United States v. Mora

275 F. App'x 193
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
DecidedApril 25, 2008
Docket07-4985
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 275 F. App'x 193 (United States v. Mora) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Mora, 275 F. App'x 193 (4th Cir. 2008).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Following a jury trial, Jose Jesus Mora was convicted of three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) (2000), and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(j) and 924(a)(2) (2000). The district court sentenced him to a total of 84 months’ imprisonment, which was above the advisory sentencing guideline range. Mora appeals, challenging the denial of his motion for judgment -of acquittal on two counts of the § 922(g)(1) offense, the imposition of an obstruction of justice enhancement, the reasonableness of his sentence, and the imposition of non-mandatory conditions of supervised release. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.

I.

We review de novo a district court’s decision to deny a Rule 29 motion for judgment of acquittal. United States v. Smith, 451 F.3d 209, 216 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.—, 127 S.Ct. 197, 166 L.Ed.2d 161 (2006). Where, as here, the motion was based on a claim of insufficient evidence, “[t]he verdict of a jury must be sustained if there is substantial evidence, taking the view most favorable to the Government, to support it.” Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942). In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, this court “do[es] not review the credibility of the witnesses and assumefs] the jury resolved all contradictions in the testimony in favor of the government.” United States v. Sun, 278 F.3d 302, 313 (4th Cir.2002). The court “must consider circumstantial as well as direct evidence, and allow the government the benefit of all reasonable inferences from the facts proven to those sought to be established.” United States v. Tresvant, 677 F.2d 1018, 1021 (4th Cir.1982).

In order to convict Mora under § 922(g)(1), the Government had to establish that (1) Mora had been previously convicted of a felony, (2) Mora knowingly possessed the firearm, and (3) the possession was in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce. See United States v. Gilbert, 430 F.3d 215, 218 (4th Cir.2005). Mora stipulated to the first and third elements at trial. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government and allowing the Government the benefit of all reasonable inferences therefrom, the evidence showed that Mora traded a stolen Beretta shotgun to a friend in exchange for a Glock 17 pistol with the serial number AHM397US. On two separate subsequent occasions, witnesses saw Mora wearing a Glock 17 pistol in a holster on his hip. We conclude that jurors could reasonably convict Mora of the charged offense — possession of the Glock 17 pistol with the serial number AHM397US — on this evidence.

II.

Mora also challenges the district court’s enhancement of his sentencing guidelines offense level for obstruction of justice, pursuant to § 3C1.1 of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual (“USSG”). Mora contends that his Sixth Amendment rights were violated because the facts supporting the sentence enhancement were not proven beyond a reasonable doubt to *195 the jury. However, pursuant to the remedial portion of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), district courts will continue to make decisions about sentencing factors on the preponderance of the evidence, taking into account that the resulting Guidelines range is advisory only. See United States v. Morris, 429 F.3d 65, 71-72 (4th Cir.2006).

As to the district court’s obstruction of justice determination, this court reviews findings of fact for clear error and questions of law de novo. United States v. Green, 436 F.3d 449, 456 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 547 U.S. 1156, 126 S.Ct. 2309, 164 L.Ed.2d 828 (2006). Pursuant to § 3C1.1, a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice may be imposed if the defendant:

willfully obstructed or impeded, or attempted to obstruct or impede, the administration of justice during the course of the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the instant offense of conviction, and the obstructive conduct related to the defendant’s offense of conviction. ...

The evidence shows that after Mora had been arrested on the charged offenses, he engaged in several telephone communications with his wife regarding the existence of an air pistol that was “nearly identical” to the Glock 17 the witnesses claimed Mora possessed. * Mora asked his wife to look at an internet site that sold the air pistol and to ask the friend who had given him the Glock 17 if he was correct that the real Glock 17 and the air pistol were indistinguishable. Mora asked his wife to purchase the air pistol because it was “perfectly legal for a convicted felon to have one” and it would be “exhibit one in [his] defense.” Mora discussed at length his desire to put “as much doubt in the jury’s mind as possible” as to whether he committed the charged offenses. Based on this evidence, we find the district court’s factual findings were not clearly erroneous and they adequately supported a two-point enhancement for obstruction of justice.

III.

Mora also challenges the reasonableness of his sentence, including the district court’s determination that Mora’s Guidelines criminal history category did not adequately represent his criminal history or the likelihood that he would commit future offenses.

Following United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), a district court must engage in a multi-step process at sentencing. First, it must calculate the appropriate advisory Guidelines range. It must then consider the resulting range in conjunction with the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) (2000) and determine an appropriate sentence. United States v. Davenport, 445 F.3d 366, 370 (4th Cir.2006).

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Related

Jose Mora v. Warden, FCC Coleman-Low
476 F. App'x 850 (Eleventh Circuit, 2012)

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Bluebook (online)
275 F. App'x 193, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-mora-ca4-2008.