USA v. Erica Regina Hicks

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
In the
United States Court of Appeals
For the Eleventh Circuit
____________________
No. 22-10702
Non-Argument Calendar
____________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
ERICA REGINA HICKS,
Defendant-Appellant,
____________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
D.C. Docket No. 1:19-cr-20814-BB-1
____________________
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2 Opinion of the Court 22-10702
Before NEWSOM , GRANT, and ABUDU, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Erica Hicks appeals her total sentence of 30 months’ impris-
onment for conspiracy to commit device access fraud and aggra-
vated identity theft, arguing that her sentence is both procedurally
and substantively unreasonable. After review, we affirm.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND & PROCEDURAL
HISTORY
In 2019, a federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment
charging Hicks with one count of conspiracy to commit access de-
vice fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(b)(2) (Count 1); three
counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§§ 1028A(a)(1) and 2 (Counts 2, 3 and 4); and one count of posses-
sion of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of
18 U.S.C. §§ 1029(a)(3) and 2 (Count 5). Hicks ultimately pled
guilty to Counts 1 and 2, and the government dismissed the remain-
ing charges.
Hick’s presentence investigation report (“PSI”) outlined the
following regarding Hicks’s criminal conduct dating back to De-
cember 2014 when a loss prevention officer at Macy’s observed
Hicks and Rayveen Hicks (“R. Hicks”) randomly selecting clothing
items without checking sizes or prices, behavior consistent with
fraudulent activity. Hicks approached the register and paid $156.45
for the randomly selected items with a Macy’s credit card embossed
with the name of someone with the initials L.B. After the first
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22-10702 Opinion of the Court 3
purchase was approved, Hicks and R. Hicks began selecting addi-
tional items from another area in the store. Hicks purchased an-
other $446.28 worth of items and then attempted to make a third
purchase worth $299.29, all with the same credit card. However,
before the third purchase was completed, the cashier, acting on a
recommendation from the loss prevention officer, asked Hicks to
provide identification, but she could not do so. The loss prevention
officer contacted law enforcement, who arrested Hicks. In a post-
arrest statement, Hicks told the officers that she purchased all the
items with her grandmother’s Macy’s credit card. However, Hicks
could not provide any information about L.B., and L.B. denied
knowing Hicks or ever opening a Macy’s credit account.
The PSI further stated that police officers obtained a search
warrant for Hicks and R. Hicks’s car, in which officers found mul-
tiple pieces of mail, a receipt for a Macy’s purchase from three days
prior using L.B.’s credit card, and a U.S. Postal Service envelope
with the personal identifying information (“PII”) of two other in-
dividuals. Officers also recovered a second envelope with the PII
of another person, and a credit card with yet another person’s
name on it. In all, officers discovered four social security numbers
and eight account numbers not belonging to Hicks or R. Hicks in-
side the car. Police also found approximately 110 social security
numbers and other PII belonging to other individuals at Hicks’s
residence. The state charged Hicks for these offenses, but the case
was “no actioned” in January 2015. Later, Hicks was indicted on
the present federal charges.
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4 Opinion of the Court 22-10702
For Count 1, the PSI calculated Hicks’s total offense level as
14. The PSI also set Hicks’s criminal history category at II based on
several prior misdemeanors. One of Hicks’s past offenses was
from 2017, in which she was convicted for grand theft and fraudu-
lently using another’s PII and a credit card. Hicks was sentenced to
probation for 24 months, which she successfully completed. The
PSI also noted that, in March 2019, Hicks was arrested for grand
theft, petit theft, criminal use of personal identification, and the
unlawful use of a two-way communication device. According to
the police report, Hicks added herself as a signatory to the victim’s
accounts and fraudulently transferred $25,000 from the victim’s
savings account to his credit accounts. Hicks also allegedly inter-
cepted a package intended for the victim, valued at $135, and
signed for the package. However, those criminal charges were ul-
timately dropped.
The PSI noted that the statutory imprisonment range for
Count 1 was zero to five years, while Count 2 carried a mandatory
consecutive sentence of two years. Based on the total offense level
of 14 and a criminal history category of II, the PSI set the guideline
imprisonment range at 18 to 24 months, plus the consecutive 24
months for Count 2.
Hicks moved for a downward variance. She asked the dis-
trict court to impose a total sentence of 24 months based on the 18
U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, her age at the time of the offense, and her
current health issues.
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22-10702 Opinion of the Court 5
At the sentencing hearing, the district court confirmed that
no parties had objected to the PSI, and it adopted the facts and cal-
culations in the PSI. The court noted that Hicks had submitted a
statement of acceptance of responsibility and applied a 2-level re-
duction, which decreased her guideline range to 12 to 18 months’
imprisonment, plus a consecutive 24 months for Count 2. Hicks
then reasserted the arguments she made in her motion for a down-
ward variance, which the government opposed. The government
argued that, because of Hicks’s ongoing fraudulent conduct, she
should receive a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment followed by
the two-year mandatory consecutive sentence, for a total of 36
months’ imprisonment.
Ultimately, the district court imposed a total sentence of 30
months’ imprisonment, consisting of 6 months for Count 1 and a
consecutive 24 months for Count 2, followed by 2 years of super-
vised release. In imposing the sentence, the district court first
acknowledged that at the time of the offense, Hicks was 24 years
old and was now 31, stating that age would normally be an im-
portant consideration. However, it noted that Hicks’s behavior be-
tween the instant offense and sentencing by continuing to engage
in fraudulent activities showed that she did not change her behav-
ior. It then explained that the current offense involved not just 1
fraudulent credit card, but the improper possession of more than
100 pieces of PII. The court noted that the incident that gave rise
to her conviction two years later was the same conduct of using a
fraudulent credit card and PII, which indicated that Hicks did not
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6 Opinion of the Court 22-10702
learn from her 2014 arrest and continued to engage in criminal ac-
tivity.
The district court stated that, based on Hicks’s continued
criminal activity of the same nature, the variance Hicks requested
was not appropriate. The court acknowledged that Hicks would
serve 24 months in detention for Count 2 and that it had to deter-
mine what sentence would be sufficient but not greater than nec-
essary to serve the goals of sentencing, such as promoting respect
for the law and adequate deterrence to Hicks and others contem-
plating this behavior. With respect to rehabilitation, the court did
not identify any recent incidents involving in the same type of be-
havior. It stated that an appropriate sentence would serve the goals
of sentencing but take into consideration her young age at the time
and the fact that she would be required to serve 24 months in
prison. The court noted that this would be Hicks’s first significant
sentence in custody and that it wanted to make sure she received
medical care for her health condition.
The district court explained that it had considered all the par-
ties’ statements, the PSI, and the statutory factors in § 3553(a), and
imposed the 30-month total sentence. Hicks did not object to her
sentence or the manner in which it was calculated. She now ap-
peals.
II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
We review “de novo whether the district court stated a spe-
cific reason for imposing a sentence outside the guideline range as
required by 18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)(2), even when the defendant did not
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22-10702 Opinion of the Court 7
object on this ground before the district court.” United States v. Stei-
ger, 83 F.4th 932, 936 (11th Cir. 2023) (citing United States v. Parks,
823 F.3d 990, 996 (11th Cir. 2016)). However, we review other un-
preserved challenges to a sentence’s procedural reasonableness,
such as an argument that the district court failed to adequately con-
sider the § 3553(a) factors, for plain error. Parks, 823 F.3d at 994-96.
A district court commits plain error if it (1) erred; (2) the error was
plain; and (3) the error affected the defendant’s substantial rights.
United States v. Vandergrift, 754 F.3d 1303, 1307 (11th Cir. 2014).
We review for an abuse of discretion challenges to a sen-
tence’s substantive reasonableness. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38,
51 (2007); see also Holguin-Hernandez v. United States, 140 S. Ct. 762,
767 (U.S. 2020) (holding that appellate courts still review substan-
tive reasonableness challenges for an abuse of discretion even in in-
stances where a defendant did not necessarily object to their sen-
tence but advocated for a shorter sentence). “The party challeng-
ing the sentence bears the burden of showing that it is unreasona-
ble.” United States v. Trailer, 827 F.3d 933, 936 (11th Cir. 2016).
III. DISCUSSION
A. Hicks’s Sentence is Procedurally Reasonable.
On appeal, Hicks argues that her sentence is procedurally
unreasonable because the district court did not sufficiently explain
its reason for imposing the chosen sentence under § 3553(c)(2). She
also asserts that the district court did not appropriately weigh the
§ 3553(a) sentencing factors in imposing her sentence.
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8 Opinion of the Court 22-10702
A district court imposes a procedurally unreasonable sen-
tence if it miscalculates the advisory guideline range, treats the
guidelines as mandatory, fails to consider the § 3553(a) factors, im-
poses a sentence based on clearly erroneous facts, or fails to ade-
quately explain the chosen sentence. Trailer, 827 F.3d at 936. Un-
der § 3553(c)(2), when a “district court imposes a sentence outside
the guideline range, it must state in open court the specific reason
for imposing that sentence.” Steiger, 83 F.4th at 937 (citing 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(c)(2)). The court’s reasons must be sufficient to allow this
Court to engage in a meaningful review of the sentence. Id.
Additionally, the § 3553(a) factors a district court must con-
sider include the criminal history of the defendant, the seriousness
of the crime, the promotion of respect for the law, just punishment,
and adequate deterrence. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Although the district
court is required to consider the § 3553(a) factors, it is not required
to discuss each of the factors, nor must it state that it explicitly con-
sidered each of the factors. United States v. Kuhlman, 711 F.3d 1321,
1326 (11th Cir. 2013).
Here, the district court did not impose a procedurally unrea-
sonable sentence. As to Hicks’s § 3553(c)(2) challenge, which we
review de novo, the district court sufficiently explained its reasons
for why it imposed a below guidelines sentence. Steiger, 83 F.4th at
937. The district court gave a detailed explanation as to what fac-
tors it considered, including Hicks’s age, history and characteris-
tics, criminal history, and the general need for deterrence and jus-
tice. Thus, the district court did not err in this respect.
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22-10702 Opinion of the Court 9
Hicks’s remaining challenge to her sentence under § 3553(a)
fails for the same reason. Although the district court was not re-
quired to do so, it stated on the record the § 3553(a) factors it con-
sidered in imposing Hicks’s sentence. Kuhlman, 711 F.3d at 1326.
The district court’s statements show it considered many of the
§ 3553(a) factors in crafting Hicks’s sentence. As such, Hicks can-
not establish that the district court imposed a procedurally unrea-
sonable sentence, and we affirm on this issue.
B. Hicks’s Sentence is Substantively Reasonable.
Hicks also challenges the substantive reasonableness of her
sentence, contending that the district court failed to consider rele-
vant mitigating factors when it imposed her sentence.
For substantive reasonableness challenges, the “district court
abuses its discretion when it (1) fails to afford consideration to rel-
evant factors that were due significant weight, (2) gives significant
weight to an improper or irrelevant factor, or (3) commits a clear
error of judgment in considering the proper factors.” United States
v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160, 1189 (11th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation
marks omitted) (quoting United States v. Campa, 459 F.3d 1121, 1174
(11th Cir. 2006) (en banc)). We defer to the district court’s ability to
consider and weigh the proper sentencing factors and will only va-
cate a sentence if we are left with a definite and firm conviction
that the district court clearly erred in weighing the § 3553(a) fac-
tors. United States v. Shabazz, 887 F.3d 1204, 1224 (11th Cir. 2018).
In considering the § 3553(a) factors, a district court does not have
to give all the factors equal weight, for the court is given discretion
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10 Opinion of the Court 22-10702
to attach great weight to one factor over another. United States v.
Rosales-Bruno, 789 F.3d 1249, 1254 (11th Cir. 2015).
An indicator of a reasonable sentence is one that is well be-
low the statutory maximum for the crime. United States v.
Dougherty, 754 F.3d 1353, 1364 (11th Cir. 2014). “We ordinarily ex-
pect a sentence within the Guidelines range to be reasonable.”
United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir. 2008). It is
rare for a sentence to be considered substantively unreasonable.
United States v. McQueen, 727 F.3d 1144, 1256 (11th Cir. 2013).
The statutory term of imprisonment for conspiracy to com-
mit access device fraud is zero to five years’ imprisonment. 18
U.S.C. § 1029(a)(3), (b)(2), (c)(A)(i). The statutory term of impris-
onment for aggravated identity theft is two years’ imprisonment,
which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment.
18 U.S.C. § 1028A(b)(2).
Here, the district court did not abuse its discretion in sen-
tencing Hicks to a total of 30 months’ imprisonment. Hicks’s con-
viction for only 6 months’ imprisonment for her Count 1 offense
of conspiracy to commit access device fraud is well within the stat-
utory range and below the guideline recommendation. Moreover,
Hicks’s two-year term of imprisonment for her aggravated identity
theft offense in Count 2 is also within the statutory range. Thus,
her sentences are presumptively reasonable. Dougherty, 754 F.3d at
1364; Gonzalez, 550 F.3d at 1324. Additionally, the district court
clearly considered all applicable § 3553(a) factors in imposing
Hicks’s sentence, and there is no indication that the court gave too
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22-10702 Opinion of the Court 11
much or too little weight to any particular factor. Irey, 612 F.3d at
1189.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth herein, Hicks’s sentences are
AFFIRMED.
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