United States v. Palaguachi

187 F. Supp. 3d 356, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64591, 2016 WL 2888995
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMay 17, 2016
Docket15-CR-133 (WFK)
StatusPublished

This text of 187 F. Supp. 3d 356 (United States v. Palaguachi) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Palaguachi, 187 F. Supp. 3d 356, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64591, 2016 WL 2888995 (E.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

HON. WILLIAM F. KUNTZ, II, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Defendant Jorge Palaguachi (“Defendant”) is a twenty-eight year old citizen of Ecuador who pled guilty to a two-count indictment for Illegal Reentry and Failure to Register. Guilty Plea, EOF Sept. 28, 2015. Defendant was first removed from the United States on February 22, 2008 after being convicted of statutory rape of a twelve year old. Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”) ¶ 31, EOF No. 18. Federal authorities arrested Defendant after learning of his illegal reentry into the United States following Defendant’s arrest for sexual assault of his then-girlfriend. Id. ¶ 3. The Court provides a complete statement of reasons pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c) of those factors set forth by Congress and the President and contained in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). For the reasons discussed below, Defendant is sentenced to 57 months of incarceration for Count One and 57 months of incarceration for Count Two, to run concurrently. Defendant is further sentenced to five years of supervised release with special conditions for Count One and five years of supervised release with special conditions for Count- Two, to run concurrently; no fine; and the $200 special assessment;

[358]*358BACKGROUND

On September 28, 2015, Defendant pled guilty to a two-count indictment, charging Defendant with Illegal Entry (“Count One”) and Failure to Register (“Count Two”). Guilty Plea, ECF No. 15; Plea Agree. ¶.1, ECF No. 16. Federal authorities arrested Defendant for Illegal Reentry after the New York Police Department arrested and charged Defendant with Assault in the Third Degree, Forcible Touching: Forcibly Touch of Other Person Sexual/Intimate Parts [sic], and Harassment in the Second Degree, Defendant, a convicted sex offender, is also charged with Failure to Register as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). See 18 U.S.C. § 2250 (requiring registration).

The Court hereby sentences Defendant and sets forth its reasons pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(2).

• ■ DISCUSSION

I. Legal Standard

Section 3553 of Title 18 of the United States Code outlines the procedures for imposing sentence in a criminal case. When the District Court imposes a sentence outside of the Sentencing Guidelines range, the Court “shall state in open court the reasons for its imposition of the particular sentence, and ... the specific reason for the imposition of a sentence different from that described”' in the Guidelines. 18 U.S.C. §■ 3553(c)(2). The Court must also “state[ ] with specificity” its reasons for so departing “in a statement of reasons form[.]” Id.

“The sentencing court’s written statement of reasons shall be a simple, fact-specific statement explaining why the guidelines'range did not account for a specific factor or factors under [Section] 3553(a).” United States v. Davis, 08-CR-332, 2010 WL 1221709, at *1 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2010) (Weinstein, J.) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Section 3553(a) provides a list of reasons for the Court-to consider in choosing what sentence to impose on a criminal defendant. The Court addresses each of the seven 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors in turn.

II. Analysis

1. The Nature and Circumstances of the Offense and the History and Characteristics of the Defendant

The first § 3553(a) factor considers “the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant.” 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1).. The Court finds a significant sentence is justified under this factor.

On March 5, 2007, Defendant, a citizen of Ecuador, was convicted in Queens County Supreme Court of rape in the second degree, an aggravated felony offense. PSR ¶ 3; Compl ¶-¶ 3-4, ECF No. 1; Letter, ECF No. 11. Defendant, who was eighteen years old at the time, had vaginal intercourse with a.twelve year-old, where he inserted his penis into the victim’s mouth and against her anus. PSR ¶ 31. He then ejaculated on her abdomen and thigh. Id. Defendant admitted his guilt upon his arrest, claiming that the victim consented and that she had informed him she was fourteen years of age. Id. Defendant was originally charged with Rape in the First Degree, but later pled guilty to the lesser-included offense of Rape in the Second Degree, statutory rape. Id.

Defendant was convicted for Rape in the Second Degree on March 5, 2007 in Queens County Supreme Court. Id. ¶ 3. As a result, Defendant was required to register on the New York State Sex Offender Registry. Id. Defendant was sentenced to ten years of probation and was thereafter excluded and removed from the United States. Id. ¶ 3; Compl. ¶ 3-4. Nevertheless, in March of 2012, Defendant illegally reen[359]*359tered the United States without permission to reenter. PSR ¶ 7. Defendant has been employed at the Hunts Point Market in Bronx, New York since his illegal reentry. Id. ¶ 57.

On February 1, 2015, Defendant, using the name “Antonio Palaguachi” was arrested by the New York- City Pólice Department and charged with Assault in the Third Degree, Forcible Touching: Forcibly Touch Other Persons Sexual/Intimate Parts, and Harassments in the Second' Degree.1 PSR ¶ 2; Comp. ¶ 2; see NY Penal Law §§ 120.00(1), 130.52, 240.26(1). The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) was notified of this arrest, and ICE officials ran a criminal history report on Antonio Palaguachi, who turned out to be the defendant in this case. See PSR ¶ 4; Comp, ¶¶ 3, 5.

On February 24, 2015, Defendant was arrested outside of the residence.. of his then-girlfriend—the victim of the February 1st arrest—for illegally reentering the United States. PSR ¶ 5. On March 20, 2015, Defendant was indicted on two counts: Illegal Entry (“Count One”) and Failure to Register (“Count Two”). Indictment, ECF No. 7. Count One charged Defendant with violating 8 „ U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and 1326(b)(2). Indictment at 1. Defendant, an alien previously deported from the United States after an aggravated-felony conviction, was found on February 1, 2015 in the United States without consent for admission from the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security. PSR ¶ 1. Count Two charged Defendant with violating 18 U.S.C. § 2250. Indictment at 2. Although Defendant was required to register under SORNA, he failed to update his registration. PSR ¶ 1.

2. The Need for the Sentence Imposed

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Silvano Jiminez-Cardenas
684 F.3d 1237 (Eleventh Circuit, 2012)
Hillman v. Maretta
133 S. Ct. 1943 (Supreme Court, 2013)
Descamps v. United States
133 S. Ct. 2276 (Supreme Court, 2013)
United States v. Mi Kyung Byun
539 F.3d 982 (Ninth Circuit, 2008)
United States v. White
782 F.3d 1118 (Tenth Circuit, 2015)
Johnson v. United States
576 U.S. 591 (Supreme Court, 2015)
United States v. Brian Berry
814 F.3d 192 (Fourth Circuit, 2016)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
187 F. Supp. 3d 356, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64591, 2016 WL 2888995, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-palaguachi-nyed-2016.