                                                                 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ____________

                                      No. 07-4362
                                     ____________

                           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


                                            v.

                           REYES REYNOSO-GUERRERO,

                                                 Appellant

                                     ____________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                            (District Court No. 06-cr-00216)
                    District Judge: Honorable William W. Caldwell
                                      ____________

                      Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                   April 16, 2010

                Before: SLOVITER and HARDIMAN, Circuit Judges
                          and POLLAK * , District Judge.

                                 (Filed: April 21, 2010)




                                     ____________



      *
        Honorable Louis H. Pollak, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.
                                OPINION OF THE COURT
                                     ____________


HARDIMAN, Circuit Judge.

       Reyes Reynoso-Guerrero (Reynoso) appeals his judgment of sentence after he

pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute in

violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Following his counsel’s motion to withdraw pursuant

to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), Reynoso filed a pro se brief, claiming: (1)

the District Court failed to fully consider the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.

§ 3553(a); (2) the District Court miscalculated his Sentencing Guidelines range because it

misunderstood our decision in United States v. Floyd, 499 F.3d 308 (2007); and (3) he

must be resentenced in light of our intervening decision in United States v. Arrelucea-

Zamudio, 581 F.3d 142 (3d Cir. 2009). We will grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and

affirm the District Court’s judgment of sentence.

                                              I.

       When appointed counsel seeks to withdraw, we determine whether: (1) counsel

adequately fulfilled the Anders requirements, and (2) an independent review of the record

presents any nonfrivolous issues. United States v. Marvin, 211 F.3d 778, 780 (3d Cir.

2000). To meet the first prong, counsel must examine the record, conclude that there are

no nonfrivolous issues for review, and request permission to withdraw. United States v.

Youla, 241 F.3d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 2001). Counsel must accompany a motion to withdraw



                                              2
with a “brief referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal.”

Anders, 386 U.S. at 744. Counsel need not raise and reject every possible claim, but

must, at a minimum, meet the “conscientious examination” standard set forth in Anders.

Youla, 241 F.3d at 300.

       As to the first Anders prong, counsel represents that he has “fully researched” all

the aspects of Reynoso’s case and has been “unable to . . . identify a basis for an appeal.”

With respect to arguably meritorious issues, counsel notes potential deficiencies in the

plea colloquy. Counsel also represents that Reynoso has not expressed any desire to

withdraw his guilty plea, and “cannot conclude, in good conscience . . . that it is in his

client’s best interest” to do so because Reynoso received “extremely favorable sentencing

terms” pursuant to his plea bargain. This view is consistent with Reynoso’s pro se brief,

in which he explicitly limits his appeal to the length of his sentence.

       As we shall explain, our independent review of the record confirms counsel’s

conclusion that there are no meritorious issues for appeal.

                                             II.

       At sentencing, district courts must: (1) calculate the advisory Guidelines range; (2)

rule on all motions made pursuant to the Guidelines for a departure from that range; and

(3) reach a final sentence by considering the Guidelines along with the other sentencing

factors enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). United States v. Gunter, 462 F.3d 237, 247

(3d Cir. 2006). “We review a district court’s legal conclusions regarding the Guidelines



                                              3
de novo, its application of the Guidelines to the facts for abuse of discretion, and its

factual findings for clear error.” United States v. Blackmon, 557 F.3d 113, 118 (3d Cir.

2009).

                                                A.

         Reynoso claims the District Court did not properly consider the § 3553(a) factors

because it failed to discuss several facts he deemed highly relevant. We note at the outset

that a sentencing court need not “discuss and make findings as to each of the § 3553(a)

factors if the record makes clear the court took the factors into account in sentencing.”

United States v. Cooper, 437 F.3d 324, 329 (3d Cir. 2006).

         Here, although the District Court did not recite all of the § 3553(a) factors, it

considered and responded to each of Reynoso’s asserted bases for a mitigated sentence.

Reynoso’s counsel argued for lenience because of his client’s acceptance of

responsibility, cooperation with the Government, and allegedly limited criminal history.

The District Court not only considered these issues, but granted an offense-level

reduction for acceptance of responsibility and a downward departure for substantial

assistance. The District Court also corrected the record when Reynoso’s counsel

neglected to mention one of his client’s prior convictions for drug possession, and later

stated that Reynoso’s offense was “made somewhat more serious by the fact that this is

the third time the defendant has been involved with drugs.” App. at 29. The District

Court recognized that Reynoso’s previous convictions, which were merely for



                                                4
possession, involved only “fooling around with drugs,” but nevertheless expressed its

view that “a punishment here is appropriate.” Id. at 30. The District Court also expressed

the hope that Reynoso’s sentence would deter him and others from committing future

crimes and would provide him with drug treatment. Id. at 30.

       Reynoso contends the District Court failed to consider his deportability, his limited

education and functional illiteracy1 , and his drug addiction. Significantly, however,

Reynoso did not note any of these grounds for a lower sentence at his sentencing hearing.2

Consequently, we will vacate Reynoso’s sentence only if the District Court committed

plain error that prejudiced Reynoso. United States v. Lloyd, 469 F.3d 319, 321 (2006)

(plain-error standard); United States v. Merlino, 349 F.3d 144, 161 (3d Cir. 2003)

(requirement of prejudice). Our review of the record leads us to conclude that the District

Court committed no error in this regard, much less plain error.

       Reynoso also contends, for the first time on appeal, that the District Court

improperly failed to consider the disparity between his 96-month sentence and the 36-

month term received by his partner in crime, Jorkhino Rohena. As the Government points

out, however, Reynoso’s Presentence Investigation Report indicates that Rohena’s



       1
        Reynoso acknowledges that his pro se brief was prepared by a “jailhouse
lawyer.” That brief, we should note, is a model of clarity and coherence despite its lack
of persuasive force.
       2
         His counsel did mention in passing that Reynoso will be deported, but did not
suggest that this was a reason for a lower sentence. Id. at 25. The District Court’s failure
to respond to this passing statement was not error.

                                             5
involvement in the drug enterprise was limited to consummating sales of crack cocaine

that were negotiated and authorized by Reynoso. Given this clear difference in

culpability between Reynoso and Rohena, we find no error in the District Court’s

omission of the disparity issue from its discussion of the § 3553(a) factors.

       In sum, we hold that the District Court did not commit procedural error in its

evaluation of the § 3553(a) factors.

                                             B.

       Reynoso also argues that his sentence must be vacated because the District Court

did not understand the law regarding downward departures as articulated in United States

v. Floyd, 499 F.3d 308 (2007). In Floyd we vacated a 42-month sentence imposed after

the District Court granted a downward departure for substantial assistance under USSG

§ 5K1.1 when Floyd’s Guidelines range was 41 to 51 months prior to the departure.

       Contrary to Reynoso’s contentions, the District Court here properly understood and

applied Floyd. Reynoso’s Guidelines range was 100 to 125 months imprisonment in light

of his base offense level of 27 and criminal history category of IV. The Government

moved for—and the District Court granted—a two-level downward departure under

USSG § 5K1.1. After granting the motion for downward departure, the District Court

expressed its view that it could not sentence Reynoso to more than 99 months, and

imposed the 96-month sentence.

                                             C.



                                             6
       Finally, Reynoso argues that a remand is necessary so the District Court can

reconsider his sentence in light of our decision in United States v. Arrelucea-Zamudio,

581 F.3d 142 (3d Cir. 2009). In Arrelucea-Zamudio we considered sentencing disparities

created by “fast-track” programs to expedite immigration crimes. We held that in districts

where no “fast-track” program is offered—such as all the districts in this Circuit—courts

have the authority under § 3553(a)(6) to vary downward in appropriate cases to avoid

unwarranted disparities with defendants sentenced in fast-track districts. Id. at 157. As

Reynoso concedes, however, his crime of conviction would not have rendered him

eligible for fast-track disposition even had he been convicted in a jurisdiction that has a

fast-track program. Therefore, our decision in Arrelucea-Zamudio is immaterial to

Reynoso’s sentence.

                                             III.

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court and, in

a separate order, grant counsel’s motion to withdraw.




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