United States v. Gary Ames

MEMORANDUM

Gary Ted Ames appeals from the district court’s judgment and challenges the 36-month sentence imposed following his jury-trial conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922 (g)(1). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Ames contends that the district court erred by failing to provide notice under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(h) of its intent to depart upwards. The record does not support Ames’s contention that the district court applied an upward departure under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3(a)(1). Instead, the court imposed an upward variance based on the 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (a) factors; therefore, it was not required to give notice under Rule 32(h). See Irizarry v. United States, 553 U.S. 708, 714-16 , 128 S.Ct. 2198 , 171 L.Ed.2d 28 (2008).

Ames next contends that his above-Guidelines sentence is substantively unreasonable. The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing Ames’s sentence. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 , 128 S.Ct. 586 , 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). Ames’s sentence, 12-months above the top of the advisory Guidelines range, is substantively reasonable in…