FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEV EN T HC IRC U IT SEPT 26, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 08- 11735 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D . C . D o ck etN o . 9 9 -0 6 0 1 8 -C R -W JZ U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s M I C H A E L A N T H O N Y D E W I T T , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe S outhe rn D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( S e p t e m b e r 26, 2008) B efo re B L A C K , P R Y O R an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M:2

M ic h a e l A n th o n y D e w itt ap p e a ls , p r o s e , th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s d e n ia l o f h is m o tio n f o rm o d if ic a tio n o f

s e n te n c e , p u r s u a n t to 1 8 U .S .C . § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) . D e w itt a r g u e s th a t A m e n d m e n ts 7 0 6 a n d 7 1 5 , b o th r e tr o a c tiv e ly ap p lic ab le , a lte rh is gu i del i ne i m pri sonm entra ng e. T he go vernm entconcedes thatthe di stri ctcourt e rr e d a nd tha tA m e ndm e nt s 706 a nd 715 r e duc e D e w i tt ’ s gui de l i ne i m pr i s onm e nt r a n g e . F o rth e r e a s o n s s e t f o r th b e lo w , w e r e m a n d .

I . D e w itt w a s in d ic te d in C a s e N o . 9 8 - 6 0 9 7 f o r , in te ra lia , p o s s e s s io n w ith in te n t to d is tr ib u te c r a c k c o c a in e , in v io la tio n o f 2 1 U .S .C . § 8 4 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) . D e w itt w as i nd i ct ed i n C as e N o. 99 -601 8 for po ss es si on w i th i nt entt o d i stri bu t e c ocai ne, i n v i ol at i on of § 8 41 (a )( 1). O n D ew i tt ’ s uno pp osed m ot i on , the di stri ctcourt c ons ol i da t e d C a s e N o. 98- 6097 a nd C a s e N o. 99- 6018 f orthe purpos e s of

pl e a di ng a n d s e n te n c in g . D ew i ttw as resp o n si b l e fo r 1 1 9 . 4 g ram s o f crack co cai n e i n rel at i o n t o C ase N o. 98- 6097 a nd 141. 3 gr a m s of c oc a i ne a nd 4. 4 gr a m s of c r a c k c oc a i ne i n r e l a t i on t o C ase N o . 9 9 -6 0 1 8 . A tsen t en ci n g , th e d i stri ctco u rtg ro u p ed D ew i tt ’ s o ffen ses, pur s ua ntt o U . S . S . G . § 3D 1. 2( d) , a nd c onve rt e d t o the i rm a r i j ua na e qui va l e nt s a nd a dde d t oge the rthe drug qua nt i t i e s i nvol ve d, pur s ua ntt o U . S . S . G . § 2D 1. 1, c om m e nt . ( n. 6) . A c c or di ngl y , the di s tr i c tc our the l d D e w i tta c c ount abl e f or2, 5043

k il o g ra m s o f m ar ij u an a. B as ed o n th is ca lcu lati o n , th e d istrict co u rt se t D ew itt’ s ba s e of f e ns e l e ve l a t32, pur s ua ntt o U . S . S . G . § 2D 1. 1. B a s e d on the appl i c a t i on of enhancem ent s a nd re du ct i on s notati ss ue here, the di stri ctcourtse tD ew i tt ’ s t ot al o f f e n s e le v e l a t 3 5 . T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t s e t D e w itt’s c r im in a l h is to ry c a te g o ry a t I a n d d e te r m in e d th a t h is g u id e lin e im p r is o n m e n t r a n g e w a s 1 6 8 to 2 1 0 m o n th s . U ltim a te ly , th e d is tr ic t c o u r t s e n te n c e d D e w itt to 1 8 0 m o n th s ’ im p r is o n m e n t a s to C a s e N o . 9 8 - 6 0 9 7 a n d 1 8 0 m o n th s ’ im p r is o n m e n t a s to C a s e N o . 9 9 - 6 0 1 8 , w ith th e s e te r m s to b e s e r v e d c o n c u rr e n tly . O n M a r c h 1 1 , 2 0 0 8 , D e w itt f ile d a m o tio n to r e d u c e s e n te n c e , p u r s u a n t to § 3582( c ) ( 2) . D e w i tta r gue d tha tthe gui de l i ne i m pr i s onm e ntr a nge f orhi s c r a c kc oc a i ne of

f e ns e s ubs e que nt l y ha d be e n l ow e r e d by A m e ndm e nt706 t o the S en ten cin g G u id elin es . O n M ar ch 2 8 , 2 0 0 8 , th e d istrict co u rt d en ied D ew itt’ s § 3582( c ) ( 2) m ot i on. T he di s tr i c tc our tr e a s one d tha tD e w i tt ’ s m ot i on w a s m oot because, “ [w ] hi l e [ D ew i tt ] m aybe ent i t l ed t o a re du ct i on i n sent ence for the cr ac k c oc a i ne of

f e ns e , be c aus e tha ts e nt e nc e w a s s e tt o run c onc urr e nt l y w i th the c oc a i ne se nt ence , w hi ch [w as ] of equal l ength, a r educt i on of the cr ac k cocai ne se nt ence w oul d notr e duc e [ D e w i tt ’ s ] t e r m of i m pr i s onm e nt . ” D e w i ttf i l e d a m ot i on f

or r e c ons i de r a t i on, w hi c h the di s tr i c tc our tde ni e d. II.Th epa rtie s do n ot disputethat Amendments70 6 a nd 71 5 a reretroac tiv e . Inde e d, tho se 1 amendments listed in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(c ) may be applied retroactively

through a § 3582(c )(2) mo ti o n , an d

Amen dments7 0 6 an d

7 1 5 areli s te d

in § 1 B 1 . 1 0 ( c ) . Se eUn ite d St ate s v . Pe lae z, 196 F.3d 1203, 1205 n.3 ( 11th Cir. 1999); U.S.S .G. 1B 1.10(c) . 4 W e r e v ie w a d is tr ic t c o u r t’s r e f u s a l to r e d u c e a s e n te n c e , p u r s u a n t to § 3582( c ) ( 2) , f

ora n abus e of

di s c r e t i on. U ni t e d S t a t e s v. V a ut i e r , 144 F . 3d 756, 75 9 n . 3 (11 th C i r. 19 98 ). U nd er§ 3 58 2(c) (2), a di stri ctcourtm ayre du ce an al re ady- i ncar ce ra t ed defendant ’ s s ent ence i f the defendant ’ s s ent ence w as de t e r m i ne d us i ng a gui de l i ne i m pr i s onm e ntr a nge tha ts ubs e que ntr e tr oa c t i ve am endm ent s t o the G ui del i nes have r educed and i f the di stri ctcourthas c on si dere d th e ap p lic ab le f

a c to r s s e t f

o r th in 1 8 U .S .C . § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) a n d h a s d e te rm in e d th a t a r e duc t i on w oul d be c ons i s t e ntw i th the pol i c y s t a t e m e nt s i s s ue d by the S e nt e nc i ng C om m i s s i on. 18 U . S . C . § 3582( c ) ; U ni t e d S t a t e s v. B r a vo, 203 F . 3d 778, 780- 81

1 ( 11th C i r . 2000) . W e ha ve he l d tha t , w he n c onf r ont e d w i th a § 3582( c ) ( 2) m ot i on, th e d i stri ctco u rtm u stap p l y th e fo l l o w i n g tw o -st ep an al ysi s: F i r s t , the c our tm us ts ubs t i tut e the a m e nde d gui de l i ne r a nge f orthe o r ig in a lly ap p lie d g u id e lin e r a n g e a n d d e te rm in e w h a t s e n te n c e it w ou l d h ave i m po se d. In un dert aki ng thi s f i rs tst ep, on l y the am ended gui de l i ne r a nge i s c ha nge d. A l l othe rgui de l i ne appl i c a t i on de c i s i ons m a de dur i ng the or i gi na l s e nt e nc i ng r e m a i n i nt a c t . S e c ond, i n l i ghtof the c onc l us i on r e a c he d i n the f i r s ts t e p, the c our tm us tc ons i de rthe f a c t or s l i s t e d i n § 3553( a ) a nd de t e rm i ne w he the rornott o r e duc e the defe nd ant ’ s ori gi nal se nt ence . V a u tie r , 1 4 4 F .3 d a t 7 6 0 ( c ita tio n s o m itte d ) .5

B y wa y o f

Am e n d m e n t7 0 6 , th e C o m m i s s i o n a m e n d e d th e U. S . S . G. § 2 D 1 .1 ( c ) d ru g q u a n tity tab le to r e d u c e c r a c k - c o c a in e o f f e n s e le v e ls b y tw o . U .S .S .G . A p p . C , A m e n d . 7 0 6 . B y w ayof A m endm ent71 1, w hi ch w as i n eff ec tw hen the di stri ctcourt c o n s id e r e d D e w itt’s m o tio n , th e C o m m is s io n in s tru c te d d is tr ic t c o u r ts to c a lc u la te the of f e ns e l e ve l s f

orof f e ns e s i nvol vi ng both c r a c k c oc a i ne a nd a nothe rdrug by ( 1) de t e r m i ni ng the ba s e of f e ns e l e ve l f

orthe a m ountof

c r a c k c oc a i ne i nvol ve d; ( 2 ) ap p ly in g th a t b a s e o f f e n s e le v e l to a “M a r iju a n ae q u iv a le n c y ” tab le to de t e r m i ne a n e qui va l e nta m ountof m a r i j ua na ; ( 3) de t e rm i ne the m a r i j ua na e qui va l e nc y f

orthe othe rdrug a m ounti nvol ve d us i ng the tr a di t i ona l c onve r s i on m e thod; a nd ( 4) a dd t oge the ra l l of the m a r i j ua na a m ount s c a l c ul a t e d a nd de t e r m i ne the ba s e of

f e ns e l e ve l f

orthi s t ot a l a m ountof

m a r i j ua na . U . S . S . G . A pp. C , A m e n d . 7 1 1 . B y w a y of

A m e ndm e nt715, w hi c h c a m e i nt o e f f e c ton M a y 1, 2008, the C om m i s s i on undi d A m e ndm e nt711 a nd i ns truc t e d di s tr i c tc our t s t o c a l c ul a t e the of f e ns e l e ve l s f

orof f e ns e s i nvol vi ng both c r a c k c oc a i ne a nd a nothe rdrug by ( 1) de t e r m i ne the m a r i

j ua na e qui va l e nc y f

ora l l of the drug a m ounti nvol ve d us i ng the tr a di t i ona l c onve r s i on m e thod; ( 2) s ubtr a c ttw o l e ve l s f r om tha ta m ount ; a nd ( 3 ) d e t e r m i n e th e b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l f

o rth i s a l t e r e d a m o u n to f m a r i j u a n a . U. S . S . G.6

A p p . C , A m e n d m e n t 7 1 5 . III. T he di s tr i c tc our tabus e d i t s di s c r e t i on i n de ny i ng D e w i tt ’ s § 3582( c ) ( 2) m ot i on . S ee V aut i er , 14 4 F . 3d 75 6, 75 9 n . 3. In concl ud i ng thatthe m ot i on w as m ootbe c a us e D e w i ttw oul d ha ve t o s e rve a 180- m onth s e nt e nc e f orhi s c oc a i ne of f e ns e r e ga r dl e s s of

a ny m odi f

i c a t i on of

the s e nt e nc e f

orhi s c r a c k- c oc a i ne of f e ns e , the di s tr i c tc our tove r l ooke d tha tthe s e nt e nc e s w e r e r e a c he d us i ng a com bi ned o ff

ense l evel thatt oo k i nt o acc ou ntthe am ou nt s of c ocai ne and crac k coca i ne i nv ol ved. A l so, the di stri ctcourtfa i l ed t o app l y the re qu i si t e tw o-st ep a na l y s i s . S e e i d. T he di s tr i c tc our tdi d notde t e rm i ne the gui de l i ne i m pr i s onm e nt r a n g e th a t w o u ld r e s u lt f r o m th e m e th o dd e s c r ib e d in A m e n d m e n t 7 1 1 o rap p ly § 3553( a ) t o de t e r m i ne w he the ra m odi f i c a t i on w a s m e r i t e d. A c c or di ngl y , the di s tr i c tc our tabus e d i t s di s c r e t i on, a nd w e r e m a nd the c a s e f orr e c ons i de r a t i on of D e w itt’s m o tio n . S e e id . W e dec l i ne t o app l y A m endm ent71 1 o urse l ves t o d et erm i ne w hether a di f f e r e ntgui de l i ne i m pr i s onm e ntr a nge w oul d ha ve r e s ul t e d, a s A m e ndm e nt711 no l onge ri s i n e f

f e c t . W e not e , how e ve r , tha tunde rnow - e f f e c t i ve A m e ndm e nt 715, D e w i tt ’ s ba s e of

f e ns e l e ve l w oul d be 30, t ot a l of f e ns e l e ve l 33, a nd gui de l i ne im p r is o n m e n t r a n g e 1 3 5 to 1 6 8 m o n th s . S e e U .S .S .G . A p p . C , A m e n d . 7 1 5 . T h is7

r a nge i s s i gni f

i c a nt l y l ow e rtha n tha tc a l c ul a t e d by the di s tr i c tc our t . O n r e m a nd, th e d is tr ic t c o u r t s h o u ld c o n s id e rth e e f f e c t o f A m e n d m e n t 7 1 5 . RE MAND E D.