NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION
To be cited only in accordance with
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1
United States Court of Appeals
For the Seventh Circuit
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Argued October 14, 2009
Decided November 10, 2009
Before
JOHN L. COFFEY, Circuit Judge
TERENCE T. EVANS, Circuit Judge
ANN CLAIRE WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge
No. 09‐2103
Appeal from the United States District
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Court for the Eastern District of
Plaintiff‐Appellee Wisconsin.
v.
No. 2:08‐cr‐243‐3
RICHARD SWEITZER,
Defendant‐Appellant Charles N. Clevert,
Chief Judge
O R D E R
The defendant appellant Richard Sweitzer pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute
more than 100 grams of heroin, see 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and received a within‐
guidelines range sentence of 46 months’ imprisonment. On appeal Sweitzer argues that the
district court failed to consider his arguments for a below‐range sentence and erroneously
presumed the reasonableness of the guidelines sentence. We affirm the sentence imposed
by the district court as we are convinced after review that the court properly considered the
§ 3553(a) factors and that there is no evidence in the record substantiating that the court
presumed that the guidelines were reasonable.
No. 09‐2103 Page 2
I. Background
Sweitzer, an admitted heroin dealer, was engaged in facilitating the transfer of
heroin totaling at least 400 grams but no more than 700 grams between a Milwaukee dealer
and a buyer in Chicago. He admitted to engaging in approximately twenty‐five such
transactions, beginning in 2007. His role as the middle‐man consisted of Sweitzer’s
acceptance of the cash wire transfers from his Chicago buyer and receiving the drugs from
his dealer at a designated location in Milwaukee. He would then meet his Chicago buyer to
arrange for the delivery of the heroin. After being implicated by his Milwaukee accomplice,
Sweitzer was arrested in Milwaukee. At the time of his arrest, Sweitzer decided to
cooperate with the officers and assisted in the arrest of his Chicago accomplice and shared
pertinent information with the Milwaukee authorities covering the nature of their
relationship. At this time, Sweitzer pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 100
grams of heroin. See 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1). The Probation Officer’s presentence
investigation report concluded that based on the quantity of heroin, Sweitzer had a base
offense level of 28 and proposed a two‐level reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(11),
he qualified for the safety‐valve exception, and a three‐level reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G.
§ 3E1.1 for acceptance of responsibility. Thus, Sweitzer’s offense level of 23 and his
Category I criminal history produced a guideline range of 46 to 57 months imprisonment.
The district court imposed a within‐guideline sentence of 46 months imprisonment
followed by three years of supervised release. At sentencing, the court discussed the lethal
effects of heroin use and trafficking and the need for more adequate deterrence. The court
also discussed several of Sweitzer’s personal characteristics that were considered in the
decision‐making process, including Sweitzer’s family, anger problems, drug addiction, and
need for counseling at sentencing. The court also referred to Sweitzer’s opportunity to take
advantage of the safety valve exception, his lack of criminal history, his cooperation with
the police and was satisfied and persuaded “that in this particular case the defendant will
be justly punished and deterred, and the public will certainly be fully advised of this
Court’s view of . . . dealing” with heroin.
II. Analysis
A. Sweitzer’s Arguments for a Below‐Range Sentence.
On appeal, Sweitzer insists that the court erroneously failed to consider his non‐
frivolous arguments for a below‐range sentence. Initially, Sweitzer argues that the court
ignored his argument that quantity‐driven drug sentencing is inherently flawed and
furthermore that the court must disregard quantity‐driven drug sentencing because it is not
No. 09‐2103 Page 3
the product of careful study based on empirical evidence derived from individual
sentencing decisions.
“[W]e do not think a judge is required to consider...an argument that a guideline is
unworthy of application in any case because it was promulgated without adequate
deliberation.” United States v. Aguilar‐Huerta, 576 F.3d 365, 367‐68 (7th Cir. 2009) (emphasis
original); see also United States v. Huffstatler, 571 F.3d 620, 623‐24 (7th Cir. 2009) (stating that
district courts may impose a sentence below the child‐pornography guidelines based on a
disagreement with them, but district courts are not required to do so). In Aguilar‐Huerta,
this court reasoned that if a judge is required to delve into the history of a guideline to
satisfy himself that the process that produced it was adequate, sentencing hearings will
become unmanageable and shift the focus from the defendant’s conduct to the legislative
history of the guidelines. Aguilar‐Huerta, 576 F.3d at 368. Thus, the court was not required
to consider this argument.
Next, Sweitzer argues that the court committed procedural error when it failed to
consider his mitigating circumstances under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) that distinguished his case
from comparable drug cases. He contends, for example, that his case differs from
comparable drug cases for three reasons: (1) he had only one customer who personally
consumed the heroin; (2) neither he, nor any of the other known participants in the drug
ring, used, attempted, or threatened violence or were connected to any firearm or other
weapon; and (3) he faced considerable economic pressure as a heroin addict and he was
offered a premium to deliver drugs.
Sweitzer argues that the district court failed to consider the § 3553(a) factors during
his sentencing. We disagree. The district judge is not required to apply each of the §
3553(a) factors mechanically or in a “checklist fashion, but instead in the form of an
adequate statement of the judge’s reasons, consistent with § 3553(a), for thinking the
sentence that he has selected is indeed appropriate for the particular defendant. ” United
States v. Dean, 414 F.3d 725, 729 (7th Cir.2005). The judge did just that here. He certainly
considered the nature and circumstances of the offense, § 3553(a)(1), when he observed that
heroin trafficking was a serious crime and that Sweitzer’s involvement contributed to the
growing demand for the drug. He also considered Sweitizer’s personal history and
characteristics, § 3553(a)(1), when he acknowledged that Sweitzer can take advantage of the
safety valve exception, had lifelong issues of drug abuse, family problems, and suffered
from depression. He added that Sweitzer would benefit from counseling as part of
supervision. See also § 3553(a)(2)(D). And he concluded that the 46‐month sentence was
necessary to protect the public and provide deterrence.
B. Presuming the Reasonableness of the Guidelines.
No. 09‐2103 Page 4
Sweitzer next asserts that the court improperly applied a presumption of
reasonableness to the guidelines. At sentencing, the court made generic statements about
the dangers of heroin and the need for more effective deterrence in drug cases. These
generic statements, according to Sweitzer, demonstrate the court’s belief that cases
involving heroin distribution must be decided according to the guidelines.
The district court did not apply a presumption of reasonableness to the guidelines.
See United States v. Allday, 542 F.3d 571, 572‐73 (7th Cir. 2008). As Sweitzer concedes,
“nothing about the district court’s remarks upon imposition of [the] sentence include an
expressed belief that the guidelines are presumptively reasonable . . .” Indeed, the
sentencing transcript establishes that the court did not apply a presumption of
reasonableness. The court commented on the need for deterrence not in the context of the
guidelines, but in responding to Sweitzer’s general request for leniency in drug sentencing.
Moreover, the judgeʹs stated explanation for the sentence shows that he was well aware and
appreciated the advisory nature of the guidelines: he considered and referred to Sweitzer’s
drug involvement as a young man, his family life, emotional difficulties, lack of a criminal
history, decision to cooperate, and the general need for deterrence. See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. §
3553(a)(2)(B); United States v. Gooden, 564 F.3d 887, 891 (7th Cir. 2009). Such consideration
confirms that the court sentenced Sweitzer on the basis of the § 3553(a) factors, and not a
presumption of reasonableness.
Conclusion
We affirm the decision of the district court.