Court Opinion

ID: 220624
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-07-08 17:13:46+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:46.126261
License: Public Domain

Case: 10-60837         Document: 00511534098              Page: 1       Date Filed: 07/08/2011

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                     FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                     Fifth Circuit

                                                                                         FILED
                                                                                         July 8, 2011
                                           No. 10-60837
                                         Summary Calendar                               Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                             Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff–Appellee,

v.

JASON ANTOINE BROWN,

                                                           Defendant–Appellant.

                       Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Mississippi
                                  USDC No. 3:10-CR-3

Before WIENER, PRADO, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Jason Antoine Brown appeals the sentence imposed following his
convictions for one count of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity
theft. He contends that the Government breached the plea agreement by
arguing at sentencing that the sentences should be consecutive. He maintains
that the plea agreement required the Government to recommend a two-year
total sentence for the two counts of aggravated identity theft or, at a minimum,

        *
          Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and
is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
   Case: 10-60837     Document: 00511534098        Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/08/2011

                                    No. 10-60837

to remain silent concerning whether the sentences should be concurrent or consecutive.
      The Government moves to dismiss the appeal as barred by the appeal
waiver in the plea agreement, arguing that it did not breach the plea agreement
because the agreement did not preclude the Government from requesting
consecutive sentences. The Government alternatively moves for summary
affirmance and for an extension of time to file a brief.
      Although Brown raised this argument in a pro se district court motion, he
filed it after he had filed a notice of appeal, which divested the district court of
jurisdiction. See United States v. Green, 882 F.2d 999, 1001 (5th Cir. 1989).
Therefore, review is limited to plain error. See Puckett v. United States, 129 S.
Ct. 1423, 1433 (2009). To show plain error, the appellant must show a forfeited
error that is clear or obvious and that affects his substantial rights. Id. at 1429.
If the appellant makes such a showing, this court has the discretion to correct
the error, but only if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public
reputation of judicial proceedings. Id.
      Brown cannot satisfy the plain error standard. First, it is not clear or
obvious that the Government breached the plea agreement because the
agreement is silent regarding whether the sentences should be served
concurrently or consecutively. See Puckett, 129 S. Ct. at 1429. Further, Brown
has not shown that any alleged breach violated his substantial rights. See id.
The district court had discretion to determine whether to order that the sentence
for the second aggravated identity theft be served concurrently or consecutively.
See 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(b)(4). After hearing arguments from both parties, the
district court ultimately determined that all of the sentences should be served
consecutively and gave numerous reasons for the sentence imposed, including
Brown’s extensive criminal history. Brown has not shown that, but for the
Government’s alleged breach, the district court would not have imposed
consecutive sentences. See Puckett, 129 S. Ct. at 1432-33 & n.4; see also United

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  Case: 10-60837    Document: 00511534098       Page: 3   Date Filed: 07/08/2011

                                 No. 10-60837

States v. Mondragon-Santiago, 564 F.3d 357, 364-65 (5th Cir. 2009). Therefore,
Brown has not shown that his substantial rights were violated. See Puckett, 129
S. Ct. at 1429. The Government’s motions to dismiss the appeal or in the
alternative for summary affirmance and for an extension of time to file a brief
are denied.
      AFFIRMED; MOTIONS DENIED.

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