Court Opinion

ID: 4179541
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-21 17:05:20.926059+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:47:10.846461
License: Public Domain

Case: 16-50356      Document: 00514042493         Page: 1    Date Filed: 06/21/2017

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

                                    No. 16-50356                              FILED
                                  Summary Calendar                        June 21, 2017
                                                                         Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                              Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

ALEJANDRO SOSA, JR.,

                                                 Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 2:10-CR-722-1

Before JONES, WIENER, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Defendant-Appellant Alejandro Sosa, Jr., federal prisoner # 58495-280,
challenges the denial of his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) motion, in which he sought
a reduction of his concurrent 108-month prison terms based on Amendment
782 to the Sentencing Guidelines. He contends that the district court erred by
mistakenly finding that he was ineligible for a sentence reduction because of
his original above-guidelines sentence. He contends alternatively that, even if

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
    Case: 16-50356     Document: 00514042493     Page: 2   Date Filed: 06/21/2017

                                  No. 16-50356

the district court recognized its authority to reduce his sentence, it failed to
reevaluate the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors when it considered his motion.
      We review Sosa’s contentions for plain error because he did not present
them to the district court first. See United States v. Jones, 596 F.3d 273, 276
(5th Cir. 2010). To prevail, he “must show a forfeited error that is clear or
obvious and that affects his substantial rights.” Id. Even when such a showing
has been made, “this court has the discretion to correct the error but only if it
seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial
proceedings.” Id.
      The district court’s determination that Sosa was eligible for § 3582(c)(2)
relief was implied by its agreement with the parties that, in light of
Amendment 782, Sosa’s amended guidelines range was 57 to 71 months. See
United States v. Larry, 632 F.3d 933, 936 (5th Cir. 2011). Sosa has not shown
clear or obvious error in the district court’s eligibility finding. See Jones, 596
F.3d at 276.
      We need not decide whether the district court committed error that is
clear or obvious when it stated that, because Sosa had originally been
sentenced above his guidelines range, he would not be “entitled to a reduction
as a direct application.” Even if we assume arguendo that the district court
committed clear or obvious error, Sosa has not shown that it affected his
substantial rights. See id. To make such a showing, he had to demonstrate a
reasonable probability that, but for the district court’s statement, he would
have received a lower sentence. See id. at 277. Given the court’s reliance on
the new, undisputed guidelines range, its emphasis on Sosa’s lengthy criminal
history, and its subsequent rejection of an 88-month sentence, Sosa has not
shown a reasonable probability that, but for the court’s unclear statement, he
would have received a lower sentence. See id. Furthermore, in light of Sosa’s

                                        2
    Case: 16-50356     Document: 00514042493      Page: 3    Date Filed: 06/21/2017

                                  No. 16-50356

lengthy criminal history and the nature of some of his prior offenses, which he
does not dispute, we are not convinced that any purported error “seriously
affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id.
at 276.
      Finally, the record reflects no clear or obvious error in the district court’s
evaluation of the § 3553(a) factors. See id. The court did not imply that it had
no obligation to reconsider the factors. Cf. United States v. Henderson, 636
F.3d 713, 718-19 (5th Cir. 2011). Rather, it expressly discussed particular
factors, such as Sosa’s criminal history and a prior robbery offense, and
properly considered his postconviction conduct. See § 3553(a)(1); United States
v. Smith, 595 F.3d 1322, 1323 (5th Cir. 2010). The record indicates that the
court gave due consideration to Sosa’s motion as a whole and conducted the
required reevaluation of the § 3553(a) factors. See Henderson, 636 F.3d at 718.
We will not reweigh those factors on appeal. See Gall v. United States, 552
U.S. 38, 51 (2007); United States v. Whitebird, 55 F.3d 1007, 1009 (5th Cir.
1995).
      AFFIRMED.

                                         3