USA v. Deshawn Reilly

Filing

Opinion issued by court as to Appellant Deshawn Reilly. Decision: Affirmed. Opinion type: Non-Published. Opinion method: Per Curiam. The opinion is also available through the Court's Opinions page at this link http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions.

Case: 16-11806

Date Filed: 03/15/2017

Page: 1 of 4

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
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No. 16-11806
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket No. 1:14-cr-00146-ODE-JKL-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
DESHAWN REILLY,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Georgia
________________________
(March 15, 2017)
Before WILSON, JULIE CARNES, and JILL PRYOR, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Deshawn Reilly appeals his 100-month sentence for possessing a firearm
after a felony conviction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Reilly appeals the

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district court’s application of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G. or
Guidelines)—specifically, the court’s calculation of the base offense level and
imposition of two enhancements. We affirm.
The district court calculated a base offense level of 22, which applies if an
offense involves a “semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large
capacity magazine” and if the defendant has a “felony conviction of either a crime
of violence or a controlled substance offense.” See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(3). Then
the district court imposed a two-level enhancement, which applies if an offense
involves three to seven firearms. See id. § 2K2.1(b)(1)(A). Also, the district court
imposed a four-level enhancement, which applies if a defendant “[u]se[s] or
possesse[s] any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense;
or possesse[s] or transfer[s] any firearm or ammunition with knowledge, intent, or
reason to believe that it would be used or possessed in connection with another
felony offense.” See id. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B).
Appealing the calculation of the base offense level and the imposition of the
two enhancements, Reilly disputes his possession of three firearms: a FN Herstal
5.7 pistol (which the parties agree qualifies as a “semiautomatic firearm . . .
capable of accepting a large capacity magazine”), a Kel-Tec pistol, and a Glock
pistol. See id. § 2K2.1(a)(3). Specifically, Reilly disputes that the government
established “constructive possession” of these firearms. The government can
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establish constructive possession by showing, with either direct or circumstantial
evidence, that the defendant “exercise[d] ownership, dominion, or control over the
item or ha[d]the power and intent to exercise dominion or control.” United States
v. Greer, 440 F.3d 1267, 1271 (11th Cir. 2006). Also, Reilly disputes that he
possessed his Mossberg shotgun—the only firearm he admitted to possessing—“in
connection with” or “with knowledge, intent, or reason to believe that it would be
used or possessed in connection with” his possession of marijuana with intent to
distribute. See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B).
Although we review de novo the court’s application of the Guidelines to its
factual findings, we review for clear error the factual findings. United States v.
Johnson, 694 F.3d 1192, 1195 (11th Cir. 2012). We do not find clear error if the
record supports the court’s findings. United States v. Petrie, 302 F.3d 1280, 1290
(11th Cir. 2002). We find clear error only if we are left with a “definite and firm
conviction” that the court is mistaken. United States v. Rothenberg, 610 F.3d 621,
624 (11th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks omitted).
The district court sentenced Reilly after reviewing his text messages
instructing his wife to purchase guns; testimony of a pawnshop employee stating
that Reilly directed his wife to purchase the FN Herstal 5.7 pistol and the Mossberg
shotgun; video of Reilly’s wife purchasing the two guns at the pawnshop;
testimony of agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
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(ATF) that Reilly transported the guns in a car that he shared with his wife;
Reilly’s admission to knowing that his wife kept the Kel-Tec and Glock pistols
inside their house; and testimony of ATF agents finding items associated with drug
distribution in the house, items such as heat sealers, packaging material, scales,
marijuana, approximately $140,000 in cash, a money counter, and GPS trackers.
The record supports each finding of fact, and the facts establish Reilly’s
constructive possession of the four firearms at issue. Also, the facts establish that
Reilly possessed the firearms “in connection with”—or “with knowledge, intent, or
reason to believe that [they] would be used or possessed in connection with”—a
felony offense. See U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B).
Nothing suggests that the district court erred in finding these facts. And
after de novo review, we hold that the facts support the base offense level and the
two enhancements.
AFFIRMED.

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