United States v. Minter
Opinion
Robert Minter, Sr. appeals his sentence at the low end of his advisory guideline range to forty-one months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distributing a quantity of cocaine base in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (2000). On appeal, Minter contends the district court violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment by finding his relevant conduct and determining his advisory range based on a preponderance of the evidence. We affirm.
We will affirm the sentence imposed by the district court as long as it is within the statutorily prescribed range and is reasonable. United States v. Hughes, 401 F.3d 540 (4th Cir. 2005). A sentence within a properly calculated advisory guideline range is presumptively reasonable. United States v. Green, 436 F.3d 449, 457 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 2309, 164 L.Ed.2d 828 (2006). This presumption can only be rebutted by showing the sentence is unreasonable when measured against the factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) (2000). United States v. Montes-Pineda, 445 F.3d 375, 379 (4th Cir. 2006), pet. for cert. filed, - U.S.L.W. -, 2006 WL 2066682 (July 21, 2006) (No. 06-5439). In considering the district court’s calculation of the advisory range, we review its factual findings for clear error and its legal conclusions de novo. United States v. Hampton, 441 F.3d 284, 287 (4th Cir. 2006).
As we have recognized, judges continue to base sentencing decisions after United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), on a preponderance of the evidence. See United States v. Morris, 429 F.3d 65, 72 (4th Cir. 2005). Moreover, a district court’s findings by a preponderance of the evidence after Booker do not violate the Due Process Clause. See United States v. Okai, 454 F.3d 848, 851-52 (8th Cir. 2006); United States v. Vaughn, 430 F.3d 518, 525 (2d Cir. 2005), cert. denied, Lindo v. United States, - U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 1665, 164 L.Ed.2d 405 (2006). Because Minter’s sentence was within a properly calculated advisory guideline range, and he has not rebutted the presumption of reasonableness, we conclude the sentence is reasonable.
Accordingly, we affirm Minter’s sentence. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert MINTER, Sr., Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished