U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2015

United States v. Kwan Yong Choi

United States v. Kwan Yong Choi
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided June 25, 2015 · Hawkins, Graber, Fletcher
608 F. App'x 503

United States v. Kwan Yong Choi

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Kwan Yong Choi appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the *504 36-month sentence imposed following his guilty-plea convictions for money laundering and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(1) and 2. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

Choi contends that the district court procedurally erred by failing to explain adequately the extent of its downward departure under U.S.S.G § 5K2.23. We review for plain error, see United States v. Valencia-Barragan, 608 F.3d 1103, 1108 (9th Cir. 2010), and find none. The record, taken as a whole, reflects that the district judge “considered the parties’ arguments and [had] a reasoned basis for exercising his own legal decisionmaking authority.” Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 356, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007).

Choi further contends that his sentence is substantively unreasonable in light of the alleged procedural error and his having already been punished for the underlying criminal conduct in South Korea. The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing Choi’s sentence. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S.Ct. 586, 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). The sentence is substantively reasonable in light of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors and the totality of the circumstances, including Choi’s criminal history in Korea and the substantial financial and emotional impact of his crime on the victims. See Gall, 552 U.S. at 51, 128 S.Ct. 586.

AFFIRMED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provid *504 ed by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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