Court Opinion

ID: 66630
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:12:31+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:47.953018
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                        ________________________                 FILED
                                                        U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              No. 08-10673                ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                            November 17, 2008
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                                                           THOMAS K. KAHN
                        ________________________
                                                                CLERK

               D. C. Docket No. 07-00107-CR-ORL-28-UAM

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

DAMARIS CRUZ,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Middle District of Florida
                      _________________________
                            (November 17, 2008)

Before CARNES, BARKETT and WILSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Damaris Cruz appeals her 121-month sentence, imposed following her
conviction on one count of possession with intent to distribute five or more

kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A). On appeal,

Cruz first argues that her sentence violates the Eighth Amendment because it was

not proportional to the crime she committed. Second, Cruz argues that the district

court clearly erred in failing to award her a reduction for playing a mitigating role

in the offense under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 and for her acceptance of responsibility

under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. Finally, Cruz argues that the government breached the

plea agreement because, in the agreement, it promised to make certain

recommendations at sentencing, but failed to make them. As to the two guidelines

issues, the government responds that Cruz’s sentence-appeal waiver in her plea

agreement bars appellate review.

I.     Eighth Amendment

       We review for plain error an argument raised for the first time on appeal

that a sentence violates the Eighth Amendment. See United States v. Johnson, 451
F.3d 1239, 1242 (11th Cir. 2006). Under plain error review, we can only make

corrections if there is an error, that is plain, and that affects substantial rights.

United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir. 2005). If these criteria

are met, we have the discretion to correct the error, but “should” correct the error

only if it “seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial

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proceedings.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 736, 113 S. Ct. 1770, 1779,

123 L. Ed. 2d 508 (1993) (quotation and alteration omitted).

      The Eighth Amendment provides that “cruel and unusual punishments [shall

not be] inflicted.” U.S. Const. amend. VIII. To determine whether a sentence

violates the Eighth Amendment, we

      must make a threshold determination that the sentence imposed is
      grossly disproportionate to the offense committed and, if it is grossly
      disproportionate, [we] must then consider the sentences imposed on
      others convicted in the same jurisdiction and the sentences imposed
      for commission of the same crime in other jurisdictions.

United States v. Raad, 406 F.3d 1322, 1324 (11th Cir. 2005) (quotation omitted).

The defendant bears the burden of making the threshold showing of

disproportionality. See id. at 1324 n.4. “In non-capital cases, the Eighth

Amendment encompasses, at most, only a narrow proportionality principle.”

United States v. Reynolds, 215 F.3d 1210, 1214 (11th Cir. 2000) (quotation

omitted). “The Supreme Court has made it clear that, outside the context of capital

punishment, successful challenges to the proportionality of sentences are

exceedingly rare.” Raad, 406 F.3d at 1323 (quotation and alterations omitted). “In

general, a sentence within the limits imposed by statute is neither excessive nor

cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment.” Johnson, 451 F.3d at 1243

(quotation omitted).

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      In this case, the district court did not commit plain error in sentencing Cruz

because her sentence did not violate the Eighth Amendment, as she cannot show

that the sentence was disproportionate to her offense under the Supreme Court’s

and our precedent. Accordingly, we affirm as to this issue.

II.   Guideline Issues

      “[T]he determination of whether a defendant effectively – that is knowingly

and voluntarily – waived [her] right to appeal [her] sentence is a question of law

that this court reviews de novo.” United States v. Bushert, 997 F.2d 1343, 1352

(11th Cir. 1993). “An appeal-of-sentence waiver provision is enforceable if the

waiver is made knowingly and voluntarily.” United States v. Weaver, 275 F.3d
1320, 1333 (11th Cir. 2001). “To establish the waiver’s validity, the government

must show either that (1) the district court specifically questioned the defendant

about the provision during the plea colloquy, or (2) it is manifestly clear from the

record that the defendant fully understood the significance of the waiver.” Id. “An

appeal waiver includes the waiver of the right to appeal difficult or debatable legal

issues or even blatant error.” United States v. Grinard-Henry, 399 F.3d 1294, 1296

(11th Cir. 2005).

      Cruz is precluded from challenging the court’s guideline calculation because

she knowingly and voluntarily entered into a sentence-appeal waiver in her plea

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agreement. The waiver applies to these two guidelines issues, and accordingly we

dismiss the appeal as to these issues.

III.   Alleged Breach of the Plea Agreement

       We review an argument that the government breached a plea agreement,

raised for the first time on appeal, for plain error. See United States v. Romano,

314 F.3d 1279, 1281 (11th Cir. 2002). “A material promise by the government,

which induces a defendant to plead guilty, binds the government to that promise.

Whether the government violated the agreement is judged according to the

defendant’s reasonable understanding of the agreement when [s]he entered the

plea.” United States v. Thomas, 487 F.3d 1358, 1360 (11th Cir. 2007) (citation

omitted).

       Cruz cannot show that the court committed plain error in sentencing her

because the promised recommendations in the agreement were conditional, and

Cruz failed to satisfy those conditions. Accordingly, the government did not

breach the agreement and we affirm as to this issue.

IV.    Conclusion

       Based on a review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm as to

Cruz’s arguments concerning the Eighth Amendment and a breach of the plea

agreement, and we dismiss the appeal as to her claims concerning her sentencing

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guideline calculation.

      AFFIRMED in part, DISMISSED in part.

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