United States v. David Thomas ( 2019 )

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_____________
No. 17-1348
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
DAVID THOMAS,
aka David Thompson,
Appellant
______________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D. C. Civil No. 2-15-cr-00370-001)
District Court Judge: Honorable Gerald A. McHugh
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Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a) on
December 11, 2018
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Before: SMITH, Chief Judge, McKEE and FISHER, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: August 8, 2019)
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OPINION *
_______________________
*
This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and under I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
McKEE, Circuit Judge.
David Thomas appeals the judgment of sentence that was imposed following his
guilty plea to armed bank robbery and related offenses. For the reasons that follow, we
will affirm the sentence that was imposed. 1
Thomas argues that the district court erred in applying a sentencing enhancement
for obstruction of justice because he counseled his then-girlfriend, co-defendant Lane, to
lie about her involvement in the robberies. 2 Thomas acknowledges that Lane testified that
he told her to lie, but argues that because the lie did not relate to his own sentencing, he is
not eligible for the enhancement. 3 This argument relies on a misreading of U.S.S.G. §
3C1.1, which provides for the enhancement where “the defendant willfully obstruct[s] . . .
the administration of justice with respect to the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing
of the instant offense of conviction” or a “closely related offense.” 4 The commentary to
1
The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have jurisdiction
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742.
2
Appellant’s Br. 18 (acknowledging that “Lane testified that Mr. Thomas had
encouraged her, in the context of her criminal case, to ‘just take the minor role’ and admit
that ‘you had knowledge of nothing’”).
3
Id. at 18–19.
4
Sentencing Guideline § 3C1.1 states in full:
If (1) the defendant willfully obstructed or impeded, or attempted to obstruct
or impede, the administration of justice with respect to the investigation,
prosecution, or sentencing of the instant offense of conviction, and (2) the
obstructive conduct related to (A) the defendant’s offense of conviction and
any relevant conduct; or (B) a closely related offense, increase the offense
level by 2 levels.
2
Guideline § 3C1.1 notes that a co-defendant’s case is a “closely related” case. 5 The
commentary also includes “unlawfully influencing a co-defendant [to obstruct justice]” 6
and “committing, suborning or attempting to suborn perjury” 7 as examples of conduct
that are covered by the Guideline. Thomas’ argument is further foreclosed by our
decision in United States v. Powell. 8
Thomas’s second argument is that the court erred in applying a leadership
enhancement for the June 2 and June 30 robberies because the record does not support a
finding that he was the leader. The district court’s conclusion, however, is supported by
the record. Alvin Johnson testified that Thomas was the leader and organizer of both the
June 2 and June 30 robberies. Although the court did not elaborate as to the reasons for
the enhancement, given this record, it did not need to. The court’s thorough questioning
during the sentencing hearing satisfies us that the court carefully considered whether the
enhancement was appropriate and correctly concluded that it was justified given the
testimony.
Finally, Thomas concedes that his third argument that the court erred in applying
the mandatory minimum under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3) for the use of a firearm during a
crime of violence fails because it is foreclosed by our decision in United States v.
Robinson. 9
5
U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, cmt. n.1.
6
Id. cmt. n.4(A).
7
Id. cmt. n.4(B).
8
113 F.3d 464, 468–69 (3d Cir. 1997).
9
844 F.3d 137, 139 (3d Cir. 2016). See also U.S. v. Johnson, 899 F.3d 191, 203–04 (3d
Cir. 2018).
3
Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, we will affirm the judgment of the
district court.
4