Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:49:19.06695+00
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Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

12-8-2008

USA v. Johnson
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 07-3094

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Recommended Citation
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                                               NOT PRECEDENTIAL

      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                    No. 07-3094

         UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                         v.

               HAKEEM JOHNSON

                                   Appellant

   On Appeal from the United States District Court
           for the District of New Jersey
               (D. C. No. 05-cr-00600)
      District Judge: Hon. Faith S. Hochberg

     Submitted under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                 on June 26, 2008

Before: SLOVITER, BARRY and ROTH, Circuit Judges

         (Opinion filed December 8, 2008)

                   OPINION
ROTH, Circuit Judge:

          Hakeem Johnson appeals the judgment of sentence imposed on him by the United

States District Court for the District of New Jersey. For the reasons discussed below, we will

affirm.

I. Background and Procedural History

          Because the facts are well known to the parties, we will discuss them only briefly

here.

          Hakeem Johnson, a previously convicted felon, was arrested on April 2, 2005, after

police officers witnessed him displaying a handgun to a group of individuals. On August 11,

2005, Johnson was charged in a single-count indictment with possession of a firearm and

ammunition by a felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 2. Pursuant to a plea

agreement, Johnson pled guilty to the firearm charge in exchange for the government’s

agreement not to bring additional charges related to the gun possession. The parties

stipulated that Johnson possessed a loaded PT100 Taurus .40-caliber handgun, with serial

number SSK42617, on April 2, 2004. The parties also stipulated that Johnson had previously

been convicted of possession of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance with intent

to distribute, and aggravated assault—each of which carried a potential sentence of more than

one-year imprisonment.       The Presentence Investigation Report (PSI) noted that the

November 1, 2006, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines would apply in this case and that the

applicable guideline is § 2K2.1(a)(2). That guideline fixed Johnson’s base offense level at

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twenty-four. The Probation Office suggested that, pursuant to 2K2.1(b)(4), the District Court

enhance Johnson’s base offense level by two points because the firearm was identified as

stolen. It also suggested reducing Johnson’s adjusted base offense level by three points

because he accepted responsibility. This resulted in a total offense level of twenty-three,

which, given Johnson’s criminal history, would yield an imprisonment sentence of 92 to 115

months.

       The District Court held a sentencing hearing on July 9, 2007. Johnson objected to the

“stolen-gun enhancement” because the government had not proven that the gun had been

stolen either by a preponderance of evidence or by a “higher standard (as urged by Mr.

Johnson).”

       The District Court evaluated copies of a Norfolk Police Department police report and

a Trace Information report prepared by the Bureau of Alcohol and Firearms (ATF) and

decided that a preponderance of the evidence supported the conclusion that the gun was

stolen. The court then applied the two-level enhancement and sentenced Johnson to ninety-

three months imprisonment and imposed a $500 fine.

       Johnson appealed. He argues that the District Court erred in sentencing because it

lacked sufficient evidence to apply the stolen-gun enhancement, that it imposed an

unreasonable sentence, and that judicial factfinding by a preponderance of the evidence

during sentencing violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

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II. Analysis

       The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have

jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a).

       Johnson’s first point of error is that the District Court’s factual determination that

the gun he possessed was stolen was not supported by the evidence. According to

Johnson, the evidence only supports the proposition that the gun was reported stolen.

       At sentencing, the Government was required “to prove by a preponderance of the

evidence the facts in support of a sentence enhancement . . ..” United States v. Evans, 155
F.3d 245, 253 (3d Cir. 1998). On appeal, this Court reviews the District Court’s factual

determination whether the gun was stolen for clear error. See, e.g., United States v.

Navarro, 476 F.3d 188, 191 (3d Cir. 2007). Section 2K2.1(b)(4) provides that “[i]f any

firearm . . . was stolen, increase by 2 levels.” U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(4). This adjustment is

based on strict liability; the defendant need not have stolen the weapon or even know or

have reason to know that it was stolen. U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(4) cmt. n.8(B).

       We conclude that the District Court did not commit clear error in finding that the

government had established that, by a preponderance of the evidence, the gun in

Johnson’s possession was stolen.

       Johnson’s challenge to the reasonableness of his sentence also fails. Review of a

sentence for reasonableness essentially calls upon us to “ask[] whether the trial court

abused its discretion.” Rita v. United States, 127 S. Ct. 2456, 2465 (2007). The

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touchstone of reasonableness is whether the record as a whole reflects rational and

meaningful consideration of the factors enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). United States

v. Grier, 475 F.3d 556, 571 (3d Cir. 2007) (en banc).

       Here, the record indicates that the District Court reasonably considered and applied

the relevant § 3553(a) factors in determining Johnson’s sentence. The sentence was

within the Guidelines range. Moreover, the District Court heard argument on the severity

of Johnson’s criminal record, and it engaged in a lengthy discussion with Johnson about

his criminal past, life history, and future plans. Accordingly, the District Court concluded

that a ninety-three month imprisonment sentence was fair. On the record before us, we

cannot say that the District Court abused its discretion in imposing the sentence.

       Johnson’s third point of error is that judicial factfinding by a preponderance of the

evidence violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. We have, however,

previously foreclosed Johnson’s argument; that is, we have held that all facts relevant to

sentencing may, in fact, be found by district courts using the preponderance of the

evidence standard. See Grier, 475 F.3d at 566–68.

III. Conclusion

       For the reasons set forth above, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court.

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