Case ID: f-appx_490/html/0228-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Paul David MORMAN, III, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 11-10275
    Non-Argument Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
    Sept. 18, 2012.
    Yvette Rhodes, Jeffrey Scott Downing, Robert E. O’Neill, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tampa, FL, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Rosemary Cakmis, Tracy N. Dacruz, Donna Lee Elm, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Orlando, FL, Maria Guzman, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Tampa, FL, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before PRYOR, FAY, EDMONDSON, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Defendant-Appellant Paul David Mor-man III appeals his 60-month sentence for distribution of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(B)(iii). Morman argues that the district court erred by sentencing him to the mandatory minimum in effect at the time of his crime instead of the mandatory minimum provided in the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (“FSA”).

Morman’s offense conduct — the sale of 24.6 grams of cocaine base to a confidential source-occurred in 2008; his sentencing hearing was held on 5 January 2011. The FSA had an effective date of 3 August 2010. Morman argued at his sentencing hearing and argues again on appeal that he is entitled to the benefit of the FSA’s reduced mandatory mínimums. Under the changes effected by the FSA, the 24.6 grams of cocaine base would not trigger the 5-year mandatory minimum that was applied to him at sentencing. Compare 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(l)(B)(iii) (2010) (prescribing 5-year mandatory minimum for 28 or more grams) with 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(l)(B)(iii) (2008) (triggering a 5-year mandatory minimum for 5 or more grams).

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Dorsey v. United States, — U.S. -, 132 S.Ct. 2321, 183 L.Ed.2d 250 (2012), is decisive for the issue raised in this appeal. In Dorsey, the Supreme Court “conclude[d] that Congress intended the Fair Sentencing Act’s new, lower mandatory mínimums to apply to the post-Act sentencing of pre-Act offenders.” Id. at 2335. Under Dorsey, the more lenient mandatory mínimums set out in the Fair Sentencing Act apply to Morman’s post-Act sentencing for pre-Act offense conduct. We vacate Morman’s sentence and remand for resentencing consistent with Dorsey.

VACATED AND REMANDED.