Court Opinion

ID: 2677718
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-06-10 15:00:41.059268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:11:59.260797
License: Public Domain

Case: 13-14869   Date Filed: 06/10/2014   Page: 1 of 5

                                                          [DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                       ________________________

                             No. 13-14869
                         Non-Argument Calendar
                       ________________________

                D.C. Docket No. 1:13-cr-00085-JRH-BKE-1

     UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

     JABRIEL FITZGERALD LAKES,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

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

                              (June 10, 2014)

Before MARCUS, WILSON, and FAY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
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      Jabriel Fitzgerald Lakes appeals his 58-month sentence, imposed after

pleading guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation

of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). At the sentencing hearing, the district court enhanced

Lakes’ base offense level by four points pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B)

because Lakes “used or possessed a firearm . . . in connection with another felony

offense.” The district court found that, due to his prior drug convictions, Lakes’s

possession of 1.8 grams of marijuana at the same time as his possession of a

firearm constituted “another felony offense” under the language of 21 U.S.C. §

844(a). The court then imposed a 58-month sentence, which fell within the

applicable guideline range of 57 to 71 months’ imprisonment.

      Lakes appeals the application of the four-point enhancement to his base

offense level as substantively unreasonable, arguing that the resulting sentence is

unduly harsh given the circumstances of this case. Lakes argues that application of

the enhancement “resulted in a grossly disproportional sentence in light of the

actual amount of marijuana” in his possession at the time of arrest. While Lakes

concedes in his brief that his prior drug convictions would render him ineligible to

receive misdemeanor treatment on the marijuana charge under 21 U.S.C.

§§ 841(b)(4) and 844, he argues that an additional 20 months of imprisonment for

possession of less than 2 grams of marijuana is patently unreasonable. Under these

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circumstances, Lakes argues that the court’s consideration of the § 3553(a) factors

was erroneous.

      We review the reasonableness of a sentence under a deferential abuse of

discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 41, 128 S. Ct. 586, 591,

169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). We may “set aside a sentence only if we determine, after

giving a full measure of deference to the sentencing judge, that the sentence

imposed truly is unreasonable.” United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160, 1191 (11th

Cir. 2010) (en banc).

      The party who challenges the sentence “bears the burden to show it is

unreasonable in light of the record and the § 3553(a) factors.” United States v.

Tome, 611 F.3d 1371, 1378 (11th Cir. 2010). Although we do not automatically

presume a sentence falling within the guideline range to be reasonable, we

ordinarily expect such a sentence to be reasonable. See United States v. Hunt, 526

F.3d 739, 746 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam). A sentence imposed well below the

statutory maximum penalty is another indicator of a reasonable sentence. United

States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir. 2008).

      In reviewing the reasonableness of a sentence, we first ensure that the

sentence was procedurally reasonable, meaning the district court properly

calculated the guideline range, treated the Guidelines as advisory, considered the

§ 3553(a) factors, did not select a sentence based on clearly erroneous facts, and

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adequately explained the chosen sentence. Gall, 552 U.S. at 51, 128 S. Ct. at 597.

Once we determine that a sentence is procedurally sound, we then examine

whether the sentence was substantively reasonable in light of the totality of the

circumstances. Id.

      The district court must impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than

necessary to comply with the purposes” listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including the

need to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide

just punishment for the offense, deter criminal conduct, and protect the public from

the defendant’s future criminal conduct. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2). In imposing

a particular sentence, the court must also consider the nature and circumstances of

the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the kinds of sentences

available, the applicable guideline range, the pertinent policy statements of the

Sentencing Commission, the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities, and

the need to provide restitution to victims. Id. §§ 3553(a)(1), (3)-(7).

      At his sentencing hearing, Lakes pointed out that his applicable guideline

range which would have been 37 to 46 months without the enhancement, jumped

to 57 to 71 months “for such a small amount of drugs.” As stated by his lawyer at

sentencing: “As a practical matter I don’t know that you could cover up my

thumbnail with 1.8 grams of marijuana . . . I am certainly not excusing any of this

stuff, but it’s just a small amount that—and such a large enhancement, really, for

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such a small amount of drugs.” Lakes stated that he was holding the marijuana for

a friend, and not for himself. Accordingly, he argued, the application of the

enhancement does not serve the factors enumerated in § 3553(a).

      After three prior drug convictions, Lakes was caught with a loaded firearm

while in possession of three separate bags of marijuana, subjecting him to the four-

level enhancement under the advisory guidelines. The record demonstrates that the

district court considered the parties’ arguments, the presentence investigation

report, the Guidelines and the § 3553(a) factors when it pronounced its sentence.

The sentence is within, and at the low end of the applicable guideline range. It is

also below the statutory maximum, further lending itself to a finding of

reasonableness. Thus, Lakes has not met his burden of showing that the district

court abused its discretion in applying the enhancement. We affirm the district

court’s sentence as reasonable.

      AFFIRMED.

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