Court Opinion

ID: 802571
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-06-19 17:24:42+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:04.726094
License: Public Domain

Case: 10-50863     Document: 00511891555         Page: 1     Date Filed: 06/19/2012

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

                                                                            FILED
                                                                           June 19, 2012

                                       No. 10-50863                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee
v.

MARTHA ALICIA GARNICA,
also known as Martha Sanchez

                                                  Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                            USDC No. 3:09-CR-3071-1

Before JONES, Chief Judge, and PRADO and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
EDITH H. JONES, Chief Judge:*
        Defendant-Appellant Martha Garnica (“Garnica”), former United States
Customs and Border Protection officer, pled guilty to various crimes she
committed in an official capacity. She appeals her cumulative 240-month
sentence, asking this court to vacate and remand because it is substantively
unreasonable. For the reasons below, we AFFIRM.

        *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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: 10-50863    Document: 00511891555     Page: 2   Date Filed: 06/19/2012

                                 No. 10-50863

                               BACKGROUND
      Garnica pled guilty to conspiring to import 100 kilograms or more of
marijuana (Count One), conspiring to induce an undocumented alien to enter the
United States (Count Two), bribing a public official (Counts Three, Four, and
Six), and importation of marijuana (Count Five).         In accordance with the
guidelines found in U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2(b) and (d), the probation officer determined
that Counts One and Five were to be grouped together; Counts Three, Four, and
Six were to be grouped together; and Count Two was to be treated separately.
The Probation office applied the guidelines to these groups, in tandem with the
statutory sentencing parameters, to yield a recommended combined sentence
range of 108-135 months for the groups of offenses. We need not dwell on the
precise calculations or the specific objections raised by Garnica that are not
pursued on appeal.
      The government filed a motion requesting the court to impose non-
guidelines consecutive sentences on the three groups and explaining that
consecutive sentences were reasonable considering the factors listed in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a).
      Garnica, for her part, moved for a downward departure and/or variance.
In a sentencing memorandum, she contended that consecutive sentences would
not serve the ends of justice and that concurrent sentences, as recommended by
the Pre-Sentence Report (“PSR”), would achieve the sentencing goals set forth
in § 3553. She further argued that her personal circumstances warranted a
sentence lasting between 63 and 78 months. She had no previous criminal
convictions; she was a single mother raising two children; she had been a law
enforcement officer for approximately 20 years; she was suffering from injuries
that occurred while she was employed as a law enforcement officer; she used
Vicodin daily for more than 13 years; she was abused by her father; and she had
volatile relationships with other men in her life.

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                                      No. 10-50863

       At sentencing, Garnica objected unsuccessfully to the paragraphs in the
PSR that stated that she was the subject of prior corruption investigations. The
parties’ respective positions on consecutive sentences and downward departure
were voiced to the court. The district court noted that it had reviewed Garnica’s
sentencing memorandum and that the Government responded very strongly.
The district court ultimately ruled that there would be no downward variance
or departure. Garnica was sentenced to 120 months for Counts One, Three,
Four, and Six, to be served concurrently; 120 months for Count Two, to be served
consecutively with Counts One, Three, Four, and Five; and 60 months for Count
Five, to be served concurrently.             The total sentence was 240 months
imprisonment (plus concurrent terms of supervised release). Garnica filed a
timely notice of appeal.
                                     DISCUSSION
       Garnica argues only that her sentence is greater than necessary to
advance the sentencing goals set forth in § 3553(a). She contends that the
district court failed properly to balance the seriousness of her offense and the
need to promote respect for the law against its duty to provide just punishment
in view of her history and characteristics, as well as the nature and
circumstances of her offense. This court reviews for abuse of discretion claims
that a sentence is substantively unreasonable. United States v. Cisneros-
Guitierrez, 517 F.3d 751, 764 (5th Cir. 2008).1
       Garnica here repeats her personal history and characteristics, already
noted above, that militate in favor of a reduced sentence. She claims that her
injuries led to chronic pain and Vicodin addiction. She argues that the likelihood

       1
         Garnica did not argue in the trial court or in this court that the district court
procedurally violated U.S.S.G. § 5G1.2 or 18 U.S.C. § 3584 by imposing consecutive sentences.
We do not consider any such argument because her failure to adequately brief an issue on
appeal constitutes waiver of that argument. United States v. James, 214 F.3d 608, 612 n.3
(5th Cir. 2000).

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                                  No. 10-50863

she will re-offend is low, given that her conviction prevents her from working in
law enforcement in the future and taking advantage of her unique position as
a border officer.
      We are unpersuaded that the court sentenced her unreasonably to
240 months in prison. Despite Garnica’s arguments, the record amply supports
the court’s decision. The district court was well aware of Garnica’s personal
history and characteristics and the seriousness and circumstances of her
offenses. The PSR reported the facts that Garnica now presents on appeal, and
the district court took note of its contents. Further, the judge invited Garnica’s
counsel to provide additional support for her motion for a downward departure.
The judge afforded both sides unlimited opportunity to argue their positions
orally before he passed sentence.
      The court reasonably concluded that Garnica’s egregious and repeated
criminal conduct while employed as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Officer made consecutive sentences appropriate. Consecutive sentences for
corrupt border officers are not unprecedented. See United States v. Arzate,
335 F. App’x 363 (5th Cir. 2009) (unpublished) (affirming 660-month sentence).
Criminal conduct by a law enforcement agent that is facilitated by the agent’s
unique position of public trust is especially serious; imposing severe punishment
to deter others and to promote respect for the law is essential. These guiding
principles are enhanced when the offending officer is a border agent entrusted
not only with law enforcement but also with national security responsibility.
The sensitivity of Garnica’s dual role was emphasized by the government during
sentencing.
      Finally, the PSR, which the district court adopted, indicates that Garnica’s
charged criminal behavior was likely neither isolated nor merely recent. Prior
to her federal law enforcement career, Garnica was employed as a police officer
with the El Paso Police Department, during which time she was associating with

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                                 No. 10-50863

and suspected of collaborating with suspected drug traffickers and money
launderers. She was also suspected of being involved in a marijuana smuggling
attempt at the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry and was the subject of
several FBI investigations during her tenure as a border officer. The PSR notes
that “Garnica was directly involved with the planning and coordination of a
reasonably foreseeable quantity of contraband” and “was clearly involved with
the trafficking of additional narcotic loads.” She apparently profited handsomely
from corruption and directed others in illegal acts. Taken in totality, Garnica’s
circumstances support the reasonableness of her consecutive sentences.
      The district court’s sentence is AFFIRMED.

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