Court Opinion

ID: 3063247
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 20:57:43.717422+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:49:35.745424
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                         ________________________                  FILED
                                                          U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                               No. 09-13785                 ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                             FEBRUARY 19, 2010
                           Non-Argument Calendar
                                                                 JOHN LEY
                         ________________________
                                                                  CLERK

                      D. C. Docket No. 09-20280-CR-UU

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                     versus

JOSE MIGUEL BARBOSA,

                                                            Defendant-Appellant.

                         ________________________

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

                              (February 19, 2010)

Before BLACK, BARKETT and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Jose Miguel Barbosa appeals his 70-month sentence for illegal reentry after
deportation of a convicted felon, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(2). On

appeal, Barbosa argues that his sentence is unreasonable because the district court

did not properly consider the statutory factors to fashion a sentence that is

“sufficient, but not greater than necessary” to fulfill the goals of 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a). Specifically, Barbosa argues that the district court failed to properly

consider his argument that he was entitled to a variance based on his personal

characteristics. Barbosa further argues that the district court erred in failing to

consider that his criminal history was subject to double counting under the

sentencing guidelines and that fast-track programs create sentencing disparities in

re-entry cases.

      We review the reasonableness of sentences imposed under the advisory

Sentencing Guidelines under an abuse of discretion standard. Gall v. United

States, 552 U.S. 38, 56, 128 S.Ct. 586, 600, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). The burden

of establishing unreasonableness lies with the party challenging the sentence.

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

      When reviewing a sentence for reasonableness, we evaluate whether the

sentence imposed by the district court fails to achieve the purposes of sentencing

under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Id. The sentencing court shall impose a sentence

sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to (1) reflect the seriousness of the

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offense, (2) promote respect for the law, (3) provide just punishment for the

offense, (4) deter criminal conduct, (5) protect the public from future crimes of the

defendant, and (6) provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational

training or medical care. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2). When considering the

sufficiency and reasonableness of a sentence under § 3553(a), “double counting” of

a particular factor, such as a defendant’s criminal history, “is permissible if the

Sentencing Commission intended the results, and if the result is permissible

because each section concerns conceptually separate notions relating to

sentencing.” United States v. Adeleke, 968 F.2d 1159, 1161 (11th Cir. 1992).

      The sentencing court must also consider the following factors in determining

a particular sentence: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the

history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the kinds of sentences available;

(3) the guideline range; (4) the pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing

Commission; (5) the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities; and (6) the

need to provide restitution to victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), (3)-(7). However,

when considering the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities, a district

court is not permitted to consider disparities existing as a result of fast-track

programs in jurisdictions without such a program. United States v. Vega-Castillo,

540 F.3d 1235 (11th Cir. 2008), cert. denied, 125 S.Ct. 2825 (2009).

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      Reasonableness review is deferential, and if a district court imposes a

sentence within the advisory guideline range, “we ordinarily will expect that choice

to be a reasonable one.” Id. The sentencing judge should “set forth enough to

satisfy the appellate court that he has considered the parties’ arguments and has a

reasoned basis for exercising his own legal decisionmaking authority.” Rita v.

United States, 551 U.S. 338, 356, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2468, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007).

Thus, if the record indicates in a “conceptually simple” case that a sentencing

judge has listened to the arguments and considered the evidence, the judge is not

legally required to expound upon the reasoning underlying his decision. 551 U.S.

at 358-59, 127 S.Ct. at 2469.

      Upon review of the record and consideration of the parties’ briefs, we find

no error. The court properly considered the arguments presented by the parties, the

advisory sentencing guidelines, and the statutory factors in imposing a sentence at

the low end of the guideline range. Additionally, the district court committed no

error in not considering the double counting of Barbosa’s criminal history under

the sentencing guidelines or the sentencing disparities that exist due to fast-track

programs in some jurisdictions. Because Barbosa has not met his burden to show

that this sentence does not meet our ordinary expectation of reasonableness, we

affirm.

      AFFIRMED.

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