Court Opinion

ID: 179154
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-11-12 17:41:14+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:37:14.994006
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ___________

                                     No. 09-2401
                                     ___________

                           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                           v.

                               EDWARD CASTRO, JR.
                               a/k/a EDDIE, a/k/a BIG E

                                                  Edward Castro, Jr.,
                                                              Appellant
                              _______________________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                        D.C. Criminal No. 2-03-cr-00173-002
                    (District Judge: Honorable R. Barclay Surrick)
                                   ______________

                   Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                 November 1, 2010

             Before: SCIRICA, STAPLETON and ROTH, Circuit Judges.

                              (Filed: November 12, 2010)

                                 _________________

                              OPINION OF THE COURT
                                 _________________

SCIRICA, Circuit Judge.

      On August, 10, 2004, Edward Castro, Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute

more than 50 grams of cocaine base (“crack”) in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, possession
of crack with the intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and possession

of crack with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§ 860(a). On April 28, 2006, the District Court sentenced Castro to 360 months’

imprisonment, ten years of supervised release, and imposed a $300 special assessment.

Castro appealed his sentence arguing that the District Court had erred in applying the

100:1 crack:powder ratio and had improperly applied guideline enhancements. We

remanded for resentencing, United States v. Castro, 266 Fed. Appx. 92 (3d Cir. 2008),

directing the District Court to consider the sentence in light of Kimbrough v. United

States, 552 U.S. 85 (2007). But at the same time, we determined the District Court

properly considered the sentencing factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Castro, 266 Fed.

Appx. at 94. At resentencing, the District Court adopted the same advisory guideline

calculation, and sentenced Castro to 360 months’ imprisonment, eight years supervised

release, and a $200 special assessment. Castro appeals his sentence, contending it is

unreasonable. We will affirm. 1

                                              I.

         Edward Castro, Jr., along with several others, was involved in a conspiracy to

produce and distribute crack cocaine in Reading, Pennsylvania. In January of 2000,

Castro began supplying large quantities of cocaine to Jose Serrano, a leader of the crack

distribution enterprise. Castro also contributed financial resources to the criminal

partnership, and later shared in the profits of the organization. At his sentencing hearing,

1
    We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a).

                                              2
Castro admitted that approximately 23 kilograms of crack cocaine were distributed over

the course of the crack selling conspiracy. Co-conspirator Jose Serrano testified at the

hearing that Castro maintained a leadership position in the criminal enterprise.

Moreover, it was also determined that during the course of the conspiracy, Castro

employed the use of firearms and bulletproof vests to protect the operation.

       At the resentencing hearing, there was no objection to the sentencing guidelines

offense level calculation and criminal history 2 , which provided for a sentence of life

imprisonment. But Castro contended the length of his vacated sentence compared with

the length of other co-defendants’ sentences was unreasonable. As noted, the District

Court resentenced Castro to 360 months’ imprisonment, 8 years supervised release, and a

$200 special assessment.

                                             II.

       We generally review sentencing decisions for abuse of discretion. Gall v. United

States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007); United States v. Lychock, 578 F. 3d 214, 217 (3d Cir.

2009). Determining whether an abuse of discretion occurred requires a reasonableness

analysis, which has both procedural and substantive elements. Gall, 552 U.S. at 51. We

first determine if there was procedural error. Id.

2
  We ruled that the offense level calculation of 43, which included the various
enhancements, was proper. Castro, 266 Fed. Appx. at 94. Castro’s criminal history score
was III. He does not challenge these calculations. The guideline recommended sentence
is life imprisonment.

                                              3
       Procedural reasonableness “focuses on whether the District Court committed any

error in calculating or explaining the sentence.” Lychock, 578 F. 3d at 217. At the

resentencing hearing, the District Court properly calculated the guidelines range,

adequately explained the chosen sentence, and sufficiently considered the 18 U.S.C §

3553(a) factors. See Gall, 552 U.S. at 51. Castro contends the District Court abused its

discretion by failing to consider the factor in Section 3553(a)(6), which aims to “avoid

unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been

found guilty of similar conduct.” We disagree.

       “A defendant cannot rely upon Section 3553(a)(6) to seek a reduced sentence

designed to lessen disparity between co-defendants’ sentences.” United States v. Parker,

462 F.3d 273, 277 (3d Cir. 2006). Section 3553(a)(6) does not address disparities among

co-defendants’ sentences within a single case, but rather sentencing disparities among

similarly situated defendants nationwide. United States v. Seligsohn, 981 F.2d 1418, 1428

(3d Cir. 1992) (citing United States v. Restrepo, 936 F. 2d 661, 670-71 (2d Cir. 1991);

United States v. Joyner, 924 F. 2d 454, 460-61 (2d Cir. 1991)). Giving proper

consideration to the factors of Section 3553(a) does not require the sentencing court to

consider disparities that may or may not exist among the sentences of co-defendants.

There is no procedural error.

       Furthermore, Castro was not similarly situated to his co-defendants. Two co-

defendants received shorter sentences than Castro because they cooperated with

authorities, and another co-defendant received a shorter sentence because he played a less

                                             4
significant role in the conspiracy. The contention that Castro was similarly situated to his

co-defendants lacks factual merit.

       The substantive reasonableness determination is based on the totality of the

circumstances. Gall, 552 U.S., at 51. The substantive reasonableness of the sentence is

reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard, and a below guideline sentence may be

granted a presumption of reasonableness. Id. As Castro’s sentence is below guideline

range, and there is nothing in the record to indicate any abuse of discretion, the sentence

imposed by the District Court is reasonable. The District Court properly considered all

the relevant Section 3553(a) factors.

                                            III.

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the judgment of conviction and sentence.

                                             5