Opinion
No. 07-50046.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Filed October 23, 2008.
Michael J. Raphael, Esq., Elizabeth R. Yang, Esq., USLA — Office of the U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, Los Angeles, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Michael J. Treman, Esq., Attorney at Law, Santa Barbara, CA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Percy Anderson, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CR-02-01215-PA-01.
Before: LEAVY, RYMER, and THOMAS, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Eric Washington appeals from the 125-month sentence imposed upon resentencing following his jury-trial conviction for conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, armed robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d), and use or carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
Washington contends that the district court erred in applying an enhancement for brandishing a firearm pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii), because he did not personally brandish, or aid and abet the brandishing of a firearm, and because co-conspirator liability under Piukerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 66 S.Ct. 1180, 90 L.Ed. 1489 (1946), is inapplicable to sentencing enhancements. However, co-conspirator liability extends to findings necessary to establish statutory mandatory minimums for sentencing purposes, see United States v. Banuelos, 322 F.3d 700, 704 (9th Cir. 2003), and accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not err in applying the enhancement.
Washington further contends that the district court incorrectly treated the Sentencing Guidelines as a locus from which to deviate, failed to evaluate the factors set forth by 18 U.S.C. § 3553 in light of the totality of the sentence, and failed to address § 3553 factors that related to him as an individual. In light of the record, we conclude that the district court did not procedurally err. See United States v. Carty, 520 F.3d 984, 991 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc). We also conclude that the sentence imposed was reasonable in light of the totality of the circumstances. See id. at 993.