Court Opinion

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Opinions of the United
2003 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

10-20-2003

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Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 02-2836

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Recommended Citation
"USA v. Sierra" (2003). 2003 Decisions. Paper 198.
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                                            NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEAL
                        FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                  No. 02-2836

                        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                       v.

                              KEVIN M. SIERRA,
                              a/k/a KILLSWITCH,

                                Kevin M. Sierra,

                                            Appellant

                 On Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                      (D.C. Criminal No. 00-cr-00407-1)
                    District Judge: Hon. Bruce W. Kauffman

                 Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                              September 16, 2003

             BEFORE: MCKEE, SMITH and COWEN, Circuit Judges

                            (Filed October 20, 2003)

                                   OPINION

COWEN, Circuit Judge.
       Kevin M. Sierra appeals from the judgment of conviction and sentence of the

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He seeks the

overturning of this judgment on the grounds that the District Court failed to explain in

proper detail that his guilty plea would necessarily result in a mandatory minimum prison

term of five years regardless of his assistance to the government and the government’s

departure motion. We will affirm.

                                              I.

       A grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Sierra on July 12, 2000.

According to Count One, Sierra violated 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) by knowingly and

intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 398 grams of

methamphetamine.

       Sierra entered into a written plea agreement. He agreed to plead guilty to the first

count of the indictment and to cooperate with the government. The government agreed to

move for the dismissal of the other counts if it determined that Sierra had fulfilled his

obligations of cooperation. The government would also make a motion for departure

from the United States Sentencing Guidelines pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 if it

“determines that the defendant has provided complete and substantial assistance in the

investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense, including

testifying at any trial or proceeding as required.” Jt. App. at 20A-21A. The agreement

also stated that “[t]he defendant understands and agrees that the government does not

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intend to move for departure from any statutory mandatory minimum term of

imprisonment.” Jt. App. at 21A. It provided notice of a maximum sentence of 40 years

and a “five-year mandatory term of incarceration.” Jt. App. at 22A.

       Sierra entered a guilty plea at a change of plea hearing on September 10, 2001.

During the government’s summary of the plea agreement, the following exchange

occurred between Assistant United States Attorney Christine E. Sykes, the District Court,

and Sierra:

              [MS. SYKES:] The plea agreement which the Government and
       Mr. Sierra have entered into explicitly states that Mr. Sierra understands and
       agrees with the Government, that the [sic] does not intend to move for a
       departure under Section 3553 of Section -- of United States Code Section
       18, which would permit the Court to depart from the statutory mandatory
       minimum that applies.
              THE COURT: Is there a statutory mandatory minimum?
              MS. SYKES: There is, Your Honor, it is five years in this case
       with regard to Count 1, and that is based on the fact that the amount of
       methamphetamine which Mr. Sierra possessed was more than 50 grams.
              In addition, both parties agree under --
              THE COURT: Excuse me. You understand that, that they’re
       going to -- they move under 5(k)1, which would permit the Court to depart
       from the Guidelines, but not under 3553(e), which would permit the Court
       to depart from the statutory mandatory minimum?
              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
              THE COURT: Very well.

Jt. App. at 40A-41A.

       The District Court then asked Sykes to notify Sierra of the possible maximum

sentence, noting that the prosecutor had already indicated the applicable mandatory

minimum. The prosecutor stated that the maximum sentence is imprisonment for 40

                                             3
years with a five-year mandatory term of incarceration. When asked whether he

understood these possible penalties, Sierra responded by inquiring about “the original

sentence.” Jt. App. at 45A. The following discussion then occurred:

              MS. SYKES: Certainly, Your Honor. I would be glad to state it
       again. Under the statute --
              THE DEFENDANT: 40 years, is that what you’re saying?
              MS. SYKES: Under the statute the mandatory maximum -- excuse
       me, the maximum sentence would be 40 years imprisonment. The
       mandatory minimum period of incarceration is five years, a fine of $2
       million or both, at least four years of supervised release and $100 special
       assessment.
              THE COURT: Do you understand --
              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
              THE COURT: -- the maximum penalties now, sir?
              THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

Jt. App. at 45A-46A. Sierra further indicated that he had discussed the maximum and

mandatory minimum penalties with his attorney and understood the possible

consequences of a guilty plea.

       The District Court also asked Sierra’s then-counsel, Stephen Patrizio, Esq., about

his client’s competence to enter a plea. Patrizio indicated that he had no doubts as to

competence and emphasized that Sierra understands “the basis for departure and how far

[sic].” Jt. App. at 53A. According to the attorney, Sierra intended to move for departure

at sentencing based on such grounds as personal circumstances. He added:

             . . . I just wanted him to be assured that by pleading guilty here today
       we can still raise the issues of departure for other basis, but the
       Governmental departure really has that floor of five years, and he’s very
       much aware of that. Is that correct, Mr. Sierra?
             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, it is.

                                             4
Jt. App. at 53A. Sykes, Patrizio, and the District Court agreed that Sierra understood the

maximum and mandatory minimum penalties.

       Sierra appeared for a sentencing hearing on June 13, 2002. The District Court

granted the government’s motion to dismiss all counts of the indictment except Count

One as well as its motion for departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. The District Court

observed that no motion for departure was made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §3553(e) and that

the government remained unwilling “to go any lower than 60 months in departing

downward.” Jt. App. at 72A. Patrizio agreed with the District Court that the statutory

minimum sentence of 60 months or five years must be imposed. Patrizio briefly argued

for a 60-month term of imprisonment, and Sierra as well as several other individuals

asked for leniency. The District Court imposed a sentence of 60 months imprisonment,

five years of supervised release, a $2500.00 fine, and a special assessment of $100.00.

Sierra appealed.

                                              II.

       We have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Because of a

failure to raise this objection before the District Court, Sierra must satisfy the plain error

standard of review. See, e.g., United States v. Dixon, 308 F.3d 229, 233 (3d Cir. 2002).

He must demonstrate that “‘(1) an error was committed; (2) the error was plain, that is,

clear and obvious; and (3) the error affected the defendant’s substantial rights.’” Id. at

234 (quoting United States v. Syme, 276 F.3d 131, 143 (3d Cir. 2002) (internal quotations

                                               5
omitted)). Even if these three elements are established, an appellate court is to exercise

its discretion to order correction of the ruling “only if the error ‘seriously affect[s] the

fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.’” United States v.

Stevens, 223 F.3d 239, 242 (3d Cir. 2000) (quoting United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725,

732 (1993)). We should examine the entire record and not merely the plea colloquy. See,

e.g., Dixon, 308 F.3d at 234.

       Before accepting a guilty plea, a trial judge must inform the defendant of any

mandatory minimum penalty and ensure that he or she understands this penalty. At the

time of Sierra’s plea and sentencing, Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c) required:

       Before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the court must address
       the defendant personally in open court and inform the defendant of, and
       determine that the defendant understands, the following:
       (1) . . . the mandatory minimum penalty provided by law, if any[.] 1

       According to Sierra, the District Court failed to inform him of the unequivocal

nature of the five-year mandatory minimum penalty applicable in this case and did not

determine whether he understood the non-discretionary characteristic of this minimum

penalty. He specifically contends that the District Court should have clearly distinguished

the Sentencing Guidelines from the statutory mandatory minimum sentence and explained

that the five-year sentence applied notwithstanding either his cooperation or any motion

for departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. Sierra’s claim of error is without merit.

   1
    Rule 11 was subsequently revised to require notification of “any mandatory
minimum penalty.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1)(I).

                                               6
       Sierra was clearly informed that a mandatory minimum sentence applied regardless

of his substantial assistance to the government and the government’s motion to depart.

The written plea agreement placed Sierra on notice that he faced at least a five-year

mandatory term of incarceration. He further understood “that the government does not

intend to move for departure from any statutory mandatory minimum term of

imprisonment.” Jt. App. at 21A. Sierra was again notified of the statutory mandatory

minimum on a number of occasions at both the change of plea and the sentencing

hearings. At the change of plea hearing, he indicated that he understood and discussed

the possible penalties with his attorney. The District Court expressly asked him whether

he understood that the government would not submit a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 3353(e),

“which would permit the Court to depart from the statutory mandatory minimum.” Jt.

App. at 41A. Sierra answered in the affirmative. He also was aware that “the

Governmental departure really has that floor of five years.” Jt. App. at 53A. Under these

circumstances, his request for leniency did not necessarily reveal his ignorance or

misunderstanding of the mandatory minimum sentence. On the contrary, it supported his

counsel’s ultimately successful argument for the lowest possible sentence of 60 months.

       Even if the District Court committed obvious error, Sierra has failed to establish

that this error affected his substantial rights. This element generally requires a defendant

to demonstrate that the error was prejudicial because it affected the outcome of the

proceedings before the district court. See, e.g., Dixon, 308 F.3d at 234. Sierra does not

                                             7
address this issue of prejudice. He never specifically claims that he would or even might

have rejected a guilty plea if the District Court had provided all of the allegedly required

information. See, e.g., id. at 234-35 (rejecting assertion of prejudice from erroneous

statements of maximum sentence). The District Court accordingly did not commit

reversible error.

                                             III.

       For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the District Court entered on June 19,

2002 will be affirmed.

                                           /s/ Robert E. Cowen
                                           United States Circuit Judge

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