NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 16a0577n.06
No. 16-3147
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
FILED
Oct 24, 2016
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
) ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
v. ) STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
) THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
BRYAN BAILEY, ) OHIO
)
Defendant-Appellant. )
)
)
BEFORE: DAUGHTREY, ROGERS, and COOK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM. Bryan Bailey challenges the procedural and substantive reasonableness
of his 96-month sentence. We affirm.
Bailey pleaded guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement to conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(i) and 846.
Bailey’s presentence report set forth a guidelines range of 87 to 108 months of imprisonment
based on a total offense level of 29 and a criminal history category of I. The district court
sentenced Bailey to 96 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.
In this timely appeal, Bailey argues that his 96-month sentence is (1) procedurally
unreasonable because the district court failed to address a mitigating argument and started from
an artificially high recommended sentence and (2) substantively unreasonable in light of his
post-offense rehabilitation. We review Bailey’s sentence for procedural and substantive
No. 16-3147
United States v. Bailey
reasonableness under a deferential abuse-of-discretion standard. United States v. Battaglia,
624 F.3d 348, 350 (6th Cir. 2010).
Bailey first contends that the district court procedurally erred by failing to address his
mitigating argument about the physical abuse that he suffered as a child. The district court “must
consider all non-frivolous arguments in support of a lower sentence.” United States v. Gunter,
620 F.3d 642, 645 (6th Cir. 2010). The district court is not, however, required to “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); see United States v. Odeh,
815 F.3d 968, 983 (6th Cir. 2016) (“[A] sentencing court need not, in a ‘point-by-point’ fashion,
respond to each mitigation argument offered by a defendant.”). On appeal, we must determine
whether, based on the entire sentencing record, “we are satisfied that the district court fulfilled
[its] obligation” to “conduct a meaningful sentencing hearing and truly consider the defendant’s
arguments.” Gunter, 620 F.3d at 646.
The district court satisfied that obligation. Bailey’s presentence report and sentencing
memorandum both referred to the abuse inflicted by his mother’s boyfriend. At sentencing, the
district court acknowledged receipt of the sentencing memorandum and heard defense counsel’s
arguments, which mentioned the abuse but focused on Bailey’s post-offense rehabilitation.
Bailey’s aunt testified that he came to live with her because of the abuse. The district court
asked clarifying questions during the aunt’s testimony, showing that the judge was listening and
was aware of Bailey’s circumstances. See Vonner, 516 F.3d at 387; cf. United States v. Wallace,
597 F.3d 794, 806 (6th Cir. 2010) (remanding where “the entire sentencing transcript fails to
make clear whether the district court even considered the argument”).
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No. 16-3147
United States v. Bailey
Bailey next argues that that the district court procedurally erred in starting from an
artificially high recommended sentence. The probation officer recommended a 108-month
sentence, the high end of the guidelines range, in part to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities
among similarly situated defendants—specifically, a defendant in a related case who received a
210-month sentence. The probation officer also based her recommendation on Bailey’s
“knowledge and scope of the illegal activity and his considerable involvement in transporting
money and narcotics” and the need “to effectively punish the defendant and hopefully deter him
from re-engaging in illegal behavior.”
At sentencing, the district court indicated its agreement with defense counsel’s argument
that Bailey and the other defendant were not similarly situated due to differences in both offense
level and criminal history category and later stated that Bailey was “nowhere near where” the
other defendant was positioned in the conspiracy. The district court went on to explain why it
was not imposing the recommended sentence, noting Bailey’s post-offense rehabilitation and his
support from family and friends, and why it was not granting a downward variance, noting his
“deep and significant” involvement in the conspiracy. The district court did not err.
Bailey further asserts that the district court procedurally erred by disregarding his post-
offense rehabilitation and limiting its consideration of his history and characteristics to the time
of the offense. Contrary to Bailey’s argument, the district court expressly considered his post-
offense conduct, recognizing “the strides that Mr. Bailey has made in the last couple of years.”
The district court’s reference to “turn[ing] the clock back three years” indicated that the court
was shifting its analysis to the nature and circumstances of Bailey’s offense. See 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a)(1).
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No. 16-3147
United States v. Bailey
Bailey also challenges the substantive reasonableness of his sentence, asserting that
96 months is longer than necessary to accomplish the sentencing goals set forth in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a) in light of his post-offense rehabilitation. Bailey’s “argument ultimately boils down to
an assertion that the district court should have balanced the § 3553(a) factors differently,” which
is beyond the scope of our review. United States v. Sexton, 512 F.3d 326, 332 (6th Cir. 2008).
Bailey has not overcome the presumption that his within-guidelines sentence is substantively
reasonable. See Vonner, 516 F.3d at 389.
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM Bailey’s sentence.
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