USA v. Willie McCloud

Filing

Opinion issued by court as to Appellant Willie McCloud. 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: 16-14858

Date Filed: 06/16/2017

Page: 1 of 6

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 16-14858
Non-Argument Calendar
________________________
D.C. Docket No. 1:14-cr-20353-KMM-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
WILLIE MCCLOUD,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
________________________
(June 16, 2017)
Before WILSON, JULIE CARNES, and JILL PRYOR, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:

Case: 16-14858

Date Filed: 06/16/2017

Page: 2 of 6

Willie McCloud appeals his 120-month sentence for being a felon in
possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). On
appeal, McCloud argues that his sentence is procedurally and substantively
unreasonable. He contends that the district court did not adequately explain the
sentence and that the factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) do not support the
sentence.
McCloud pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and
ammunition, following an incident at a convenience store in which he attempted to
walk out without paying for a one dollar beverage and removed a firearm from his
waist band when the store clerk tried to stop him. At McCloud’s 2016 sentencing
hearing, the probation officer calculated a guidelines range of 70 to 87 months’
imprisonment. The government moved for an upward variance and the district
court granted it, sentencing McCloud to 120 months’ imprisonment.
We review the reasonableness of a sentence “under a deferential abuse-ofdiscretion standard.” See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 41, 128 S. Ct. 586,
591 (2007). When a defendant does not object to procedural reasonableness at the
time of sentencing, we review for plain error. See United States v. Vandergrift,
754 F.3d 1303, 1307 (11th Cir. 2014). However, we review de novo a claim under
§ 3553(c)(2) that the district court did not explain the reason for a sentence

2

Case: 16-14858

Date Filed: 06/16/2017

Page: 3 of 6

variance, even if the defendant did not object below. See United States v. Parks,
823 F.3d 990, 994–96 (11th Cir. 2016).
In determining the reasonableness of a sentence, we “first ensure that the
district court committed no significant procedural error,” such as improperly
calculating the guideline range or inadequately explaining the chosen sentence.
See Gall, 552 U.S. at 51, 128 S. Ct. at 597. We then examine whether the sentence
was substantively reasonable in light of the “totality of the circumstances.” Id.
“The party challenging the sentence bears the burden to show [that the sentence] is
unreasonable in light of the record and the § 3553(a) factors.” United States v.
Tome, 611 F.3d 1371, 1378 (11th Cir. 2010).
I.
In sentencing a defendant, the district court must “set forth enough to satisfy
the appellate court that [it] considered the parties’ arguments and has a reasoned
basis for exercising [its] own legal decision-making authority.” See Rita v. United
States, 551 U.S. 338, 356, 127 S. Ct. 2456, 2468 (2007). However, a “district
court is not required to state on the record that it has explicitly considered each of
the § 3553(a) factors or to discuss each of the § 3553(a) factors.” See United
States v. Sanchez, 586 F.3d 918, 936 (11th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks
omitted). Rather, “[i]t is sufficient that the district court considers the defendant’s

3

Case: 16-14858

Date Filed: 06/16/2017

Page: 4 of 6

arguments at sentencing and states that it has taken the § 3553(a) factors into
account.” Id.
Under § 3553(c)(2), the district court is required to state in open court the
specific reasons for a sentence “outside the [guideline] range.” See 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(c)(2). “[T]he district court’s reasons must be sufficiently specific so that an
appellate court can engage in the meaningful review envisioned by the Sentencing
Guidelines.” Parks, 823 F.3d at 997 (internal quotation marks omitted). However,
in determining a district court’s compliance with § 3553(c)(2), we “may consider
the record from the entire sentencing hearing and need not rely upon the district
court’s summary statement [at the end of the hearing].” See United States v.
Suarez, 939 F.2d 929, 934 (11th Cir. 1991).
McCloud’s sentence is procedurally reasonable. The district court
considered the parties’ arguments, the presentence investigation report (PSI), and
took the § 3553(a) factors into account. See Sanchez, 586 F.3d at 936. To the
extent McCloud argues that the district court did not comply with § 3553(c)(2), the
government’s motion for a variance, the parties’ arguments, and the court’s
summary statement discussing the sentencing factors allowed for “meaningful
[appellate] review” in compliance with § 3553(c)(2). See Parks, 823 F.3d at 997;
Suarez, 939 F.2d at 934.

4

Case: 16-14858

Date Filed: 06/16/2017

Page: 5 of 6

II.
In considering the substantive reasonableness of a sentence, 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). In imposing a particular
sentence, the court must also consider the nature and circumstances of the offense,
the history and characteristics of the defendant, the kinds of sentences available,
the applicable guideline range, the pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing
Commission, the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities, and the need to
provide restitution to victims. See id. § 3553(a)(1), (3)–(7).
We vacate on substantive reasonableness grounds only if “left with the
definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error of
judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors by arriving at a sentence that lies
outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case.” See
United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160, 1190 (11th Cir. 2010) (en banc) (internal
quotation marks omitted).
McCloud’s sentence is substantively reasonable. McCloud brandished a
firearm over a simple one-dollar dispute and has a lengthy criminal history. Given
5

Case: 16-14858

Date Filed: 06/16/2017

Page: 6 of 6

the nature of the offense and McCloud’s criminal history, the district court’s
sentence does not lie outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts
of the case. See Irey, 612 F.3d at 1190.
AFFIRMED.

6