United States v. Romeo Lopez-Hernandez

MEMORANDUM

Romeo Lopez-Hernandez challenges his sentence to twenty-four months’ incarceration and three years’ supervised release for illegally entering the United States after being deported.

1. Lopez-Hernandez’s sentence to twenty-four months’ incarceration is less than the statutory maximum of ten years, but six months above the maximum recommended by the federal Sentencing Guidelines. The Sentencing Guidelines are only advisory. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38 , 128 S.Ct. 586, 594 , 169 L.Ed.2d 445 (2007). As directed by 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (a), the sentencing judge weighed several factors, including the recommendation of the Sentencing Guidelines, the fact that Lopez-Hernandez had been thrice convicted of illegal entry and the fact that he was previously sentenced to eighteen months for the same offense. The judge didn’t abuse his discretion by giving him six additional months.

2. As Lopez-Hernandez’s attorney told the judge at sentencing, the Sentencing Guidelines recommend against imposing supervised release on deportable aliens under “ordinar[y]” circumstances. See U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 5D1.1(c). But Lopez-Hernandez’s circumstances are not ordinary.…