Court Opinion

ID: 9881903
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-04 17:00:42.315754+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:25.156667
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ______________

                                       No. 22-2980
                                     ______________

                            UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                             v.

                                 JOHN DAVID GOLOM,
                                         a/k/a Robert Lupo;
                                         a/k/a Bobby Lupo;
                                         a/k/a John Golum,
                                                 Appellant
                                    ______________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                                 (No. 3-19-cr-00159-001)
                    U.S. District Judge: Honorable Robert D. Mariani
                                     ______________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                   October 3, 2023
                                  ______________

              Before: SHWARTZ, MATEY, and SCIRICA, Circuit Judges.

                                 (Filed: October 4, 2023)
                                     ______________

                                        OPINION
                                     ______________

       
        This disposition is not an opinion of the full court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does
not constitute binding precedent.
SHWARTZ, Circuit Judge.

       John David Golom appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to commit

sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. Because there are no nonfrivolous issues

warranting review, we will grant his counsel’s motion to withdraw under Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and affirm.

                                               I

       As a result of an undercover operation, law enforcement learned that Golom had

been trafficking two women to engage in commercial sex. After his arrest, Golom

admitted to some of his conduct, including that he first approached one of his victims,

who was homeless at the time, as she was walking to the hospital for psychiatric

treatment. Golom, however, blamed his sex trafficking conduct on his victims and

claimed that he did not receive any of the money from the trafficking, which was

contradicted by video recordings and the victims’ statements. Law enforcement also

learned that Golom called his ex-wife from prison and directed her to warn one of his

victims not to speak to the authorities.

       Golom pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with conspiracy

to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§§ 1594(c) and 1591(b)(1).

       At sentencing, the District Court adopted the Presentence Investigation Report’s

(“PSR”) United States Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines”) range calculation of 324 to

405 months’ imprisonment based on a total offense level of thirty-seven and a criminal

                                               2
history category of V.1 Over Golom’s objections, the Court applied (1) a two-level

increase in the offense level under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 for obstruction of justice because

Golom made multiple false statements to law enforcement, and (2) a two-level increase

under U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1(b)(1) because one of his victims was vulnerable due to her

homelessness and mental illnesses. The Court also denied Golom’s departure motion

under U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4 based on his medical condition because many of his conditions

existed before and during the period of his criminal conduct and he has and will continue

to receive adequate care in prison. After hearing from one of the victims and considering

the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, the Court imposed a sentence of 405 months’

imprisonment and ten years’ supervised release.2

       Golom’s counsel filed an appeal on Golom’s behalf and, finding no nonfrivolous

arguments, moved to withdraw under Anders.3

                                            II4

                                             A

       Our local rules allow defense counsel to file a motion to withdraw and an

accompanying brief under Anders when counsel has reviewed the record and concludes

       1
          The PSR initially deemed Golom a career offender, which resulted in a
Guidelines range of 360 months to life, but after our decisions in United States v. Nasir,
17 F.4th 459 (3d Cir. 2021) (en banc), and United States v. Abreu, 32 F.4th 271 (3d Cir.
2022), Golom was no longer considered a career offender, and his criminal history
category was reduced to V.
        2
          The District Court also ordered Golom to pay restitution of more than $300,000
to one of the victims.
        3
          Golom did not file his own pro se brief despite having the option to do so.
        4
          The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231, and we have
jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a).
                                             3
that “the appeal presents no issue of even arguable merit.” Third Circuit L.A.R. 109.2(a).

When counsel submits an Anders brief, we must determine: “(1) whether counsel

adequately fulfilled the rule’s requirements; and (2) whether an independent review of the

record presents any nonfrivolous issues.” United States v. Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d

Cir. 2001) (citing United States v. Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 780 (3d Cir. 2000)). An issue is

frivolous if it “lacks any basis in law or fact.” McCoy v. Ct. of Appeals of Wis., Dist. 1,

486 U.S. 429, 438 n.10 (1988).5

       To determine whether counsel has fulfilled his obligations, we examine the Anders

brief to see if it (1) shows that he has thoroughly examined the record in search of

appealable issues, identifying those that arguably support the appeal even if wholly

frivolous, Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259, 285 (2000), and (2) explains why those issues

are frivolous, Marvin, 211 F.3d at 780-81. If counsel satisfies these requirements, “then

we may limit our review of the record to the issues counsel raised.” United States v.

Langley, 52 F.4th 564, 569 (3d Cir. 2022).

                                             B

       Golom’s counsel has satisfied his Anders obligations. Counsel correctly

recognized that, because Golom pled guilty, his appellate issues are limited to the District

Court’s jurisdiction, the voluntariness of his plea, and the reasonableness of his sentence.

See United States v. Broce, 488 U.S. 563, 569 (1989). The Anders brief explains why

any challenge to the Court’s jurisdiction, Golom’s plea, and the sentence lacks support.

       5
         We exercise plenary review to determine whether there are any nonfrivolous
issues for appeal. Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80-83 & n.6 (1988).
                                             4
Therefore, counsel’s brief is sufficient, Youla, 241 F.3d at 300, and we agree that there

are no nonfrivolous issues for appeal.

       First, the District Court had jurisdiction because Golom was charged with

violating 18 U.S.C. § 1594, a federal statute.6 See 18 U.S.C. § 3231. Moreover, venue in

the Middle District of Pennsylvania was proper because Golom’s offense largely

occurred in Monroe County, which is in the Middle District. Fed. R. Crim. P. 18 (“[T]he

government must prosecute an offense in a district where the offense was committed.”).

Thus, any challenge to the District Court’s jurisdiction would be frivolous.

       Second, any challenge to the knowing and voluntary nature of Golom’s plea

would also be frivolous.7 Under the Constitution and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure

11, before accepting a guilty plea, “[t]he court must advise the defendant . . . of the

waiver of certain constitutional rights[,] . . . the nature of the charges to which he or she is

pleading guilty, the ‘maximum possible penalty’ to which he or she is exposed, [and] the

court’s ‘obligation to’” apply the Guidelines and discretion to depart from the Guidelines.

United States v. Schweitzer, 454 F.3d 197, 202-03 (3d Cir. 2006) (quoting Fed. R. Crim.

P. 11(b)).

       6
          Our review of jurisdictional issues is plenary. United States v. Williams, 369
F.3d 250, 252 (3d Cir. 2004).
        7
          Because Golom did not object to the plea colloquy in the District Court, we
review for plain error. United States v. Goodson, 544 F.3d 529, 539 & n.9 (3d Cir.
2008). To establish plain error, a defendant must show (1) an error, (2) which was plain,
and (3) that affected his substantial rights. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-35
(1993). If a party can show plain error, we may exercise our discretion to correct the
error if it “seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial
proceedings.” Id. at 736.
                                               5
       Here, as counsel correctly observes, the District Court’s plea colloquy complied

with the Constitution and Rule 11 in all respects except that the Court failed to inform

Golom that the Government could use any statement he made under oath in a prosecution

for perjury.8 See Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(A). Nevertheless, the Court’s omission did

not affect Golom’s substantial rights because there is nothing in the record to indicate

Golom would not have entered the plea had he been told about the risk of a perjury

charge. United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83 (2004) (“[A] defendant

who seeks reversal of his conviction after a guilty plea, on the ground that the district

court committed plain error under Rule 11, must show a reasonable probability that, but

for the error, he would not have entered the plea.”). Moreover, even if Golom were to

say that he would not have entered a plea had he known any false statement at the plea

hearing could be used in a perjury prosecution, we would decline to exercise our

discretion to correct the error because the absence of the perjury warning alone would not

seriously affect the integrity of the judicial proceedings, United States v. Olano, 507 U.S.

725, 736 (1993), since a defendant should not expect that false statements to a court are

ever acceptable. Moreover, the record makes clear that Golom understood all his rights

and the consequences of his guilty plea, and there is no evidence that Golom perjured

       8
        The District Court’s plea colloquy was sufficient in all other respects because the
Court (1) advised Golom that he could plead not guilty and proceed to trial at which he
would have the right to counsel who could confront, cross-examine, and subpoena
witnesses, that he had a right to testify, or not, at trial, and that the jury would presume
him innocent unless the Government proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, (2)
informed Golom of the penalties he faced, including the maximum sentence of life
imprisonment, a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, and (3) found that
there was a factual basis for the guilty plea.
                                              6
himself or that the Government would bring perjury charges. Thus, on plain error

review, Golom is not entitled to relief based on the Court’s omission, and any appeal

challenging his plea would be frivolous.

       Third, Golom’s sentence was procedurally and substantively reasonable.9 See

United States v. Tomko, 562 F.3d 558, 566 (3d Cir. 2009) (en banc). As to procedural

reasonableness, the District Court followed United States v. Gunter’s three-step

procedure, which requires a court to (1) calculate the applicable Guidelines range,

(2) consider departure motions, and (3) meaningfully address all relevant factors under

§ 3553(a). 462 F.3d 237, 247 (3d Cir. 2006).

       The District Court fulfilled these requirements. It accurately calculated a total

offense level of thirty-seven, which reflects, in relevant part, a two-level upward

adjustment for obstruction of justice, U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, and a two-level upward

adjustment for committing an offense against a vulnerable victim, U.S.S.G.

§ 3A1.1(b)(1).10 Both enhancements were supported by the facts. The obstruction of

justice enhancement applies where the defendant “willfully obstructed or impeded, or

attempted to obstruct or impede, the administration of justice with respect to the

investigation [or] prosecution” of the offense of conviction. U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. Here,

       9
          We review the procedural and substantive reasonableness of a sentence for abuse
of discretion. United States v. Pawlowski, 27 F.4th 897, 911 (3d Cir. 2022).
        10
           “We review the District Court’s interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines de
novo, and scrutinize any findings of fact for clear error.” United States v. Rodriguez, 40
F.4th 117, 120 (3d Cir. 2022) (quotations omitted). “If the legal issue decided by the
district court is, in essence, a factual question, the District Court can abuse its discretion
in applying [an] enhancement based on a particular set of facts only if those facts were
clearly erroneous.” Id. (quotations and alterations omitted).
                                              7
Golom made multiple false statements to law enforcement and attempted to prevent one

of his victims from speaking to the authorities. Thus, application of the obstruction of

justice enhancement was proper.

       The same is true of the vulnerable victim enhancement, which applies where “the

defendant knew or should have known that a victim of the offense was a vulnerable

victim.” U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1(b)(1). A “vulnerable victim” is a person “who is unusually

vulnerable due to age, physical or mental condition, or who is otherwise particularly

susceptible to the criminal conduct.” U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1(b)(1) cmt. n.2. Here, Golom

knew one of his victims had been homeless and suffered from severe mental illnesses

requiring hospitalization on multiple occasions, which made her susceptible to his threats

of putting her on the street if she did not continue her prostitution activities. Therefore,

the District Court did not abuse its discretion in applying the enhancement.

       The District Court also considered and denied Golom’s departure motion under

U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4 for his physical condition. We lack jurisdiction to review a

discretionary denial of a downward departure “once we determine that the district court

properly understood its authority to grant a departure.” United States v. Minutoli, 374

F.3d 236, 239 (3d Cir. 2004). Because the District Court recognized that it could grant a

downward departure for an extraordinary medical condition, we lack jurisdiction to

review any challenge to its denial of the request for such a departure.

       Finally, the District Court gave “rational and meaningful consideration” to the

§ 3553(a) factors. Tomko, 562 F.3d at 568 (quoting United States v. Grier, 475 F.3d 556,

571 (3d Cir. 2007) (en banc)). The record shows that the Court applied the § 3553(a)

                                              8
factors by (1) discussing the “depraved” nature of the instant offense, App. 199, including

that Golom repeatedly abused his victims, covertly recorded videos of the commercial

sex transactions, and withheld all money from his victims, (2) considering Golom’s

personal history and characteristics, including his physical and mental health issues and

extensive criminal history, and (3) explaining that a sentence at the high end of the

Guidelines range was necessary to provide just punishment given that Golom

“destroy[ed] the lives of two women . . . . without remorse or compassion for either one

of them,” App. 203; see United States v. Levinson, 543 F.3d 190, 196 (3d Cir. 2008)

(explaining that the district court’s reasoning is adequate when it provides “an

explanation . . . sufficient for [the appellate court] to see that the particular circumstances

of the case have been given meaningful consideration within the parameters of

§ 3553(a)”). As such, any argument that Golom’s sentence was procedurally

unreasonable would be frivolous.

       The sentence was also substantively reasonable. In determining whether a

sentence is substantively reasonable, we “apply the § 3553(a) factors based on the totality

of the circumstances,” United States v. King, 604 F.3d 125, 144 (3d Cir. 2010), and will

only reverse the sentence if “no reasonable sentencing court would have imposed” it,

Tomko, 562 F.3d at 568. The District Court weighed the nature of the instant offense,

Golom’s lack of remorse, and his prior criminal history against mitigating factors, such as

his health issues, and concluded a sentence at the top of the Guidelines range was

necessary to punish and deter him. Because a within-Guidelines sentence is

presumptively reasonable, see United States v. Pawlowski, 27 F.4th 897, 912 (3d Cir.

                                               9
2022), and we cannot conclude that no reasonable sentencing court would have imposed

the same sentence upon this defendant given the conduct in which he engaged, Tomko,

562 F.3d at 568, any challenge to the substantive reasonableness of Golom’s sentence

would lack merit.

                                          III

      For the foregoing reasons, we will grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm.

                                          10