Court Opinion

ID: 66169
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 06:07:20+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:44.755673
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT           FILED
                     ________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                        ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                           OCT 28, 2008
                            No. 07-15946
                                                         THOMAS K. KAHN
                        Non-Argument Calendar
                                                             CLERK
                      ________________________

                  D. C. Docket No. 07-10036-CR-KMM

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

ALFREDO RIVERA PAJON,

                                                       Defendant-Appellant.

                      ________________________

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

                           (October 28, 2008)

Before BLACK, MARCUS and WILSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Alfredo Rivera Pajon appeals his 60-month upward variance sentence

imposed after pleading guilty to conspiracy to smuggle aliens resulting in serious

bodily injury, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I), and unlawful entry

into Cuban territorial waters, in violation of 50 U.S.C. § 192. On appeal, Pajon

argues that his sentence is procedurally unreasonable because the district court

failed to adequately explain its application of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors and

failed to apply these factors to Pajon individually. Pajon also argues that his

sentence is substantively unreasonable because the district court did not provide a

sufficiently compelling justification for imposing an upward variance.

      We review the sentence imposed by the district court for reasonableness.

United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 785 (11th Cir. 2005). The reasonableness

standard means review for abuse of discretion. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S.

___, 128 S. Ct. 586, 597 (2007). First, we look for an explanation of the sentence

in the record sufficient “to allow for meaningful appellate review and to promote

the perception of fair sentencing.” Id. Next, a sentence is procedurally

unreasonable if the district court failed to calculate or incorrectly calculated the

guidelines, treated the guidelines as mandatory, failed to consider the § 3553(a)

factors, selected a sentence based on clearly erroneous facts, or failed to

adequately explain the chosen sentence. Gall, 552 U.S. at ___, 128 S. Ct. at 597.

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      Section 3553(a) provides that district courts must consider, inter alia:

(1) the applicable guidelines range; (2) the nature and circumstances of the

offense; (3) the history and characteristics of the defendant; (4) the need for the

sentence imposed to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for

the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; (5) the need for adequate

deterrence to criminal conduct; (6) protection of the public from further crimes of

the defendant; and (7) the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities. 18

U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1)-(6).

      In the present case, the district court committed no significant procedural

error. The record contains an explanation of the district court’s rationale for

imposing an above-guidelines sentence sufficient “to allow for meaningful

appellate review.” See Gall, 552 U.S. at ___, 128 S. Ct. at 590. The district court

considered both Pajon’s argument as to why he should receive a minor role

adjustment and the government’s argument that Pajon was a co-conspirator who

had identified himself as an operator of the vessel. Further, the court considered

Pajon’s arguments for a sentence within the guidelines on the basis of his

acceptance of responsibility for his conduct. Before imposing the sentence, the

court specifically found that Pajon was “equally culpable.” Accordingly, the court

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conducted “an individualized assessment based on the facts presented.” Gall, 552

U.S. at ___, 128 S. Ct. at 590.

       The district court stated that it had considered the advisory guidelines and

all of the statutory factors. It was entitled to emphasize the need to promote

respect for the law and deterrence. Thus Pajon’s sentence is procedurally

reasonable because the record demonstrates that the district court properly

conducted an individualized analysis of the presentence investigation report, the

§ 3553(a) factors, and the parties’ statements, and made adequate findings

explaining its basis for sentencing.

      Once we conclude that the district court made no procedural errors, we then

consider “the substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed under an

abuse-of-discretion standard.” Gall, 552 U.S. at ___, 128 S. Ct. at 597. Such

review entails determining whether the sentence is supported by the § 3553(a)

factors. Id. at 600. Reasonableness review is “deferential” and “the party who

challenges the sentence bears the burden of establishing that the sentence is

unreasonable in light of both [the] record and the factors in section 3553(a).”

Talley, 431 F.3d at 788.

      After correctly calculating the advisory guidelines range, the district court

may impose a more severe or lenient sentence, so long as the resulting sentence is

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reasonable. United States v. Valnor, 451 F.3d 744, 750 (11th Cir. 2006). If a

district court decides that a sentence outside that range is appropriate, it must

“consider the extent of the deviation and ensure that the justification is sufficiently

compelling to support the degree of the variance.” Gall, 552 U.S. at ___, 128 S.

Ct. at 597.

      Pajon’s sentence of 60 months’ imprisonment, above the guidelines range of

37 to 46 months, is not a substantial deviation considering it is well below the

statutory maximum of 20 years for Count 1 and 10 years for Count 12. See Gall,

552 U.S. at ___, 128 S. Ct. at 597. In addition, the need to promote deterrence and

respect for the law are legitimate concerns under § 3553(a), and the emphasis the

district court placed on these factors merits deference in light of the fact that the

district court also considered the rest of the statutory factors.

      We conclude that the district court followed proper sentencing procedures

by making findings sufficient to allow for meaningful appellate review and by

considering factors personal to Pajon when determining his sentence under 18

U.S.C. § 3553(a). Also, because Pajon’s sentence is supported by a sufficiently

compelling justification, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its

discretion by imposing a sentence above the guidelines range. Based upon the

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foregoing and our review of the record and the parties briefs, we affirm Pajon’s

sentence as reasonable.

      AFFIRMED.

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