42.239655+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:45:52.284214
License: Public Domain

Case: 13-12687      Date Filed: 09/16/2014     Page: 1 of 20

                                                                  [DO NOT PUBLISH]

                 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                          FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                            ________________________

                                   No. 13-12687
                             ________________________

                    D.C. Docket No. 1:11-cr-00441-TWT-LTW-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                      Plaintiff - Appellee,

versus

CALVIN JOHNSON,

                                                Defendant - Appellant.
                             ________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Georgia
                           ________________________

                                 (September 16, 2014)

Before JORDAN and BENAVIDES, * Circuit Judges, and RYSKAMP, ** District
Judge.

PER CURIAM:

*
 Honorable Fortunato P. Benavides, Senior United States Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, sitting by designation.
**
   Honorable Kenneth L. Ryskamp, United States District Judge for the Southern District of
Florida, sitting by designation.
             Case: 13-12687     Date Filed: 09/16/2014   Page: 2 of 20

      After a jury trial, Calvin Johnson appeals his conviction and sentence for

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

Johnson raises five issues on appeal. First, Johnson argues that the district court

erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence found during a parole search, in

violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. Second, Johnson argues that the court

erred in permitting testimony about statements he made. Third, Johnson argues

that the court erred in allowing evidence that he was on parole. Fourth, Johnson

argues that the court improperly admitted expert witness testimony.         Finally,

Johnson argues that the court imposed a procedurally and substantively

unreasonable sentence. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

                                        I.

      This case involves a warrantless search of a parolee’s residence and

property. The search was triggered when Johnson violated the conditions of his

parole several times, including an arrest for reckless driving and possession of

marijuana. Thereafter, Georgia state parole officers attempted to serve a parole

arrest warrant on Johnson at his residence. Eventually, Johnson’s residence and

property were searched, and Johnson was subsequently arrested.

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       The facts surrounding Johnson’s parole conditions, search, and arrest are set

forth as follows. 1

       A.     The Terms and Conditions of Johnson’s Parole

       Following Johnson’s release from prison on parole, he met with a parole

officer for an initial intake interview. During the meeting, the officer and Johnson

reviewed Johnson’s Parole Certificate.          A condition of the Parole Certificate,

entitled, “Law/Immediate Notification of Searches,” permitted parole officers to

conduct warrantless searches of Johnson’s residence and property at any time. The

officer explained that condition by stating that, anytime the parolee comes into

contact with the police, the parolee and his residence can be searched. Further, the

officer gave instances in which officers could search a parolee, such as if the

parolee is stopped or questioned, or when an officer has reasonable suspicion.

Finally, the officer explained that parolees have no Fourth Amendment rights

while on parole.

       B.     The Search of Johnson’s Residence

       While on parole, Johnson committed several parole violations. Due to such

violations, parole officers attempted to execute an arrest warrant on Johnson at his

1
  Such facts are taken from the district court’s denial of the motion to suppress evidence
following the suppression hearing.
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residence. 2    Johnson’s sister, mother, and grandmother were at the residence.

Johnson’s sister informed the officers that Johnson was not home.                           With

permission, the officers cleared the residence to ensure Johnson was not present.

The officers did not locate Johnson.

       Having cleared the residence, the officers searched Johnson’s bedroom and

the garage. The officers recovered an assault rifle and a magazine loaded with

ammunition in Johnson’s bedroom and drug paraphernalia in the garage. 3

Johnson’s sister, mother, and grandmother informed the officers that the weapon

did not belong to any of them. Thereafter, Johnson’s sister contacted Johnson, and

the officers instructed Johnson to report to the parole office.

       C.       The Arrest and Interview of Johnson

       Johnson reported to the parole office as instructed, where he was taken into

custody.       While in custody, the chief parole officer searched Johnson and

recovered two cellular telephones. Subsequently, an agent from the Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (“ATF”) interviewed Johnson.                          The agent

identified himself to Johnson as a federal agent with ATF, explained to Johnson

that he was not required to answer any questions, and read Johnson his Miranda4

2
  Johnson’s parole violations included failure to obtain employment or provide proof of his
enrollment in school, electronic-monitoring/curfew violations, and an arrest for reckless driving
and possession of marijuana.
3
  During the suppression hearing, the parole officer could not recall specifically where each item
was recovered.
4
  Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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warnings. When the agent inquired whether Johnson understood his rights and was

willing to waive such rights, Johnson responded affirmatively to both questions.

Thereafter, Johnson answered questions regarding the origins of the assault rifle.

Johnson initially denied possession of the assault rifle. However, after the agent

asked who else lived in the house, Johnson replied that he would take the charge.

      D.     The Search of Johnson’s Cellular Telephone

      After the agent questioned Johnson, the chief parole officer searched one of

Johnson’s cellular telephones. In doing so, the officer found several photographs

of Johnson holding an assault rifle that appeared to be the same weapon the

officers had recovered from Johnson’s residence.         Therefore, a federal search

warrant was obtained to search Johnson’s cellular telephones.

      E.     Trial Testimony

      During trial, the government called the parole officers and ATF agent. The

officers testified about Johnson’s release from parole, including his conditions and

supervision, and the search of Johnson’s residence and cellular telephone. The

ATF agent testified about his interview with Johnson.

      Moreover, the government called expert witnesses. The witnesses described

the discovery of encrypted jail calls between Johnson and his sister and determined

that Johnson had told his sister what to say at trial, including that he had not been

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home during the relevant time period and that she was unable to identify who was

in the photograph found on the cellular telephone.

      Defense counsel called Johnson’s sister. His sister testified consistent with

Johnson’s instructions. However, Johnson’s sister did not testify as to whom was

depicted in the photographs because she was not asked that question.

      Following the testimony and closing arguments, the jury returned a guilty

verdict on the sole count of felon in possession of a firearm.

      F.     Sentencing

      At sentencing, the district court calculated the guidelines range to be 110-

137 months. Over Johnson’s objection, the court applied a base offense level of 26

under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(1). The court applied the level of 26 by finding that

Johnson had committed the instant offense after sustaining two convictions of a

crime of violence or a controlled substance offense, namely obstruction of a police

officer and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Additionally, the court

added a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G § 3C1.1.

      Further, the court heard arguments concerning the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)

sentencing factors. Johnson requested that the court impose a sentence below his

guideline range due to his personal history and circumstances. The government

responded that a lenient sentence was inappropriate in light of the nature of

Johnson’s offense and his criminal history.

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      After hearing the parties’ arguments, the court sentenced Johnson to the

statutory maximum of 120 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of

supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The court explained that it had

considered the § 3553(a) factors, but the factors weighed in favor of a sentence

within the guidelines range and the maximum sentence under the statute. The

court further explained that, if any procedural error occurred, the sentence imposed

would have been the same because the sentence is fair and reasonable.

      This appeal follows.

                                             II.

      We review the district courts’ findings of fact on a motion to suppress

evidence for clear error and questions of law de novo. United States v. White, 593
F.3d 1199, 1202 (11th Cir. 2010). The district court’s ruling on the admission of

evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion. United States v. Gibson, 708 F.3d
1256, 1275 (11th Cir. 2013) (citation omitted).

      We review the district court’s legal conclusions regarding the sentencing

guidelines de novo and its factual findings for clear error. United States v. Diaz-

Calderone, 716 F.3d 1345, 1348 (11th Cir. 2013). An improper calculation of the

guidelines range constitutes a procedural error. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38,

51 (2007).    If no significant procedural error occurred, “[w]e review the

reasonableness of a defendant’s sentence under a deferential abuse of discretion

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standard. United States v. King, 751 F.3d 1268, 1281 (11th Cir. 2014) (citation

omitted).     “In evaluating the reasonableness of a sentence, we measure the

sentence against the factors outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).” Id. (citation and

footnote omitted). The weight accorded any specific § 3553(a) factor is committed

to the sound discretion of the district court. United States v. Clay, 483 F.3d 739,

743 (11th Cir. 2007).

                                              III.

       Johnson first argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to

suppress evidence from the search of his residence and cellular telephone because

the parole officers lacked reasonable suspicion.               Specifically, he claims that

reasonable suspicion was required based on a statement made to him during his

intake interview by a parole officer. 5 We disagree.

        The United States Supreme Court determines whether a search is reasonable

within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment by examining the totality of the

circumstances. Samson v. California, 547 U.S. 843, 848 (2006) (citation omitted).

The reasonableness of a search “is determined by assessing, on the one hand, the

degree to which it intrudes upon an individual’s privacy and, on the other, the

degree to which it is needed for the promotion of legitimate governmental

interests.” Id. (quotation omitted).
5
 Johnson further argues the officers did not have authority to search his residence because it was
outside the scope of the arrest warrant. We do not need to address this argument, as the
government does not argue that the arrest warrant provided justification to search the residence.
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       In Samson, the Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment does not

prohibit a police officer from conducting a suspicionless search of a parolee when

the parolee agrees to be subjected to search at any time as a condition of parole.

Id. at 857. There, an officer searched the petitioner based solely on his status as a

parolee. Id. at 846-47. As a condition of the petitioner’s release, he had agreed to

be subject to searches at any time. Id. at 851. The Court examined the petitioner’s

privacy interests and explained that “parolees have fewer expectations of privacy

than probationers, because parole is more akin to imprisonment . . . . Id. at 850.

“The essence of parole is release from prison, before the completion of sentence,

on the condition that the prisoner abide by certain rules during the balance of the

sentence.”    Id. (quotation omitted).        The Court further explained that the

petitioner’s search condition required the petitioner to submit to suspicionless

searches by a parole officer or other peace officer at any time.          Id. at 852.

Accordingly, the Court found that the petitioner did not have a reasonable

expectation of privacy, given the petitioner’s status as a parolee and his acceptance

of the parole condition. Id. at 852.

       Thereafter, the Court found that the state’s interests were substantial. Id. at

853.   Combating recidivism and promoting reintegration into society warrant

privacy intrusions. Id. Thus, the Court held that “the Fourth Amendment does not

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prohibit a police officer from conducting a suspicionless search of a parolee.” Id.

at 857.

      This court has applied the Samson analysis to a Georgia parolee and upheld

a suspicionless search of a parolee. See United States v. Stewart, 213 F. App’x 898

(11th Cir. 2007) (per curiam). In Stewart, the defendant argued that the Fourth

Amendment requires an officer to have reasonable suspicion to search a parolee.

Id. at 899.    This court held that, because the defendant’s “parole certificate

required him to submit to a search ‘at any time’ without a warrant, the search was

authorized by the terms of [the defendant’s] parole conditions.” Id. at 899.

      Here, the district court properly denied Johnson’s motion to suppress

evidence from the warrantless searches of his residence and cellular telephone

because the parole officers were operating under a Fourth Amendment waiver.

Johnson agreed in writing that parole officers may, at any time, conduct

warrantless searches of his residence and property as a condition of parole.

Johnson elected to complete his sentence out of prison by being subject to the

condition. The condition was clearly expressed to Johnson, and he submitted to

the condition by signing the Parole Certificate. Given Johnson’s status as a parolee

and his acceptance of the parole condition, he did not have a reasonable

expectation of privacy. Samson, 547 U.S. at 852. Furthermore, the State of

Georgia has an overwhelming interest in supervising parolees to reduce recidivism

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and promote reintegration into society. Id. at 853. Accordingly, the district court

properly denied Johnson’s motion to suppress evidence.6 Id. at 857; Stewart, 213

F. App’x at 899.

       Although Johnson argues that his intake officer explained to him that an

officer could only conduct a search if he had reasonable suspicion, the intake

officer testified that she read the Parole Certificate to Johnson, which included that

a parole officer may, at any time, conduct a warrantless search. The intake officer

never testified that searches require reasonable suspicion.               Rather, the officer

described to Johnson a few examples where officers could search Johnson’s

residence, which could include, among others, an instance of reasonable suspicion.

Most importantly, the officer explained to Johnson that he had no Fourth

Amendment rights while on parole. Thus, the parole officers were not required to

have reasonable suspicion for the search of Johnson’s residence and cellular

telephone.7

                                              IV.

6
  The recent Supreme Court case, Riley v. California, 134 S. Ct. 2473 (2014), has no application
to the instant case because here Johnson waived his Fourth Amendment rights as a condition of
parole.
7
  We note that the Magistrate Judge found reasonable suspicion based on Johnson’s multiple
parole violations, including the failure to obtain employment, overnight electronic-monitoring
violations, and his recent arrest for reckless driving and possession of marijuana. Although we
find that reasonable suspicion was not required, nothing herein should be construed as supporting
or denying reasonable suspicion.

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      Johnson’s next argument—that the district court erred in permitting

testimony about statements made by Johnson—is also without merit. Specifically,

Johnson argues that he involuntarily waived his Miranda rights because he

believed he was being interviewed for electronic-monitoring violations and the

ATF agent implicitly threatened that his family would be prosecuted.

      In this case, the district court properly admitted Johnson’s statements made

to the ATF agent. Johnson voluntarily and knowingly waived his Miranda rights.

The ATF agent explained that he was an ATF agent and that the conditions of

Johnson’s parole did not require him to answer any questions. The agent read

Johnson his Miranda rights, and inquired whether Johnson understood and was

willing to waive his rights. Johnson responded affirmatively to both questions.

Furthermore, the agent did not threaten Johnson, nor did he promise Johnson

anything in return for speaking to him. When the agent inquired about the assault

rifle, Johnson answered that it was not his. The agent then asked who else lived in

the house, and Johnson replied that his sister and mother lived there. After the

agent asked if the gun belonged to either of them, Johnson replied that he would

take the charge. This exchange of questioning does not constitute a threat. Thus,

the district court properly admitted testimony about statements made by Johnson

during the interview.

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      Although Johnson contends that he waived his rights based on his belief that

the ATF agent would inquire about the electronic-monitoring violations, the

Supreme Court has “never read the Constitution to require that the police supply a

suspect with a flow of information to help him calibrate his self-interest in deciding

whether to speak or stand by his rights.” United States v. Barner, 572 F.3d 1239,

1244 (11th Cir. 2009) (holding it was not required that defendant be advised that

his interrogator was actually conducting a drug investigation rather than a home

invasion investigation) (quoting Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 422 (1986)).

                                               V.

      Similarly, Johnson’s next argument—that the district court erred in allowing

evidence that he was on parole—is without merit. Specifically, Johnson contends

that the jury was not required to know that he was on parole because he stipulated

that he was a convicted felon.

      Here, the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting evidence that

Johnson was on parole because the information was required to explain why the

parole officers searched Johnson’s residence and cellular telephone, and the events

of Johnson’s arrest and interview. Without such explanation, the jury would have

been left to speculate as to why the officers searched Johnson’s home. Thus, the

district court properly admitted such evidence because it pertained to the chain of

events explaining the context of the crime charged. See United States v. McLean,

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138 F.3d 1398, 1403 (11th Cir. 1998) (“Evidence, not part of the crime charged but

pertaining to the chain of events explaining the context . . . is properly admitted if

linked in time and circumstances with the charged crime, or forms an integral and

natural part of an account of the crime . . . .”) (quotation omitted); United States v.

Herre, 930 F.2d 836, 837-38 (11th Cir. 1991) (finding evidence of defendant’s

previous arrest was inextricably intertwined with evidence of the charged offense

and was part of “the chain of events explaining context, motive, and set-up . . . to

complete the story of the crime for the jury.”) (quotation omitted).

                                               VI.

      Johnson next argues that the district court erred in permitting the ATF agent

to testify as an expert witness in regard to the contents of the cellular telephone

because he had not received the requisite notice and lacked the opportunity to

prepare a defense. Particularly, Johnson claims that he objected to the agent being

called based on his expertise with forensic computer analysis, but the district court

took testimony on the issue. Johnson’s argument is misplaced.

      Contrary to Johnson’s argument, the district court sustained Johnson’s

objection at trial. The court stated that it would not allow expert testimony about

computer forensics and directed the government to only question the agent as to his

personal knowledge based on handling the device used to extract digital content

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from Johnson’s cellular telephone. Thus, the court did not abuse its discretion in

admitting testimony regarding the contents of Johnson’s cellular telephone.

                                           VII.

      Finally, Johnson argues that the district court’s sentence is procedurally and

substantively unreasonable.    Johnson argues that his sentence is procedurally

unreasonable because his prior conviction for obstruction of a law enforcement

officer was not a “crime of violence,” and thus was improperly used to apply the

base offense level of 26 in U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a). Johnson further argues that his

sentence is procedurally unreasonable because the district court erred in applying

the obstruction of justice enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. Lastly, Johnson

argues that his 120-month sentence is substantively unreasonable because the court

imposed a sentence “greater than necessary” to achieve the purposes of 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a). We disagree.

      A. Procedural Reasonableness

         1. “Crime of Violence” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(1)

      Johnson argues that his prior conviction for obstruction of a law enforcement

officer was not a “crime of violence” because a defendant can violate the felony

part of the statute by nonviolent means.

      U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a) provides that a defendant will receive a base offense

level of 26 if: (A) the offense involved a [] semi-automatic firearm that is capable

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of accepting a large capacity magazine . . .; and (B) the defendant committed any

part of the instant offense subsequent to sustaining at least two felony convictions

of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.” U.S.S.G. §

2K2.1(a)(1). Section 4B1.2(a) defines “crime of violence” as “any offense under

federal or state law, punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year,

that (1) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical

force against the person of another, or (2) is burglary of a dwelling, arson, or

extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a

serious potential risk of physical injury to another. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a).

      In assessing crimes of violence under the Sentencing Guidelines, courts use

the same framework to analyze violent felonies under the Armed Career Criminal

Act (“ACCA”). United States v. Harris, 586 F.3d 1283, 1285 (11th Cir. 2009).

Under the ACCA, courts use a “categorical approach,” in which courts look only to

the fact of conviction and the statutory definition of the prior offense, not the

particular facts underlying the conviction. United States v. Alexander, 609 F.3d
1250, 1253-54 (11th Cir. 2010). However, when statutory phrases cover several

crimes, some requiring violent force and some which do not, courts may use the

“modified categorical approach,” thereby relying on the charging document, plea

agreement, transcript of the plea colloquy, and findings and conclusions from a

bench trial. Johnson v. United States, 559 U.S. 133, 144 (2010).

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      The Georgia state statute under which Johnson was convicted for obstruction

of a police officer provides: “Whoever knowingly and willfully resists, obstructs,

or opposes any law enforcement officer . . . by offering or doing violence to the

person of such officer . . . is guilty of a felony . . . . O.C.G.A. § 16-10-24(b).

      Here, the district court did not err in finding that Johnson’s conviction for

obstruction of a police officer qualified as a “crime of violence.” Johnson’s

specific offense for obstruction of a police officer was categorized as a felony

obstruction, not a misdemeanor obstruction. Additionally, under the “categorical

approach,” Johnson’s prior conviction for obstruction of justice is a “crime of

violence.” The Georgia statutory language of the felony provision includes as an

element of the offense the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force

against the person of another. See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a); O.C.G.A. § 16-10-24(b);

Fairwell v. State, 717 S.E.2d 332, 338-39 (Ga. Ct. App. 2011) (stating that

“restricts, obstructs, or opposes” implies forcible resistance). Finally, under the

“modified categorical approach,” the charging documents and guilty plea from the

prior conviction show that Johnson’s prior offense involved actual force in the

form of battery by punching a police officer in the face. Therefore, the district

court properly applied the base offense level of 26 under § 2K2.1(a)(1) because the

prior conviction was properly categorized as a “crime of violence.”

          2. Obstruction of Justice Enhancement

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         Johnson next argues that the district court erred in applying a two-level

increase for obstruction of justice in the total offense level under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1

because conversations with his sister constituted truthful trial preparation.

         The Guidelines provide for a two-level increase in the total offense level if:

         (1) the defendant willfully obstructed or impeded, or attempted to
         obstruct or impede, the administration of justice with respect to the
         investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the instant offense of
         conviction, and (2) the obstructive conduct related to (A) the
         defendant's offense of conviction and any relevant conduct; or (B) a
         closely related offense . . . .

Obstructive conduct includes, among other things, suborning perjury or unlawfully

influencing a witness. Id., comment. n.4(A)-(B).

         Here, the district court did not clearly err in applying the two-level

enhancement for obstruction of justice. The court explained that it was clear from

the coded message from Johnson to his sister that it was intended to persuade her

to testify to things that were not true. For example, Johnson attempted to have his

sister testify that he had not been in the house when the incriminating photos were

taken.      However, the court found that the photographs and date stamps

conclusively showed that Johnson was at the house. Thus, the obstruction of

justice enhancement was not clearly erroneous.              See, e.g., United States v.

Izquierdo, 448 F.3d 1269, 1278 (11th Cir. 2006) (“Where there are two permissible

views of the evidence, the factfinder’s choice between them cannot be clearly

erroneous.”) (citation omitted).
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      B. Substantive Reasonableness

      Lastly, Johnson contends that his sentence was “greater than necessary” to

achieve the purposes under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

      The district court must impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than

necessary to comply with the purposes” listed in § 3553(a)(2), including the need

for the sentence imposed “to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote

respect for the law, to provide just punishment for the offense,” deter criminal

conduct, and protect the public from the defendant’s future criminal conduct. See

18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2). The court must also consider such factors as “the nature

and circumstances of the offense and the history and circumstances of the

defendant.” See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1).

      Johnson’s 120-month sentence was substantively reasonable. The sentence

fell within the applicable 110-to-137 month guidelines range. See United States v.

Hunt, 526 F.3d 739, 746 (11th Cir. 2008) (stating that a sentence within the

guidelines range is ordinarily expected to be reasonable). Additionally, the court

acted within its discretion when applying the § 3553(a) factors. Although Johnson

argues that the court gave too little weight to his positive personal history, the

record reveals the serious nature of the instant offense and Johnson’s significant

criminal history. For example, the court found that the firearm at issue was loaded

with an extended clip of ammunition, Johnson’s prior record included two drug-

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related convictions, and Johnson had committed one crime of violence against a

law enforcement officer. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Accordingly, the 120-month

sentence was reasonable and supported by the § 3553(a) factors. 8

                                             VIII.

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Johnson’s conviction and sentence.

8
  Because we find that Johnson’s sentence was substantively reasonable, we need not address
Johnson’s argument that the court erred in determining his base offense level under §
2K2.1(a)(1) by using a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute a small amount of
marijuana. Johnson fails to argue that the district court committed clear error in applying the
relevant guidelines provisions and definitions to the facts of his case. Rather, Johnson argues
that, because the conviction only involved a small amount of marijuana, the court should have
considered a two-level downward variance. Such an argument relates to whether a sentence is
substantively reasonable.
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