Court Opinion

ID: 3214770
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-20 15:00:56.137857+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:39:37.110077
License: Public Domain

Case: 15-14043   Date Filed: 06/20/2016   Page: 1 of 5

                                                     [DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                      ________________________

                             No. 15-14043
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                       ________________________

               D.C. Docket No. 4:14-cr-00415-WTM-GRS-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                        Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

ANTONIO FRANKLIN JOHNSON,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

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

                              (June 20, 2016)

Before TJOFLAT, JILL PRYOR, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
              Case: 15-14043     Date Filed: 06/20/2016    Page: 2 of 5

      Antonio Franklin Johnson appeals his 120-months sentence, imposed after

pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). He argues that the district court

erred by applying a four-level enhancement, pursuant to U.S.S.G. §2K2.1(b)(6)(B),

for possessing a firearm in connection with another felony. He also contends that

the district court erred by indicating in the Statement of Reasons that the sentence

was not greater than 24 months and the district court was not required to give

specific reasons for the sentence.

                                          I.

      We review a district court’s interpretation and application of the sentencing

guidelines de novo and its factual findings for clear error. United States v. Smith,

480 F.3d 1277, 1278 (11th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted). Evaluating whether a

firearm was used “in connection with” a felony offense is a factual determination

and we evaluate for clear error. United States v. Whitfield, 50 F.3d 947, 949 & n.8

(11th Cir. 1995).

      In calculating the guideline range for a firearm possession offense, U.S.S.G.

§ 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) provides for a four-level enhancement where the defendant “used

or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony

offense.” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). Section 2K2.1 Application Note 14 states

that subsection (b)(6)(B) applies “if the firearm or ammunition facilitated, or had

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               Case: 15-14043    Date Filed: 06/20/2016    Page: 3 of 5

the potential of facilitating, another felony offense.” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1 comment.

(n.14(A)).

      We have held that the term “in connection with” in U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(5)

should be given its ordinary and natural meaning, and we have expressly rejected a

more restrictive interpretation that required the firearm to serve a purpose related

to the crime. Smith, 480 F.3d at 1280 (citation omitted). Moreover, in interpreting

Guideline provisions that contain an “in connection with” requirement identical to

U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(5), we have held that, “in certain circumstances, mere

possession of a firearm can be enough to apply a sentencing enhancement. Id.

(quotation and citation omitted). Generally, we have held that drugs and guns go

together. United States v. Lopez, 649 F.3d 1222, 1242 (11th Cir. 2011).

      The district court did not clearly err by applying a four-level enhancement,

pursuant to U.S.S.G. §2K2.1(b)(6)(B), because Johnson had possession of the

firearm and a felonious amount of marijuana at the same time in his car. Mere

possession of a firearm can be enough to apply a sentencing enhancement because

drugs and guns generally go together, and the firearm was not required to serve a

purpose related to the crime. Therefore, we affirm the application of the four-level

enhancement.

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                                          II.

      We review the question of whether a district court complied with 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(c)(1) de novo, even if the defendant did not object below. United States v.

Bonilla, 463 F.3d 1176, 1182 (11th Cir.2006).

      Under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1), the sentencing court must explain its reasons

for imposing a sentence at a particular point in the guideline range “when the range

exceeds 24 months.” 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(1); United States v. Veteto, 920 F.2d

823, 826 (11th Cir. 1991). A sentence may be imposed at any point within the

applicable guideline range, provided that it is not greater than the statutorily

authorized maximum sentence. U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(c). When the statutory

authorized maximum sentence is less than the maximum of the guideline range, the

guideline range becomes the statutory maximum and the low end of the guideline

range. See id.

      The district court did not err by indicating in the Statement of Reasons that

the sentencing range was not greater than 24 months. Because of the statutory

authorized maximum sentence of 120 months, Johnson’s range was no longer 120

months to 150 months but merely 120 months. Thus, there was a range of zero.

Therefore, the district court did not err by indicating that the sentence was within

an advisory range that was not greater than 24 months, and thus was not required

to give specific reasons for the sentence. Accordingly, we affirm.

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     Case: 15-14043   Date Filed: 06/20/2016   Page: 5 of 5

AFFIRMED.

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