United States v. Eliazer Ponce Martinez ( 2015 )

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[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
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No. 15-11973
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket No. 0:14-cr-60278-JIC-2
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
ELIAZER PONCE MARTINEZ,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
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(November 12, 2015)
Before MARCUS, WILLIAM PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Eliazer Ponce Martinez appeals his 188-month sentence, imposed at the low
end of the advisory guidelines after a two-category downward departure in his
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criminal history category, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a
controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. He argues on
appeal that: (1) the district court abused its discretion when it denied his motion for
a continuance of his sentencing hearing; (2) the district court erred by failing to
apply a two-step minor role adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2(b); and (3) the
district court erred by departing downward only two criminal history categories
rather than three. After thorough review, we affirm.
We review the district court’s denial of a motion to continue sentencing for
abuse of discretion. United States v. Douglas, 489 F.3d 1117, 1128 (11th Cir.
2007). A district court’s ruling that a defendant is not entitled to a reduction for a
minor role in the offense is a finding of fact, reviewed for clear error. United
States v. Rodriguez De Varon, 175 F.3d 930, 937 (11th Cir. 1999) (en banc). We
review our own jurisdiction de novo and must raise the issue sua sponte. United
States v. Lopez, 562 F.3d 1309, 1311 (11th Cir. 2009). We review the sentence a
district court imposes for “reasonableness,” which “merely asks whether the trial
court abused its discretion.” United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1189 (11th Cir.
2008) (quoting Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 351 (2007)).
First, we are unpersuaded by Martinez’s claim that the district court abused
its discretion by denying the last-minute motion for a continuance so that Martinez
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could attempt to obtain mitigation testimony from his co-defendants. We consider
four factors in analyzing the denial of a sentencing continuance:
(1) the diligence of the defense in interviewing the witness and procuring his
testimony; (2) the probability of obtaining his testimony within a reasonable
time; (3) the specificity with which the defense was able to describe the
witness’s expected knowledge or testimony; and (4) the degree to which
such testimony is expected to be favorable to the accused, and the unique or
cumulative nature of the testimony.
Douglas, 489 F.3d at 1128.
Here, the record reveals that the district court had the facts from the factual
proffer in the plea agreement before it at sentencing. Because the district court
later observed that Martinez’s own testimony was incredible because it
contradicted the proffer, any testimony from co-defendants that agreed with
Martinez’s would not have been significantly favorable to him. Moreover, the
district court noted the uncertainty of obtaining this testimony and the lack of
diligence on Martinez’s part in not bringing the matter to his attorney’s attention
earlier. In light of the Douglas factors, the district court’s denial of the
continuance was not an abuse of discretion.
We also find no merit to Martinez’s claim that he district court erred in
denying him a minor-role reduction in sentencing. The defendant bears the burden
of establishing his qualification for a minor role reduction by a preponderance of
the evidence. United States v. Alvarez-Coria, 447 F.3d 1340, 1343 (11th Cir.
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2006). A defendant who does not object to the facts in a presentence investigation
report (“PSI”) is deemed to have admitted them for sentencing purposes. See
United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006). “A sentencing
court’s findings of fact may be based on undisputed statements in the PSI.” United
States v. Bennett, 472 F.3d 825, 832 (11th Cir. 2006).
Under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, a defendant may receive a two-level reduction “[i]f
the defendant was a minor participant in any criminal activity.” U.S.S.G. §
3B1.2(b). The application notes to § 3B1.2 say that the section “provides a range
of adjustments for a defendant who plays a part in committing the offense that
makes him substantially less culpable than the average participant.” Id. § 3B1.2,
comment. (n.3(A)). The determination of whether to apply a mitigating role
adjustment “is heavily dependent upon the facts of the particular case.” Id. §
3B1.2, comment. (n.3(C)). In general, the two-level minor role adjustment
“applies to a defendant . . . who is less culpable than most other participants, but
whose role could not be described as minimal.” Id. § 3B1.2, comment. (n.5).
In determining whether to grant a minor role reduction, “(1) the court must
compare the defendant’s role in the offense with the relevant conduct attributed to
him in calculating his base offense level; and (2) the court may compare the
defendant’s conduct to that of other participants involved in the offense.” Alvarez-
Coria, 447 F.3d at 1343. “[A] defendant is not automatically entitled to a minor
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role adjustment merely because [he] was somewhat less culpable than the other
discernable participants.” United States v. Bernal-Benitez, 594 F.3d 1303, 1320-
21 (11th Cir. 2010) (quotations omitted). It is possible that that none of the
participants in a scheme are entitled to a minor or minimal role reduction. De
Varon, 175 F.3d at 944.
Here, the district court did not clearly err in finding that Martinez was not
entitled to a minor role adjustment. Based on the facts in the PSI, to which
Martinez did not object, he was the contact person who “facilitated” the meeting at
which the sale of drugs was to take place. He spoke to the undercover detective on
the telephone and arranged the time and place at which the undercover detective
met the other co-defendants. Thus, the district court found it incredible that he was
unaware what the purpose of the meeting was. Though Martinez might be less
culpable than others in the conspiracy, that fact still would not require the district
court to find that he played a minor role. The district court agreed with the
government that Martinez’s role was perhaps less than a leader, but more than a
minor participant. It did not clearly err in making that finding.
Finally, we reject Martinez’s argument that the district court erred by
departing downward only two criminal history categories rather than three. It is
well established that we lack jurisdiction to review a district court’s discretionary
decision to deny a downward departure unless the district court incorrectly
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believed that it lacked authority to grant the departure. See United States v.
Winingear, 422 F.3d 1241, 1245-46 (11th Cir. 2005). “[W]hen nothing in the
record indicates otherwise, we assume the sentencing court understood it had
authority to depart downward,” and the sentencing court’s decision not to depart
downward is not reviewable. United States v. Dudley, 463 F.3d 1221, 1228 (11th
Cir. 2006) (quotations omitted).
In reviewing the “‘substantive reasonableness of [a] sentence imposed under
an abuse-of-discretion standard,’” we consider the “‘totality of the
circumstances.’” Pugh, 515 F.3d at 1190 (quoting Gall v. United States, 552 U.S.
38, 51 (2007)). 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).1
We will not reweigh the relevant § 3553(a) factors, and will not remand for
resentencing unless the district court committed a clear error of judgment in
weighing the § 3553(a) factors by imposing a sentence outside the range of
reasonable sentences. United States v. Langston, 590 F.3d 1226, 1237 (11th Cir.
2009). The party challenging the sentence bears the burden to show it is
1
The § 3553(a) factors include: (1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the
history and characteristics of the defendant; (2) the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the
seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the
offense; (3) the need for the sentence imposed to afford adequate deterrence; (4) the need to
protect the public; (5) the need to provide the defendant with educational or vocational training
or medical care; (6) the kinds of sentences available; (7) the Sentencing Guidelines range; (8) the
pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission; (9) the need to avoid unwanted
sentencing disparities; and (10) the need to provide restitution to victims. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
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unreasonable. United States v. Tome, 611 F.3d 1371, 1378 (11th Cir. 2010).
While we do not automatically presume a sentence falling within the guideline
range to be reasonable, we ordinarily expect that sentence to be reasonable. United
States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005). A sentence imposed well
below the statutory maximum penalty is another indicator of reasonableness.
United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir. 2008).
To the extent Martinez is challenging the district court’s choice to depart
downward only two criminal history categories, we have jurisdiction to review that
decision only if the district court indicated that it believed it lacked authority to
depart further. Here, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the district court
believed it lacked authority to depart downward three categories instead of two.
We, therefore, lack jurisdiction to review that decision.
To the extent Martinez is challenging the substantive reasonableness of his
sentence, we expect a below-guidelines sentence -- like the one in this case -- to be
reasonable. Moreover, the district court observed that a two-category departure
was “appropriate,” because the PSI category overrepresented the seriousness of the
offenses. The district court also said that it didn’t “mean to in any way minimize
traffic offenses” such as Martinez’s DUI, reckless driving, and suspended license
convictions. Nothing in this record suggests that the district court weighed the §
3553(a) factors in an unreasonable manner.
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AFFIRMED.
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