Court Opinion

ID: 4409487
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-24 15:00:44.342731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:32:37.855678
License: Public Domain

Case: 18-14661   Date Filed: 06/24/2019   Page: 1 of 15

                                                         [DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                       ________________________

                             No. 18-14661
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                       ________________________

               D.C. Docket No. 8:06-cr-00464-EAK-TGW-10

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

CHANCEY DEON COOPER,
a.k.a. Chauncy,
a.k.a. Black,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

                Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Middle District of Florida
                      ________________________

                              (June 24, 2019)

Before TJOFLAT, BRANCH and HULL, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
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      Chancey Deon Cooper appeals his 60-month sentence, a 23-month upward

variance from his guidelines range, imposed upon revocation of his supervised

release. The parties agree that the district court committed Tapia1 error by

considering Cooper’s need for drug rehabilitation and vocational training in

imposing Cooper’s revocation sentence. After review, we agree with the parties

that the district court erred under Tapia. Accordingly, we vacate Cooper’s

revocation sentence and remand for resentencing.

                                      I. BACKGROUND

A.    Underlying Conviction and Sentence

      In May 2007, Cooper pled guilty to (1) conspiracy to possess with intent to

distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(iii) & 846 (Count 1), and (2) using, carrying, and

brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal drug trafficking crime, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) & 2 (Count 3). These charges arose

from Cooper’s participation in a large-scale crack cocaine conspiracy involving

multiple other defendants.

      In Cooper’s presentence investigation report (“PSR”), the probation officer

calculated a total offense level of 35 and a criminal history category of III,

resulting in a guidelines range of 210 to 262 months’ imprisonment on the

      1
          Tapia v. United States, 564 U.S. 319, 131 S. Ct. 2382 (2011).
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conspiracy charge in Count 1. Cooper’s firearm offense in Count 3 carried a

statutory mandatory consecutive sentence of 7 years (84 months’) imprisonment.

      At sentencing, the government moved for a downward departure based on

Cooper’s substantial assistance. The district court granted Cooper an eight-level

downward departure, bringing his total offense level down to a 27 and his

guidelines range on Count 1 to 87 to 108 months’ imprisonment. The district court

sentenced Cooper to a total term of 171 months’ imprisonment, consisting of 87

months on the conspiracy charge in Count 1 and a mandatory consecutive term of

84 months on the firearm charge in Count 3, followed by concurrent terms of 60

months of supervised released on both counts.

      Subsequently, Cooper’s imprisonment sentence for the conspiracy charge in

Count 1 was reduced to 56 months’ imprisonment as a result of the retroactive

application of Amendments 750 and 782 to the Sentencing Guidelines. This

reduced his total sentence to 140 months.

B.    January 2018 Supervised Release Violations

      Cooper began serving his 60-month term of supervised release on January

13, 2017. In January 2018, Cooper’s probation officer filed a report with the

district court stating that Cooper had failed to comply with the terms of his

supervised release by failing to maintain his employment and by testing positive

for controlled substances. The probation officer recounted that, when confronted

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with the positive drug tests, Cooper admitted to using drugs, expressed remorse,

and took responsibility for his actions. The probation officer issued Cooper a

written reprimand and referred him to substance abuse treatment. The probation

officer requested that the court take no further action regarding Cooper’s violations

at that time.

C.     March and April 2018 Petitions for Revocation

       In March 2018, the probation officer filed a petition to revoke Cooper’s

supervised release based on the following three alleged violations: (1) Cooper’s

attempt to deceive his probation officer by using a prosthetic penis and concealed

bag of urine when asked to provide a urine sample, which constituted new criminal

conduct of fraudulent practices under Florida Statute § 817.565; (2) Cooper’s

continuing failure, since November 2017, to maintain a lawful occupation without

an acceptable excuse; and (3) Cooper’s admitted use of marijuana. In light of the

probation officer’s petition, the district court issued a warrant for Cooper’s arrest.

       On April 13, 2018, Cooper was arrested during a traffic stop pursuant to his

outstanding warrant for violating his supervised release. During the stop, officers

observed several items consistent with the sale of narcotics in Cooper’s car,

including small plastic baggies, “cut” straws, and a small digital scale. The

officers also searched Cooper incident to his arrest and recovered a 2.8 gram bag of

crack cocaine in Cooper’s pants. After transporting Cooper to the Sheriff’s office,

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officers noticed a tan powdery substance and ripped bag on the floorboard of the

patrol vehicle. A second ripped bag of the tan substance was found in Cooper’s

boxer shorts. The tan substance tested positive for fentanyl, and the patrol vehicle

had to be decontaminated.

      Based on this new criminal conduct discovered during Cooper’s arrest, on

April 19, 2018, the probation officer filed a superseding petition for revocation of

Cooper’s supervised release. The superseding petition added the following four

violations to the three previously alleged in the March 2018 petition: (4) new

criminal conduct, possession of fentanyl with intent to sell; (5) new criminal

conduct, possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell; (6) new criminal conduct,

tampering with evidence (the fentanyl); and (7) new criminal conduct, possession

of drug paraphernalia. The probation officer noted that each of these additional

violations had resulted in state criminal charges.

      In an accompanying memorandum, the probation officer noted that Cooper’s

actions in spreading the fentanyl around the back seat of the patrol vehicle

“potentially placed the lives of the public and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

personnel in serious danger given the potential for overdose from incidental

contact with fentanyl.” The probation officer further advised that Cooper’s

statutory maximum revocation sentence was 5 years’ imprisonment and that his

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guidelines range, based on his original conviction being a Class A felony and his

criminal history category of III, was 30 to 37 months.

      The probation officer subsequently submitted a sentencing recommendation,

which recommended that Cooper be sentenced to the statutory maximum of five

years’ imprisonment based on the severity of his violations. The probation officer

noted, among other things, that Cooper’s “adjustment to supervision ha[d] been

marginal,” that he had been “consistently deceptive with his probation officer,” and

that he was “not amenable to community-based supervision.” In addition, the

probation officer emphasized that Cooper’s new criminal violations were serious,

that his conduct in tampering with the fentanyl and spreading it over the backseat

of the police vehicle “was extremely reckless given the potential for accidental

overdose from incidental contact with fentanyl,” and that the “Southern Manatee

Fire & Rescue District incurred a financial loss of $1,662.18 as a result of their

response to the [fentanyl] incident.”

D.    Revocation Hearing

      The district court held a revocation hearing on October 25, 2018. At the

hearing, Cooper pled guilty to the first, second, third, and fifth violations in the

April 2018 superseding petition for revocation (attempting to falsify the urine

sample, failing to maintain employment, using marijuana, and possessing crack

cocaine with intent to sell). The government agreed to dismiss or withdraw the

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remaining violations (possession of fentanyl with intent to sell, tampering with

evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia), but stated that it intended to use

the conduct underlying those violations as aggravating factors for imposing the

statutory maximum revocation sentence.

      Cooper requested a sentence within the guidelines range of 30 to 37 months.

Among other things, Cooper noted that the crack cocaine violation involved a

small amount of crack cocaine; the fentanyl was not pure fentanyl, but rather

heroin laced with fentanyl; he also had state charges pending on those drug

offenses; and he had accepted responsibility. Cooper further explained that he

suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from his prior period of incarceration

because he had been “treated as a snitch” for cooperating with law enforcement,

was beaten on several occasions, and was sexually assaulted on one occasion.

Cooper acknowledged that he needed substance abuse and psychological treatment

and requested that the court impose a 30-month sentence with conditions that

included drug and psychological treatment, as well as vocational training.

      The probation officer reiterated his recommendation of a 60-month statutory

maximum sentence based on the seriousness of Cooper’s conduct. The

government likewise requested a statutory maximum sentence. The government

first stressed the seriousness of Cooper’s underlying, original criminal conduct for

which he was serving supervised release, noting that Cooper was deeply involved

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in a large-scale crack cocaine conspiracy that involved various instances of violent

conduct. The government also highlighted the fact that, after being incarcerated

for that conduct, Cooper got out, went back to selling crack cocaine, and began

selling fentanyl as well. The government further emphasized the dangerous nature

of fentanyl and the recklessness of Cooper’s conduct in exposing officers to the

fentanyl by spreading it around in the patrol car. The government submitted that,

despite receiving a substantial downward departure at his original sentencing,

Cooper had “thumbed his nose at the system” and continued to engage in serious

criminal conduct.

      In response, Cooper reiterated that the drug amounts involved in his

violations were “somewhat miniscule” and that his substantial assistance to the

government in his underlying case should be considered. Cooper also noted that

he was unable to complete the Bureau of Prisons’ Residential Drug Abuse Program

(“RDAP”) during his prior incarceration because he was placed in protective

custody due to threats being made against him. Cooper concluded by stressing that

“three years is a long time” and would be “more than a sufficient sentence” given

that he also faced additional time on his state charges.

      Before pronouncing Cooper’s sentence, the district court noted that the Jesup

Federal Correctional Institution in Georgia, which Cooper’s counsel had requested,

“would be a very good choice” for Cooper “from a lot of standpoints,” including

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because it had the RDAP program and vocational training opportunities. The

district court indicated that it was considering “what’s going to be best for

[Cooper],” stressing that Cooper needed to “get out of [Manatee County]” and

“learn a trade.” The court then stated: “I’m going to recommend Jesup, Georgia.

And . . . I’m going to give you the 60 months. I want you to go away and I want

you to take advantage of all of the benefits at Jesup, Georgia. It will take you that

long to get through the RDAP program and all the vocational programs.” The

district court highlighted some of the vocational training opportunities available at

Jesup and reiterated that Cooper had “to get [himself] educated and out of Florida”

because “[t]hat’s the only thing that’s going to save you.”

      The district court then formally adjudicated Cooper guilty and sentenced

him to 60 months’ imprisonment. The court stated Cooper would “get all these

recommendations” it had just made, “including the RDAP program for the 500-

hour substance abuse.” The district court stated: “The difference between 37

months and 60 may be the difference in you getting the vocational trades you need,

including the plumbing and the computers related to the trade, and the Small

Business Administration.” The government then asked the court to clarify whether

it “adopted the arguments of the government and probation’s position,” and the

court stated that it had. The court additionally stated, “also, I’m concerned about

what would happen to [Cooper] if [he went] back to Manatee County too soon.”

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      Cooper objected that his 60-month sentence was procedurally and

substantively unreasonable and violated Tapia. The district court noted Cooper’s

objection, but stated “[g]ive yourself the 60 months before you are 40 years of age

and you may say the judge was right. You’ve got all these trades. You’re making

a new life and a fresh start.” At the end of the hearing, the district court reiterated

that “[t]his sentence may save [Cooper’s] life,” and cautioned that Cooper would

be “in big trouble if [he went] back to Manatee County.”

                                  II. DISCUSSION

      On appeal, Cooper argues that the district court erred under Tapia, rendering

his revocation sentence both procedurally and substantively unreasonable, because

it considered rehabilitation in varying upward to impose the statutory maximum

sentence. The government agrees that the district court committed Tapia error in

this case, and that the error was not harmless. Both parties request that we vacate

Cooper’s sentence and remand for resentencing. As we explain below, we agree

with the parties that the district court erred under Tapia and that the error was not

harmless.

      We review a sentence imposed upon the revocation of supervised release for

reasonableness. United States v. Vandergrift, 754 F.3d 1303, 1307 (11th Cir.

2014). In reviewing the reasonableness of a sentence, we first ensure the district

court committed no significant procedural error, and then, if no procedural error is

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found, examine whether the sentence is substantively reasonable in light of the

totality of the circumstances and the relevant 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. See Gall

v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S. Ct. 586, 597 (2007); United States v.

Trailer, 827 F.3d 933, 936 (11th Cir. 2016). If the district court errs at sentencing

and the defendant properly preserved that error for appeal, this Court will vacate

and remand for resentencing unless the government establishes that the error was

harmless, meaning that it did not affect the district court’s selection of the sentence

or had only a very slight effect. See Williams v. United States, 503 U.S. 193, 203,

112 S. Ct. 1112, 1120-21 (1992); United States v. Campa, 529 F.3d 980, 1013

(11th Cir. 2008).

      A district court commits procedural error by, among other things,

considering an improper factor in imposing sentence. Vandergrift, 754 F.3d at

1308. In Tapia, the Supreme Court held that a sentencing court may not impose or

lengthen a federal defendant’s prison term in order to promote the defendant’s

rehabilitation. Tapia v. United States, 564 U.S. 319, 321, 131 S. Ct. 2382, 2385

(2011). In Tapia, the district court “referred several times to Tapia’s need for drug

treatment,” specifically citing the RDAP program, commented that Tapia should

serve a prison term long enough to complete that program, and explicitly stated

that Tapia’s need for drug treatment was “one of the factors” it considered in

imposing sentence. Id. at 321-22, 131 S. Ct. at 2385.

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      The Supreme Court held that the district court’s consideration of Tapia’s

need for rehabilitative services was impermissible. See id. at 321, 334-35, 131
S. Ct. at 2385, 2392-93. The Supreme Court determined that § 3582(a) of the

Sentencing Reform Act, which in relevant part instructs sentencing courts to

“‘recogniz[e] that imprisonment is not an appropriate means of promoting

correction and rehabilitation,’” precludes sentencing courts from imposing or

lengthening a defendant’s prison term to promote rehabilitation. See id. at 326-32,

131 S. Ct. at 2388-91 (quoting 18 U.S.C. § 3582(a)). The Tapia Court was careful

to explain, however, that “[a] court commits no error by discussing the

opportunities for rehabilitation within prison or the benefits of specific treatment or

training programs” at sentencing. Id. at 334, 131 S. Ct. at 2392. The problem in

Tapia’s case was that the district court’s statements “suggest[ed] that the court may

have calculated the length of Tapia’s sentence to ensure that she receive[d] certain

rehabilitative services,” which the Court held is impermissible. Id. at 334-35, 131

S. Ct. at 2392-93.

      In Vandergrift, this Court held that Tapia applies in the context of a

resentencing upon revocation of supervised release. 754 F.3d at 1309. This Court

in Vandergrift further explained that Tapia is not limited to situations where the

district court (1) specifically tailors the length of the sentence to permit completion

of a rehabilitation program, or (2) considers rehabilitation as the dominant factor in

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its sentencing determination. Id. at 1310. Rather, this Court held that “Tapia error

occurs where a district court considers rehabilitation when crafting a sentence of

imprisonment.” Id. This Court elaborated that, “[a]s with any other instance

where a court considers an impermissible sentencing factor, considering

rehabilitation is error,” and “[t]his is true regardless of how dominant the error was

in the court’s analysis and regardless of whether we can tell with certainty that the

court relied on rehabilitation because the sentence was tailored to a rehabilitation

program.” Id. at 1311 (citation omitted).

      Here, as in Tapia and Vandergrift, the district court procedurally erred by

considering rehabilitation in imposing Cooper’s sentence. Tapia, 564 U.S. at 334-

35, 131 S. Ct. at 2392-93; Vandergrift, 754 F.3d at 1311. The district court did

more than simply discuss the rehabilitation and training opportunities that would

be available to Cooper in prison. See Tapia, 564 U.S. at 334, 131 S. Ct. at 2392.

Rather, the district court repeatedly stressed Cooper’s need to stop using drugs,

learn a trade, and leave Manatee County behind to get a fresh start and indicated

that the 60-month sentence it imposed would further those goals. In particular, the

district court noted, after stating that it would impose a 60-month sentence, that

“[i]t will take you that long to get through the RDAP program and all the

vocational programs.” And the court later reiterated that “[t]he difference between

37 months and 60 may be the difference in you getting the vocational trades you

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need.” These statements suggest that the district court may have calculated the

length of Cooper’s sentence to ensure he received certain rehabilitative services, in

violation of Tapia. See Tapia, 564 U.S. at 334-35, 131 S. Ct. at 2393; Vandergrift,
754 F.3d at 1311 (concluding the district court’s statements that it “consider[ed]

what’s best for the defendant as a factor” and that “vocational training for a period

of time in the prison system . . . could also help save the defendant’s life” violated

Tapia).

      Furthermore, the record does not indicate that the district court’s Tapia error

in this case was harmless. Indeed, the government concedes it was not. Although

the district court, at the government’s prompting, agreed that it had “adopted the

arguments of the government and probation’s position,” the only factors the district

court actually discussed in imposing Cooper’s sentence were his needs for

substance abuse treatment and vocational training. The district court did not

indicate that, absent those rehabilitative considerations, it still would have varied

upward to the statutory maximum sentence based on certain permissible factors.

And given the district court’s statements, recounted above, indicating that it

sentenced Cooper to the statutory maximum specifically because of his need for

rehabilitation, we cannot say on this record that the district court’s Tapia error did

not affect or had only a very slight effect on Cooper’s sentence. See Williams, 503
U.S. at 203, 112 S. Ct. at 1120-21; Campa, 529 F.3d at 1013.

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                                     IV. CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the district court procedurally

erred under Tapia in imposing Cooper’s 60-month revocation sentence, and that

error was not harmless. 2 Accordingly, we vacate Cooper’s sentence and remand

for resentencing.

       VACATED AND REMANDED.

       2
          Having concluded that the district court committed procedural error in this case, we need
not and do not address whether, as a separate matter, Cooper’s 60-month sentence is
substantively unreasonable. See Gall, 552 U.S. at 51, 128 S. Ct. at 597 (indicating that courts
should consider the substantive reasonableness of a sentence only after first determining that the
sentence is procedurally sound). Nothing in this opinion should be read to suggest that the
district court, on remand, may not reimpose a 60-month sentence if it finds that such an upward
variance is warranted by permissible factors.
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