AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
To access the original judgment, please Sign In or Subscribe.

United States v. Karol Tellez Duarte

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

In the United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit ____________________

No. 25-13489

Non-Argument Calendar ____________________

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee, versus

KAROL TELLEZ DUARTE,

Defendant-Appellant. ____________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia D.C. Docket No. 3:24-cr-00035-TES-CHW-2 ____________________

Before JILL PRYOR, BRANCH, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Karol Duarte appeals her sentence of 57 months for conspir- acy to commit bank fraud. On appeal, Duarte first argues that the

1

2 Opinion of the Court 25-13489 district court violated her due process rights by purportedly apply- ing a sentencing enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(11)(B) when the presentence investigation report ("PSI") only gave her notice that she would receive a two-level enhancement under § 2B1.1(b)(11)(A)(i) for the use or possession of "device-making equipment," and she contends further that the enhancement did not apply to her offense conduct. Second, Duarte argues that her sentence was procedurally unreasonable because the court misap- plied the device-making equipment enhancement, and was sub- stantively unreasonable because the court gave undue weight to the Venezuelan nationality of a co-conspirator who received funds from the conspiracy, the total loss amount, and the identity of the victim financial institutions, and did not appropriately consider her arguments regarding her minor role in the offense and the punish- ment she already has suffered.

I. DISCUSSION

A. Guidelines Enhancement without Notice We review the application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and findings of fact for clear error. United States v. Louis, 559 F.3d 1220, 1224 (11th Cir. 2009). In order to be clearly erroneous, the finding of the district court must leave us with a "definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United States

v. Rothenberg, 610 F.3d 621, 624 (11th Cir. 2010). To preserve an error on appeal, the appellant must raise an objection that is suffi- cient to apprise the trial court and the opposing party of the partic- ular grounds upon which appellate relief will later be sought.

2

25-13489 Opinion of the Court 3 United States v. Straub, 508 F.3d 1003, 1011 (11th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted). An appellant may not raise an issue for the first time in a reply brief, and such arguments are considered abandoned. United States v. Magluta, 418 F.3d 1166, 1185-86 (11th Cir. 2005). The due process rights of criminal defendants entitle them to adequate notice of, and opportunity to contest, the facts used to support their criminal penalty. United States v. Jules, 595 F.3d 1239, 1243 (11th Cir. 2010). The defendant's primary due process interest is "the right not to be sentenced on the basis of invalid premises or inaccurate information." United States v. Plasencia, 886 F.3d 1336, 1343 (11th Cir. 2018) (citation omitted). Thus, the degree of due process required in a sentencing hearing is "only that which is nec- essary to ensure that the district court is sufficiently informed to enable it to exercise its sentencing discretion in an enlightened manner." Id. (quotation marks and citation omitted). While the PSI must identify all applicable Guidelines and fac- tors relevant to the appropriate sentence, the district court is not bound by those facts and recommendations set forth in the PSI. Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(d)(1)(A); Plasencia, 886 F.3d at 1343. The court may apply a guidelines enhancement, even if it was not identified in the PSI, so long as the defendant has proper notice. Plasencia,

886 F.3d at 1343. A defendant has proper notice where the circum- stances indicate that they have engaged in conduct that may result in application of an enhancement. Id. at 1344 (holding that, where the defendant heard testimony that was contradicted by the record, the defendant was on notice that the government might rely on his

3

4 Opinion of the Court 25-13489 own inaction as a basis to apply an obstruction of justice enhance- ment for the witnesses' false testimony, such that he could not claim inadequate notice by the court's sua sponte application of the enhancement).

Under § 2B1.1(b)(11)(A)(i), a two-level enhancement applies if the offense involved possession or use of any "device-making equipment." U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(11)(A)(i). Application Note 10(A) explains that "device making equipment" "(i) has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(6); and (ii) includes (I) any hardware or software that has been configured as described in

18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(9); and (II) a scanning receiver referred to in

18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(8). 'Scanning receiver' has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(8)." Id., comment. (n.10(A)).

"Device-making equipment" is defined in § 1029(e)(6) as

"any equipment, mechanism, or impression designed or primarily used for making an access device or counterfeit access device."

18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(6). The hardware or software referenced in § 1029(a)(9) is that which has been "configured to insert or modify telecommunication identifying information associated with or con- tained in a telecommunications instrument so that such instrument may be used to obtain telecommunications service without author- ization." Id. § 1029(a)(9). A "scanning receiver" referenced in § 1029(a)(8) is defined as "a device or apparatus that can be used to intercept a wire or electronic communication in violation of chap- ter 119 or to intercept an electronic serial number, mobile identifi-

4

25-13489 Opinion of the Court 5 cation number, or other identifier of any telecommunications ser- vice, equipment, or instrument." Id. § 1029(a)(8), (e)(8). Chapter 119 refers to Wire and Electronic Communications Interception and Interception or Oral Communications, codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510 to 2523, which prohibits the use of any device to acquire any wire, electronic, or oral communications, except as authorized.

18 U.S.C. § 2511(1)(a); see also id. § 2510 (1), (4) (defining the terms

"wire communication" and "intercept"). Here, the court did not violate Duarte's due process rights because the court applied the "device-making equipment" en- hancement under § 2B1.1(b)(11)(A)(i), for which Duarte had notice under the PSI. As a preliminary matter, Duarte is factually incor- rect that the court had applied the enhancement under § 2B1.1(b)(11)(B), as the government had alternatively proposed at sentencing. The court expressly stated that it was applying the en- hancement because the device qualified as a "scanning receiver,"

which is within Application Note 10(A)'s definition of "device mak- ing equipment" as used in § 2B1.1(b)(11)(A)(i), for which she had actual notice. U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, comment. (n.10(A)). Duarte only raised her challenge to the adequacy of the notice regarding the court's application of the specific "scanning receiver" definition of

"device-making equipment" for the first time in her reply brief, so her improper-notice argument as to the court's actual chosen legal basis for the enhancement has been abandoned on appeal. See Mag- luta, 418 F.3d at 1185-86. Regardless, her inadequate-notice argu- ment is meritless, as the PSI explicitly referenced the definition of

"device-making equipment" in Application Note 10(A), as that

5

6 Opinion of the Court 25-13489 term is used in § 2B1.1(b)(11)(A)(i), putting Duarte on sufficient no- tice that any of the relevant definitions may be used. In any event, even if Duarte did sufficiently preserve the is- sue for appeal, the court did not commit clear error by finding that Agent Winn's testimony supported application of the enhance- ment. See, e.g., Louis, 559 F.3d at 1224; Magluta, 418 F.3d at 1185-

86. Duarte argues that, even if she accepts that the Raspberry Pi satisfies the definition of device-making equipment, the enhance- ment cannot apply because the device did not "obtain" the use of

"telecommunications service[s]." Duarte's argument ignores that the Application Note 10(A) definition of "device making equip- ment" is not limited to the definition used in § 1029(a)(9) and in- cludes the "scanning receiver" definition in § 1029(e)(8). See, e.g.,

18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(8); U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, comment. (n.10(A)). That definition is not limited to telecommunications services and in- cludes the interception of wired and electronic communications in violation of chapter 119, Wire and Electronic Communications In- terception and Interception of Oral Communication. See 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(8). The court found that Agent Winn's testimony regard- ing how the Raspberry Pi device was used to intercept communi- cations between the bank's server and the ATM satisfied the "scan- ning receiver" definition. It was not clear error for the court to accept Agent Winn's explanation of how the Raspberry Pi device functioned as a basis for its application of the enhancement. The use of the Raspberry Pi device to intercept communications made between the bank's server and the ATM through the network cable

6

25-13489 Opinion of the Court 7 clearly satisfies the definition of intercepting wired communica- tions because the device was used to acquire and interfere with the denial messages sent by the bank's server to the ATM. 18 U.S.C. §

2510(1), (4).

Because the district court applied a definition of "device- making equipment" under Application Note 10(A), for which Du- arte received explicit notice in the PSI, the enhancement was properly applied. The district court did not err by applying the en- hancement under the definition of a "scanning receiver" because there was evidence that the Raspberry Pi device intercepted wire communications between the bank's server and the ATM. 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(8); U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, comment. (n.10(A)). There- fore, this Court affirms as to this issue.

B. Substantive reasonableness of the Sentence

We review the reasonableness of a sentence under an abuse- of-discretion standard. Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007). After confirming that there were no procedural errors in imposing the sentence, we determine whether the sentence was substan- tively reasonable. Id. It is the appellant's burden to show the sen- tence is unreasonable in light of the record and the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. United States v. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d 1319, 1324 (11th Cir. 2008) (citing United States v. Talley, 431 F.3d 784, 788 (11th Cir. 2005)). The district court abuses its discretion when it "(1) fails to afford consideration to relevant factors that were due significant weight, (2) gives significant weight to an improper or irrelevant fac- tor, or (3) commits a clear error of judgment in considering the

7

8 Opinion of the Court 25-13489 proper factors." United States v. Irey, 612 F.3d 1160, 1189 (11th Cir. 2010) (en banc) (citation omitted). We will only overturn a sen- tence as substantively unreasonable if "left with the definite and firm conviction that the district court committed a clear error of judgment in weighing the § 3553(a) factors by arriving at a sentence that lies outside the range of reasonable sentences dictated by the facts of the case." Id. at 1190 (quoting United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1191 (11th Cir. 2008)).

The proper sentencing factors are set out in § 3553(a) and include the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant; the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; the need to afford adequate deterrence and to protect the public from further crimes by the defendant; and the advisory guideline range.

18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(A)-(C), (a)(4). The district court need not directly discuss or state each factor; it is sufficient to acknowledge that the defendant's argument and the § 3553(a) fac- tors have been considered. Gonzalez, 550 F.3d at 1324. We have also underscored that we must give due deference to the district court to consider and weigh the proper sentencing factors. United States v. Shabazz, 887 F.3d 1204, 1224 (11th Cir. 2018). Additionally, a sentence imposed well below the statutory maximum is an indi- cation of the sentence's reasonableness. United States v. Holt, 777 F.3d 1234, 1269 (11th Cir. 2015).

8

25-13489 Opinion of the Court 9 Whether a factor considered by the district court in sentenc- ing is impermissible is a question of law that is reviewed de novo. United States v. Velasquez, 524 F.3d 1248, 1252 (11th Cir. 2008). Alt- hough we have not discussed what an "impermissible factor" may be for purposes of § 3553(a), we have held that factors such as race, sex, national origin, creed, religion, and socio-economic status can- not be used to depart from the applicable Guideline range. United States v. Davis, 204 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1999). Here, the court considered the fact that funds from the con- spiracy were sent to a known criminal in Venezuela, and specu- lated as to how those funds might have been used. While it pre- sumably would be impermissible for the court to consider Duarte's own nationality, in and of itself, in weighing the § 3553(a) factors, see generally Davis, 204 F.3d at 1066, the court's comments about what happened to the stolen funds implicated legitimate sentenc- ing considerations, such as the amount of money involved, the communities harmed by the thefts, and that Duarte had overstayed her visa while committing this offense. 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)(1). Ra- ther than being an impermissible factor, the court's consideration of where proceeds from the conspiracy were sent, and what the impact of those funds may have been, went to the "nature and cir- cumstances of the offense," as well as to Duarte's history and char- acteristics. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1). While Duarte may disagree with the court considering that stolen money was sent to a co-con- spirator in Venezuela, the court's consideration of those facts of the offense, and the circumstances of her own participation in it, was not improper. See Shabazz, 887 F.3d at 1224.

9

10 Opinion of the Court 25-13489 It was also proper for the court to consider the total loss and number of thefts involved in this offense. Again, the total amount of funds taken during commission of the conspiracy, and the small, community nature of the financial institutions from which those funds were taken, informed the nature and circumstances of the offense. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1). This Court gives great discre- tion to the weight placed on each factor by the district court, and here the district court determined that the 57-month sentence was appropriate in part due to the more than $1.4 million stolen from small credit unions and banks. See Shabazz, 887 F.3d at 1224. That weighing does not rise to a "clear error of judgment," so this Court will not find the sentence substantively unreasonable. See Irey, 612 F.3d at 1190.

The court also made clear that it had considered the mitigat- ing circumstances raised by Duarte. The court addressed Duarte's immigration status by noting that she had overstayed her visa and had used that time to commit this offense. As to Duarte's lack of criminal history, the allegation that she was "lured" into the scheme by Villamizar, and the punishment she suffered by being in custody during her son's funeral, the court stated that it had con- sidered the arguments raised in the sentencing memorandum and found those arguments unpersuasive. The court was not required to address each of Duarte's arguments individually, so long as it considered those arguments. See Gonzalez, 550 F.3d at 1324. Addi- tionally, the 57-month sentence imposed was well below the stat-

10

25-13489 Opinion of the Court 11 utory maximum of 30 years, an indication of its substantive reason- ableness. See Holt, 777 F.3d at 1269. Therefore, we affirm the rea- sonableness of the sentence.

For the foregoing reasons, the decision of the district court is

AFFIRMED.

11

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

United States v. Karol Tellez Duarte
(Sep 21, 2026)