USA v. Antoine Robert Shell

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
In the
United States Court of Appeals
For the Eleventh Circuit
____________________
No. 23-11385
Non-Argument Calendar
____________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
ANTOINE ROBERT SHELL,
Defendant-Appellant.
____________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Georgia
D.C. Docket No. 1:22-cr-00021-LAG-TQL-1
____________________
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2 Opinion of the Court 23-11385
Before WILSON , L UCK, and ANDERSON , Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Antoine Robert Shell appeals his sentence of 120 months’
imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He ar-
gues that Georgia aggravated assault does not qualify as a crime of
violence and that, therefore, the district court calculated the incor-
rect guideline range. He also contends that the court’s 120-month
sentence was a substantively unreasonable upward departure.
When appropriate, we will review the interpretation and ap-
plication of the sentencing guidelines de novo. United States v. Cin-
gari, 952 F.3d 1301, 1305 (11th Cir. 2020). Where a sentencing court
explicitly states that a guideline determination was immaterial to
the ultimate sentence imposed because it would have imposed the
same sentence under its § 3553(a) authority, however, we will not
remand for resentencing, even if the guideline determination was
erroneous. United States v. Keene, 470 F.3d 1347, 1348-50 (11th Cir.
2006). Rather, in that circumstance, we will assume the enhance-
ment did not apply and then review the final sentence to ensure
that it is substantively reasonable. Id. at 1349. Specifically, we will
reduce the guideline range according to the way the defendant ar-
gued and analyze whether the sentence would be substantively rea-
sonable under that guideline range. Id. at 1349-50.
Under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(3), a base offense level of 22 ap-
plies where the offense involved a semiautomatic firearm, and the
defendant committed the instant offense after sustaining one
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23-11385 Opinion of the Court 3
felony conviction of a crime of violence. U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(3).
The Guidelines state that the base offense level should be enhanced
by 4-points if the defendant used or possessed a firearm or ammu-
nition in connection with another felony offense. Id.
§ 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). Additionally, the Guidelines allow for a 3-point
reduction where the defendant has demonstrated an acceptance of
responsibility. Id. § 3E1.1(a), (b). A base offense level of 23, paired
with a criminal history category of VI, yields a guideline imprison-
ment range of 92 to 115 months. Id. ch. 5, pt. A.
Here, Shell’s challenge to his base offense level fails because,
under Keene, even if the district court erred in overruling his objec-
tion to the enhancement based on his Georgia aggravated assault
conviction, that error did not affect the outcome of his sentence.
Instead, the court explained that it would have imposed the same
120-month sentence irrespective of the guideline range. See Keene,
470 F.3d at 1348-50. As such, the focus shifts back to substantive
unreasonableness of the sentence with a guideline range that has
been lowered to 92 to 115 months. See id. at 1349.
We review the reasonableness of a sentence under a defer-
ential abuse-of-discretion standard of review. Gall v. United States,
552 U.S. 38, 41 (2007). The party challenging the sentence bears
the burden of demonstrating that the sentence is unreasonable in
light of the record, the factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), and the
substantial deference afforded sentencing courts. United States v.
Rosales-Bruno, 789 F.3d 1249, 1256 (11th Cir. 2015).
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4 Opinion of the Court 23-11385
We examine whether a sentence is substantively reasonable
by considering the totality of the circumstances. Gall, 552 U.S. at
51. The district court must impose a sentence “sufficient, but not
greater than necessary, to comply with the purposes” listed in
§ 3553(a)(2), including the need to reflect the seriousness of the of-
fense, 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).
The weight given to any specific § 3553(a) factor is commit-
ted to the sound discretion of the district court. United States v.
Clay, 483 F.3d 739, 743 (11th Cir. 2007). The district court is free to
consider any information relevant to a defendant’s background,
character, and conduct in imposing an upward variance. United
States v. Tome, 611 F.3d 1371, 1379 (11th Cir. 2007). We give due
deference to the district court’s decision that the § 3553(a) factors,
as a whole, justify the extent of the variance. Gall, 552 U.S. at 59-60.
A court can abuse its discretion when it (1) fails to consider
relevant factors that were due significant weight, (2) gives an im-
proper or irrelevant factor significant weight, or (3) commits a clear
error of judgment by balancing the proper factors unreasonably.
United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160, 1189 (11th Cir. 2010) (en banc).
Where a district court imposes an upward variance based upon the
§ 3553(a) factors, it must have a justification compelling enough to
support the degree of the variance. United States v. Early, 686 F.3d
1219, 1221 (11th Cir. 2012). But a “rigid mathematical formula that
uses the percentage of a departure as the standard for determining
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23-11385 Opinion of the Court 5
the strength of the justifications required for a specific sentence” is
not appropriate. Gall, 552 U.S. at 47. While an appellate court may
take the degree of variance into account, there is no rule that re-
quires “extraordinary” circumstances to justify a sentence outside
the guidelines range. Id.
A sentence is potentially unreasonable if the district court
unjustifiably relied on a single factor. United States v. Kuhlman, 711
F.3d 1321, 1327 (11th Cir. 2013). However, significant reliance on a
single factor does not necessarily render a sentence unreasonable.
Id. Additionally, a sentence outside the guidelines carries no pre-
sumption of unreasonableness. Irizarry v. United States, 553 U.S.
708, 714 (2008). We will vacate on substantive reasonableness
grounds only if we are 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. Irey, 612 F.3d at 1190.
Here, the district court did not abuse its discretion in impos-
ing the 120-month sentence. Gall, 552 U.S. at 41. Shell fails to show
that this sentence is substantively unreasonable when considering
the record and the § 3553(a) factors. Tome, 611 F.3d at 1378. The
court considered and explained the § 3553(a) factors in sentencing
Shell. In particular, the district court noted the nature and circum-
stances of the offense, Shell’s history and characteristics, and the
need to protect the public and promote respect for the law. The
court also explicitly considered Shell’s trauma following Hurricane
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6 Opinion of the Court 23-11385
Katrina but found that it did “not excuse [him] then [wreaking] vi-
olence on other people and on the community.” Even assuming,
arguendo, that the district court relied heavily on Shell’s past crimi-
nal history, significant reliance on a single factor does not neces-
sarily render a sentence unreasonable. Kuhlman, 711 F.3d at 1327.
Finally, even under a guideline range of 92 to 115 months, a sen-
tence five months above this range carries no presumption of un-
reasonableness. Irizarry, 553 U.S. at 714.
In sum, the court provided sufficient justifications to support
Shell’s 120-month sentence. Gall, 552 U.S. at 60. Thus, Shell’s sen-
tence is substantively reasonable, and we also affirm in this respect.
AFFIRMED.
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