NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 11a0278n.06
No. 08-6210 FILED
Apr 29, 2011
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
LEONARD GREEN, Clerk
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) ON APPEAL FROM THE
) UNITED STATES DISTRICT
RONNIE ROBERTSON, ) COURT FOR THE WESTERN
) DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
Defendant-Appellant. )
Before: KEITH, McKEAGUE, and KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM. Defendant-Appellant Ronnie Robertson pled guilty to two offenses,
carjacking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2119, for which he received a sentence of imprisonment of
forty-eight months, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a violent felony in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 924(c), for which he received a sentence of imprisonment of eighty-four months. At Robertson’s
sentencing hearing, the district court applied a four-level sentence enhancement for abduction to
facilitate commission of (or escape from) the carjacking offense. The district court adjudged that
the sentences run consecutively, resulting in a term of imprisonment of 132 months for both
offenses. On appeal, Robertson contends that the district court erroneously applied the four-level
sentence enhancement for abduction rather than a two-level sentence enhancement for restraint.
Robertson also asserts that the sentence he received was unreasonable since the district court failed
to address his argument that receipt of a sentence of imprisonment greater than ten years would
No. 08-6210
United States v. Ronnie Robertson
increase the likelihood of recidivism. For the following reasons, we AFFIRM the district court’s
sentence.
I. BACKGROUND
On July 31, 2006, a man driving a Mercedes sport utility vehicle (“the SUV”) stopped at a
traffic light, where he was approached by Robertson, who ran toward the SUV and pointed a gun at
the driver. Robertson got into the SUV on its passenger side and told the victim to make a U-turn
and a right turn onto a side street. The victim complied and stopped the SUV. Robertson then took
the victim’s wallet, Rolex watch, bracelet and diamond ring. His accomplice arrived, got into the
back seat of the victim’s car, and requested that the victim go to an ATM machine. The victim stated
that he had no money in the bank. Robertson and the accomplice threatened to kill the victim, then
put him out of his car, forced him to take off the shirt and shorts he was wearing, and fled with the
victim’s SUV, watch, bracelet, ring, wallet, and clothing. At some point during the offense,
Robertson hit the victim in the head with a gun.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Robertson entered a plea of guilty to carjacking in violation
of 18 U.S.C. § 2119 and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a violent felony, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 924(c). The plea agreement provided that the government would recommend a three-level
reduction under the United States Sentencing Guidelines for acceptance of responsibility. The
United States Probation Office composed a presentence report (“PSR”) utilizing the 2007 Federal
Sentencing Guidelines Manual in advance of Robertson’s sentencing hearing. Robertson did not
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object to any of the facts described in the PSR—and set forth herein—but objected to a sentence
enhancement for abduction.
The PSR’s calculations included a base offense level of twenty for carjacking, a two-level
increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(3)(A) since the victim sustained injury, a four-level
increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(4)(A) because the victim was abducted to facilitate
commission of the offense, a two-level increase because the offense involved carjacking, and a one-
level increase because of the value of items taken from the victim, which together resulted in an
adjusted offense level of twenty-nine. The PSR, however, included a three-level reduction for
acceptance of responsibility for a total offense level of twenty-six, and a Criminal History Category
of I, resulting in a guideline range of sixty-three to seventy-eight months of imprisonment for the
carjacking offense. As to the firearm offense, the PSR noted the application of a mandatory
consecutive minimum sentence of not less than eighty-four months of imprisonment.
At his sentencing hearing, Robertson asserted that rather than the four-level sentencing
enhancement for abduction recommended in the PSR, the court should apply a two-level
enhancement for physical restraint since the victim was only taken a short distance. The district
court rejected Robertson’s argument and found that the U-turn and stop on a side street satisfied the
minimal distance requirement and the abduction of the victim facilitated the carjacking. The
Government moved for a further two-level sentence reduction, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 for
Robertson’s substantial assistance, and requested that the court impose a total sentence of 135
months. Robertson requested that the motion for substantial assistance result in a reduction of four
levels and a total sentence of 120 months, due to his artistic talents and relative youth. Robertson
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noted that if he received a 120-month sentence of imprisonment he would spend the entirety of his
twenties incarcerated and that receipt of a longer sentence could result in him becoming entrenched
in criminality. The district court granted the Government’s § 5K motion and found the proper
Sentencing Guidelines range to be from forty-six to fifty-seven months on the carjacking count
following a reduction of three levels. The district court pronounced a total sentence of 132 months:
forty-eight months for carjacking plus the mandatory consecutive minimum eighty-four months for
the firearm carrying offense.
II. ANALYSIS
Robertson avers that the district court committed error in applying a four-level sentence
enhancement and failing to address an argument he advanced to advocate receipt of a lesser sentence.
A. Sentence Enhancement
Where there is an issue of law requiring review of a sentencing court’s decision to enhance
or reduce a sentence based upon the Sentencing Guidelines, the sentencing court’s determination is
reviewed “under a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard” for reasonableness. Gall v. United
States, 552 U.S. 38, 41 (2007). Review for reasonableness mandates that the appellate court ensure
that the sentence was procedurally and substantively sound.1 United States v. Sedore, 512 F.3d 819,
822 (6th Cir. 2008) (additional citation omitted).
A procedural error includes an error in calculating the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range
and corresponding enhancements. United States v. Bolds, 511 F.3d 568, 581 (6th Cir. 2007). “If any
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Robertson does not contend that his sentence was substantively unreasonable.
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United States v. Ronnie Robertson
person was abducted to facilitate commission of the offense or to facilitate escape,” the 2007
Sentencing Guidelines provide for a four level increase in the offense level. U.S.S.G. §
2B3.1(b)(4)(A). The 2007 Commentary to the Sentencing Guidelines defines “abducted” as having
occurred when “a victim was forced to accompany an offender to a different location.” U.S.S.G. §
1B1.1 cmt. n.1.(A). Courts have found that abduction occurred necessitating a four-level sentence
enhancement where carjacking victims were forced to move forty to fifty feet at gunpoint from one
area of a parking lot to another, United States v. Hawkins, 87 F.3d 722, 728 (5th Cir. 1996), and
where a bank robber forced a credit union supervisor at gunpoint from the parking lot of a credit
union to inside the credit union, United States v. Davis, 48 F.3d 277, 279 (7th Cir. 1995). See United
States v. Merriweather, No. 99-1832, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 23296, at *1-6 (6th Cir. Sept. 8, 2000)
(applying Hawkins and Davis). Thus, “a different location” need not constitute a wide area. See id.
at *2 (noting that teller was abducted when she was forced to traverse from the exterior of the bank,
unlock an exterior door, and cross the threshold to the interior of the bank).
Here, the victim was compelled by Robertson at gunpoint to make a U-turn and an immediate
right turn at a side street, whereupon his watch, wallet, bracelet and ring were taken and Robertson’s
accomplice joined in the crime. Robertson argues that abduction is not mechanically defined,
focuses on the short distance he compelled his victim to travel, and contends that the abduction did
not facilitate Robertson’s escape. However, the distance Robertson forced the victim to travel was
greater than the forty or fifty feet that the Fifth Circuit found sufficient to constitute abduction in
Hawkins. See 87 F.3d at 728. Our precedent suggests that lesser distances than Robertson forced
his victim to travel would constitute abduction for purposes of a sentencing enhancement. See
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United States v. Ronnie Robertson
Merriweather, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS at *2. More importantly, the facts plainly illustrate that the
abduction facilitated the carjacking as the victim was moved from a stop at a traffic light, compelled
to make a U-turn, and forced to turn right on a side street where the victim was threatened with
death, hit with a gun, robbed of his personal items, forced to strip to only his underwear, and
ultimately left alone without his SUV. The district court appropriately applied the four-level
sentencing enhancement for abduction.
B. Sentence Length
Procedural error may also occur if the sentencing judge fails to “set forth enough [of a
statement of reasons] to satisfy the appellate court that he has considered the parties’ arguments and
has a reasoned basis for exercising his own legal decision making authority.” United States v.
Lalonde, 509 F.3d 750, 769-70 (6th Cir. 2007) (quoting Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338, 356
(2007)) (alteration in original). A court is required to give the reason for the sentence it pronounces;
however, a court need not “give the reasons for rejecting any and all arguments by the parties for
alternative sentences.” United States v. Vonner, 516 F.3d 382, 387 (6th Cir. 2008) (en banc). Thus,
for the sentence to be procedurally reasonable, the record must reflect that the district court
considered Robertson’s arguments for a lesser sentence based upon his fear of a greater likelihood
of recidivism and gave a basis for rejecting the argument. See Lalonde, 509 F.3d at 770.
Robertson contends that the district court reviewed the mandatory 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)
factors that a district court must consider when imposing a sentence, but failed to address his
argument for a lesser sentence or rule on why the sentence the court imposed was not longer than
necessary to prevent the likelihood of recidivism. In contrast, the Government asserts that the
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district court conducted a detailed analysis of why it imposed a sentence longer than Robertson
requested, including a discussion of a necessary sentence that would allow Robertson to reflect on
his dangerous lifestyle and the serious nature of the offenses.
Our review of the record demonstrates that the district court did not explicitly state its
rejection of Robertson’s recidivism argument; however, the district court did state its reasons for
imposing a sentence of 132 months. The district court stated that the sentence properly reflected the
seriousness of the crimes and would allow Robertson ample opportunity to partake in educational
and rehabilitation programs while incarcerated. The court also noted that Robertson provided
substantial assistance to the Government in the case against his co-defendant and found that it was
appropriate to depart downward from the Sentencing Guidelines. The district court’s finding that
forty-eight and eighty-four months for each of the two counts Robertson was guilty of constituted
appropriate sentences was an implicit rejection of Robertson’s rationale that a sentence greater than
120 months would increase his likelihood of recidivism. The district court was not required to
explicitly give its reason for rejecting the recidivism argument nor explicitly mention the recidivism
argument in making its sentencing pronouncement. Vonner, 516 F.3d at 387. Thus, the district
court’s sentence was procedurally reasonable.
III. CONCLUSION
For the aforementioned reasons, the district court’s application of a four-level sentencing
enhancement was warranted and the district court’s sentence was reasonable. Accordingly, we
AFFIRM the district court’s decision and imposition of sentence.
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