Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-15-50554/USCOURTS-ca5-15-50554-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Nathaniel Lynn Guerra
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 15-50554

Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

NATHANIEL LYNN GUERRA,

Defendant-Appellant

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of Texas

USDC No. 6:07-CR-20-1

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, HAYNES, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Nathaniel Lynn Guerra, federal prisoner # 83596-180, seeks leave to 

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

18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) motion seeking modification of his sentence for 

conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to 

distribute methamphetamine based on Amendment 782 to the Sentencing 

Guidelines. By moving to proceed IFP, Guerra is challenging the district 

 

* 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

November 1, 2016

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 15-50554 Document: 00513742190 Page: 1 Date Filed: 11/01/2016
No. 15-50554

2

court’s certification decision that his appeal was not taken in good faith 

because it is frivolous. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997).

In this court, Guerra argues that the district court abused its discretion 

in denying his motion for a sentence reduction. He contends that he was 

eligible for a sentence reduction under Amendment 782 and that the district 

court failed to consider the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, as well as the length of 

time he has served and his postsentencing conduct, including his completion of 

educational courses. We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s 

decision whether to reduce a sentence pursuant to § 3582(c)(2). United States 

v. Henderson, 636 F.3d 713, 717 (5th Cir. 2011).

In its order denying relief, the district court implicitly determined that 

Guerra was eligible for a sentence reduction. See Dillon v. United States, 560 

U.S. 817, 826-27 (2010). However, the district court denied his motion as a 

matter of discretion because it had granted a downward departure when 

Guerra was originally sentenced, Guerra’s original sentence was within the 

amended guidelines range, and Guerra had a significant criminal history. 

Because the district court gave due consideration to Guerra’s motion and the 

§ 3553(a) factors, Guerra has not shown that the district court abused its 

discretion in denying his § 3582(c)(2) motion. See Henderson, 636 F.3d at 717.

This appeal does not present a nonfrivolous issue. See Howard v. King, 

707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983). Accordingly, Guerra’s 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: 15-50554 Document: 00513742190 Page: 2 Date Filed: 11/01/2016