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[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
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No. 20-13494
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket No. 6:19-cr-00260-CEM-DCI-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
EDGAR JOHAN DIAZ-COLON,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Florida
________________________
(September 13, 2021)
Before ROSENBAUM, LAGOA, and BRASHER, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Edgar Johan Diaz-Colon was sentenced to 1,800 months’ imprisonment—the
statutory maximum sentence—for his conviction of five counts of sexual
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exploitation of children, in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e). He challenges
this sentence, arguing that the district court abused its discretion by imposing a
substantively unreasonable sentence. Because the sentence is not substantively
unreasonable, we affirm the sentence.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In December 2019, a grand jury indicted Diaz-Colon on five counts of sexual
exploitation of children, in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e). He pled guilty
to all five counts without a plea agreement. The investigation that led to these
convictions began after Q.W., a friend of Diaz-Colon and with whom he had briefly
lived, alerted the Pasco County Sherriff’s Office (“PCSO”) that she had discovered
child pornography on his electronic devices. One video showed Diaz-Colon
sexually assaulting Q.W.’s three-year-old niece (“CV-1”). Q.W. provided PCSO
with Diaz-Colon’s electronic devices. After PCSO obtained search warrants for
these devices, they discovered roughly 2,500 videos of child pornography, which
included multiple videos of CV-1 and two other known child victims (“CV-2” and
CV-3”). Q.W. then notified J.O., another friend of Diaz-Colon who had allowed
him to briefly live in the garage of his home and the father of CV-2 and CV-3, that
his daughters may have been victimized by Diaz-Colon. CV-2 and CV-3 were seven
and six years old, respectively, when Diaz-Colon sexually assaulted them.
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PCSO then interviewed each of the child victims. CV-1, although only three-
years-old with limited ability to communicate the atrocities, told officials that Diaz-
Colon had repeatedly touched and kissed her buttocks, had kissed her vaginal area,
and had hit her multiple times. CV-2 and CV-3 stated that on multiple occasions,
Diaz-Colon took them to the garage, forced them to take their clothes off, and then
sexually assaulted CV-3 by digitally penetrating her vagina. They also stated that
Diaz-Colon inserted his penis into their vaginas and anuses and forced the children
to perform oral sex on him. Diaz-Colon threatened to kill CV-2 if she told anyone
about the abuse and warned CV-3 not to tell her parents. CV-2 stated that Diaz-
Colon spanked her with a belt, which made her cry. CV-2 recalled that Diaz-Colon
taped her mouth shut when she called for help. CV-2 also explained that Diaz-Colon
had a rule that she could not ask for help and spanked her when she broke that rule.
There are five videos, filmed by Diaz-Colon in 2018 and 2019, that provided
the basis of the five counts against him. Count One pertained to a video showing
Diaz-Colon forcing CV-2 and CV-3 to perform oral sex on him. A second video
showed Diaz-Colon forcing CV-2 to pull up her skort and panties to expose her
vagina, providing the basis for Count Two. Count Three pertained to a video
showing CV-2 naked from the waist down, exposing her vagina and anus. Count
Four pertained to a video showing Diaz-Colon manipulating CV-3’s naked vagina.
And a fifth video showed Diaz-Colon pulling CV-1’s underwear aside and spreading
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the child’s vagina, which provided the basis for Count Five. Counts One through
Three took place on July 8, 2018, Count Four took place on July 20, 2019, and Count
Five took place on July 27, 2019.
Before Diaz-Colon’s sentencing hearing, a probation officer submitted the
Presentence Investigation Report (“PSI”), which outlined the above conduct
underlying his convictions. In the PSI, it was noted that Counts One through Five
would not be grouped because they represented different victims and harms and
calculated the offense level for each count, including an additional pseudo count for
Count One because that count involved two separate victims. The PSI initially
calculated a base offense level of 32 for each count based on the conviction under
18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and U.S.S.G. § 2G2.1(a). For Count One, the probation officer
applied a four-level increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2G2.1(b)(1)(A) because the
offense involved a minor who was not twelve years old. The probation officer then
applied a two-level increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2G2.1(b)(2)(A) because the
offense involved the commission of a sexual act or sexual contact. The total offense
level for Count One was therefore 38. Pseudo Count One followed the same
calculations, also yielding a total offense level of 38.
For Count Two, the probation officer added four levels to the base offense
level pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2G2.1(b)(1)(A) because the offense involved a minor
who had not yet attained the age of twelve years, yielding a total offense level of 36.
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For Count Three, the probation officer performed the same calculation as Count
Two, also yielding an offense level of 36. For Counts Four and Five, the probation
officer followed the same calculations used in Count One. But for Count Five, the
probation officer also added four levels pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2G2.2(b)(4)(B)
because the offense involved a toddler. As such, the total offense level for Count
Four was 38, and the total offense level for Count Five was 42.
Next, the probation officer performed the multiple count adjustment pursuant
to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.4 and, based on the number of units, increased the offense level
by 4 levels, yielding a subtotal of 46. And pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4B1.5(b)(1), the
probation officer characterized Diaz-Colon as a repeat and dangerous sex offender
against minors, which resulted in a new total offense level of 51. The probation
officer then applied a three-level total reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a)–(b)
for acceptance of responsibility. Although the total offense level was in excess of
43, the offense level was treated as 43 pursuant to U.S.S.G. Chapter 5, Part A,
comment n.2.
The PSI assigned Diaz-Colon a criminal history of category III. The statutory
range for each count was fifteen to thirty years’ imprisonment. Based on a total
offense level of 43 and a criminal history category of III, the guideline imprisonment
range was life. But because the statutory maximum sentences were less than the
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maximum of the applicable guideline range, the PSI determined that the guideline
range was 1,800 months’ imprisonment.
The PSI discussed in detail Diaz-Colon’s personal history and circumstances.
After the age of three months, Diaz-Colon lived with his grandparents. Diaz-Colon
rarely saw his father and often felt abandoned by his mother. When Diaz-Colon was
five, his grandfather, who had been a father figure to him, committed suicide. At
age seven, Diaz-Colon was sexually assaulted by his older brother. At age fourteen,
Diaz-Colon was statutorily raped by a twenty-eight-year-old woman. At fifteen,
Diaz-Colon began participating in a “cam” website where he performed sexual acts
over camera with older women.
The PSI also discussed Diaz-Colon’s mental health and substance abuse
problems. He was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(“ADHD”) at the age of six. In his teens, he attempted to commit suicide by
overdosing on pills. After a psychological examination in 2020, Diaz-Colon was
diagnosed with major depressive disorder, polysubstance dependence, posttraumatic
stress disorder (“PTSD”), and acute stress disorder. The PSI also noted that
Diaz-Colon had abused marijuana, Percocet, oxycodone, cocaine, and molly.
Diaz-Colon did not object to the factual recitation except for aspects of the
interview with CV-2 and CV-3 in paragraph seventeen. He did object to the
application of U.S.S.G. § 4B1.5(b)(1) because he maintained that the conduct did
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not constitute a pattern. And he objected to paragraph 162 where the probation
officer found there were no factors that would warrant a departure, arguing that
U.S.S.G. § 5K2.22 provided grounds for departure because of his abandonment and
exposure to sexual abuse and trauma.
Diaz-Colon also provided a “mitigation appendix,” which in addition to the
psychological evaluation, contained letters, photographs, academic transcripts, Civil
Air Patrol records, and employment verification. Diaz-Colon’s grandmother wrote
a letter describing the impact her husband’s death had on Diaz-Colon, writing that
Diaz-Colon’s mother never visited him and that he suffered from depression and was
hospitalized following a suicide attempt. She continued that he liked to help others,
did well in school, and ultimately asked the court for mercy for Diaz-Colon. The
appendix also included a letter from his mother, who confirmed that she was not part
of his life and stated that she hoped “for him to get out some day.” Then there was
a character reference from a longtime friend of Diaz-Colon’s. And the remainder of
the appendix was devoted to photos of Diaz-Colon throughout the years and his
academic records, Civil Air Patrol records, and employment records.
The government argued in its sentencing memorandum that the nature of
Diaz-Colon’s offenses “truly shock[s] the conscience.” It pointed out that he gained
and exploited trust repeatedly to sexually, physically, and emotionally abuse young
children. The government described his sexual interest in children as “palpable”
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because Diaz-Colon kept hundreds of child sex abuse videos on his devices and
noted that he was not willing to live vicariously through others but “had to victimize
children himself.” Finally, the government argued that the guidelines sentence of
150 years—1,800 months—met the sentencing goals because Diaz-Colon was a
demonstrated danger to the public and a lengthy sentence would help deter others.
At the sentencing hearing, Diaz-Colon reiterated his objections to the PSI,
including his argument for a departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K2.22 because he was
sexually abused as a child, moved in with his grandparents because his mother had
no interest in caring for him, lost his grandfather to suicide at age five, and struggled
with ADHD. The district court overruled each of Diaz-Colon’s objections and
adopted the PSI’s factual statements and guidelines calculations, noting that it
reviewed all of the things filed by Diaz-Colon in his mitigation appendix. The
district court then heard the parties’ arguments about the proper sentence. Diaz-
Colon requested that the district court sentence him to concurrent fifteen-year terms
of imprisonment, a sentence that would not be equivalent to life and would provide
him the motivation to seek treatment. He then spoke in allocution, apologizing to
the victims and asking for forgiveness. The government argued for the maximum
1,800-month total sentence, noting the extremely serious nature of the offenses, the
pattern of his conduct, and the extensive amount of child pornography videos that
he possessed that were not the basis of the five counts.
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Before delivering the sentence, the district court addressed the parties. First,
the district court credited the defense’s effective argument and noted that it would
sentence Diaz-Colon based on his individual circumstances but stated that a
fifteen-year sentence would “fly in the face of a sentencing disparity argument”
because in comparison to previous child-exploitation cases, Diaz-Colon’s conduct
was among the worst. Next, the district court acknowledged that Diaz-Colon had
“significant mitigation” based on his personal history and victimization but pointed
out that it would be a false equivalency to call him the “fourth victim” here next to
the three child victims. The district court then noted that Diaz-Colon was dangerous
based on the “level of cruelty exhibited by the defendant towards these kids” and
that the court did not think that Diaz-Colon would ever not be a danger. Finally, the
district court recognized that the government’s requested sentence would effectively
be a life sentence and abandon any chance of him ever being rehabilitated, which it
stated it did not take lightly.
In the end, the district court sentenced Diaz-Colon to a total term of 1,800
months, which consisted of consecutive 360 months as to each count, followed by a
5-year total term of supervised release. It stated that it had considered the advisory
sentencing guidelines and all the factors identified in
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and that
the sentence was “sufficient but not greater than necessary to comply with the
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statutory purposes of sentencing.” Diaz-Colon objected to the sentence on
procedural and substantive grounds. And this timely appeal ensued.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review the reasonableness of a district court’s sentence for an abuse of
discretion. United States v. Trailer,
827 F.3d 933, 935 (11th Cir. 2016). This review
is deferential, see Gall v. United States,
552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007), with the defendant
bearing the burden to show that his sentence is unreasonable, Trailer, 827 F.3d at
936. “In considering the substantive reasonableness of a sentence, we consider the
totality of the circumstances and whether the sentence achieves the sentencing
purposes stated in [18 U.S.C.] § 3553(a).” United States v. Melgen,
967 F.3d 1250,
1266 (11th Cir. 2020). We will vacate a defendant’s sentence only if “we ‘are left
with the definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error
of judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors by arriving at a sentence that lies
outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case.’” United
States v. Irey,
612 F.3d 1160, 1190 (11th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Pugh,
515 F.3d 1179, 1191 (11th Cir. 2008)).
III. ANALYSIS
Diaz-Colon raises only one issue on appeal—that his 1,800-month sentence
is substantively unreasonable. Specifically, he argues that the district court failed to
meaningfully consider his unique mitigating history and characteristics and that
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sentencing him to the statutory maximum in light of those mitigating factors is
greater than necessary.
The district court must impose a sentence that is “sufficient, but not greater
than necessary” to comply with the purposes listed in
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2).
United States v. Nagel,
835 F.3d 1371, 1376 (11th Cir. 2016) (quoting § 3553(a)(2)).
“‘The weight to be accorded any given § 3553(a) factor is a matter committed to the
sound discretion of the district court,’ and the court ‘is permitted to attach “great
weight” to one factor over others.’” United States v. Riley,
995 F.3d 1272, 1279
(11th Cir. 2021) (citation omitted) (first quoting United States v. Clay,
483 F.3d 739,
743 (11th Cir. 2007), then quoting United States v. Shaw,
560 F.3d 1230, 1237 (11th
Cir. 2009)). But a “sentence may be substantively unreasonable if a district court
unjustifiably relied on any one § 3553(a) factor, failed to consider pertinent
§ 3553(a) factors, selected the sentence arbitrarily, or based the sentence on
impermissible factors.” United States v. Sarras,
575 F.3d 1191, 1219 (11th Cir.
2009); see also Irey,
612 F.3d at 1189.
Moreover, the district court does not need to specifically address every
mitigating factor raised by the defendant for the sentence to be substantively
reasonable. See United States v. Snipes,
611 F.3d 855, 873 (11th Cir. 2010). Nor
does the court need to discuss each
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factor so long as the record
reflects that the court considered those factors. Riley, 995 F.3d at 1279. “[A]
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sentence which may result in a defendant passing away while in custody, however
tragic, is neither automatically a life sentence nor presumptively unreasonable.”
United States v. Mosquera,
886 F.3d 1032, 1052 (11th Cir. 2018). Indeed, we expect
that a sentence within the sentencing guidelines range will be reasonable. See United
States v. Stanley,
739 F.3d 633, 656 (11th Cir. 2014).
Here, the district court did not abuse its discretion by imposing the statutory
maximum sentence of 1,800 months. The district court properly considered the §
3553(a) factors, including the seriousness of the offense, the need to protect the
public, and Diaz-Colon’s mitigating circumstances and history. As to Diaz-Colon’s
mitigating factors, the district court heard extensive argument and evidence from
Diaz-Colon detailing his troubled childhood and his experiences with sexual abuse,
mental health problems, and drug abuse. And the district court heard extensive
argument and evidence regarding Diaz-Colon’s aggravating factors. The
government described Diaz-Colon’s significant appetite for child sex abuse videos
and indicated that his conduct portrayed a dangerous pattern of abuse. It then
outlined the extensive amount of graphic content created and possessed by him
beyond the five videos underlying each count. Beyond video and photo evidence,
the district court reviewed the interviews of the three child victims that outlined more
of the abuse that they suffered at the hands of Diaz-Colon. The district court also
heard testimony from J.O., the father of CV-2 and CV-3, about how Diaz-Colon
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capitalized on his kindness and hospitality to gain access to and sexually assault his
daughters and about the ramifications that Diaz-Colon’s actions have had and will
have on the lives of his daughters moving forward.
When imposing the sentence, the district court sufficiently indicated that it
considered everything presented before it and the § 3553(a) factors and outlined the
weight afforded the relevant factors. It did not unjustifiably rely on only one factor;
instead, it considered all the relevant factors and then weighed and balanced them to
come to the sentence it imposed. Although Diaz-Colon disagrees with the court’s
choice to put the most weight on the extreme nature of his offenses and the ongoing
danger he presents, it was within the district court’s sound discretion to give these
factors great weight over Diaz-Colon’s mitigating circumstances. See Riley, 955
F.3d at 1279. We therefore conclude that the district court did not abuse its
discretion.
Moreover, although Diaz Colon’s 1,800-month sentence was at the statutory
maximum and will effectively be a life sentence, it was also the sentencing
guidelines term given based on the offense level calculated. And based on the record
in this case, a sentence that effectively amounts to life imprisonment is “not greater
than necessary” to account for Diaz-Colon’s “horrific” offenses and other egregious
conduct, to protect vulnerable young children from his dangerous and predatory
behavior, to promote respect for the law, and to deter others from committing child
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sex offenses. See § 3553(a)(1)–(2); see also United States v. Johnson,
451 F.3d
1239, 1244 (11th Cir. 2006) (affirming as reasonable the imposition of a 140-year,
statutory maximum sentence for producing and distributing child pornography).
Considering the record in this case and the § 3553(a) factors, we cannot conclude
that Diaz-Colon established that his sentence was substantively unreasonable.
Accordingly, we affirm Diaz-Colon’s sentence.
AFFIRMED.
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