United States v. Amaya-Ramos

415 F. App'x 788

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Jose Angel Amaya-Ramos appeals from the 77-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea conviction for being an alien in the United States after deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

Amaya-Ramos contends that the district court committed procedural error by rejecting without adequate explanation his argument in favor of leniency. The district court did not err, as it listened to Amaya-Ramos’s mitigation arguments, and then imposed a within-Guidelines sentence based on the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. See United States v. Perez-Perez, 512 F.3d 514, 516 (9th Cir.2008).

Amaya-Ramos also argues that his sentence is substantively unreasonable. He contends that the 16-level prior conviction sentencing enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(1)(A) is per se unreasonable and resulted in an unreasonable sentence in this case.

Amaya-Ramos’s argument that the 16-level sentencing enhancement is per se unreasonable fails. See United States v. Amezcua-Vasquez, 567 F.3d 1050, 1054 (9th Cir.2009); see also United States v. Barsumyan, 517 F.3d 1154, 1159 (9th Cir.2008) (policy-based argument against the Guidelines must be asserted on the ground that its operation in a particular case results in a sentence that is unreasonable under § 3553(a)).

In light of the totality of the circumstances and the § 3553(a) factors, the sen tence in this case is substantively reasonable. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S.Ct. 586, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007).

AFFIRMED.

** This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.