Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-15-50525/USCOURTS-ca5-15-50525-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
David Ramayo Perez
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 15-50525

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

DAVID RAMAYO PEREZ,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 5:10-CR-985-1

Before GRAVES, HIGGINSON, and COSTA, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

David Ramayo Perez, federal prisoner # 61202-180, seeks leave to 

proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal from the district court’s grant of his 

motion to reduce his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). By moving 

to proceed IFP, Perez challenges the district court’s certification decision that 

his appeal was not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 

(5th Cir. 1997). Our inquiry is limited to whether Perez has demonstrated good 

 

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not 

be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH 

CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

May 5, 2016

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 15-50525 Document: 00513493371 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/05/2016
No. 15-50525

2

faith by raising any nonfrivolous issue. Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 

(5th Cir. 1983).

In 2010, Perez pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of 

five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable 

amount of cocaine. The district court sentenced Perez to 121 months of 

imprisonment. Pursuant to § 3582(c)(2), and in light of Amendment 782 of the 

Sentencing Guidelines, Perez moved for a reduction of sentence. The district 

court granted Perez’s § 3582(c)(2) motion and reduced his sentence to the 

statutory minimum sentence of 120 months.

Perez argues that he is entitled to the full benefit of Amendment 782 and 

that his sentence should have been reduced to 97 months, the bottom of the 

amended guidelines range.

Section 3582(c)(2) permits a district court to reduce a sentence that was

“based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the 

Sentencing Commission.” United States v. Doublin, 572 F.3d 235, 237 (5th Cir. 

2009). Perez’s argument has no merit because the district court lacked 

authority to reduce his sentence below the 10-year statutory minimum. See 

United States v. Carter, 595 F.3d 575, 578–81 (5th Cir. 2010); see also 21 U.S.C. 

§ 841(b)(1)(A)(ii) (2010).

Perez fails to demonstrate a nonfrivolous issue for appeal. Accordingly, 

his motion for leave to proceed IFP is DENIED, and the appeal is DISMISSED 

as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.

 Case: 15-50525 Document: 00513493371 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/05/2016