Court Opinion

ID: 61772
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 04:14:36+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:40.621538
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT                     FILED
                      ________________________          U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                          ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                               May 29, 2008
                             No. 07-12622                  THOMAS K. KAHN
                         Non-Argument Calendar                 CLERK
                       ________________________

                   D. C. Docket No. 06-10011-CR-JLK

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                               Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

ALBERT PINA-SUAREZ,

                                                         Defendant-Appellant.

                       ________________________

                Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Southern District of Florida
                      _________________________

                              (May 29, 2008)

Before BLACK, CARNES and BARKETT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Albert Pina-Suarez, following a jury trial, appeals his convictions and

sentences for 24 counts of bringing in aliens at a place other than a designated port

of entry, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii), and one count of failure to

heave to, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2237. Pina-Suarez asserts: (1) the evidence

was insufficient to support his convictions under both statutes; (2) the district court

erred in instructing the jury; (3) the district court abused its discretion in allowing

into evidence an altered videotape and testimony regarding a GPS unit he used

during a previous trip; (4) the district court erred in enhancing his sentence for

causing bodily injury and obstruction of justice; and (5) his total 96-month

sentence was unreasonable. We affirm Pina-Suarez’s convictions and sentences.

                                    I. DISCUSSION

A.    Sufficiency of the Evidence

      1.     18 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii)

      Generally, a defendant’s presentation of a case after the denial of a motion

for judgment of acquittal, made at the close of the government’s case-in-chief,

operates as a waiver of any objection to the decision on the motion. United States

v. Jones, 32 F.3d 1512, 1516 (11th Cir. 1994). When the defendant fails to

preserve a motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of all the evidence, we

review the sufficiency of the evidence for a manifest injustice, which requires a

                                            2
finding the evidence on a key element of the offense is so tenuous that a conviction

would be shocking. United States v. Tapia, 761 F.2d 1488, 1492 (11th Cir. 1985).

We consider all of the evidence produced at trial against the defendant in

evaluating a claim that the evidence was insufficient to convict. United States v.

Thomas, 8 F.3d 1552, 1558 n.12 (11th Cir. 1993). Moreover, when a defendant

chooses to testify at his own trial, the jury is free not only to reject his testimony as

a complete fabrication, but is also free to conclude the opposite of his testimony is

true. See United States v. Vazquez, 53 F.3d 1216, 1225-26 (11th Cir. 1995).

      As part of its case in proving a defendant violated 8 U.S.C.

§ 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii), the government must prove “the defendant conducted himself

‘knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has not received prior

official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States.’” United

States v. Perez, 443 F.3d 772, 780 (11th Cir. 2006) (citing 8 U.S.C.

§ 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii)). We have interpreted the “reckless disregard” element of

transporting illegal aliens as “to be aware of, but consciously and carelessly ignore,

facts and circumstances clearly indicating that the person transported was an alien

who had entered or remained in the United States in violation of law.” Id. at 781

(quoting Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal) at 83.2 (2003))

                                            3
(emphasis omitted). We have also approved the following definition of the

“reckless disregard” element of transporting illegal aliens:

      The phrase “reckless disregard of the fact,” as it has been used from
      time to time in these instructions, means deliberate indifference to
      facts which, if considered and weighed in a reasonable manner,
      indicate the highest probability that the alleged aliens were in fact
      aliens and were in the United States unlawfully.

Id. at 781 (quoting United States v. Zlatogur, 271 F.3d 1025, 1029 (11th

Cir.2001)).

      A review of the record in this case reflects sufficient evidence for a

conviction under each element of § 1324. The intent under § 1324 requires the

government prove the defendant acted in “knowing or in reckless disregard” of the

fact the individuals he was bringing in were illegal aliens. Testimony at trial

established Pina-Suarez had a boat full of people asking to be transported to the

United States, they did not speak English, he had either picked them up from a raft

in the ocean made out of trees found in Cuba or from Cuba itself, and the Coast

Guard ordered him to stop, which he failed to do. Further, Pina-Suarez stated in

his testimony the people on his boat told him how much they wanted to be

American. It was reasonable, based on this evidence, for a jury to conclude Pina-

Suarez knew, or acted with deliberate indifference to the fact the people on his boat

were in fact illegal aliens. The evidence presented regarding the element of

                                           4
“knowing or in reckless disregard” is therefore not “so tenuous that a conviction

would be shocking.” See Tapia, 761 F.2d at 1492.

       2.     18 U.S.C. § 2237

       Where, as here, a defendant raises an objection for the first time on appeal,

we review for plain error to avoid manifest injustice. United States v. Hunerlach,

197 F.3d 1059, 1068 (11th Cir. 1999). Under this standard, there must be (1) an

error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects substantial rights. United States v.

Olano, 113 S. Ct. 1770, 1776 (1993). When these three factors are met, we may

correct the error if it seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of

judicial proceedings. Id. An error is plain if it is “‘obvious’ and ‘clear under

current law.’” United States v. Humphrey, 164 F.3d 585, 588 (11th Cir. 1999).

There can be no plain error, however, where there is no statute or precedent from

the Supreme Court or this Court directly resolving an issue. United States v. Chau,

426 F.3d 1318, 1322 (11th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted).

       To support a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2237, the government bears the

burden of proving a defendant: (1) knowingly failed to obey (2) an order by a

Federal law enforcement officer (3) to heave to that vessel. 18 U.S.C. § 2237.

       There is no case law from this Circuit, nor from the Supreme Court,

regarding the intent required for a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2237. Therefore,

                                             5
because this claim is reviewed for plain error, it necessarily fails. See Humphrey,

164 F.3d at 588; Chau, 426 F.3d at 1322. Pina-Suarez does not contend the

evidence was insufficient to support a conviction if a § 2237 violation is a general

intent crime, and he admits the court instructed the jury this was the law. Because

no case law exists stating § 2237 violations are specific intent crimes, this Court

need not consider whether the evidence was sufficient to support a finding of

specific intent, because there is no plain error.

B.    Jury Instructions

      1.     8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii) and 18 U.S.C. § 2237

      Where, as here, a defendant challenges a jury instruction for the first time on

appeal, the instruction is reviewed for plain error. United States v. Moore, 253

F.3d 607, 609 (11th Cir. 2001).

      To support a conviction under 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii), the government

must prove “the defendant conducted himself ‘knowing or in reckless disregard of

the fact that an alien has not received prior official authorization to come to, enter,

or reside in the United States.’” Perez, 443 F.3d at 780. With regard to the intent

instruction for 8 U.S.C. § 1324, the district court instructed the jury the

Government had to prove, beyond all reasonable doubt “the defendant acted

knowingly or in reckless disregard of the fact that the alien had not received prior

                                            6
official authorization to come to or enter the United States, regardless of whether

the alien was later allowed to remain in the United States.” The court further

clarified to act with reckless disregard means “to be aware of, but consciously and

carelessly ignore, facts and circumstances clearly indicating that the person was an

alien who had entered or remained in the United States in violation of law.”

Because the requisite criminal intent for a conviction under this section is

“knowing or with reckless disregard,” and because the court instructed the jury on

that intent, Pina-Suarez has failed to show error on the part of the district court in

its instructions on this charge.

      To support a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2237, the government must prove

a defendant (1) knowingly failed to obey (2) an order by a Federal law enforcement

officer (3) to heave to that vessel. 18 U.S.C. § 2237. With regard to intent under

this section, the court instructed the jury the government had to prove beyond all

reasonable doubt “the defendant knowingly failed to obey [the Coast Guard’s order

to heave to].” As noted above, there is no precedent from this Circuit which

identifies the intent required for a conviction under this section. However, the

plain language of § 2237 indicates the requisite mental intent for a conviction

under this section is “knowingly.” Therefore, on its face, the district court

committed no plain error in its instructions on this charge.

                                            7
       2.     Lesser Included Offense

       Where a defendant fails to request an instruction on a lesser included

offense, and fails to object to the omission of such an instruction at trial, it is not

error for a district court to fail to give such an instruction sua sponte. See United

States v. Chandler, 996 F.2d 1073, 1099 (11th Cir. 1993) (holding when a

defendant “did not request an instruction or object to the omission of an instruction

for the lesser included offense . . . the district court did not err by failing to give

such an instruction sua sponte”). Thus, because Pina-Suarez did not request a

lesser included offense instruction, or object to the omission of a lesser included

offense instruction, the district court did not err in failing to give such an

instruction sua sponte.

       3. Theory of the Defense Instruction

       We review a properly preserved claim the district court omitted an

instruction for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Morris, 20 F.3d 1111, 1114

(11th Cir. 1994). The appellant is entitled to relief on the claim only where “the

rejected instruction was substantively correct, the actual charge to the jury did not

substantially cover the proposed instruction, and the failure to give it substantially

impaired the defendant’s ability to present an effective defense.” Zlatogur, 271

F.3d at 1030.

                                             8
      “A criminal defendant has the right to have the jury instructed on [his]

theory of defense, separate and apart from instructions given on the elements of the

charged offense.” United States v. Ruiz, 59 F.3d 1151, 1154 (11th Cir. 1995). The

defendant's burden of presenting evidence to obtain the instruction is “extremely

low” and the district court must view the evidence in a light most favorable to the

defendant. Id. “[A] defendant is not automatically entitled to a theory of the

defense instruction if that argument is adequately covered in another instruction, if

it would be confusing, if it is not a legally cognizable defense, or if it merely

emphasizes a certain phase of the evidence.” United States v. Blanton, 793 F.2d

1553, 1561 (11th Cir. 1986).

      Pina-Suarez testified on his own behalf regarding his belief he could not stop

his boat as ordered by the Coast Guard for fear of death or serious bodily injury,

namely, that two individuals on his boat would throw him overboard if he tried to

stop, and he feared being thrown off of the boat at 50 or 60 miles per hour and

being run over by the prop. Further, Pina-Suarez introduced two witnesses, both of

whom corroborated his story that a man on his boat would not allow him to stop

when ordered by the Coast Guard. Pina-Suarez also testified that, due to the

behavior of the Coast Guard, shutting off his boat and getting thrown overboard

could have resulted in him being run over by the Coast Guard.

                                            9
       This testimony was countered by witnesses for the Government, who

testified that, after ordering Pina-Suarez to stop his boat, Pina-Suarez instead

gestured as if they were going to land, gave the Coast Guard the middle finger, and

began driving erratically, trying to impact the Coast Guard’s boat. Further,

witnesses testified they could see Pina-Suarez driving, and no one else was near

him during the chase.

       Because a defendant’s burden of presenting evidence to obtain the

instruction is “extremely low” and must be viewed in the light most favorable to

the defendant, the evidence presented by Pina-Suarez in this case was arguably

sufficient to meet the evidentiary burden for the requested instruction of duress.1

See Ruiz, 59 F.3d at 1154. However, even assuming the instructions proposed by

Pina-Suarez were correct and were not substantially covered by other instructions

given to the jury, the district court’s failure to give the requested instruction did not

substantially impair Pina-Suarez’s ability to present an effective defense. See

Zlatogur, 271 F.3d at 1030. As noted above, throughout the trial, Pina-Suarez’s

defense was that he had acted involuntarily, which he was allowed to present

unfettered by the district court. Further, the entire thrust of defense counsel’s

       1
         To establish a defense of duress, a defendant must show (1) he acted under an
immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury, (2) he had a well-grounded fear the threat
would be carried out, and (3) he had no reasonable opportunity to escape or inform authorities.
United States v. Alzate, 47 F.3d 1103, 1104 (11th Cir. 1995).

                                               10
closing argument was that, although Pina-Suarez failed to stop when commanded

by the Coast Guard, his actions were not willful or voluntary, but were due to the

fact he was being threatened by the people on his boat. The record shows Pina-

Suarez was able to present, throughout this case, evidence of intimidation or

coercion. Therefore, because the district court’s failure to give the requested

instruction did not substantially impair Pina-Suarez’s ability to present an effective

defense, the failure to give the instruction does not constitute reversible error.

C.    Evidentiary Rulings

      1.     Videotape

      Where, as here, a party claims evidentiary errors for the first time on appeal,

we will not reverse unless they constitute plain error. United States v. Hawkins,

905 F.2d 1489, 1493 (11th Cir. 1990). Even if the evidence was admitted or

excluded improperly, we will not vacate unless the defendant’s substantial rights

were affected. Id. Further, the Supreme Court has held “unless a criminal

defendant can show bad faith on the part of the police, failure to preserve

potentially useful evidence does not constitute a denial of due process of law.”

Arizona v. Youngblood, 109 S. Ct. 333, 337 (1988).

      Pina-Suarez has failed to demonstrate plain error with respect to the

videotape. Testimony at trial revealed the Coast Guard began taping the chase,

                                           11
stopped, rewound, and started the tape over due to profanity used by one of the

crew on the tape. Pina-Suarez has failed to demonstrate this was done for any

purpose other than the one stated at trial. Therefore, he has failed to show bad faith

on the part of the Coast Guard, and the rewinding of the tape does not constitute a

denial of due process. See id. As such, the district court did not err in admitting

the videotape into evidence.

      2.     Testimony

      When a party properly preserves its claim, we review the district court’s

rulings on admission of evidence for an abuse of discretion. United States v.

Jiminez, 224 F.3d 1243, 1249 (11th Cir. 2000). Even if the evidence was admitted

or excluded improperly, we will not vacate unless the defendant’s substantial rights

were affected. Hawkins, 905 F.2d at 1493. We determine whether an error had

substantial influence on the outcome by weighing the record as a whole, see United

States v. Montalvo-Murillo, 110 S. Ct. 2072, 2080 (1990), and examining “the

facts, the trial context of the error, and the prejudice created thereby as juxtaposed

against the strength of the evidence of defendant’s guilt.” United States v. Reed,

700 F.2d 638, 646 (11th Cir. 1983) (quotation omitted).

      Because there was sufficient evidence to convict Pina-Suarez on counts 1-24

absent the agent’s testimony regarding the GPS, and because the testimony

                                           12
regarding the GPS was not admitted to prove any elements of the charged offenses,

but was introduced solely for the purposes of impeachment on a collateral issue,

any potential error on the part of the district court in admitting the rebuttal

testimony regarding Pina-Suarez’s handheld GPS is did not affect Pina-Suzarez’s

substantial rights and is harmless.

D.    Sentencing Guidelines

      “The sentencing guidelines make clear that where a guidelines range falls

entirely below a mandatory minimum sentence, the court must follow the

mandatory statutory minimum sentence.” United States v. Clark, 274 F.3d 1325,

1328 (11th Cir. 2001). As such, any possible error in the Guidelines calculations is

harmless and need not be addressed. United States v. Raad, 406 F.3d 1322, 1323

n.1 (11th Cir. 2005).

      Here, the applicable Guidelines range was 46 to 57 months’ imprisonment.

However, due to the number of aliens Pina-Suarez was convicted of smuggling

into the United States, the statute under which he was convicted, 8 U.S.C.

§ 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii), carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, or 60

months. Therefore, any potential error on the part of the district court in enhancing

Pina-Suarez’s sentence for bodily injury and obstruction of justice is harmless. See

Raad, 406 F.3d at 1323 n.1.

                                           13
E.     Reasonableness

       We review Pina-Suarez’s sentence for reasonableness. See United States v.

Booker, 125 S. Ct. 738, 767 (2005). “Regardless of whether the sentence imposed

is inside or outside the Guidelines range, the appellate court must review the

sentence under an abuse-of-discretion standard.” Gall v. United States, 128 S. Ct.

586, 597 (2007). Pina-Suarez bears the burden of showing his sentence is

unreasonable. See United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005).

       After Booker, sentencing review requires two steps: first, we must ensure

the district court committed no significant procedural error, and second, we must

consider the substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed. See Gall, 128 S.

Ct. at 597. In reviewing the ultimate sentence for reasonableness, we consider the

final sentence imposed in light of the § 3553(a) factors. United States v. Martin,

455 F.3d 1227, 1237 (11th Cir. 2006). Our reasonableness review is deferential,

and requires us to “evaluate whether the sentence imposed by the district court fails

to achieve the purposes of sentencing as stated in [§] 3553(a).” Talley, 431 F.3d at

788.

       In arriving at a reasonable sentence, the district court is required to consider

the factors set out in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a): “(1) the nature and circumstances of the

offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need to reflect

                                           14
the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just

punishment for the offense; (3) the need for deterrence; (4) the need to protect the

public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational

training or medical care; (6) the kinds of sentences available; (7) the Sentencing

Guidelines range; (8) pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission;

(9) the need to avoid unwanted sentencing disparities; and (10) the need to provide

restitution to victims.” Talley, 431 F.3d at 786 (citing 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)).

      It is sufficient for the district court to acknowledge that it has considered

these factors; it need not explicitly consider or discuss each of them. United States

v. Scott, 426 F.3d 1324, 1329 (11th Cir. 2005). Further, “[t]he weight to be

accorded any given § 3553(a) factor is a matter committed to the sound discretion

of the district court.” United States v. Clay, 483 F.3d 739, 743 (11th Cir. 2007)

(quotation omitted).

      For adequate appellate review, when a district court varies a sentence under

18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), subsection (c) requires a judge to state his reasons for such a

variance. “Congress has specifically proclaimed that a sentencing court shall state

the reason for imposing a sentence [exceeding 24 months] at a particular point

within the range. When a sentencing court fails to comply with this requirement,

the sentence is imposed in violation of law.” United States v. Williams, 438 F.3d

                                          15
1272, 1274 (11th Cir. 2006) (quotations and alterations omitted). The brevity or

length of such a statement depends upon the circumstances of each particular case.

Rita v. United States, 127 S. Ct. 2456, 2468 (2007). “The law leaves much, in this

respect, to the judge’s own professional judgment. . . . The sentencing judge should

set forth enough to satisfy the appellate court that he has considered the parties’

arguments and has a reasoned basis for exercising his own legal decisionmaking

authority.” Id.

       To determine whether a sentence was imposed due to a Guidelines departure

or a § 3553(a) variance, we look to the process taken by the district court in

making its determination. See United States v. Irizarry, 458 F.3d 1208, 1211-12

(11th Cir. 2006), cert. granted, 128 S. Ct. 828, No. 06-7517 (Jan. 4, 2008). In

Irizarry, we found the sentence imposed was a variance due to the following

factors:

       The district court correctly calculated to advisory guidelines range.
       The court then considered the adequacy of this range in the light of
       the sentencing factors listed in 18 U.S.C. section 3553(a) and the
       evidence presented at the sentencing hearing. After concluding that
       the guidelines range did not adequately address the future risk
       Defendant posed to the public, the court exercised its post-Booker
       discretion to impose a reasonable sentence outside the sentencing
       guidelines range.

Id. (internal citation omitted).

                                          16
      Both parties discussed at length the appropriate Guidelines calculations, with

the district court ultimately determining the appropriate Guidelines range to be 46

to 57 months’ imprisonment, with a statutory mandatory minimum of 60 months.

The court then turned to a consideration of what the sentence ought to be,

recognizing the advisory nature of the Guidelines and its discretion to impose a

reasonable sentence based on the severity and nature of the offense, and the facts

of the record. The court then heard testimony from Pina-Suarez’s mother, and

argument from both parties regarding sentencing and the § 3553(a) factors. The

court then imposed a sentence of 96 months’ imprisonment. Given the steps taken

by the district court in this case, which follow those taken in Irizarry, the sentence

imposed in this case appears to be the result of a variance under 18 U.S.C. § 3553,

not a Guidelines departure.

      In reviewing the reasonableness of a sentence, this Court must first

determine whether the district court committed any significant procedural error,

such as incorrectly calculating the Guidelines range or treating the Guidelines as

mandatory. See Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597. Part of the procedural accuracy includes a

statement by the court of reasons for imposing a sentence outside of the

recommended Guidelines range. Rita, 127 S. Ct. at 2467; Williams, 438 F.3d at

1274. Here, although the court followed the correct procedure in determining the

                                           17
Guidelines range, gave notice to the parties that it could vary above the Guidelines,

and heard arguments regarding the parties’ determination of an appropriate

sentence, it did not explicitly state its reasons for a variance as required by

§ 3553(c). However, it appears the district court accepted the Government’s

position regarding sentencing, which satisfies the requirements of Rita and allows

for meaningful appellate review. Therefore, the district court committed no

procedural error in determining Pina-Suarez’s sentence.

      The Government argued for an increased sentence on the basis that the

mandatory minimum applies regardless whether a defendant accepts responsibility,

obstructs justice, commits perjury, or injures people. Pina-Suarez never accepted

responsibility, lied to law enforcement and at trial, put those on his boat and

members of the Coast Guard in harms way, and injured three of the people on his

boat. Because someone who had done none of those things would still receive the

mandatory minimum sentence, the Government felt that a sentence above the

statutory minimum would be appropriate.

      These reasons take into account various § 3553(a) factors, including the

nature and circumstances of the offense, the need to provide just punishment, and

the need to avoid unwanted sentencing disparities. Although Pina-Suarez argues

the court violated Booker in failing to account for the mitigating § 3553(a) factors,

                                           18
because the weight to be accorded to any given § 3553(a) factor is a matter

committed to the sound discretion of the district court, the district court did not err

in sentencing Pina-Suarez above the mandatory minimum. See Clay, 483 F.3d at

743. Based on these facts, the district court did not abuse its discretion in

sentencing Pina-Suarez above the mandatory minimum sentence, and the ultimate

sentences imposed are reasonable in light of the facts and circumstances of this

case.

                                      II. CONCLUSION

        The evidence was sufficient to support convictions under both statutes and

there was no reversible error in the district court’s jury instructions. Additionally,

the district court did not plainly err or abuse its discretion in the challenged

evidentiary rulings. Accordingly, we affirm Pina-Suarez’s conviction.2 We also

conclude Pina Suarez’s sentence is reasonable.

        AFFIRMED.

        2
           As Pina-Suarez has failed to demonstrate any serious errors on the part of the district
court, his claim that the cumulative prejudicial effect of the many serious errors committed at
trial requires reversal is meritless.

                                                 19