Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-09-03217/USCOURTS-ca8-09-03217-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Tyrone L. Ford
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

1

The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the

District of Nebraska. 

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 09-3217

___________

United States of America, *

*

Appellee, *

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the 

* District of Nebraska.

Tyrone L. Ford, *

* [UNPUBLISHED]

Appellant. *

___________

Submitted: March 8, 2010

Filed: August 6, 2010

___________

Before SMITH, BENTON, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Tyrone Ford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than

five grams of crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. At sentencing, Ford

objected to the imposition of § 841(b)(1)'s mandatory five-year minimum sentence on

the ground that it would violate his right to equal protection under the law. The district

court1

 disagreed and sentenced Ford to five years' imprisonment. On appeal, Ford

renews his constitutional challenge to § 841(b)(1). We affirm the district court.

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Count 1 of the indictment reads: 

From an unknown date but at least as early as October 1, 2008, and

continuing through December 17, 2008, in the District of Nebraska,

TYRONE L. FORD, Defendant herein, did knowingly and intentionally

combine, conspire, confederate and agree with other persons both known

and unknown to the Grand Jury, to distribute and possess with intent to

distribute 5 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a

detectable amount of cocaine base (i.e. "crack cocaine"), a Schedule II

controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code,

Section 841(a)(1) and Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(b)(1).

In violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.

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Count 2 of the indictment reads: 

On or about December 17, 2008, in the District of Nebraska, TYRONE

L. FORD, Defendant herein, did knowingly and intentionally possess

with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of a mixture or substance

containing a detectable amount of cocaine base (i.e. "crack cocaine"), a

Schedule II controlled substance.

In violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and Title

21, United States Code, Section 841(b)(1).

-2-

I. Background

On December 17, 2008, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant for

crack cocaine at an apartment in Omaha, Nebraska. The officers found six grams of

crack cocaine in a single package in the bedroom of the residence. In the hallway

adjacent to the bedroom, the officers discovered Ford and arrested him. Ford was later

indicted for conspiracy to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine, in

violation of § 846 ("Count 1")2

, and for possession with intent to distribute more than

five grams of crack cocaine, in violation of §§ 841(a)(1) and(b)(1) ("Count 2")3

.

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Ford initially pleaded not guilty to the full indictment but later pleaded guilty

to Count 1. In exchange for Ford's guilty plea, the government agreed to dismiss

Count 2. Following Ford's guilty plea, a presentence investigation report (PSR) was

prepared. The PSR noted that Ford's drug offense involved at least five grams but less

than 20 grams of crack cocaine, and therefore carried a base offense level of 24 under

U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1. A three-level adjustment for acceptance of responsibility reduced

Ford's total offense level to 21. Ford had six criminal history points, which placed him

in criminal history category III. These calculations resulted in a Guidelines range of

46 to 57 months' imprisonment. However, pursuant to § 841(b)(1), Ford's offense

carried a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years' imprisonment. Ford

objected to the imposition of the mandatory minimum sentence on the ground that it

would violate his constitutional right to equal protection of the laws under the Fifth

Amendment. Ford asserted that Congress's decision to punish crack cocaine offenders

100 times more severely than powder cocaine dealers had a discriminatory impact on

African-American offenders like himself.

At the sentencing hearing, the district court overruled Ford's objection. The

court then imposed the mandatory minimum five-year sentence.

II. Discussion

On appeal, Ford argues that the 100-to-1 crack/powder cocaine ratio

incorporated into § 841(b) disproportionately impacts African-Americans and

therefore is unconstitutional. 

We review the question of whether a statute is constitutional de novo. United

States v. Prior, 107 F.3d 654, 658 (8th Cir. 1997).

Ford's arguments have been addressed and resolved in our prior cases. We have

held that "[d]istrict courts lack the authority to reduce sentences below

congressionally-mandated statutory minimums." United States v. Watts, 553 F.3d 603,

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604 (8th Cir. 2009). Additionally, we have also held that § 841(b) does not violate the

Equal Protection Clause. United States v. McClellon, 578 F.3d 846, 861 (8th Cir.

2009); United States v. Mendoza, 876 F.2d 639, 641 (8th Cir. 1989) (finding that

§ 841(b)(1)'s mandatory minimum does not violate due process or equal protection

rights). Accordingly, Ford's challenge to the constitutionality of § 841(b) fails.

III. Conclusion

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

______________________________

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