US v. Jerry Wayne Avery, Jr., No. 09-4020 (4th Cir. 2009)
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UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 09-4020 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. JERRY WAYNE AVERY, JR., Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, at Greensboro. James A. Beaty, Jr., Chief District Judge. (1:07-cr-00302-JAB-1) Submitted: August 6, 2009 Decided: August 27, 2009 Before MICHAEL, SHEDD, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Louis C. Allen, III, Federal Public Defender, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Greensboro, for Appellant. Michael Francis Joseph, Angela Assistant United States Attorneys, Greensboro, for Appellee. Eric D. Placke, North Carolina, Hewlett Miller, North Carolina, Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. PER CURIAM: Jerry Wayne Avery, Jr., pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) (2006), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (2006). Avery received a sentence at the bottom of the Guidelines range, consisting of concurrent terms of 202 months on the drug counts and a consecutive sixty-month term on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 262 months. a timely notice of appeal. Avery filed We affirm. On appeal, Avery s counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). In the brief, counsel argues that the district court imposed an unreasonably long sentence. Avery was informed of his right to file a pro se supplemental brief, but has not done so. We review sentences for reasonableness, abuse of discretion standard of review. applying an Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, __, 128 S. Ct. 586, 597-98 (2007); United States v. Pauley, 511 F.3d 468, 473 (4th Cir. 2007). We first consider whether the district court committed any significant procedural error, such as improperly calculating the advisory Guidelines range. cert. United States v. Evans, 526 F.3d 155, 161 (4th Cir.), denied, 129 S. Ct. 476 2 (2008). We then assess the substantive reasonableness of the sentence imposed, taking into account the totality of the circumstances. Id. Further, we presume on appeal that a sentence within the advisory Guidelines range is reasonable. at 473. Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597; Pauley, 511 F.3d Moreover, we must give due deference to the district court s decision that the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors justify the sentence. Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597. Even if we would have imposed a different sentence, this fact alone is insufficient to justify reversing the district court. Evans, 526 F.3d at 160. In this case, the district court properly calculated Avery s Guidelines range. In addition, the district court was aware of Avery s interest in working on gang-prevention programs and his desire to care for his children, the two issues that Avery now says make his sentence unreasonable. court weighed these considerations against The district Avery s repeated criminal conduct, the seriousness of the current offenses, and the need for Avery s punishment and deterrence. In considering the found sentencing factors, the district Guidelines sentence was appropriate. rebutted our appellate presumption court that a We conclude Avery has not that the district court s sentence was reasonable. As part of our review in this Anders appeal, we have examined the full record, including the plea colloquy, and we do not find any reversible errors. 3 We therefore affirm Avery s conviction and sentence. This court requires that counsel inform Avery, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court of the United States for further review. If Avery requests that a petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw from representation. Counsel's motion must state that a copy thereof was served on Avery. dispense with oral argument because the facts and We legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED 4
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