NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION File Name: 20a0317n.06
No. 19-2041
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT FILED UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) Jun 02, 2020 DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk ) Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) ON APPEAL FROM THE v. ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT ) COURT FOR THE WESTERN ROLANDO PABLO-RAMOS, ) DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN ) Defendant-Appellant. ) )
BEFORE: CLAY, ROGERS, and DONALD, Circuit Judges.
ROGERS, Circuit Judge. After being convicted and sentenced in Michigan state court for
operating a vehicle while intoxicated and domestic violence, Rolando Pablo-Ramos pleaded guilty
to the federal offense of illegal reentry. The district court varied downward 13 months from the
bottom of the advisory Guidelines range to impose a sentence of 44 months’ imprisonment, to run
consecutively to defendant’s undischarged state sentence. Defendant appeals on the sole ground
that the district court put forth an inadequate explanation for imposing a consecutive sentence.
This argument lacks merit, however, as the record demonstrates that the district court fully
considered the relevant factors in deciding to impose a consecutive sentence.
In June 2018, Wyoming, Michigan police arrested Pablo-Ramos after he had reportedly
attacked his girlfriend and young son. Defendant was convicted in state court of one count of
operating a vehicle while intoxicated/impaired and two counts of domestic violence. Defendant No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
was sentenced in October 2018 to a term of 23-60 months’ imprisonment. This was not
defendant’s first brush with the law; his criminal history spans 18 years and includes numerous
convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol, domestic violence, and unauthorized entry
into the United States.
While his state prosecution was ongoing, defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury
for violating 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1), which prohibit reentry into the United States of aliens
who were previously removed after having been convicted of a felony offense. Defendant pleaded
guilty to the federal offense in June 2019. In its presentence report, the probation office calculated
a total offense level of 19 and a criminal history category of V, yielding an advisory Guidelines
range of 57-71 months’ imprisonment. The presentence report also noted that under U.S.S.G.
§ 5G1.3(d), the court had the authority to impose its sentence either concurrently with or
consecutively to defendant’s undischarged state sentence. Defendant did not object to the
presentence report but argued in his sentencing memorandum for a downward variance and a
concurrent sentence.
At the sentencing hearing, the defendant’s attorney reiterated defendant’s request for a
concurrent sentence. The court acknowledged defendant’s request, telling defense counsel in
response, “I hear you.” Defendant also asked for a variance on the basis that a criminal history
category of V overstated his past criminal conduct. Defendant’s attorney added that assuming
Pablo-Ramos was paroled by state authorities after 23 months, the remaining 37 months of his
state sentence would deter him from returning to the United States illegally, thus favoring a more
lenient federal sentence. In response, the Government argued in favor of a consecutive sentence
and took the position that § 5G1.3 of the Guidelines “generally reserves concurrent sentences for
sentences that were imposed in other courts for relevant conduct.” Because, in the Government’s
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view, defendant’s latest state crimes of intoxication and domestic violence were unrelated to his
federal immigration violation, a consecutive sentence was appropriate. The Government also
opposed defendant’s request for a downward variance, pointing to defendant’s long criminal
history, which included numerous felonies, as an indication of his disrespect for the law and
tendency to recidivate.
The district court granted defendant’s request for a variance and sentenced defendant to 44
months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release. In support of the variance, the court
concluded that “the guideline calculations a bit overstate the seriousness of the offense and result
in [a] guideline range that is longer than necessary.” However, the court stated that it read through
the presentence report “pretty thoroughly” and took notice of defendant’s long criminal history.
The court observed that although many of defendant’s convictions did not contribute to his
criminal history score under the guidelines, those convictions nonetheless “[did] lead one to
worry.” The court also concluded that defendant “is violent” based on its review of the facts
underlying defendant’s recent domestic violence conviction in state court. Finally, the court
underscored the frequency and severity of defendant’s prior convictions and implied that previous
punishments have failed to deter the defendant:
All the lawyers say -- for the defendants say, “He’ll never do it again,” and you look at just about every sentence I have I hear the defense lawyer say, “Oh, he’ll never do it again. He’ll never try to come back again. He’ll never commit another crime. He won’t touch a bottle of booze.” But that’s just not life.
The court pointed to defendant’s propensity to recidivate as the main reason for imposing a three-
year term of supervised release.
The court did not expressly discuss the issue of a concurrent versus consecutive sentence
until the end of the hearing, when the Government’s attorney asked the court to clarify its sentence:
-3- No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
THE COURT: And what was your other question?
MR. DANIELS: My second question was consecutive or concurrent?
THE COURT: Consecutive.
The court then asked if either party had an objection. Defense counsel responded, “Your Honor,
I respectfully object to the Court’s decision to impose a consecutive versus concurrent sentence.”
The court replied, “[t]hat’s fine,” and did not address the matter further. Defendant timely
appealed and now asserts that his sentence is procedurally unreasonable because the district court
failed to articulate adequately its rationale for imposing a consecutive sentence.
A defense counsel’s general objection to the imposition of a consecutive sentence at the
sentencing hearing does not preserve a challenge on appeal to the sufficiency of the district court’s
explanation of its reasoning for that sentence. See United States v. Harmon, 607 F.3d 233, 237–
38 (6th Cir. 2009). Accordingly, as defendant appears to concede, his claim is reviewed only for
plain error. See id. at 238.
Section 5G1.3(d) of the Guidelines expressly states that district courts have discretion to
impose a consecutive sentence where, as here, the conduct underlying the federal offense is
unrelated to the defendant’s undischarged term of imprisonment. See United States v. Bowens,
938 F.3d 790, 801 (6th Cir. 2019); United States v. Williams, 664 F. App’x 517, 521 (6th Cir.
2016). The district court did not plainly err in exercising this discretion in the present case. A
district court provides an adequate explanation for imposing a consecutive sentence when, after
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NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION File Name: 20a0317n.06
No. 19-2041
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT FILED UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) Jun 02, 2020 DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk ) Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) ON APPEAL FROM THE v. ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT ) COURT FOR THE WESTERN ROLANDO PABLO-RAMOS, ) DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN ) Defendant-Appellant. ) )
BEFORE: CLAY, ROGERS, and DONALD, Circuit Judges.
ROGERS, Circuit Judge. After being convicted and sentenced in Michigan state court for
operating a vehicle while intoxicated and domestic violence, Rolando Pablo-Ramos pleaded guilty
to the federal offense of illegal reentry. The district court varied downward 13 months from the
bottom of the advisory Guidelines range to impose a sentence of 44 months’ imprisonment, to run
consecutively to defendant’s undischarged state sentence. Defendant appeals on the sole ground
that the district court put forth an inadequate explanation for imposing a consecutive sentence.
This argument lacks merit, however, as the record demonstrates that the district court fully
considered the relevant factors in deciding to impose a consecutive sentence.
In June 2018, Wyoming, Michigan police arrested Pablo-Ramos after he had reportedly
attacked his girlfriend and young son. Defendant was convicted in state court of one count of
operating a vehicle while intoxicated/impaired and two counts of domestic violence. Defendant No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
was sentenced in October 2018 to a term of 23-60 months’ imprisonment. This was not
defendant’s first brush with the law; his criminal history spans 18 years and includes numerous
convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol, domestic violence, and unauthorized entry
into the United States.
While his state prosecution was ongoing, defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury
for violating 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1), which prohibit reentry into the United States of aliens
who were previously removed after having been convicted of a felony offense. Defendant pleaded
guilty to the federal offense in June 2019. In its presentence report, the probation office calculated
a total offense level of 19 and a criminal history category of V, yielding an advisory Guidelines
range of 57-71 months’ imprisonment. The presentence report also noted that under U.S.S.G.
§ 5G1.3(d), the court had the authority to impose its sentence either concurrently with or
consecutively to defendant’s undischarged state sentence. Defendant did not object to the
presentence report but argued in his sentencing memorandum for a downward variance and a
concurrent sentence.
At the sentencing hearing, the defendant’s attorney reiterated defendant’s request for a
concurrent sentence. The court acknowledged defendant’s request, telling defense counsel in
response, “I hear you.” Defendant also asked for a variance on the basis that a criminal history
category of V overstated his past criminal conduct. Defendant’s attorney added that assuming
Pablo-Ramos was paroled by state authorities after 23 months, the remaining 37 months of his
state sentence would deter him from returning to the United States illegally, thus favoring a more
lenient federal sentence. In response, the Government argued in favor of a consecutive sentence
and took the position that § 5G1.3 of the Guidelines “generally reserves concurrent sentences for
sentences that were imposed in other courts for relevant conduct.” Because, in the Government’s
-2- No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
view, defendant’s latest state crimes of intoxication and domestic violence were unrelated to his
federal immigration violation, a consecutive sentence was appropriate. The Government also
opposed defendant’s request for a downward variance, pointing to defendant’s long criminal
history, which included numerous felonies, as an indication of his disrespect for the law and
tendency to recidivate.
The district court granted defendant’s request for a variance and sentenced defendant to 44
months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release. In support of the variance, the court
concluded that “the guideline calculations a bit overstate the seriousness of the offense and result
in [a] guideline range that is longer than necessary.” However, the court stated that it read through
the presentence report “pretty thoroughly” and took notice of defendant’s long criminal history.
The court observed that although many of defendant’s convictions did not contribute to his
criminal history score under the guidelines, those convictions nonetheless “[did] lead one to
worry.” The court also concluded that defendant “is violent” based on its review of the facts
underlying defendant’s recent domestic violence conviction in state court. Finally, the court
underscored the frequency and severity of defendant’s prior convictions and implied that previous
punishments have failed to deter the defendant:
All the lawyers say -- for the defendants say, “He’ll never do it again,” and you look at just about every sentence I have I hear the defense lawyer say, “Oh, he’ll never do it again. He’ll never try to come back again. He’ll never commit another crime. He won’t touch a bottle of booze.” But that’s just not life.
The court pointed to defendant’s propensity to recidivate as the main reason for imposing a three-
year term of supervised release.
The court did not expressly discuss the issue of a concurrent versus consecutive sentence
until the end of the hearing, when the Government’s attorney asked the court to clarify its sentence:
-3- No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
THE COURT: And what was your other question?
MR. DANIELS: My second question was consecutive or concurrent?
THE COURT: Consecutive.
The court then asked if either party had an objection. Defense counsel responded, “Your Honor,
I respectfully object to the Court’s decision to impose a consecutive versus concurrent sentence.”
The court replied, “[t]hat’s fine,” and did not address the matter further. Defendant timely
appealed and now asserts that his sentence is procedurally unreasonable because the district court
failed to articulate adequately its rationale for imposing a consecutive sentence.
A defense counsel’s general objection to the imposition of a consecutive sentence at the
sentencing hearing does not preserve a challenge on appeal to the sufficiency of the district court’s
explanation of its reasoning for that sentence. See United States v. Harmon, 607 F.3d 233, 237–
38 (6th Cir. 2009). Accordingly, as defendant appears to concede, his claim is reviewed only for
plain error. See id. at 238.
Section 5G1.3(d) of the Guidelines expressly states that district courts have discretion to
impose a consecutive sentence where, as here, the conduct underlying the federal offense is
unrelated to the defendant’s undischarged term of imprisonment. See United States v. Bowens,
938 F.3d 790, 801 (6th Cir. 2019); United States v. Williams, 664 F. App’x 517, 521 (6th Cir.
2016). The district court did not plainly err in exercising this discretion in the present case. A
district court provides an adequate explanation for imposing a consecutive sentence when, after
viewing the “totality of the record,” it is apparent that it weighed the considerations set forth in
Application Note 4(A) to U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3. United States v. Potts, 947 F.3d 357, 369 (6th Cir.
2020) (citation omitted). These considerations include: (1) the factors listed in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a); (2) the type and length of the prior undischarged sentence; (3) the time served and likely
-4- No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
to be served on the undischarged sentence; (4) whether the undischarged sentence was imposed in
state or federal court; and (5) any other relevant circumstance. U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3, cmt. n.4(A).
The record in this case demonstrates that the district court considered all of the required
factors. First, although the court did not expressly refer to § 3553(a), the court’s conclusion that
defendant’s 44-month sentence was “significant and not more than necessary” clearly alluded to
§ 3553(a)’s requirement that a sentence be “sufficient, but not greater than necessary.” In reaching
this conclusion, the court evaluated many of the § 3553(a) factors, including “the nature and
circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a)(1). The court discussed in detail the defendant’s extensive criminal record, his history
of alcohol abuse and violence, and the specific facts underlying his most recent state and federal
convictions. The court also heard defendant’s attorney’s statements that defendant has children in
the United States and would be returning to his parents’ farm in Guatemala. In addition, the court’s
determination that defendant was likely to reoffend based on his history of repeated violations
demonstrates that the court considered the relevant § 3553(a) factors of promoting respect for the
law, providing adequate general deterrence, and protecting the public. See 28 U.S.C.
§§ 3553(a)(2)(A)-(C).
The district court also took into consideration the remaining factors listed in the
commentary to § 5G1.3(d). The district court expressly relied upon the presentence report, which
noted that defendant’s undischarged state sentence ranged from 23 to 60 months’ imprisonment.
The presentence report also advised the court that it was authorized under § 5G1.3(d) to impose
its sentence concurrently with or consecutively to defendant’s undischarged state sentence.
Further, each of the parties put forth arguments at the sentencing hearing on the issue of whether
to impose a consecutive sentence, with the Government explicitly raising § 5G1.3 of the
-5- No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
Guidelines. The court appeared to take notice of the issue when it inquired how much time
remained on defendant’s state sentence after hearing the defendant’s request for a concurrent
sentence. In short, the record reveals that the district court made an informed and reasoned
decision to impose a consecutive sentence. The district court therefore did not commit plain error.
Our caselaw supports this conclusion. We have held that the district court is not required
to refer to the relevant factors expressly, so long as its rationale for imposing a consecutive
sentence is “generally clear” based on its own statements, the content of the presentence report,
and/or the parties’ arguments before the court. See Potts, 947 F.3d at 369; United States v. Berry,
565 F.3d 332, 343 (6th Cir. 2009). Furthermore, the district court’s explanation for the length of
the defendant’s sentence, including its § 3553(a) analysis, may be “intertwined” with its
explanation for imposing a consecutive sentence. United States v. King, 914 F.3d 1021, 1026 (6th
Cir. 2019) (quoting United States v. Johnson, 640 F.3d 195, 208 (6th Cir. 2011)); accord Berry,
565 F.3d at 343. The court’s § 3553(a) analysis, moreover, need not include every factor but only
those that are relevant to the case at hand. See United States v. Dexta, 470 F.3d 612, 614–15 (6th
Cir. 2006).
Defendant maintains that “[t]he record is devoid of information showing that the district
court was aware of its discretion, followed the rationale in Application Note 4(A) to U.S.S.G.
§ 5G1.3, or exercised its discretion before imposing the consecutive sentence.” Again, however,
the record is contrary to the defendant’s contention. The Government stated at the sentencing
hearing that “the request for concurrent sentences, Your Honor, . . . is ultimately within the
discretion of the court.” The presentence report, which the court reviewed “pretty thoroughly,”
advised the same. In addition, the record indicates that the court considered many of the § 3553(a)
factors as well as all of the other factors listed in Application note 4(A) to U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(d).
-6- No. 19-2041, United States v. Pablo-Ramos
For instance, the court at the sentencing hearing engaged in an extensive discussion of defendant’s
criminal history and addressed defendant’s family circumstances both in the United States and in
his native Guatemala. Moreover, the court discussed the particular facts of defendant’s most recent
state-court conviction and was informed as to the length of defendant’s state sentence, how much
time defendant had served on that sentence, and whether and when defendant would be eligible
for parole. Also significant is the court’s decision to grant defendant’s request for a downward
variance, which suggests that the court factored in the additional state punishment when fashioning
defendant’s sentence. Such an approach is permissible in order to achieve “an appropriate
incremental penalty for the instant offense.” See United States v. Simons, 752 F. App’x 291, 297
(6th Cir. 2018) (quoting Berry, 565 F.3d at 342).
To be sure, when a district court denies a defendant’s request for concurrent rather than
consecutive sentencing, the better practice would be for the district court to give reasons that
specifically address that request. But our review in this case is for plain error. If in counsel’s view
a district court has denied concurrent sentencing with insufficient explanation, counsel has but to
object to the lack of an explanation in order to obtain either a more direct explanation from the
district court or more exacting appellate scrutiny of the failure to provide one.
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
-7-