United States v. Jose Carrillo

── United States v. Jose Carrillo ── Case No.: 25-10722 Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Date: March 16, 2026 Category: NEW USCA11 Case: 25-10722 Document: 29-1 Date Filed: 03/16/2026 Page: 1 of 5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION In the United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit ____________________ No. 25-10722 Non-Argument Calendar ____________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JOSE CARRILLO, Defendant-Appellant. ____________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida D.C. Docket No. 8:23-cr-00222-VMC-TGW-1 ____________________ Before WILLIAM PRYOR, Chief Judge, and JORDAN and KIDD, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Jose Carrillo appeals his sentence of imprisonment for con- spiracy to participate in a dogfighting venture and for being a felon USCA11 Case: 25-10722 Document: 29-1 Date Filed: 03/16/2026 Page: 2 of 5 2 Opinion of the Court 25-10722 in possession of a firearm. 18 U.S.C. §§ 49(a), 371, 922(g)(1), 924(a)(8). He contends that his prison sentence of 84 months is sub- stantively unreasonable. We affirm. I. BACKGROUND From 2017 until 2023, Carrillo operated a dogfighting ring from his residence. Wiretap evidence recorded a call where Car- rillo’s son boasted of his father's “15-fight winning streak” and so- licited a third party to host a fight at Carrillo’s home. Another wire- tap recorded Carrillo evaluating his dogs’ tactical performance, dis- paraging an injured dog for losing a fight, and complaining that she “fucking gave up” and “started acting like a straight piece of shit.” When officers arrested Carrillo, they searched his residence, which he shared with his girlfriend and ten-year-old daughter. They discovered 11 scarred dogs confined to outdoor kennels and sitting in their own feces. One dog was pregnant. The officers dis- covered a blood-stained dogfighting ring and various dogfighting paraphernalia, including skin staplers, veterinary medical supplies, break sticks, and a noose with a dog collar hanging from a tree. They discovered 15 pounds of marijuana, a loaded firearm, and am- munition for another firearm. Carrillo’s daughter reported that she witnessed the dogfights, and Carrillo admitted to purchasing drugs in her presence. He also tested positive for methamphetamine. Carrillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a dog- fighting venture, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2156(a)(1), (b); 18 U.S.C. §§ 49(a), 371, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), USCA11 Case: 25-10722 Document: 29-1 Date Filed: 03/16/2026 Page: 3 of 5 25-10722 Opinion of the Court 3 924(a)(8). His presentence investigation report separated the con- victions into two groups with offense levels of 16 and 14, respec- tively. Relying on the higher offense level, the report added two levels for grouping, United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 3D1.4 (Nov. 2023), and subtracted three levels for acceptance of the responsibility, id. § 3E1.1(a), (b), for a total offense level of 15, id. ch. 5, pt. A. Despite a prior three-year prison sentence for a her- oin sale that resulted in a fatal overdose, Carrillo received zero