Failure to object to allegations of fact in a presentence report admits those facts for sentencing purposes.
A defendant appealed his sentence after the district court denied him a reduction for acceptance of responsibility under the sentencing guidelines. The district court based this denial on the defendant's criminal conduct that occurred after a state arrest but before the filing of federal charges. The court held that a defendant's conduct following earlier state charges, occurring before the defendant had notice of forthcoming federal charges, does not vitiate an otherwise exemplary acceptance of responsibility once federal charges are filed. Because the district court's error likely affected the sentencing outcome, the sentence was vacated.
At page 1277 Admitting facts in presentence reports for sentencing176 citing cases“it is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a psi admits those facts for sentencing purposes.”
- United States v. Alejandra Florez-Meza, No. 25-11136 (11th Cir. July 2, 2026).unpublished([A] failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Arthur Young, No. 25-11552 (11th Cir. Mar. 30, 2026).unpublished([A] failure to object to allegations in a PSI admits the facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Nidal Hatum, No. 22-13312 (11th Cir. Jan. 14, 2026).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Zeno Higgs, No. 25-10996 (11th Cir. Sept. 22, 2025).unpublished (It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- Cobb v. United States, No. 8:18-cv-00283 (M.D. Fla. Dec. 12, 2024).(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Cole Allan Peacock, No. 22-13782 (11th Cir. Jan. 17, 2024).unpublished (It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- Hammonds v. United States, No. 8:21-cv-00147 (M.D. Fla. June 9, 2023).([A] failure to object to allegations of fact in a [presentence report] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- Sanchez v. United States, No. 8:19-cv-02415 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 30, 2022).(It is the law of the circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Arman Abovyan, 988 F.3d 1288 (11th Cir. 2021).published(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to 19 “We review a district court’s determination of the loss amount under the Sentencing Guidelines for clear error.” Melgen, 967 F.3d at 1265 . “Because the dist…)
- De La Cruz Valverde v. United States, No. 8:17-cv-02475 (M.D. Fla. Dec. 2, 2020).(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
Show 162 more citing cases
- United States v. Oscar Lee Brown, Jr., No. 19-10926 (11th Cir. June 19, 2020).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Franklin Rafael Lopez Toala, No. 19-11335 (11th Cir. Mar. 31, 2020).unpublished([A] failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Oscar Lee Brown, Jr., No. 19-10926 (11th Cir. Feb. 18, 2020).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Horace Earl Jackson, No. 18-15253 (11th Cir. Jan. 17, 2020).unpublished([A] failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Dan Reed, 941 F.3d 1018 (11th Cir. 2019).published(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Darinel Hernandez-Lorenzo, No. 19-10380 (11th Cir. Oct. 22, 2019).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a [presentence investigation report] admits those facts for sentencing purposes” and “precludes the argument that there was error in them…)
- United States v. Yueson Escobar Valencia, No. 18-11495 (11th Cir. Feb. 15, 2019).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Rowy De Jesus Vasquez, No. 17-10515 (11th Cir. Oct. 26, 2018).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a [PSR] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. James Romando Harris, II, No. 16-17258 (11th Cir. Jan. 11, 2018).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a [PSR] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Ernesto Cabanas-Torres, No. 17-10644 (11th Cir. Nov. 16, 2017).unpublished(Failure to object to allegations of fact in a [PSR] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Reinaldo Arteaga, 713 F. App'x 933 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished (It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. James Deon Korfhage, 683 F. App'x 888 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished (It is ... established law that the failure to object to a district court’s factual findings precludes the argument that there was error in them.)
- Dan Carmichael McCarthan v. Warden, FCC Coleman - Medium, 811 F.3d 1237 (11th Cir. 2016).published (It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Frank M. Howard, 742 F.3d 1334 (11th Cir. 2014).published(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a [PSR] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Oscar Baez-Arrogo, 553 F. App'x 922 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished(It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to the allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- Michael Turner v. Warden Coleman FCI (Medium), 709 F.3d 1328 (11th Cir. 2013).published (It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PS[R] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.)
- United States v. Lucio Daza Marquez, No. 24-13206 (11th Cir. July 7, 2026).unpublishedMarquez said that he had watched CSAM for approximately 10 years and that after he downloaded CSAM from the internet, he would move the downloads from his laptop to an 1 Because Marquez did not “object to [the] allegations of fact in [the]…
- United States v. Yandrey Negrin Rojas, No. 24-12666 (11th Cir. Apr. 10, 2026).unpublishedSecond, because Mr. Negrin Rojas did not USCA11 Case: 24-12666 Document: 53-1 Date Filed: 04/10/2026 Page: 8 of 8 object to most of the factual statements in the presentence investigation report, he “admit[ted] those facts for sentencing p…
- United States v. Brady Castro, No. 25-10560 (11th Cir. Dec. 31, 2025).unpublishedUnited States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Alfred Shavers, No. 24-11943 (11th Cir. June 20, 2025).unpublishedUnited States v. Beckles, 565 F.3d 832, 844 (11th Cir. 2009) (“’It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes’ and ‘precludes the argument that there was e…
- United States v. Joshua Scott, No. 24-13332 (11th Cir. Mar. 20, 2025).unpublishedIn this circuit, “a failure to object to allegations of fact in a [presentence report] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Antwon O'Neal, No. 24-11462 (11th Cir. Nov. 7, 2024).unpublished“It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes” and “failure to object to a district court’s factual findings precludes the argument that there was error i…
- United States v. Derrick S. Lewis, No. 22-12938 (11th Cir. July 10, 2024).unpublishedAdditionally, “a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Gregory Causey, No. 22-12014 (11th Cir. June 24, 2024).unpublishedUnited States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Douglas Mohorn, No. 23-11995 (11th Cir. Apr. 15, 2024).unpublished (stating “failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes)
- United States v. Adam Owens, 96 F.4th 1316 (11th Cir. 2024).publishedUnited States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Noah Jones, No. 22-11461 (11th Cir. Oct. 18, 2023).unpublishedWhile “failure to object to allegations of fact in a [PSR] admits those facts for sentencing purposes,” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006), the district court may still, as it did here, consider a defendant’s objec…
- United States v. Tavarus Cohen, No. 22-12318 (11th Cir. July 26, 2023).unpublishedUnited States v. Bennett, 472 F.3d 825, 832 (11th Cir. 2006). “[F]ailure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Pablo Guerrero Marquez, No. 22-10703 (11th Cir. June 27, 2023).unpublishedIguaran, 821 F.3d at 1337 . “[F]ailure to object to allegations of fact in a [presentence investigation report (“PSI”)] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- Benoite v. United States, No. 8:20-cv-00141 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 23, 2023).Doc. 30 at 4), and “a failure to object to allegations of fact in a [presentence report] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” See United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Justina Maria Holland, No. 21-13968 (11th Cir. Jan. 5, 2023).unpublishedAnd so, the “the law of this circuit [is] that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PS[R] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006) (citing United States v. Shelton,…
- United States v. Veran Andrew, No. 22-11612 (11th Cir. Nov. 22, 2022).unpublished“It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Geo Geovanni, No. 19-11044 (11th Cir. Feb. 1, 2022).unpublished“It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a [presentence investigation report] admits those facts for sentencing purposes.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Carlos Alberto Martinez-Zapata, 210 F. App'x 875 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Alexander Gil Rodriguez, 203 F. App'x 309 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. David Austin, Jr., 202 F. App'x 445 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Juan Vargas, 201 F. App'x 708 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Bert Dennis Freeman, 194 F. App'x 777 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Arnold D. Holland, 214 F. App'x 957 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. David Keith Johnston, 237 F. App'x 534 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Eugenio Estrada Acosta, 240 F. App'x 369 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Saul Lopez-Parada, 260 F. App'x 218 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Lawrence Alexander Alvarado, 264 F. App'x 829 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Ramon Carnicero, 269 F. App'x 909 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Steven Lawrence Lake, 274 F. App'x 784 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. John Terrell Greene, 279 F. App'x 902 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Ferrell Walker, 290 F. App'x 285 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Zane Balsam, 315 F. App'x 114 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Ivan D. Fermin, 317 F. App'x 887 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Calvin Coleman, 330 F. App'x 787 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. James Daniel Kennedy, 326 F. App'x 509 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Terrence Silvon Anderson, Jr., 339 F. App'x 906 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Darrell Burney, 335 F. App'x 885 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Samuel Hill, 342 F. App'x 470 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Lucmon Joseph, 348 F. App'x 435 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Roy Anthony Pruitt, 344 F. App'x 532 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. William Franklin Johnson, 349 F. App'x 387 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Tremain Hamilton, 356 F. App'x 345 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Carl Bennett, 472 F.3d 825 (11th Cir. 2006).published
- United States v. Lopez-Garcia, 565 F.3d 1306 (11th Cir. 2009).published
- United States v. Beckles, 565 F.3d 832 (11th Cir. 2009).published
- United States v. Davis, 587 F.3d 1300 (11th Cir. 2009).published
- United States v. Patterson, 595 F.3d 1324 (11th Cir. 2010).published
- United States v. Kevin Applefield, 373 F. App'x 996 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Ricardo Espildora, 383 F. App'x 907 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Hazel, 389 F. App'x 971 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Emilio Antunez-Rebollar, 392 F. App'x 756 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Rainer, 616 F.3d 1212 (11th Cir. 2010).published
- United States v. Mark Pinder, 401 F. App'x 513 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Turner, 626 F.3d 566 (11th Cir. 2010).published
- United States v. Pilati, 627 F.3d 1360 (11th Cir. 2010).published
- Gilbert v. United States, 625 F.3d 716 (11th Cir. 2011).published
- United States v. Gabriel Cortes, 427 F. App'x 803 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Yaw Marfo, 433 F. App'x 806 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Daniel Stephen, 440 F. App'x 824 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Rodriguez, 443 F. App'x 504 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Robinson, 445 F. App'x 238 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Rebollar-Zuarez, 446 F. App'x 246 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Hernandez-Guevara, 448 F. App'x 39 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Rene Horta, 451 F. App'x 820 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Alfredo Vazquez, 458 F. App'x 822 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Anthony Williams, 457 F. App'x 840 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Jose Ignacio Bustos-Nunez, 460 F. App'x 814 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Larry Dale McCoy, 475 F. App'x 724 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Julian Santana Ramirez, 479 F. App'x 304 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Crisanto Diego Trejos Ortiz, 509 F. App'x 950 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Oscar R. Quincoces, 503 F. App'x 800 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Ivan Antonio Flores, 508 F. App'x 864 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Thomas Wimberly, 510 F. App'x 853 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Juan Esteban Villa Carvajal, 516 F. App'x 808 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Lance Brown, 517 F. App'x 657 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Jason Rollins, 518 F. App'x 632 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Michael Garrett Chavous, 522 F. App'x 799 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Anes Joseph, 530 F. App'x 911 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Alfredo Felipe Rasco, 545 F. App'x 895 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Christopher Henderson, 550 F. App'x 800 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Adeline Nelson, 554 F. App'x 851 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Gilberto Parada-Talamantes, 554 F. App'x 859 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Kevin Lamont Green, 554 F. App'x 895 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Sonyini Clay, 562 F. App'x 919 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Enrique Vinales, 564 F. App'x 518 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Nelida Rodriguez, 751 F.3d 1244 (11th Cir. 2014).published
- United States v. Kristopher Bernard Bradley, 566 F. App'x 868 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Alvaro Viera-Gomez, 568 F. App'x 870 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Dylan Stanley, 754 F.3d 1353 (11th Cir. 2014).published
- United States v. Randall Pitts, 571 F. App'x 792 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Jamel Melvin, 579 F. App'x 884 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Joseph Dario Kamer, 580 F. App'x 792 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Francisco E. Garcia, Jr., 590 F. App'x 915 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- United States v. Carlos Martinez-Lopez, 599 F. App'x 884 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- United States v. Santana Lundy, 601 F. App'x 859 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- United States v. Emerson Davis, 604 F. App'x 871 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- United States v. Miles L. Gammage, 614 F. App'x 476 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- Samuel Gray v. United States, 622 F. App'x 788 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- Kenton D. Purvis v. United States, 619 F. App'x 804 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- United States v. Blaine Johnston, 620 F. App'x 839 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- Ezell Gilbert v. United States, 640 F.3d 1293 (11th Cir. 2011).published
- United States v. Sergio Antonio Hood, 507 F. App'x 859 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- United States v. Jonathan Alonso Vasquez, 486 F. App'x 830 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Julio Rolon, 445 F. App'x 314 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Kirschner, 443 F. App'x 480 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Roscoemanuel James Daniels, 438 F. App'x 816 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Nelson, 438 F. App'x 786 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Jacob Paul Marshall, 416 F. App'x 824 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Adrian Lorenzo Thomas, 370 F. App'x 8 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Lance Hensley, 322 F. App'x 776 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Francisco Concepcion, 316 F. App'x 929 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Waylon Bryant Gregory, No. 08-13717 (11th Cir. Jan. 29, 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Florentino Castenada-Palaez, No. 08-12243 (11th Cir. Jan. 29, 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Anthony J. Mastantuono, 306 F. App'x 538 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Eliazer Ponce Martinez, 631 F. App'x 741 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- United States v. Lee Dougherty, 632 F. App'x 993 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- United States v. David Nolan Evans, 649 F. App'x 823 (11th Cir. 2016).unpublished
- In re . Morris Vernell Hires, Jr., 825 F.3d 1297 (11th Cir. 2016).published
- United States v. Matusalen Briones-Lopez, 701 F. App'x 796 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- United States v. Joseph-Michael Elias McFarland, No. 17-10793 (11th Cir. Dec. 26, 2017).unpublished
- Preston Lee Johnson, Jr. v. United States, No. 16-15560 (11th Cir. May 30, 2018).unpublished
- United States v. Timothy Smith, No. 17-13945 (11th Cir. Oct. 22, 2018).unpublished
- United States v. Zicron Lorenzen Wright, No. 16-11942 (11th Cir. Dec. 21, 2018).unpublished
- United States v. Stephane Cindy Anor, No. 17-15608 (11th Cir. Feb. 26, 2019).unpublished
- United States v. Tyrone Williams, No. 18-14072 (11th Cir. July 23, 2019).unpublished
- United States v. Jermaine Courtney Brown, No. 19-10469 (11th Cir. Mar. 11, 2020).unpublished
- United States v. Savannah Rolle, No. 19-10726 (11th Cir. Mar. 26, 2020).unpublished
- United States v. Dontavious M. Berry, 808 F. App'x 857 (11th Cir. 2020).unpublished
- United States v. Jhoan Stiven Carreazo Asprilla, No. 19-10677 (11th Cir. July 14, 2020).unpublished
- United States v. Thomas Rowland, No. 19-14641 (11th Cir. Sept. 21, 2020).unpublished
- United States v. Deangelo Lenard Johnson, 981 F.3d 1171 (11th Cir. 2020).published
- United States v. Bryant Pittman, No. 20-10663 (11th Cir. Mar. 30, 2021).unpublished
- United States v. Sheldrick D. Singleton, Jr., No. 20-10017 (11th Cir. June 29, 2021).unpublished
- United States v. Edwar Rodriguez, 34 F.4th 961 (11th Cir. 2022).published
- United States v. Hartsfield, 160 F. Supp. 3d 1315 (M.D. Fla. 2016).published
- United States v. Estrada, 643 F. App'x 912 (11th Cir. 2016).unpublished
- United States v. Stanley, 644 F. App'x 935 (11th Cir. 2016).unpublished
- United States v. Armando Valdes, No. 22-12837 (11th Cir. Dec. 19, 2023).unpublished
- United States v. Jarvis Lockett, No. 22-10528 (11th Cir. Feb. 22, 2024).unpublished
- Martinez v. United States, No. 2:19-cv-00796 (M.D. Fla. June 1, 2020).
- Johnson v. United States, No. 3:19-cv-00069 (S.D. Ga. June 18, 2020).
- McCullough v. United States (INMATE 3), No. 3:17-cv-00772 (M.D. Ala. Jan. 5, 2021).
- Malara v. United States, No. 8:23-cv-00742 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 21, 2024).
- United States v. Foster D. Johnson, No. 23-12586 (11th Cir. June 9, 2025).unpublished
- United States v. Ricky Adams Glasco, 223 F. App'x 951 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Demetrice A. Thomas, No. 19-11388 (11th Cir. Dec. 20, 2019).unpublished
At page 1278 Attempting a violent felony is itself a violent felony15 citing casescollecting cases
- United States v. Donald Ray Horne, 206 F. App'x 942 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Ronald Perry Moon, 205 F. App'x 782 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Hugh Anthony Gordon, 242 F. App'x 685 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Emmanuel James Brunson, Sr., 276 F. App'x 950 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Jesus Rivera, 291 F. App'x 295 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Cornelius Clarence Lewis, 340 F. App'x 595 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Emmanuel James Brunson, Sr., 351 F. App'x 402 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Palomino Garcia, 606 F.3d 1317 (11th Cir. 2010).published
- United States v. Daniel Fountain, 462 F. App'x 889 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Kiwanis Miyo Jones, 314 F. App'x 261 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
Show 4 more citing cases
- United States v. Damillon L. Bell, 308 F. App'x 442 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- Michael Hill v. United States, 877 F.3d 717 (7th Cir. 2017).published
- Nathaniel Charlton v. United States, No. 16-16697 (11th Cir. Feb. 28, 2018).unpublished
- McKinney v. Warden, FCC Coleman-Medium, 870 F. Supp. 2d 1351 (M.D. Fla. 2012).published
At page 1279 Determining acceptance of responsibility for sentencing reduction13 citing cases“clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility.”
- United States v. James Deon Korfhage, 683 F. App'x 888 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished See United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006) (“It is ... established law that the failure to object to a district court’s factual findings precludes the argument that there was error in them.”); United States v. Masters,…
- United States v. Malachi Mullings, 166 F.4th 939 (11th Cir. 2026).publishedA defendant’s guilty plea is significant evidence of an admission of responsibility, see United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1279 (11th Cir. 2006), but that “may be outweighed by conduct of the defendant that is inconsistent with such ac…
- United States v. Alexander Leszczynski, No. 24-14067 (11th Cir. Oct. 6, 2025).unpublishedUnited States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1279 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Jorge Chica-Giler, No. 22-13973 (11th Cir. Nov. 15, 2023).unpublished“The defendant has the burden of clearly demonstrating acceptance of responsibility and must present more than just a guilty plea.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1279 (11th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks omitted).
- United States v. Elboric Quadarius Robinson, No. 21-12595 (11th Cir. Oct. 28, 2022).unpublishedId. § 3E1.1 cmt. 1(A); United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1279 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Benjamin Julien Borsani, No. 21-11265 (11th Cir. May 27, 2022).unpublished“The defendant bears the burden of clearly demonstrating acceptance of responsibility and must present more than just a guilty plea.” United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1279 (11th Cir. 2006) (quotations omitted); see U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 co…
- United States v. Savannah Rolle, No. 19-10726 (11th Cir. Mar. 26, 2020).unpublished
- United States v. Elliott, 431 F. App'x 481 (7th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Anthony Collins v. United States, 481 F. App'x 525 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- United States v. Epifania Sanchez Delarosa, 572 F. App'x 737 (11th Cir. 2014).unpublished
Show 2 more citing cases
- United States v. Muller Tercier, 835 F. App'x 471 (11th Cir. 2020).unpublished
- United States v. Hill, 992 F. Supp. 2d 1266 (N.D. Ga. 2014).published
At page 1282 Requiring government motion for one-level reduction under sentencing guidelines8 citing casesrejecting a claim for a one-level reduction under § 3E1.1(b) because the government did not move for it
- United States v. Christopher Blue Gunn, 215 F. App'x 785 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Harold Olenda Peagler, 238 F. App'x 577 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Allan Ray Stephens, 387 F. App'x 943 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Daniel Emmanuel Torrez, 612 F. App'x 559 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- United States v. Carlton Butler, No. 17-11436 (11th Cir. Apr. 2, 2018).unpublished
- United States v. Jaile Rodriguez, No. 18-11232 (11th Cir. Mar. 12, 2019).unpublished
- United States v. James Robert Gregg, Jr., No. 18-12295 (11th Cir. May 9, 2019).unpublished
- United States v. Sanford Eugene Johnson, III, 980 F.3d 1364 (11th Cir. 2020).published
At page 1281 Determining when federal charges begin for acceptance of responsibility5 citing cases[We] conclude that a defendant’s conduct following earlier state charges, at least where that conduct occurred before he knew that federal charges were forthcoming, ought not vitiate the effect of his otherwise exemplary acceptance of responsibility once the federal charges were filed.
- United States v. Ruben Guerrero Grimaldos, No. 25-2179 (3d Cir. Sept. 24, 2025).unpublished Id. at 9 64-65; McLaughlin, 378 F.3d at 41-42 ; United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1281 (11th Cir. 2006); United States v. Jeter, 191 F.3d 637 , 639-40 (6th Cir. 1999), abrogated on other grounds by Buford v. United States, 532 U.S. 59…
- United States v. Joshua Roberts, No. 22-12824 (11th Cir. Oct. 6, 2023).unpublishedUnited States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1281 (11th Cir. 2006).
- United States v. Hill, 992 F. Supp. 2d 1266 (N.D. Ga. 2014).published
- United States v. Antywan E. Bryant, 398 F. App'x 561 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Willie Edward Blackshire, 803 F. App'x 308 (11th Cir. 2020).unpublished
At page 1280 Denying sentencing reduction based on pre-indictment activity3 citing caseslengthy term of incarceration,” a finding based on the fact that he had continued to molest children after an earlier conviction and had lied about that at-his…
- United States v. Marcos Morales, 426 F. App'x 450 (7th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- United States v. Rachel Hailey, No. 17-14543 (11th Cir. July 11, 2018).unpublished
- United States v. Arthur John Kranz, No. 19-11891 (11th Cir. Mar. 12, 2020).unpublished
v.
Earl Robert WADE, Defendant-Appellant
Earl Robert Wade appeals his sentence of 235 months imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and § 924(e). Seeking to have us vacate his sentence, Wade raises issues relating to the armed career criminal provisions of § 924(e) and United States Sentencing Guidelines § 4B1.4 (Nov.2004), about the U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1 reduction for acceptance of responsibility, and about whether the district court understood the difference between departing as part of the guidelines determination and going outside the guidelines range as authorized by United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005).
[*1275] I.
On December 19, 2003, City of Atlanta police arrested Wade, a convicted felon, for possession of a firearm on that date. Following his release from custody, Atlanta police arrested him on May 12, 2004 for possession of a different firearm on that date. Those were state offenses. No federal charges were brought against Wade for that conduct until July 27, 2004, when he was indicted on two counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon in violation of § 922(g) and § 924(e). The first count was based on the December 2003 offense and the second count was based on the May 2004 one. Wade pleaded guilty to the first count on November 4, 2004. The district court, upon motion of the government, dismissed the second count.
The pre-sentence investigation report (PSI) indicated that under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(2), a base offense level of 24 applied because Wade had committed the offense “subsequent to sustaining at least two felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.” It recommended a four-level § 2K2.1(b)(5) increase because Wade possessed the firearm in connection with a felony offense, possession of crack cocaine.
The PSI also indicated that Wade was an armed career criminal within the meaning of U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4 because he had been convicted of a violation of § 924(e) and of three or more prior violent felonies or serious drug offenses. Wade’s previous convictions were for: (1) attempted burglary; (2) burglary; (3) possession of cocaine; and (4) possession of marijuana. With respect to the attempted burglary conviction, which was the result of a plea, the PSI reported that according to “Court documents” Wade had attempted to kick in the door of a residence. Based on Wade’s status as an armed career criminal, the PSI recommended that his offense level be increased from 28 to 33 pursuant to § 4B1.4(b)(3)(B).
Notwithstanding Wade’s guilty plea, the PSI recommended that he'not be given a § 3E1.1 reduction in his offense level for acceptance of responsibility. The reason was that after Wade’s initial arrest for possession of a firearm, he had resumed criminal activity by committing the same offense several months later. Considering all the circumstances, the PSI concluded that Wade’s repetition of criminal conduct outweighed any contrition he may have shown in his guilty plea. See U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, cmt. n.3. The result was an adjusted offense level of 33 and a criminal history category of VI, which meant a guidelines range of 235 to 293 months imprisonment; the statutory mandatory minimum sentence' was 15 years (180 months),' however the PSI noted that “a ten-year statutory minimum was on record at the time of the plea.”
In his written response to the PSI, Wade made three objections. First, he objected to application of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) but only on the basis that “attempted burglary cannot be used as a predicate offense under the definition used [in] 18 U.S.C. § 924(e).” That objection focused on attempted burglary as a category of crime; it did not dispute the PSI’s allegation ,that state “Court documents” established that Wade had been convicted of the crime as a result of attempting to kick in the door of a residence and commit a theft inside.
Second, Wade objected under Booker and Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), to the use of any of his three prior convictions because they were not listed in the indictment. Finally, Wade objected to the PSI’s recommendation that he be denied a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility based on conduct that oc[*1276] curred months before the federal indictment was filed. He argued that the logical result of ruling out an acceptance of responsibility reduction for him is that he would never be able to receive one even though he came to court, acknowledged his culpability, and accepted responsibility for the offense.
At the March 4, 2005 sentencing hearing, Wade reiterated his objections. Wade contended that no Georgia attempted burglary conviction can serve as a predicate offense for an ACCA conviction. . When the district court pointed out that the crime involved Wade attempting to kick the door in, Wade did not dispute that. Nor did he voice any disagreement with the prosecutors statement that “in this case the defendant attempted to kick the person’s door.” In overruling Wade’s objection, the district, court acknowledged the general concerns about use of attempted burglary convictions for ACCA purposes but explained, “when he’s trying to kick in the door, [that] presents conduct which is narrow and offers the potential for violence.” Wade made no protest about the court’s characterization of the actual facts underlying the conviction nor did he question the source of those facts.
Wade also objected at the sentence hearing to not receiving a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. In rejecting Wade’s position on that, the district court explained that the purpose of the reduction is to treat defendants who had realized the error .of their ways and reformed more favorably than those whose actions show no change of attitude. The court determined that Wade was not entitled to the reduction because even though his arrest had put him on notice that his possession of a firearm was wrong, he possessed another firearm five months later.
The court found that Wade was an armed career criminal and was not entitled to a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. That resulted in an offense level of 33, and with Wade’s criminal history category of VI, the court calculated the guidelines range at 235 to 293 months. It also recognized that the applicable statutory mandatory minimum sentence was fifteen years. Wade argued that the mandatory minimum was “extremely harsh” and “more than sufficient,” and requested that he be given that minimum sentence.
The court responded that although it believed the guidelines sentence was “unnecessary for any of the purposes set out in the statute, ... I do not have a reason to depart based on my opinion that the sentence is excessive.” The court continued: “I find that I would [depart], if I were free to, but I have not been given a reason nor can I think of a reason to depart solely because I think the sentence is excessive in this case.” The court stated that the fact that Wade was “a twenty-two year-old young man who had a hard life” was not a sufficient “reason to depart” because “[o]therwise I would have to depart and deviate in virtually every case I get.” The court sentenced Wade to 235 months imprisonment, the bottom of the guidelines range. At that point Wade objected that the sentence was unreasonable. This appeal followed.
II.
Section 4B1.4(a) of the guidelines provides that “[a] defendant who is subject to an enhanced sentence under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) is an armed career criminal.” U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4(a). Application of that statutory provision, the Armed Career Criminal Act, requires a finding that the defendant who has violated § 922(g) has three previous convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense. 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1). The term “violent felony” is defined in the ACCA as any crime that:
[*1277] (i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another; or
(ii) is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another; ....
§ 924(e) (2) (B) (i)-(ii). This matters to the calculation of a guidelines sentence in this case because § 4B1.4(a) of the guidelines effectively incorporates by reference the definition of “violent felony” from § 924(e)(2)(B), and § 4B1.4(b) of the guidelines provides for a higher offense level for armed career offenders.
Wade contends that the district court erred in sentencing him as an armed career criminal because attempted burglary under Georgia law is not a violent felony within the meaning of § 924(e)(2)(B) and therefore cannot serve as one of the three predicate offenses. Wade also contends that his implicit admission throughout the sentence proceeding, even when coupled with the explicit one to us at oral argument, that he was convicted because he attempted to kick in the door of a residence, is immaterial under the categorical approach of Taylor v. United States, 495 U.S. 575, 600, 110 S.Ct. 2143, 2159, 109 L.Ed.2d 607 (1990).
We disagree. It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes. See United States v. Shelton, 400 F.3d 1325, 1330 (11th Cir.2005); see also United States v. Walters, 269 F.3d 1207, 1213 (10th Cir.2001); United States v. Joshua, 40 F.3d 948, 952 (8th Cir.1994). It is also established law that the failure to object to a district court’s factual findings precludes the argument that there was error in them. See United States v. Weir, 51 F.3d 1031, 1033 (11th Cir.1995); United States v. Norris, 50 F.3d 959, 962 (11th Cir.1995) (“[Djefense counsel was given at least two additional opportunities to object to the findings of the presentence investigation report. There were no objections, so under our holdings any such objections now come too late.”) (footnote and emphasis omitted). Finally, Wade also conceded at oral argument that his attempted burglary conviction resulted from an attempt to kick in the door of a residence to commit a theft, and we accept that concession. See Rozar v. Mullis, 85 F.3d 556, 563 (11th Cir.1996); United States v. Gerber, 994 F.2d 1556, 1558 (11th Cir.1993). For all of these, reasons, we will treat the prior conviction we are considering as one for attempted burglary of a dwelling, which is how it was treated in the district court.
This Court has not specifically considered whether attempted burglary of a dwelling in violation of Georgia law is a violent felony within the meaning of § 924(e)(2)(B). We have, however, held that attempted burglary of a dwelling under Florida law is a violent felony. United States v. James, 430 F.3d 1150, 1157 (11th Cir.2005), cert. granted, — U.S.—, 126 S.Ct. 2860, 165 L.Ed.2d 894 (U.S. Jun. 12, 2006) (No. 05-9264); see .also United States v. Rainey, 362 F.3d 733, 736 (11th Cir.2004) (attempted arson under Florida law is a violent felony). In James we rejected the defendant’s argument that attempted burglary of a dwelling was not a violent felony because it did not present a serious potential risk of physical injury to another but merely posed a “risk of a risk.” See James, 430 F.3d at 1156. We held that “because burglary is an enumerated felony under § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii), and because under Rainey an attempt to commit an enumerated felony under § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii) constitutes a ‘violent felony,’ attempted burglary is also a ‘violent felony.’” Id. at' 1157. We reasoned that[*1278] “an attempt to commit burglary, like an attempt to commit arson, presents the potential risk of physical injury to another sufficient to satisfy the ACCA’s definition of a‘violent felony.’” Id. 1
The James decision is controlling here. Florida’s attempt statute provides that a person commits criminal attempt when he “attempts to commit an offense prohibited by law and in such attempt does any act toward the commission of such offense.” Fla. Stat. § 777.04(1) (emphasis added). Georgia’s statute provides that “[a] person commits the offense of criminal attempt when, with intent to commit a specific crime, he performs any act which constitutes a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.” Ga.Code Ann. § 16-4-1' (emphasis added). Because “any act which constitutes a substantial step” is narrower than “any act toward the commission,” Georgia’s attempt statute is narrower than Florida’s and thus describes conduct that is farther advanced toward completion of the offense of burglary, which is listed as a violent felony in § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii).
Our James and Rainey decisions establish that if an offense is an enumerated [1] violent felony under § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii), then the crime of attempting to commit that offense is also a violent felony. See James, 430 F.3d at 1156-57; Rainey, 362 F.3d at 735-36. Although the government concedes that Georgia’s burglary statute, Ga.Code Ann. § 16-7-1, is non-generic, Wade’s failure to object to the factfindings at sentencing and his admission at oral argument conclusively establish that he was in fact convicted of attempting to commit a generic burglary within the'meaning of § 924(e)(2)(B)®. See Taylor, 495 U.S. at 599, 110 S.Ct. at 2158. Also, the difference in wording of the Georgia and Florida attempt statutes reinforces application of that rule of decision here instead of undermining it. We are, of course, bound by the prior panel precedent rule to follow those two decisions. See United States v. Steele, 147 F.3d 1316, 1317-18 (11th Cir.1998). As a result, the district court did not err in considering Wade’s conviction for attempted burglary of a dwelling as one of his three predicate offenses for purposes of the ACCA.
III.
Wade also contends that the district court erred in sentencing him as an armed career criminal because the prior convictions used to support the enhanced sentence were not listed in the indictment. This contention is barred by Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 226-27, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 1222, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), which we have repeatedly held remains the law until the Supreme Court overrules it. E.g., United States v. Gibson, 434 F.3d 1234, 1246-17 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Camacho-Ibarquen, 410 F.3d 1307, 1315-16 (11th Cir.2005), ce rt. denied, — U.S. —, 126 S.Ct. 457, 163 L.Ed.2d 347 (2005); United States v. Orduno-Mireles, 405 F.3d 960, 963 (11th Cir.2005), cert. denied, — U.S.[*1279] —, 126 S.Ct. 223, 163 L.Ed.2d 191 (2005).
IV.
Section 3El.l(a) of the guidelines provides for a two-level reduction “[i]f the defendant clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense.” U.S.S.G. § 3El.l(a). The defendant has the burden of “clearly demonstrating acceptance of responsibility and must present more than just a guilty plea.” United States v. Sawyer, 180 F.3d 1319, 1323 (11th Cir.1999).
The commentary to § 3E1.1 states that in determining whether a defendant should receive a reduction under subsection (a) of that guideline, district courts may consider, among other things: (1) whether the defendant truthfully admitted the conduct comprising the offense of conviction, and either truthfully admitted or did not falsely deny “any additional relevant conduct for which the defendant is accountable under § 1B1.3”; (2) the defendant’s “voluntary termination or withdrawal from criminal conduct or associations”; and (3) “the timeliness of the defendant’s conduct in manifesting the acceptance of responsibility.” U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, cmt. n.l(a), (b), (h). “We treat the commentary in the Sentencing Guidelines Manual as authoritative.” United States v. Searcy, 418 F.3d 1193, 1195 n. 3 (11th Cir.2005).
A defendant who pleads guilty is not entitled to a reduction for acceptance of responsibility as a matter of right. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, cmt. n.3. However, pleading guilty before trial, combined with truthful admission of the conduct comprising the offense and relevant conduct, all of which Wade did, constitutes significant evidence of acceptance of responsibility. Id. Those acts may still be outweighed by conduct of the defendant that is inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility. Id. The § 3E1.1 commentary does not expressly indicate if a district court, in evaluating whether a defendant has clearly demonstrated acceptance of responsibility, may consider the defendant’s conduct following the offense for which he was ultimately convicted but before federal charges were brought against him.
The district court’s reason for-concluding that Wade had not accepted responsibility was that he had kept on with his criminal conduct after his December 19, 2003 arrest as evidenced by his commission of the very same crime again on May 12, 2004. The theory is that with two strikes a defendant is out of consideration for acceptance of responsibility. Wade disagrees, arguing that the focus should be on his conduct after federal charges were brought which did not happen until July 27, 2004. There is no dispute that after the federal charges were brought Wade did everything right. The issue, then, is whether conduct occurring before any federal charges are in sight can wipe out the effect of a defendant’s acts accepting responsibility after those charges are brought.
In arguing for an affirmative answer to that question, the government relies principally on United States v. Spraggins, 868 F.2d 1541 (11th Cir.1989). In that case the district court had denied Spraggins an acceptance of responsibility reduction even though he had consented to warrantless searches and confessed and pleaded guilty to the charged offense, which was receiving through the mail sexually explicit materials depicting minors. Id. at 1542. The district court found that Spraggins had “confessed [to] this crime and consented to warrantless searches simply to avoid a[*1280] lengthy term of incarceration,” a finding based on the fact that he had continued to molest children after an earlier conviction and had lied about that at-his sentence hearing. Id. at 1543. As we summarized it, the district court, after considering the factors listed in the § 3E1.1 commentary, “determined that Spraggins’ admission was untimely and did not encompass all the conduct related to the particular offense alleged in the indictment.” Id. We affirmed. Id. at 1543^44.
This case is different from the Spraggins case. In this case, unlike that one, there is no finding of an untimely and incomplete admission. See Spraggins, 868 F.2d at 1543. Wade did not lie about his criminal activity at the sentence hearing. The district court based its denial of the reduction for acceptance of responsibility solely on Wade’s pre-indictment criminal activity.
We have not addressed this issue before, but other circuits have. The Sixth Circuit considered the question in United States v. Jeter, 191 F.3d 637 (6th Cir.1999), abrogated on other grounds, Buford v. United States, 532 U.S. 59, 121 S.Ct. 1276, 149 L.Ed.2d 197 (2001). Jeter was arrested in June 1996 on state charges of engaging in fraudulent loan transactions and was indicted on federal charges in November 1997. Id. at 638. The district court denied him a § 3E1.1 reduction because after his 1996 arrest on state charges, but before the federal indictment was filed, Jeter continued to engage in the same illegal conduct. Id. The Sixth Circuit,reversed, holding .that a district court may not use a defendant’s “preindictment state crimes as a basis for denying him a reduction for acceptance of responsibility on the federal charges.” Id. at 639. It reasoned:
Although we believe that district courts have discretion in determining the time period for acceptance of responsibility, we do not believe they have unbridled' discretion. Allowing a district court to deny a sentencing reduction for acceptance of responsibility solely because he committed the federal crimes after his arrest and indictment on state crimes would place any defendant who has a prior record of similar crimes at risk of having the district court deny a reduction for acceptance of responsibility, even though the defendant has pled guilty early in the proceedings and cooperated with the government throughout the federal investigation.
Id. at 640. The court determined that because Jeter had no notice that he would be federally prosecuted until the indictment was filed, the relevant time period for evaluating acceptance of responsibility began at that time. Id. at 641.
The First Circuit considered the issue under a different set of facts in United States v. McLaughlin, 378 F.3d 35 (1st Cir.2004). McLaughlin was charged by federal indictment with one count of drug trafficking. Id. at 37. Four months later, a grand jury superseded the indictment, charging him with three counts of drug trafficking. Id. While McLaughlin was free on pretrial release, state authorities arrested him for drunk driving and drug possession. Id. Although McLaughlin pleaded guilty to a single-count information, the district court denied him a § 3E1.1 reduction because of his conduct while on pretrial release. Id. On appeal, McLaughlin argued that the court should not have considered that conduct because it took place before the filing of the information. Id. at 38.
Although it affirmed the district court, the First Circuit noted that “courts cannot go back limitlessly in time in assessing[*1281] acceptance of responsibility” and that “[n]ormally, the lodging of a federal charge marks the commencement of the relevant time frame.” McLaughlin, 378 F.3d at 41. The court explained that “the clock should start to run no later than the time that the defendant has been put on notice, by the filing of a formal charge, that federal prosecutors have taken an interest in his conduct.” Id. Applying that rule to the facts of the case before it, the court stated that from the date of the federal indictment, McLaughlin knew that the Justice Department had an interest in the conduct underlying the count of conviction. Id. Even so, he committed other crimes while on pre-trial release for the federal charge. Id. There was no reason to distinguish between the federal indictment and the federal information when the same conduct supplied the basis for the charges contained in both of them. Id.
The decisions of the First and Sixth Circuit are consistent. Both look to the commencement of federal charges against the defendant as the starting point for measuring acceptance of responsibility. That provides a bright line rule, and those are helpful when it comes to applying particular sentencing guidelines because clear rules avoid uncertainty, disagreement, and appeals. Another good reason for the federal charges starting point is that the defendant is being sentenced on federal charges, and his acceptance of responsibility in reaction to those charges is what we ought to be seeking to foster. The rule the government argues for would work against that incentive. Considering a defendant’s reaction to prior state charges would decrease the likelihood of a reduction being granted no matter how quickly and fully he accepted the later federal charges, thereby decreasing the incentive for him to do so. See Jeter, 191 F.3d at 640. That would not be a good thing insofar as the federal charges are concerned, which is what we are primarily concerned about. These reasons lead us to conclude that a defendant’s conduct following earlier state charges, at least where that conduct occurred before'he knew that federal charges were forthcoming, ought not vitiate the effect of his otherwise exemplary acceptance of responsibility once the federal charges were filed. The district court should not have denied the two-level § 3El.l(a) reduction on the basis of Wade’s pre-federal charge conduct.
Notwithstanding the district court’s § 3El.l(a) error, we are not required to reverse and remand the case if the court would have likely sentenced Wade in the same way absent the error. See United States v. Scott, 441 F.3d 1322, 1329 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Williams, 431 F.3d 767, 773-76 (11th Cir.2005) (Carnes, J., concurring). The district court did not indicate that its decision to deny a reduction for acceptance of responsibility was based on any factors other than Wade’s conduct leading to his second arrest on state charges for possession of a firearm. Nor is there any indication that the court might have reached the same result using its Booker authority to sentence outside the guidelines based on the 28 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. See Williams, 431 F.3d at 773-76 (Carnes, J., concurring). Instead, the district court indicated that it felt the guidelines range, as calculated, was excessive. Had the court known that it was not entitled to deny a reduction for acceptance of responsibility on the basis it did, the court probably would have imposed a lesser sentence. Accordingly, we will have to vacate the sentence and remand the case to the district court for re-sentencing to correct this error.
[*1282] Wade also contends that he is entitled not only to the two-step reduction provided in subsection (a) of § 3E1.1 but also to the extra one-level reduction offered in subsection (b). He is wrong about that. A reduction under subsection (b) may be granted only on formal motion by the government at. the time of sentencing “[because the Government is in the best position to determine whether the defendant has assisted authorities in a manner that avoids preparing for trial.” U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, cmt. n.6. Here there was no government motion to support an additional one-step reduction.
V.
Finally, Wade contends that the district court erred in imposing his sentence because the court incorrectly believed that it was allowed to sentence him below the guidelines range only through the device of a downward departure, and did not realize that it was authorized to consider a below the range sentence based on the factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). That error, if any, is academic' because we are remanding for re-sentencing on other grounds. We are confident that district courts throughout this circuit are by now familiar with the remedial part of the Booker decision and that at re-sentencing in this case the court will fully consider exercising the authority it has under Booker and will make clear that it has done so. We express no view on what the result of that consideration ought to be.
VI.
The sentence is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
. Some of the language in the James opinion refers broadly to "attempted burglary” and "an attempt to commit burglary,” but the facts of the case specifically involved attempted burglary of a dwelling, not of some other structure. Indeed, the heading of our discussion of the issue in James is: "Whether Attempted Burglary of a Dwelling is a ‘Violent Felony.’” Id. at 1156. The holding in the James case covers convictions for attempted burglary of a dwelling, not any other crime because the issues decided in a case can extend no further than the facts presented by that case. See Watts v. BellSouth Telecomms., Inc., 316 F.3d 1203, 1207 (11th Cir.2003); United States v. Aguillard, 217 F.3d 1319, 1321 (11th Cir.2000).