USA v. Douglas Mohorn

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
In the
United States Court of Appeals
For the Eleventh Circuit
____________________
No. 23-11995
Non-Argument Calendar
____________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
DOUGLAS MOHORN,
Defendant-Appellant.
____________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
D.C. Docket No. 0:22-cr-60065-AHS-1
____________________
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2 Opinion of the Court 23-11995
Before R OSENBAUM , GRANT, and B LACK , Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Douglas Mohorn appeals his 36-month, below Guidelines
sentence for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He
asserts the district court erred in sentencing him based on a drug
quantity of five kilograms of cocaine because he never promised to
deliver that amount, and ultimately, his co-conspirator only deliv-
ered a single kilogram of a substance that contained less than 1%
cocaine. He contends this error, as well as the court’s failure to
give more weight to his age and health issues, resulted in the im-
position of a procedurally and substantively unreasonable sen-
tence. After review,1 we affirm Mohorn’s sentence.
1 We review factual findings for clear error and the application of the Guide-
lines to those facts de novo. United States v. Johnson, 980 F.3d 1364, 1374 (11th
Cir. 2020). The determination of the quantity of cocaine involved in a con-
spiracy for the purposes of sentencing is a factual determination subject to the
clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Alston, 895 F.2d 1362, 1369 (11th
Cir. 1990).
We review the reasonableness of a sentence under a deferential abuse-
of-discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). The party
challenging the sentence bears the burden of establishing that it is unreasona-
ble based on the facts of the case and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. United
States v. Shabazz, 887 F.3d 1204, 1224 (11th Cir. 2018).
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23-11995 Opinion of the Court 3
I. QUANTITY
“When a defendant objects to a factual finding that is used
in calculating his guideline sentence, such as drug amount, the gov-
ernment bears the burden of establishing the disputed fact by a pre-
ponderance of the evidence.” United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d
1291, 1296 (11th Cir. 2005). “Under the Sentencing Guidelines, a
defendant who negotiates a sale of drugs is sentenced based upon
the negotiated amount,” unless “the district court finds that the de-
fendant did not intend to produce and was not reasonably capable
of producing that amount,” in which case “the defendant is sen-
tenced to the amount that he or she intended to produce and was
able to produce.” United States v. Jones, 36 F.3d 1068, 1070 (11th Cir.
1994) (citing U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment (n.12) (Nov. 1993)). 2 In
Jones, we rejected the defendant’s argument he should have been
sentenced based on the amount of marijuana he actually delivered
and affirmed the district court’s sentence that was based on the ne-
gotiated amount. Id.
The district court did not clearly err in finding Mohorn’s of-
fense involved five kilograms of cocaine. Mohorn signed a factual
proffer that stated he spoke with an undercover officer on multiple
occasions about the sale of cocaine. In an initial phone call, the pair
2 The relevant comment in the 1993 version of the Sentencing Guidelines has
since been amended to clarify that it is the defendant’s burden to prove lack of
intent or ability to produce the negotiated amount of narcotics. (Compare
U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment. (n.12) (Nov. 1993) with id., comment. (n.5) (Nov.
2021)).
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4 Opinion of the Court 23-11995
discussed “kilograms” of cocaine. Additionally, Mohorn did not
object to PSI paragraph 11, supporting a conclusion that Mohorn
sought to facilitate the sale of multiple kilograms, as during a police
interview, Donald Higgs III “indicated Mohorn . . . told Higgs he
had a buyer for some ‘keys.’” See United States v. Bennett, 472 F.3d
825, 832 (11th Cir. 2006) (explaining the district court may base its
findings of fact on undisputed statements in the presentence inves-
tigation report (PSI)); United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277
(11th Cir. 2006) (stating “failure to object to allegations of fact in a
PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes”). And, when the
officer requested five kilograms in a later phone call, Mohorn
sought to provide this amount, as he stated he would check on
availability and call the officer back. When Mohorn called back, he
had Higgs on the line to facilitate the sale and offered a discount for
the purchase of five kilograms. Further, as stated in an undisputed
portion of the PSI, Mohorn admitted to discussing the sale of five
kilograms of cocaine, and admitted to contacting Higgs because he
was aware Higgs had access to cocaine. See id.
Mohorn’s assertion he should have been sentenced based on
the amount of real cocaine involved in his offense, or instead, the
fake kilogram ultimately sold to the undercover officer, is merit-
less. Where a defendant is convicted of conspiracy to distribute
narcotics on the basis of an incomplete, negotiated sale, a defend-
ant is properly sentenced based on the negotiated amount.
U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, comment. (n.5) (Nov. 2021); see Jones, 36 F.3d at
1070.
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23-11995 Opinion of the Court 5
Next, Mohorn’s argument he never had access to five kilo-
grams of cocaine and he was not reasonably capable of producing
this amount fails. In United States v. Alston, we rejected the defend-
ant’s argument he was not reasonably capable of producing the ne-
gotiated amount of drugs. 895 F.2d 1362, 1370-71 (11th Cir. 1990).
We reasoned, even though the evidence suggested he only had ac-
cess to one kilogram, the defendant attempted to arrange the de-
livery of several more kilograms, and thus, “[t]he district court was
not clearly erroneous in finding that [he] was reasonably capable of
producing the negotiated amount.” Id. at 1370-71 (quotation
marks omitted).
Mohorn’s case is similar to Alston. Because Mohorn’s at-
tempt to acquire the negotiated amount was sufficient for the Gov-
ernment to meet its burden of proving drug quantity by a prepon-
derance of evidence, the district court did not clearly err in deter-
mining the burden was met here. See id.
Finally, Mohorn’s reliance on United States v. Jackson, 115
F.3d 843 (11th Cir. 1997), is misplaced. In Jackson, police officers
discovered a package of suspected cocaine during a traffic stop. 115
F.3d at 844. The defendant was charged with substantive drug-re-
lated offenses and sentenced based on the weight of the entire pack-
age as a “mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of
cocaine,” despite the package containing 99 percent sugar and just
1 percent cocaine. Id. at 844-45. The cocaine was not mixed in, but
rather, it was distributed on the surface to trick a potential buyer if
a sample was requested. Id. at 844-45, 48. We determined “the
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6 Opinion of the Court 23-11995
contents of the package was not a mixture” under the Guidelines
and held “the district court erred in basing Jackson’s sentence upon
the weight of the entire unmarketable package” because he should
have been sentenced based on the actual amount of cocaine in the
package. Id. at 848-49.
In Jackson, the defendant was charged with substantive drug
crimes, not conspiracy, and thus, the relevant quantity of narcotics
was that which was actually seized—there was no evidence of a
conspiracy to sell a larger amount. Jackson, 115 F.3d at 844-45.
Thus, Jackson’s reasoning as to the marketability of the mixture is
not applicable here, where there was a conspiracy to sell a specific,
negotiated quantity of cocaine, and where Mohorn acted in fur-
therance of providing the negotiated amount.
Despite Mohorn’s lack of immediate access to five kilograms
of cocaine, Mohorn’s attempts to provide it—in context of his be-
lief that Higgs had access to cocaine, his conversations regarding
the sale of multiple kilograms, and his offering a discount for five
kilograms—is sufficient support for the district court’s factual de-
termination. See Alston, 895 F.2d at 1369-70. Accordingly, the dis-
trict court did not clearly err in determining Mohorn conspired to
deliver five kilograms of cocaine, and we affirm as to this issue.
II. REASONABLENESS
A. Procedural Reasonableness
In reviewing the reasonableness of a sentence, we first con-
sider whether the district court committed a procedural error. Gall
v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). A district court commits a
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23-11995 Opinion of the Court 7
procedural sentencing error when it imposes a sentence based on
clearly erroneous facts, fails to calculate or improperly calculates
the guideline range, fails to consider the § 3553(a) factors, treats the
Guidelines as mandatory, or fails to explain the chosen sentence.
Id.
The district court imposed a procedurally reasonable sen-
tence because it did not rely on clearly erroneous facts, fail to
properly calculate the Guidelines range, fail to consider the
§ 3553(a) sentencing factors, treat the Guidelines as mandatory, or
fail to explain its chosen sentence. See id. First, Mohorn’s argu-
ment the district court erroneously determined his drug quantity,
and thus relied on clearly erroneous facts, fails for the reasons dis-
cussed above.
Second, the district court did not err in calculating Mohorn’s
Guidelines range, as it correctly determined his base offense level
was 30, subtracted 3 levels based on acceptance of responsibility,
subtracted an additional 2 levels for the safety valve provision, and
determined the sentencing range for an individual with a criminal
history category of II and an adjusted offense level of 25 is 63 to 78
months. U.S.S.G. §§ 2D1.1(a)(5), (b)(18); (c)(5); 3E1.1(a)(b); Ch. 5,
Pt. A. The district court stated it had considered the § 3553(a) sen-
tencing factors, which is supported by the court’s explanation of its
chosen sentence due to Mohorn’s criminal history, despite his mit-
igating arguments regarding his health. See Gall, 552 U.S. at 51.
Further, the court stated the Sentencing Guidelines are advisory,
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8 Opinion of the Court 23-11995
and did not treat them as mandatory. See id. Accordingly, Mo-
horn’s sentence was not procedurally unreasonable.
B. Substantive Reasonableness
After ensuring that a sentence is procedurally sound, we
then consider the substantive reasonableness of a sentence. Id.
The district court must impose a sentence that is “sufficient, but
not greater than necessary” to reflect the seriousness of the offense,
promote respect for the law, provide just punishment, afford ade-
quate deterrence, protect the public, and provide the defendant
with any needed correctional treatment or training. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a)(2). It must also consider the nature and circumstances of
the offense, the defendant’s history and characteristics, the kinds of
sentences available, the applicable Guidelines range, any pertinent
policy statements, and the need to avoid sentencing disparities be-
tween similarly-situated defendants. Id. § 3553(a)(1), (3)-(7).
The weight given to each factor lies within the district
court’s sound discretion, and it may reasonably attach great weight
to a single factor. United States v. Kuhlman, 711 F.3d 1321, 1327 (11th
Cir. 2013). A district court abuses its discretion if it “(1) fails to af-
ford consideration to relevant factors that were due significant
weight; (2) gives significant weight to an improper or irrelevant fac-
tor; 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) (en banc) (quotation marks omitted). We will vacate a district
court’s sentence as substantively unreasonable only if “left with the
definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a
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23-11995 Opinion of the Court 9
clear error of judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors” as evi-
denced by a sentence “outside the range of reasonable sentences
dictated by the facts of the case.” United States v. Goldman, 953 F.3d
1213, 1222 (11th Cir. 2020) (quotation marks omitted).
Mohorn’s below-Guidelines sentence was also substantively
reasonable. The district court’s recognition of Mohorn’s mitigat-
ing arguments regarding his health, as well as its concern regarding
his criminal history, demonstrates appropriate consideration of the
relevant § 3553(a) factors. These considerations relate to the na-
ture and circumstances of the offense, Mohorn’s history and char-
acteristics, as well as the need to provide just punishment and pro-
tect the public. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1)-(2). Additionally, the court
acted within its discretion when it gave more weight to certain fac-
tors—such as the nature of Mohorn’s offense and his history of
criminal conduct—than to other factors—such as his history of
medical issues. See Kuhlman, 711 F.3d at 1327.
Finally, Mohorn’s 36-month term of imprisonment was sig-
nificantly below the low end of the Guidelines range and the statu-
tory maximum penalty, which further suggests his sentence was
reasonable. See United States v. Taylor, 997 F.3d 1348, 1355 (11th
Cir. 2021) (explaining “a sentence imposed well below the statu-
tory maximum penalty is an indicator of a reasonable sentence”).
Under these circumstances, the sentence imposed was not “outside
the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case.”
See Goldman, 953 F.3d at 1222. Accordingly, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.
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