Court Opinion

ID: 62019
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 04:21:07+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:47.783927
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[DO NOT PUBLISH]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
                              No. 07-15246
                                                              MAY 21, 2008
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                                                           THOMAS K. KAHN
                        ________________________                CLERK

                     D. C. Docket No. 07-60161-CR-JAL

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                       Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

BENJAMIN MANDLI,

                                                       Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

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

                               (May 21, 2008)

Before TJOFLAT, BLACK and KRAVITCH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Benjamin Mandli appeals his 78-month sentence, imposed after he pleaded
guilty to knowingly and intentionally possessing material containing images of

child pornography that had been transported in interstate and foreign commerce via

the Internet, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B), (b)(2). On appeal, he

argues that the sentence imposed, which was at the lowest end of his sentencing

range, is procedurally and substantively unreasonable,1 in part, because the district

court: (1) refused to consider his diminished mental capacity, due to Asperger’s

Syndrome; (2) failed to consider the factors of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a); (3) ignored his

uncontested evidence that (a) he posed no risk to recidivism and (b) he is likely to

become a victim in a prison setting; and (4) incorrectly concluded that it was

prohibited from imposing a variant sentence based on 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b)(2)(A).2

       Following United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 1125 S. Ct. 738,

160 L. Ed. 2d 621 (2005), we review sentences for reasonableness, United States v.

       1
         Mandli also argues that the district court erred by not imposing a downward departure
for diminished mental capacity, presumably pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K2.13. Because the district
court recognized its authority to depart downward, but concluded that a departure was not
appropriate, we lack jurisdiction to review this claim. See United States v. Dudley, 463 F.3d
1221, 1228 (11th Cir. 2006).
       2
          Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b)(2)(A), in imposing sentence on a defendant convicted
of an offense such as Mandli’s, “the court shall impose a sentence of the kind, and within the
range, referred to in subsection (a)(4)” unless certain exceptions, not applicable to the instant
case, apply. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b)(2)(A) (emphasis added). The PSI, as adopted by the court,
suggested at one point it “appear[ed]” that the court was precluded under § 3553(b)(2)(A) from
imposing a variance, but neither the parties nor the district court explicitly mentioned the
applicability of § 3553(b)(2)(A), or this language in the PSI, during sentencing. Nor did the
court assert that it believed that it was statutorily barred from imposing a downward variance in
this case. Thus, there is nothing in the record to support Mandli’s assertion that the court
erroneously believed that it was statutorily barred from imposing a downward variance.

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Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 785 (11th Cir. 2005). The Supreme Court recently clarified

that this standard is synonymous with the abuse of discretion standard. Gall

v. United States, 552 U.S. __, 128 S. Ct. 587, 596, 169 L. Ed. 2d 445 (2007).3

       In imposing a sentence, a district court first must correctly calculate a

defendant’s applicable Guideline range, and then must consider all of the factors

outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) to arrive at an appropriate sentence. Gall, 128
S. Ct. at 596-97. These factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the

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

the seriousness of the offense, to afford adequate deterrence, to promote respect for

the law, to provide just punishment for the offense, to protect the public, and to

provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training or medical

care; (3) the kinds of sentences available; (4) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (5)

pertinent Sentencing Commission policy statements; (6) the need to avoid

unwarranted sentencing disparities; and (7) the need to provide restitution to

victims. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). After deciding on the appropriate sentence, the

district court must sufficiently explain the chosen sentence to permit meaningful

       3
           We note that Mandli (i) never expressly requested a downward variance before the
district court, but rather only sought a “downward Guideline departure sentence,” although he
did cite to Booker and to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a); and (ii) never objected, after the district court
imposed sentence, that his 78-month sentence was procedurally or substantively unreasonable.
However, we need not decide whether Mandli’s failure in either or both of these regards dictates
that we apply plain error review because Mandli’s claim fails under either standard.

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appellate review and to promote the perception of fair sentencing. Gall, 128 S. Ct.

at 597.

      Thus, our review is two-fold. First, we must ensure that the district court

committed no significant procedural error. Second, we must ensure that the

sentence imposed by the district court was substantively reasonable. Id.

      A sentencing decision is procedurally sound if the district court correctly

calculated the defendant’s sentencing range, treated the Guidelines as advisory,

considered the § 3553(a) factors, selected a sentence that was not based on clearly

erroneous facts, and adequately explained the chosen sentence. Id.

      A sentencing decision is substantively reasonable if the district court acted

within its discretion in determining that the § 3553(a) factors supported the

sentence. Id. at 600. A “district court need only ‘acknowledge’ that it ‘considered

the § 3553(a) factors[,]’ and need not discuss each of these factors in either the

sentencing hearing or in the sentencing order[.]” United States v. Amedeo,

487 F.3d 823, 833 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 128 S. Ct. 671 (2007) (citations

omitted). “The weight to be accorded any given § 3553(a) factor is a matter

committed to the sound discretion of the district court.” United States v. Williams,

456 F.3d 1353, 1363 (11th Cir. 2006), abrogated on other grounds by Kimbrough

v. United States, __ U.S. __, 128 S. Ct. 558, 169 L. Ed. 2d 481 (2007). “‘[I]t is not

                                           4
the role of an appellate court to substitute its judgment for that of the sentencing

court as to the appropriateness of a particular sentence.’” United States v. Melvin,

187 F.3d 1316, 1323 (11th Cir. 1999) (citation omitted) (alteration in original).

Thus, we will reverse a procedurally proper sentence only if we are “left with the

definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error of

judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors by arriving at a sentence that lies

outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case.”

Williams, 456 F.3d at 1363.

      Upon review, we conclude that Mandli’s sentence was procedurally sound.

Mandli does not dispute that the district court correctly calculated the guidelines

range. And, the court considered Mandli’s arguments and evidence as to a

reasonable sentence, acknowledged that the Guidelines were advisory, and

reasoned that a sentence at the low end of the guidelines range was appropriate in

light of the § 3553(a) factors, the advisory Guidelines concerning child sexual

offenses, the statements of the parties, the evidence presented. The court’s

explanation of its reasons was sufficient. Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. __, 127
S. Ct. 2456, 2468-69, 168 L. Ed. 2d 203 (2007) (finding that a lengthy explanation is

not necessarily required when a court decides to follow the Guidelines in a

particular case, particularly where the court has listened to parties’ arguments,

                                           5
considered the supporting evidence, and was aware of the defendant’s special

conditions).

      Furthermore, we conclude that Mandli’s sentence is substantively

reasonable. First, the district court imposed the 78-month sentence only after

listening to and considering the parties’ evidence and arguments as to a reasonable

sentence. Second, the court noted that it considered the sentence imposed to be

appropriate in light of the § 3553(a) factors, and specifically listed three of those

factors. Although the district court did not explicitly mention every § 3553(a)

factor, it was not required to do so, and “[t]he weight to be accorded any given

§ 3553(a) factor is a matter committed to the sound discretion of the district court.”

Williams, 456 F.3d at 1363.

      Third, contrary to Mandli’s arguments on appeal, the district court never

explicitly indicated that it was prohibited from considering diminished capacity in

determining whether a variance was appropriate, but rather expressly stated that it:

(1) understood that Mandli had disorders that need to be dealt with; (2) considered

his nature and circumstances, which presumably would have encompassed his

diminished mental capacity; and (3) considered the testimony of his psychiatrist.

      Finally, the sentenced imposed, which was at the low end of the guidelines

range, was substantially less than the offense’s statutory maximum of 120-months’

                                           6
imprisonment. Accordingly, we AFFIRM Mandli’s 72-month sentence as

reasonable.

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