Court Opinion

ID: 62173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 04:37:09+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:03.429772
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                                                            May 9, 2008
                                     No. 07-51088
                                   Summary Calendar                   Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                              Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

LUIS FERNANDO AGUIRRE

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 3:07-CR-551-1

Before KING, DeMOSS, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Luis Fernando Aguirre appeals his 96-month sentence following his guilty
plea conviction for bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). Aguirre
argues that his sentence, which is within a properly-calculated advisory
guideline range, is unreasonable because the district court erred in applying a
three-level enhancement required by U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(E). Aguirre asserts
that the application of § 2B3.1(b)(2)(E) overstates the seriousness of the offense

       *
         Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
                                 No. 07-51088

and represents an “unsound judgment” that results in an “unwarrantedly harsh
sentence for the unarmed offender.”
      After entering the bank and approaching the teller window, Aguirre
handed the teller a note stating that he had a gun. During the course of the
bank robbery, Aguirre kept one hand under his shirt and gestured to the teller
as if he had a gun. He verbally told the teller that he had a gun and would use
it. In response to these threats, the teller removed cash from her drawer and
gave it to Aguirre.
      There is no evidence that the district court committed a significant
procedural error at sentencing. See Gall v. United States, 128 S. Ct. 586, 597
(2007). Moreover, where the district court imposes a sentence within a properly
calculated guideline range, the sentence is entitled to a rebuttable presumption
of reasonableness. See United States v. Alonzo, 435 F.3d 551, 554 (5th Cir.
2006); see also Rita v. United States, 127 S. Ct. 2456, 2462 (2007). Aguirre has
failed to demonstrate that his sentence is unreasonable. See Gall, 128 S. Ct. at
597; see also United States v. Souther, 221 F.3d 626, 629 (4th Cir. 2000) (“We
agree with the Third and Eleventh Circuits that a concealed hand may serve as
an object that appears to be a dangerous weapon.”). Accordingly, the judgment
of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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