United States v. Ramiro Burgos, Jr. ( 2013 )

Case: 12-13676 Date Filed: 05/06/2013 Page: 1 of 5
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
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No. 12-13676
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket No. 1:11-cr-20413-PAS-2
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
RAMIRO BURGOS, JR.,
a.k.a. Junior,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
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(May 6, 2013)
Before CARNES, BARKETT and BLACK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
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Ramiro Burgos, Jr. appeals his 232-month sentence, which included a 30-
month downward variance, imposed after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess
and distribute methamphetamine. Burgos contends the district court erred in
(1) denying him a minor-role reduction under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b), and
(2) imposing a sentence that was substantively unreasonable pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a).
Minor-role reduction
Burgos asserts the district court relied solely on his role of supplying drugs
in the conspiracy, and did not compare his relevant conduct to the relevant conduct
for which he was held responsible, or to the conduct of his co-conspirators, in
denying his minor-role reduction. While conceding that the minor-role reduction
is unavailable to career offenders, he argues that a finding that he played a minor
role in the conspiracy would warrant a larger variance under § 3553(a).
The district court did not clearly err in denying Burgos a minor-role
reduction. United States v. DeVaron, 175 F.3d 930, 937 (11th Cir. 1999) (en banc)
(holding we review for clear error a district court’s factual determination of a
defendant’s role in the offense). The district court considered the facts and decided
that Burgos, as the supplier of a significant amount of methamphetamine, was not a
minor participant in the conspiracy. Further, Burgos admits his designation as a
career offender precludes him from qualifying for a minor-role reduction. See
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United States v. Jeter, 329 F.3d 1229, 1230 (11th Cir. 2003). To the extent Burgos
argues the Supreme Court’s holding in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 245
(2005), changed the rule in Jeter, he is mistaken. Although a defendant’s
Guidelines range is now advisory, a court’s correct application of the Guidelines
provisions in calculating the range is still mandatory. United States v. Brehm, 442
F.3d 1291, 1300 (11th Cir. 2006). Additionally, any objection to the court’s
consideration of factors outside the Guidelines calculations should be addressed
under substantive reasonableness, under the § 3553(a) factors.
Substantive reasonableness
Burgos asserts that, in analyzing the § 3553(a) factors, the court failed to
sufficiently consider his unique circumstance as a longtime methamphetamine
addict and that his motive for joining the conspiracy was to supply his addiction
rather than to profit monetarily. Further, he claims his sentence did not reflect the
actual, limited role he played in the conspiracy and that it was out of conformity
with the sentences of his arguably more culpable co-conspirators. He concludes
the court’s failure to give adequate weight to these mitigating circumstances
resulted in an unreasonably high sentence.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing Burgos’s sentence
See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 41 (2007) (explaining the reasonableness of
a sentence is reviewed under a deferential abuse of discretion standard). First, in
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calculating his sentence, the district court granted a 30-month downward variance
from the low end of the applicable Guidelines range. As we ordinarily expect a
sentence falling within the applicable Guidelines range to be reasonable, a sentence
below the range would certainly not appear unreasonably high. See United States
v. Hunt, 526 F.3d 739, 746 (11th Cir. 2008) (stating although we do not
automatically presume a sentence falling within the Guidelines range to be
reasonable, we normally expect such a sentence to be reasonable). Further, the
232-month sentence was well below the statutory maximum of lifetime
imprisonment. See United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir.
2008) (determining the sentence was reasonable in part because it was well below
the statutory maximum). Under § 3553(a), the court adequately considered
Burgos’s personal history and characteristics, such as his addiction to
methamphetamine, his attempts at rehabilitation, and his role in the conspiracy. 1
In addressing the potential sentencing disparity between Burgos and his co-
conspirators, the court focused on the extent to which they were similarly situated,
including that Burgos was the only conspirator designated as a career offender.
1
The district court must impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than necessary to
comply with the purposes” listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2), including the need to reflect the
seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment for the offense,
deter criminal conduct, and protect the public from the defendant’s future criminal conduct. See
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2). In imposing a particular sentence, the court must also consider such
factors as the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history and circumstances of the
defendant, and the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities. Id. § 3553(a)(1), (6).
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After finding some risk of unwarranted sentencing disparity, the court granted
Burgos the aforementioned 30-month downward variance. Overall, the court
imposed a sentence that was supported by the record and met the goals contained
within 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Accordingly, Burgos’s sentence was substantively
reasonable.
AFFIRMED.
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