USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 1 of 8
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________
No. 20-12380 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________
D.C. Docket No. 0:19-cr-60265-WPD-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
GREGORY LERI,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ________________________
(April 27, 2021)
Before JORDAN, GRANT, and BLACK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 2 of 8
Gregory Leri appeals his 78-month concurrent sentences of imprisonment
for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to
possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. He asserts the district court plainly
erred in not applying a two-level reduction under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(18) because
he met the amended safety-valve criteria in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). Additionally, he
contends the district court abused its discretion in sentencing him to 78 months’
imprisonment instead of probation because it failed to properly weigh all the
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors when sentencing him, including the role of his
addiction in the offenses. After review, we affirm.
I. DISCUSSION
A. Safety Valve
Leri concedes that he did not object to the district court’s conclusion he was
ineligible for safety-valve relief due to a single three-point prior conviction. Thus,
review of this issue is for plain error. See United States v. Vandergrift, 754 F.3d
1303, 1307 (11th Cir. 2014) (reviewing for plain error a sentencing argument that
was not raised before the district court). For an error to be plain, it must be one
that is obvious and clear under current law. United States v. Madden, 733 F.3d
1314, 1322 (11th Cir. 2013). An error is not obvious or clear under current law
when there is a lack of controlling authority or there is room for doubt about the
2 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 3 of 8
outcome of an issue. United States v. Humphrey, 164 F.3d 585, 588 (11th Cir.
1999).
Under the safety-valve statute, 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), a district court must
impose a sentence pursuant to the Sentencing Guidelines without regard to any
statutory minimum if the defendant meets all of the enumerated factors. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(f). Section 402 of the First Step Act 1 amended § 3553(f) to apply to more
criminal offenses. United States v. Tigua, 963 F.3d 1138, 1142 (11th Cir. 2020).
The first of the five criteria in § 3553(f), as amended by the First Step Act, is that:
(1) the defendant does not have-- (A) more than 4 criminal history points, excluding any criminal history points resulting from a 1-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines; (B) a prior 3-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines; and (C) a prior 2-point violent offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines.
18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(1).
The Sentencing Guidelines, in § 5C1.2, also state the district court shall
impose a sentence in accordance with the Guidelines without regard to the
statutory minimum sentence if the court finds the defendant meets the criteria in
§ 3553(f)(1)-(5), which it lists. U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. Section 5C1.2 has not been
amended to incorporate the First Step Act’s changes to § 3553(f). Compare
1 First Step Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-391, § 402, 132 Stat. 5194, 5221. 3 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 4 of 8
18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), with U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. Section 5C1.2 still lists the first
criterion for safety-valve eligibility as “the defendant does not have more than 1
criminal history point, as determined under the sentencing guidelines before
application of subsection (b) of § 4A1.3 (Departures Based on Inadequacy of
Criminal History Category).” U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(1). Section 2D1.1, the
Guideline for drug offenses, instructs the court should apply a two-level reduction
if a defendant meets the safety-valve criteria in U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. U.S.S.G.
§ 2D1.1(b)(18).
The district court did not plainly err in finding that Leri did not satisfy the
safety-valve criteria. Section 3553(f) is not applicable to Leri because it allows the
district court to sentence a defendant without regard to a mandatory minimum
sentence and no mandatory minimum sentences applied to Leri’s convictions.
Thus, because § 3553(f) does not apply, the only question is whether Leri satisfied
the criteria in § 5C1.2 such that he should have received a two-level reduction
under § 2D1.1(b)(18). The § 5C1.2 criteria, which have not been amended after
the First Step Act, state that a defendant must not have more than one criminal
history point. U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(1). Leri does not satisfy this criteria because he
has four criminal history points.
The only way Leri could qualify for the two-level reduction is if § 5C1.2’s
reference to “the criteria in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(1)-(5) set forth below” is read to
4 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 5 of 8
incorporate the amended criteria in § 3553(f), including the broadened criteria for
criminal history in § 3553(f)(1). But that reading is not plain from the language of
§ 5C1.2, which sets out the former criteria explicitly, and Leri has not pointed to
any binding precedent stating that § 5C1.2 must be read to incorporate the
amended criteria in § 3553(f), even though § 5C1.2 itself has not been amended.
Thus, as Leri does not satisfy the criteria in § 5C1.2 and it is not plain that
the amended criteria in § 3553(f) are incorporated into § 5C1.2, the district court
did not plainly err by not concluding that Leri satisfied the safety-valve criteria.
See Madden, 733 F.3d at 1322.
B. Substantive Reasonableness
When reviewing for substantive reasonableness, we consider the totality of
the circumstances under a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall v. United
States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). The party challenging the sentence bears the
burden of establishing it is unreasonable based on the facts of the case and the 18
U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. United States v. Shabazz, 887 F.3d 1204, 1224 (11th Cir.
2018).
As to substantive reasonableness, a district court abuses its discretion when
it (1) fails to consider relevant factors that were due significant weight, (2) gives
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USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 1 of 8
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________
No. 20-12380 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________
D.C. Docket No. 0:19-cr-60265-WPD-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
GREGORY LERI,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ________________________
(April 27, 2021)
Before JORDAN, GRANT, and BLACK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 2 of 8
Gregory Leri appeals his 78-month concurrent sentences of imprisonment
for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to
possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. He asserts the district court plainly
erred in not applying a two-level reduction under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(18) because
he met the amended safety-valve criteria in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). Additionally, he
contends the district court abused its discretion in sentencing him to 78 months’
imprisonment instead of probation because it failed to properly weigh all the
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors when sentencing him, including the role of his
addiction in the offenses. After review, we affirm.
I. DISCUSSION
A. Safety Valve
Leri concedes that he did not object to the district court’s conclusion he was
ineligible for safety-valve relief due to a single three-point prior conviction. Thus,
review of this issue is for plain error. See United States v. Vandergrift, 754 F.3d
1303, 1307 (11th Cir. 2014) (reviewing for plain error a sentencing argument that
was not raised before the district court). For an error to be plain, it must be one
that is obvious and clear under current law. United States v. Madden, 733 F.3d
1314, 1322 (11th Cir. 2013). An error is not obvious or clear under current law
when there is a lack of controlling authority or there is room for doubt about the
2 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 3 of 8
outcome of an issue. United States v. Humphrey, 164 F.3d 585, 588 (11th Cir.
1999).
Under the safety-valve statute, 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), a district court must
impose a sentence pursuant to the Sentencing Guidelines without regard to any
statutory minimum if the defendant meets all of the enumerated factors. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(f). Section 402 of the First Step Act 1 amended § 3553(f) to apply to more
criminal offenses. United States v. Tigua, 963 F.3d 1138, 1142 (11th Cir. 2020).
The first of the five criteria in § 3553(f), as amended by the First Step Act, is that:
(1) the defendant does not have-- (A) more than 4 criminal history points, excluding any criminal history points resulting from a 1-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines; (B) a prior 3-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines; and (C) a prior 2-point violent offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines.
18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(1).
The Sentencing Guidelines, in § 5C1.2, also state the district court shall
impose a sentence in accordance with the Guidelines without regard to the
statutory minimum sentence if the court finds the defendant meets the criteria in
§ 3553(f)(1)-(5), which it lists. U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. Section 5C1.2 has not been
amended to incorporate the First Step Act’s changes to § 3553(f). Compare
1 First Step Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-391, § 402, 132 Stat. 5194, 5221. 3 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 4 of 8
18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), with U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. Section 5C1.2 still lists the first
criterion for safety-valve eligibility as “the defendant does not have more than 1
criminal history point, as determined under the sentencing guidelines before
application of subsection (b) of § 4A1.3 (Departures Based on Inadequacy of
Criminal History Category).” U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(1). Section 2D1.1, the
Guideline for drug offenses, instructs the court should apply a two-level reduction
if a defendant meets the safety-valve criteria in U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. U.S.S.G.
§ 2D1.1(b)(18).
The district court did not plainly err in finding that Leri did not satisfy the
safety-valve criteria. Section 3553(f) is not applicable to Leri because it allows the
district court to sentence a defendant without regard to a mandatory minimum
sentence and no mandatory minimum sentences applied to Leri’s convictions.
Thus, because § 3553(f) does not apply, the only question is whether Leri satisfied
the criteria in § 5C1.2 such that he should have received a two-level reduction
under § 2D1.1(b)(18). The § 5C1.2 criteria, which have not been amended after
the First Step Act, state that a defendant must not have more than one criminal
history point. U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(1). Leri does not satisfy this criteria because he
has four criminal history points.
The only way Leri could qualify for the two-level reduction is if § 5C1.2’s
reference to “the criteria in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(1)-(5) set forth below” is read to
4 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 5 of 8
incorporate the amended criteria in § 3553(f), including the broadened criteria for
criminal history in § 3553(f)(1). But that reading is not plain from the language of
§ 5C1.2, which sets out the former criteria explicitly, and Leri has not pointed to
any binding precedent stating that § 5C1.2 must be read to incorporate the
amended criteria in § 3553(f), even though § 5C1.2 itself has not been amended.
Thus, as Leri does not satisfy the criteria in § 5C1.2 and it is not plain that
the amended criteria in § 3553(f) are incorporated into § 5C1.2, the district court
did not plainly err by not concluding that Leri satisfied the safety-valve criteria.
See Madden, 733 F.3d at 1322.
B. Substantive Reasonableness
When reviewing for substantive reasonableness, we consider the totality of
the circumstances under a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall v. United
States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). The party challenging the sentence bears the
burden of establishing it is unreasonable based on the facts of the case and the 18
U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. United States v. Shabazz, 887 F.3d 1204, 1224 (11th Cir.
2018).
As to substantive reasonableness, a district court abuses its discretion when
it (1) fails to consider relevant factors that were due significant weight, (2) gives
significant weight to an improper or irrelevant factor, or (3) commits a clear error
of judgment by balancing the proper factors unreasonably. United States v. Irey,
5 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 6 of 8
612 F.3d 1160, 1189 (11th Cir. 2010) (en banc). The proper factors are set out
in § 3553(a) and include the nature and circumstances of the offense, the criminal
history of the defendant, the seriousness of the crime, the promotion of respect for
the law, just punishment, adequate deterrence, and protection of the public. 18
U.S.C. § 3553(a).
We have emphasized that we must give due deference to the district court to
consider and weigh the proper sentencing factors. Shabazz, 887 F.3d at 1224. The
district court also does not have to give all the factors equal weight and is given
discretion to attach great weight to one factor over another. United States v.
Rosales-Bruno, 789 F.3d 1249, 1254 (11th Cir. 2015). Along with the § 3553(a)
factors, the district court should also consider the particularized facts of the case
and the guideline range. Id. at 1259–60. However, it maintains discretion to give
heavier weight to any of the § 3553(a) factors or combination of factors than to the
guideline range. Id. at 1259. The district court also has wide discretion to decide
whether the § 3553(a) factors justify a variance. United States v. Rodriguez,
628 F.3d 1258, 1264 (11th Cir. 2010).
Leri has failed to show his sentence is substantively unreasonable because
the district court made a clear error in judgment in balancing the § 3553(a) factors.
See Irey, 612 F.3d at 1189. The district court’s pronouncement of the sentence
showed that it considered several of the § 3553(a) factors. Specifically, the district
6 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 7 of 8
court’s express consideration of Leri’s “terrible” criminal history, as well as the
fact that most of his past convictions were misdemeanors, showed it considered
Leri’s history and characteristics. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Additionally, the district
court considered the nature and circumstances of the offense in its finding of
certain mitigating circumstances—the amount of drugs involved, the fact they
came in lozenges, that they were prescribed to Leri, that he sold them, and that the
behavior was common with addicts. Id. The district court granted a 43-month
downward variance based on the mitigating factors noted, which showed it
accounted for Leri’s addiction and any mitigating effects it had. Further, its
consideration of the downward variance it gave Leri’s co-conspirator, even though
she had ten prior felony convictions, showed the district court considered the need
to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities.
Additionally, the district court did not abuse its discretion by not giving Leri
a probationary sentence because, while it noted mitigating factors in granting him a
downward variance, it also weighed factors tending to show the seriousness of the
offense. It expressly noted that Leri had a “terrible” criminal history and that
fentanyl was having “disastrous effects on society,” which showed it weighed
Leri’s particular circumstances and the nature of the offense in determining
whether to reduce his sentence and, if so, how much to reduce it by. See Rosales-
Bruno, 789 F.3d at 1259-60. Although Leri argues the district court placed
7 USCA11 Case: 20-12380 Date Filed: 04/27/2021 Page: 8 of 8
insufficient weight on the role his addiction played in the offense, the district court
expressly considered it and had broad leeway in assigning its weight. The court
was within its discretion to weigh Leri’s addiction with the nature and
circumstances of the offense, his extensive criminal history, the sentences given to
his co-conspirators, and the need to promote respect for the law. Additionally, that
the sentence was below the guideline range and well below the statutory maximum
were further indicia of reasonableness. United States v. Foster, 878 F.3d 1297,
1309 (11th Cir. 2018) (stating we ordinarily expect a sentence within the guideline
range to be reasonable); United States v. Stanley, 739 F.3d 633, 656 (11th Cir.
2014) (explaining a sentence imposed well below the statutory maximum is an
indicator of a reasonable sentence). Therefore, because the district court did not
abuse its discretion by ignoring relevant factors or improperly weighing the
factors, the sentence was substantively reasonable and further reduction was not
warranted.
II. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, we affirm Leri’s sentences.
AFFIRMED.