United States v. Ricardo Perez-Vasquez

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Decided: April 30, 2009
• Docket: 07-6390
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION File Name: 09a0312n.06 Filed: April 30, 2009

No. 07-6390

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) v. ) ON APPEAL FROM THE ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT RICARDO PEREZ-VASQUEZ, ) COURT FOR THE EASTERN ) DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE Defendant-Appellant. ) _______________________________________ )

Before: KETHLEDGE and WHITE, Circuit Judges; and POLSTER,* District Judge.

WHITE, Circuit Judge. Appellant Ricardo Perez-Vasquez pled guilty of illegally

reentering the United States, 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), and was sentenced to 71 months in prison, to run

consecutively to a state sentence yet to be completed. He challenges his sentence as creating an

unwarranted disparity and seeks remand for resentencing. We AFFIRM.

Perez-Vasquez entered the United States sometime before March of 2003. On September

29, 2003, he was convicted in Tennessee state court of one count of aggravated burglary and one

count of sexual battery, and sentenced to three years’ incarceration (with 10.8 months left to serve)

and three years’ probation. The Government deported Perez-Vasquez to Mexico on January 20,

2004.

* The Honorable Dan A. Polster, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, sitting by designation. United States v. Perez-Vasquez Case No. 07-6390

Perez-Vasquez reentered the United States in February 2004. He was arrested in April 2005

and charged with aggravated burglary. In July 2005 he pled guilty in Tennessee state court and was

sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

The following October, a federal grand jury indicted Perez-Vasquez for reentering the United

States after deportation. See 8 U.S.C. § 1326. In the federal proceeding, the Government filed a

notice of enhancement, asserting that a conviction of reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) would lead

to an enhanced sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) because Perez-Vasquez’s prior removal from

the United States “was subsequent to a conviction for commission of an aggravated felony,” as

defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43).

On June 6, 2007, Perez-Vasquez entered a notice of intent to plead guilty. Two days later,

the U.S. Attorney entered a Stipulation of Factual Basis and, on June 11, Perez-Vasquez entered a

guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.

A probation officer calculated Perez-Vasquez’s advisory Guidelines range using a base

offense level of eight and applying a sixteen-level enhancement for a previous deportation for a

crime of violence. U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(a) (“Base Offense Level: 8”); U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(ii)

(sixteen level enhancement for previous deportation after a crime of violence). The probation officer

also incorporated a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, making the final offense

level 21. Perez-Vasquez’s past convictions, his status as a probationer, and the instant offense

occurring less than two years after his previous release from custody, gave Perez-Vasquez nine

criminal history points, placing him in criminal history category IV. Perez-Vasquez’s total offense

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level of 21 combined with his criminal history category IV to place him in the 57 to 71 months

Guidelines range.

At the sentencing hearing, Perez-Vasquez made several arguments, two of which are relevant

here. First, he argued that he would suffer an unwarranted disparity in his sentence because the

Eastern District of Tennessee did not participate in an early disposition or “fast-track” program. The

Attorney General authorizes districts to participate in such programs, allowing courts in those

districts to provide a four-level downward departure to a defendant who makes an early guilty plea.

Second, he argued that his sentence for illegal reentry should be ordered to run concurrently with his

undischarged state-court sentence for aggravated burglary. See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c) (“[T]he sentence

for the instant offense may be imposed to run concurrently, partially concurrently, or consecutively

to the prior undischarged term of imprisonment [in any other case] to achieve a reasonable

punishment for the instant offense.”).

The district court sentenced Perez-Vasquez to 71 months in prison, and ordered that the

sentence run consecutively to his state sentence for aggravated burglary. The court found that the

sentence did not create an unwarranted disparity because Perez-Vasquez’s prior conviction would

have made him ineligible for fast-track treatment. The court noted its discretion to order that the

sentence run concurrently with the undischarged state sentence, but concluded that the “totally

unrelated” nature of the state and federal crimes made a consecutive sentence more appropriate.

Appellate review of a sentencing decision is limited to determining whether the sentence is

reasonable under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. ____, 128 S. Ct.

586, 597 (2007); see also United States v. Grossman, 513 F.3d 592, 595 (6th Cir. 2008). The review

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is two tiered: the court must review for both procedural and substantive error. Gall, 552 U.S. at

____, 128 S. Ct. at 597. We review a district court’s decision to impose a consecutive or concurrent

sentence under § 5G1.3 of the Sentencing Guidelines for abuse of discretion. United States v.

Campbell, 309 F.3d 928, 930 (6th Cir. 2002). In this circuit, a sentence that falls within the

Guidelines enjoys “a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness.” United States v. Williams, 436 F.3d

706, 708 (6th Cir. 2006). Nevertheless, a sentencing court must still “explain to the parties and the

reviewing court its reasons for imposing a particular sentence.” United States v. Richardson, 437

F.3d 550, 554 (6th Cir. 2006).

On appeal, Perez-Vasquez argues that early disposition – or “fast-track” – programs create

an unwarranted disparity in sentences, implicating 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6) (instructing sentencing

courts to consider “the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar

records who have been found guilty of similar conduct”). He argues that the district court should

have ordered a concurrent sentence as a means of reducing the disparity.

Fast-track programs began in the 1980s as a result of prosecutors’ efforts to enforce criminal

immigration laws in the face of dockets flooded with violations. Such programs expedited illegal

reentry cases by, for example, allowing a defendant “otherwise potentially chargeable under 8 U.S.C.

§ 1326(b)” to “plead guilty to a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), which carries a maximum term of

two years.” United States v. Bonnet-Grullon, 53 F. Supp. 2d 430, 432 (S.D.N.Y. 1999) (quoting

Alan D. Bersin and Judith S. Feigin, The Rule of Law at the Margin: Reinventing Prosecution

Policy in the Southern District of California, 12 Geo. Immig. L. J. 285, 287, 301 (1998)); see also

United States v. Hernandez-Cervantes, 161 F. App’x 508, 510 (6th Cir. 2005) (unpublished

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disposition) (explaining that prosecutors in border areas used fast-track programs “to clear their

dockets through either charge-bargaining or agreements to move for downward departures in return

for defendants’ agreements not to file pretrial motions or contest issues”).

Congress approved of these procedures in the Prosecutorial Remedies and Tools Against the

Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003 (the PROTECT Act), which called upon the United

States Sentencing Commission to “promulgate . . . a policy statement authorizing a downward

departure of not more than 4 levels if the Government files a motion for such departure pursuant to

an early disposition program authorized by the Attorney General and the United States Attorney.”

Pub. L. 108-21, § 401(m), 117 Stat. 650, 675 (2003). The ensuing guideline, U.S.S.G. § 5K3.1,

provides that “[u]pon motion of the Government, the court may depart downward not more than 4

levels pursuant to an early disposition program authorized by the Attorney General of the United

States and the United States Attorney for the district in which the court resides.”

Defendants in districts without fast-track programs have long claimed that the limited

application of these departures creates an unwarranted sentence disparity under 18 U.S.C. §

3553(a)(6). To eliminate the disparity, these defendants argue that sentencing courts in districts

without fast-track programs must consider a parallel departure for defendants who would receive the

benefit of a § 5K3.1 departure if prosecuted in another district. See Bonnet-Grullon, 53 F. Supp. 2d

at 435 (“[I]t is difficult to imagine a sentencing disparity less warranted than one which depends

upon the accident of the judicial district in which the defendant happens to be arrested.”). These

arguments gained strength in the wake of Booker, but did not achieve their intended result of

mandating a parallel departure. See United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 245 (2005) (requiring

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that courts “consider Guidelines ranges,” but permitting them to “tailor the sentence in light of other

statutory concerns as well”); United States v. Galvez-Barrios, 355 F. Supp. 2d 958, 963 (E.D. Wis.

2005) (“[U]nder Booker and § 3553(a)(6), it may be appropriate in some cases for courts to exercise

their discretion to minimize the sentencing disparity that fast-track programs create.”). Instead,

courts of appeals have generally declined to require a downward departure based on a defendant’s

claimed eligibility for a fast-track program in another district. See, e.g., United States v.

Hernandez-Fierros, 453 F.3d 309, 314 (6th Cir. 2006).1 Some courts reasoned that the difference

in sentences across districts did not amount to a disparity because Congress, by endorsing fast-track

programs in the PROTECT Act, “was necessarily providing that the sentencing disparities that result

from these programs are warranted and, as such, do not violate § 3553(a)(6).” United States v.

Marcial-Santiago, 447 F.3d 715, 718 (9th Cir. 2006). The Sixth Circuit reached a similar

conclusion, holding that “fast-track guidelines reductions were specifically authorized by statute due

to the unique and pressing problems related to immigration in certain districts” and, therefore, the

resultant disparity “does not run counter to § 3553(a)’s instruction to avoid unnecessary sentencing

1 See also United State v. Jimenez-Beltre, 440 F.3d 514, 519 (1st Cir. 2006) (upholding the lower court’s denial of a below-Guidelines sentence and noting that such a downward departure might not even be permissible); United States v. Montes-Pineda, 445 F.3d 375, 379-80 (4th Cir. 2006); United States v. Martinez-Martinez, 442 F.3d 539, 543 (7th Cir. 2006) (“That some courts have chosen to avoid disparity does not mean that all district courts are compelled to adjust a sentence downward from the advisory guidelines range in order for that sentence to be reasonable.”); United States v. Sebastian, 436 F.3d 913, 916 (8th Cir. 2006); United States v. Marcial-Santiago, 447 F.3d 715, 718 (9th Cir. 2006). But cf. United States v. Morales-Chaires, 430 F.3d 1124, 1131 (10th Cir. 2005) (noting that it need not resolve the issue, and holding, based on the other § 3553(a) factors, that the Guidelines sentence was reasonable).

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disparities.” Hernandez-Fierros, 453 F.3d at 314. (“In so balancing the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors,

the court appropriately addressed defendant’s sentencing disparity concerns”).

Under 18 U.S.C. § 3584, “[i]f multiple terms of imprisonment are imposed on a defendant

at the same time, or if a term of imprisonment is imposed on a defendant who is already subject to

an undischarged term of imprisonment, the terms may run concurrently or consecutively.” The code

instructs a court making such a decision to “consider, as to each offense for which a term of

imprisonment is being imposed, the factors set forth in section 3553(a).” Id. Section 3553(a)

instructs the court to consider a list of seven factors when determining a sentence. These factors

include, “the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the

defendant,” the need to “protect the public from further crimes of the defendant,” and “the need to

avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found

guilty of similar conduct.” Id. § 3553(a)(1), (2), & (6).2

The Guidelines also provide some instruction on consecutive versus concurrent sentencing.

Under these facts, § 5G1.3 explains that a court may impose a sentence that runs “concurrently,

partially concurrently, or consecutively to the prior undischarged term of imprisonment to achieve

2 The seven 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors are: 1) “the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant”; 2) “the need for the sentence imposed–(A) to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; (B) to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct; (C) to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant; and (D) to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training, medical care, or other correctional treatment in the most effective manner”; (3) the kinds of sentences available”; (4) the Guidelines sentence; (5) any pertinent policy statement issued by the Sentencing Commission; (6) “the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct”; and (7) “the need to provide restitution to any victims of the offense.”

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a reasonable punishment for the instant offense.” U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c). The commentary also

provides a note regarding the application of subsection (c), which includes specific factors the court

should consider.3 U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 5G1.3 cmt. n.3 (2007). Nevertheless,

“where a district court has considered the factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and the applicable

Guidelines and policy statements in effect at the time of sentencing, the district court’s decision

whether to impose a concurrent or consecutive sentence pursuant to § 5G1.3 is discretionary.”

United States v. Watford, 468 F.3d 891, 916 (6th Cir. 2006); see also United States v. McClellan,

164 F.3d 308, 310 (6th Cir. 1999) (noting no “requirement that a district court make specific findings

relating to each of the factors considered”).

Perez-Vasquez does not assert that the district court failed to consider the appropriate factors.

Rather, he asserts that the court abused its discretion in declining to order that the federal sentence

3 The commentary explains:

(A) In General.–Under subsection (c), the court may impose a sentence concurrently, partially concurrently, or consecutively to the undischarged term of imprisonment. In order to achieve a reasonable incremental punishment for the instant offense and avoid unwarranted disparity, the court should consider the following: (i) The factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3584 (referencing 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)); (ii) The type (e.g., determinate, indeterminate/parolable) and length of the prior undischarged sentence; (iii) The time served on the undischarged sentence and the time likely to be served before release; (iv) The fact that the prior undischarged sentence may have been imposed in state court rather than federal court, or at a different time before the same or different federal court; and (v) Any other circumstance relevant to the determination of an appropriate sentence for the instant offense.

U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 5G1.3 cmt. n.3 (2007).

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run concurrently with his undischarged state sentence under the circumstance that he was not eligible

for the fast-track due to the district in which he was prosecuted. This argument, however, runs

contrary to the law in this and other circuits. While the district court was free to consider this as a

factor in both fashioning a sentence and deciding whether it should run consecutively or

concurrently, it was not obliged to impose a concurrent sentence simply because the district did not

have a fast-track program.

We AFFIRM the district court’s sentence.