# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 4- 35 23

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Bran do n Th om

ps on

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

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No. 1 5- 21 44

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Bran do n Th om

ps on

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __

App eal s fr om

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t
fo r th e Nor th ern Dis tri ct of I owa - Ced ar Ra pi ds

__ __ __ __ __ __Su bm it te d: Nov em be r 16 , 20 15

Fil ed : M arch 28 , 20 16 [Un pu bl is he d]

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Befo re SM ITH, BYE, and BENTON, Circu it Ju dg es

.

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PER CURI AM.

B r an do n Tho m

ps on was se nt en ced to 36 5 m on th s' im pr is on m en t aft e r t h e

di st ric t co ur t gr an te d a pa rti al red uc ti on of hi s or ig in al 38 0- m on th se nt en ce pu rs ua nt

1

to 18 U.S.C. § 35 82

. On ap pe al

, Tho m ps on arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in (1 )

de nyin g hi s m ot io n fo r a do wnwar d va ria nc e or , in th e al te rn at iv e, m ot io n to co nt in ue

hi s or ig in al se nt en ci ng ba se d on an an ti ci pa te d ch an ge in th e Gui de li ne s; (2 ) gr an ti ng

th e go ve rn m en t's m ot io n fo r an up ward de pa rtu re at hi s or ig in al se nt en ci ng ba se d on

un de rrep res en ta ti on of cri m in al hi st or y ; an d (3 ) de nyin g Tho m ps on a fu ll se nt en ci ng

red uc ti on un de r Am en dm en t 7 82 . W e affi rm

.

I. Bac kg ro un d

Tho m ps on pl ead ed gu il ty p ur su an t to a writ te n pl ea ag reem en t t o p os se ss io n

wit h in te nt to di st rib ut e 50 0 gr am s or m or e of a m ix tu re or su bs ta nc e c o n ta in in g a

de te ct ab le a mo u nt of m et ha m ph et am in e, or 50 gr am s or m or e of act ua l

m et ha m ph et am in e, aft er a pr io r dr ug fel on y co nv ic ti on , in vi ol at io n of 21 U.S.C.

§§ 84 1( a)(1 ), (b )(1 )(A), an d 8 51

.

The pr es en te nc e in ve st ig at io n rep or t cal cu la te d Tho m ps on 's se nt en ci ng ran ge

to be 29 2 to 36 5 m on th s' im pr is on m en t. In ad va nc e of th e se nt en ci n g h e a r i ng , th e

go ve rn m en t fil ed a m ot io n fo r an up ward de pa rtu re pu rs ua nt to U.S.S.G

. § 4 A 1

. 3

.

The Hon or ab le Lin da R. Rea de

, Ch ie f Ju dg e, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r 1

th e Nor th ern Dis tri ct of I owa

.

-2

-Tho m

ps on fil ed a se nt en ci ng m em or an du m th at in cl ud ed a m ot io n fo r a do wnwar d

va ria nc e an d, al te rn at iv el y , a req ue s t to co nt in ue th e se nt en ci ng he ari ng un ti l on or

af t e r N o v e mber 1, 20 14

. He req ue st ed a on e-l ev el do wnwar d va ria nc e ba se d on

pr op os ed Am en dm en t 7 82 to th e Dru g Qu an ti ty T ab le in U.S.S.G. § 2 D1.1

.

"Am en dm en t 78 2 be cam e effe ct iv e Nov em be r 1, 20 14

, an d ap pl ie s

ret ro act iv el y to red uc e m os t dr ug qu an ti ty ba se of fen se le ve ls by two le ve ls ." Uni te d

St at es v. La wi n , 77 9 F.3 d 78 0, 78 1 n.2 (8 th Ci r

. 2 0 1 5 ) (p er cu ria m ) (ci ti ng Uni te d

St at es v. Th oma s , 77 5 F.3 d 98 2, 98 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (p er cu ria m )). "Am en dm en t 78 2

ha s a br oa de r fo cu s th an th e crac k co cai ne am en dme n t s , l o weri ng th e ba se of fen se

le ve l for m os t dru g qu an ti ty of fen se s un de r § 2D1 .1." Th oma s , 77 5 F.3d at 98 2– 83

.

At se nt en ci ng on Octo be r 20

, 20 14

, bo th pa rti es ag reed th at th e ap pl ic ab le

Gui de li ne s ran ge was 29 2 to 36 5 m on th s' im pr is on m en t. Tha t ran ge was ba se d on an

of fen se le ve l of 38 aft er a two -le ve l en ha nc em en t was ad de d to th e ba se of fen se le ve l

of 36 fo r po ss es si on of a da ng ero us weap on

. The co ur t gr an te d a two -le ve l red uc ti on

fo r acce pt an ce of res po ns ib il it y , an d th e go ve rn m en t req ue st ed —an d th e c o u rt

gr an te d— an ad di ti on al on e-l ev el r ed uc ti on fo r acce pt an ce of res po ns ib il it y

. Tha t
yi e ld ed a to ta l of

fen se le ve l of 35 an d a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of VI fo r ca r e e r

of fen de r st at us

. Tho m

ps on ha d a to ta l of 20 cri m in al hi st or y po in ts

, on ly 13 of whi ch

were ne ed ed to reac h a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of VI. Thi s res ul te d in th e

un di sp ut ed Gui de li ne s ra ng e o f 29 2 t o 3 65 m on th s' i m pr is on m en t.

The go ve rn m en t th en arg ue d fo r an up ward de pa rtu re fo r un de rrep res en ta ti on

of cri m in al hi st or y un de r § 4A1 .3. The go ve rn m en t no te d th at (1 ) th e cu rren t of fen se

was Tho m

ps on ' s "t en th fel on y dr ug co nv ic ti on "; (2 ) "[h ]e was un de r a cri m in al jus ti ce

se nt en ce fo r se ve n di ffer en t cas es at th e ti m e of th e in st an t of fen se "; an d (3 ) "[h ]e is

a care er of

fen de r wit h fiv e s e p a rat e sc or in g pr ed ic at e co nv ic ti on s" an d ot he r

co nv ic ti on s th at "wo ul d ha ve co un te d ha d th ey be en se pa ra t e l y s c or ed ." The

go ve rn m en t ch arac te riz ed Tho m ps on as "n ot a typic al care er of fen de r , " no ti ng th at

-3

-Tho m

ps on 's "ba se of

fen se le ve l di dn 't ev en ch an ge du e to hi s caree r of fen de r st at us

be cau se hi s qu an ti ty w a s s o hi gh ." The go ve rn m en t po in te d ou t th at on e of

Tho m ps on 's pr ed ic at e of

fen se s wa s f

o r "el ud in g cau si ng bo di ly in jury," a cri m e of

vi ol en ce.

Afte r he ari ng fro m Tho m ps on 's co un se l, th e co ur t th en gr an te d th e

go ve rn m en t's m ot io n fo r an up ward de pa rtu re, co nc lu di ng th at Tho m ps on 's cas e "i s

no t a typic al cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y VI si tu at io n be cau se of th e 10 fel on y dr ug

of fen se s, th e fact th at he was on pa pe r fo r se ve n di ffer en t of fen se s at th e ti m e of th e

arre st fo r th is of

fen se ." The co ur t no te d th at Tho m ps on ha d 20 cri m in al hi st or y po in ts

an d th at on ly 13 were ne ed ed fo r hi m to ha ve a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of VI. The

co ur t fo un d Tho m

ps on "at hi gh ris k to reci di va te " ba se d "o n hi s cri m in al pa st

. . . bu t

pr ob ab ly m or e im

po rta nt ly on th e fact th at he 's be en un su cces sf ul on su pe rv is io n in

th e st at e co ur t syste m ." The co ur t de pa rte d up ward to an of fen se le ve l of 36

, res ul ti ng

in a ne w Gui de li ne s ra ng e o f 32 4 t o 4 05 m on th s' i m pr is on m en t.

The go ve rn m en t re qu es te d " th at th e [c]ou rt i m po se a se nt en ce o f at lea st 36 5

m on th s" —t he m id dl e of th e ne w ran ge

. Tho m ps on req ue st ed a se nt en ce at th e bo tt om

of th e Gui de li ne s ran ge be cau se (1 ) th e dr ug qu a n t it y was at th e lo wer en d of th e

ap pl ic ab le ran ge , (2 ) hi s Gui de li ne s ran ge al read y refl ect ed th e up ward de pa rtu re fo r

cri m in al hi st or y , an d ( 3) he at te m pt ed to as si st la w en fo rcem en t. Tho m ps on al so

req u e s te d th at th e co ur t gr an t "an ad di ti on al le ve l of f fo r th e ch an ge in th e [G]uid el in es , whi ch wil l b e eff ect iv e o n No ve m

be r 1s t."

Afte r he ari ng fro m co un se l an d Tho m ps on , th e co ur t de ni ed Tho m p s o n ' s

req ue st fo r a va ria nc e an d se nt en ced hi m to 38 0 m on th s' im pr is on m en t. The co ur t

st at ed th at it ha d "ca refu ll y co ns id ered each an d ev ery fact or un de r 18 Uni te d St at es

Co de Sect io n 35 53 (a)" in arri vi ng at th e 3 8 0

- mo nt h se nt en ce. The co ur t ex pl ai ne d

th at it was de nyin g Tho m ps on a va ria nc e be cau se "i f [it ] were to va ry at th is po in t or

ev en co ns id er a va ria nc e, [th e co ur t] wou ld no t be tre at in g pe op le th e sa m e be cau se

-4

-ev en if Co ng res s do es no t act by Nov em be r 1, 2 0 1 4

, t h e r e i s a y ear de la y in an y

red uc ti on of se nt en ce th at th e Co ur t wou ld im po se ." The co ur t le ft "fo r an ot he r da y "

whe th er it wou ld red uc e Tho m ps on 's se nt en ce, ci ti ng Tho m ps on 's "h or rib le cri m in al

hi st or y " an d th e fact th at he ha d "re pe at e d l y v i o l a t ed th e la w by po ss es si ng wit h

in te nt to de li ve r or act ua ll y de li ve rin g dr ug s" an d ha d "a nu m

be r of ot he r ve ry se rio us

fel on ie s: Abs co nd s/ es cap es , res is ts la w en fo rcem en t, pl aci n g ev eryone in da ng er."

The co ur t ad vi se d Tho m ps on t ha t "h e sh ou ld no t co un t on " a se nt en ce red uc ti on

be cau se he was " no t a p art ic ul arl y att ract iv e d efen da nt ."

Nev ert he le ss , th e co ur t em ph as iz ed th at it wou ld ex am in e Tho m ps on 's cas e, as

it was go in g to do "ev ery si ng le o t h e r dr ug cas e th at [th e co ur t] ha [d ] se nt en ced ,"

"b et ween Nov em

be r 1s t o f 20 14 an d Nov em be r 1s t of 201 5." It ob se rv ed th at "[n ]o

se nt en ce red uc ti on s fo r an y on e in th e Uni te d St at es can go in to effe ct un ti l Nov em be r

1s t of 20 15 " an d ad vi se d th at Tho m ps on ne ed no t do an y th in g fo r th e co ur t to rev ie w

hi s cas e in li gh t of Am en dm en t 78 2. Acco rd in g to th e co ur t, "If it lo ok s li ke I'm go in g

to de ny his req ue st or I'm un cert ai n if I'm go in g to gr an t it, I wou ld ap po in t co un se l

an d g iv e h im

an op po rtu ni ty at a h eari ng ov er t he tel ep ho ne to co nv in ce m e th at he

is an in di vi du al th at is de se rv in g o f th e se nt en ce re du ct io n."

Alt ho ug h th e co ur t reco gn iz ed th at it "h a[d ] th e po wer to va ry to da y ," it ch os e

no t to gr an t Tho m

ps on 's do wnwar d- va ria nc e req ue st

. The co ur t th en di s c u ss ed th e

ci rcu m st an ces of th e of fen s e , Tho m

ps on 's cri m in al hi st or y , an d hi s pe rs on al

ch arac te ris ti cs in reac hi ng th e 38 0- m on th se nt en ce. The co ur t st res se d th at in craf ti ng

th e 38 0- m on th se nt en ce, it ha d "co ns id ered al l th e st at ut or y fact or s th at ap pl y " bu t

was "n ot go in g t o d ic ta te th em in to th e rec or d t od ay ."

The reaf te r, on May 14

, 20 15

, th e co ur t he ld a he ari ng on it s own m ot io n un de r

18 U .S.C. § 35 82 (c)( 2) aft er m ak in g a pr el im in ary fin di ng th at Tho m ps on was

el ig ib le fo r a se nt en ce red uc ti on

. Alt ho ug h Am en dm en t 78 2 ha d red uc ed Tho m ps on 's

-5

-dr ug of

fen se le ve l, hi s st at us as a care er of fen de r res ul te d in on ly a on e-l ev el

red uc ti on to lev el 34

.

At th e he ari ng , th e co ur t no te d th at th e red uc t i o n w a s di sc ret io na ry un de r § 35 82 an d th at

, in or de r to m ak e th at de ci si on , th e co ur t m us t an al y ze th e § 35 53 (a)

fact o r s

. The co ur t ex pl ai ne d th at un de r ret ro act iv e Am en dm en t 78 2 th at wen t in to

effe ct on Nov em

be r 1, 20 14

, Th o mp s on 's to ta l of fen se le ve l be cam e a 34 wit h a

cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of VI; th is res ul te d i n a Gui de li ne s ran ge of 26 2 to 32 4

m on th s' im

pr is on m en t. Acco rd in g to th e co ur t, if it d e p a r te d up ward on e

le ve l— whi ch it ha d do ne at th e or ig in al se nt en ci ng —t he n Tho m ps on 's ne w ran ge of

im pr is on m en t wou ld be 29 2 to 36 5 m on th s' im pr is on m en t. The co ur t th en as ke d fo r

arg um en t fr om

th e p art ie s.

The go ve rn m en t ch arac te riz ed Tho m ps on 's "cr im in al hi st or y " as "q u it e

am azi ng ," no ti ng th at ei gh t f e l o n y co nv ic ti on s ex is t fro m 19 98 to 20 14

. The

go ve rn m en t as ke d fo r th e co ur t to ag ai n im po se an up ward de pa rtu re fo r un de rs ta te d

cri m in al hi st or y

. The go ve rn m en t "s ug ge st [ed ] th at th e fu ll red uc ti on in th is cas e m ay

be un warra nt ed an d

. . . su gg es t[e d] th at a pa rti al red uc ti on to a se nt en ce le ss th an 38 0

bu t m or e th an th e 3 65 is ap pr op ria te ."

In res po ns e, Tho m

ps on 's co un se l as ke d th e co ur t to co ns id er fou r fact or s: (1 )

Tho m ps on was al read y li m it ed in th e am ou nt of th e se nt en ce red uc ti on by th e care er

of f en de r gu id el in e, whi ch res tri ct ed hi m to a on e-l ev el in st ead of a two -le ve l

red uc ti on ; (2 ) gi ve n Tho m ps on ' s ag e, if he se rv ed a 38 0- m on th se nt en ce, th en he

wou ld no t be rel eas ed un ti l he was ap pr ox i matel y 71 y ears ol d; (3 ) Tho m ps on was

in st at e cu st od y an d ha d no t st art ed se rv in g hi s fed eral se nt en ce; an d (4 ) pr io r to be in g

in di ct ed

, Tho m

ps on vo lu nt ari ly m et wit h la w en fo rcem en t. Tho m ps on as ke d th at th e

co ur t gr an t th e red uc ti on to "p ut hi m in th e sa m e po si ti on as ot he rs who ha ve go tt en

a red uc ti on be cau se of t he ch an ge in th e g ui de li ne ."

-6

-The co ur t th en red uc ed Tho m ps on 's se nt en ce to 36 5 m on th s' im pr is on m en t. In

gr an ti ng a pa rti al se nt en ci ng red uc ti on , t he co ur t ob se rv ed th at it di d " no t th in k [it ]

erre d in [it s] o rig in al se nt en ci ng of hi m " b y de pa rti ng up ward ba se d o n i ts fin di ng s

t h a t Th om

ps on 's "cr im in al hi st or y cat eg or y di d no t cap tu re fu ll y th e se rio us ne ss o f

hi s cri m in al co nd uc t" an d th at Tho m ps on was at a "h ig h ris k to reci di va te

. " As a

res ul t, th e co ur t ga ve Tho m ps on "a sl ig ht red uc ti on , bu t fo r th e ve ry sa m e reas on s th at
[it ] st at ed whe n [it ] se nt en ced hi m or ig in al ly—he ha s a ve ry se rio us cri m in al hi st or y , reci di vi sm ." The co ur t ci te d Tho mp s on 's "8 pr io r fel on y dr ug co nv ic ti on s, 2

weap on -b as ed co nv ic ti on s, [an d] 5 care er of fen de r pr ed ic at es ." The co ur t de cl in ed

to gi ve Tho m

ps on "a fu ll red uc ti on be cau se hi s ba ck gr ou nd su gg es ts th at he is at hi gh

ris k t o re ci di va te ."

II. Dis cu ss io n

On ap pe a l

, Tho m

ps on arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in (1 ) de nyin g hi s

m ot io n fo r a do wnwar d va ria nc e or , in th e al te rn at iv e, m ot io n to co nt in ue hi s or ig in al

se nt en ci ng ba se d on an an t ic ip at ed ch an ge in th e Gui de li ne s; (2 ) gr an ti ng th e

go ve rn m en t's m ot i o n f

o r a n up ward de pa rtu re at hi s or ig in al se nt en ci ng ba se d on

un de rrep res en ta ti on of cri m in al hi st or y ; an d (3 ) de nyin g Tho m ps on a fu ll se nt en ci ng

red uc ti on un de r Am en dm en t 7 82

.

A. Dow nw ar d Va ri an ce/

Co nt in ua nc e o

f Or ig in al

Se nt en ci ng

Tho m ps on arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in refu si ng to va ry do wnwar d on e

le ve l at hi s or i g i n a l se nt en ci ng to acco un t fo r th en -p ro po se d Am en dm en t 78 2. He

no te s th at hi s co un se l rem in de d th e co ur t th at it wou ld be vi rtu al ly im po ss ib le fo r

Co ng res s to m od ify th e p r op os ed am en dm en t in th e 12 da y s pr io r to Nov em be r 1,

20 14

, be c a us e Co ng res s was no t in se ss io n un ti l aft er th at da te

. Co un se l su gg es te d

th at co ns id erab le co ur t res ou rces wou ld be sa ve d if th e co ur t gr an te d Tho m ps on th e

be ne fit of th e ad di ti on al le ve l at th e ti m e of or ig in al se nt en ci ng rat he r th an at a po st

se nt en ci ng red uc ti on un de r 18 U.S.C. § 35 82 (c)( 2)

. Tho m ps on arg ue s th at th e co ur t's

fai lu re to gr an t th e red uc ti on pr ejud ic ed hi m "b ecau se a va ria nc e gr an te d at th e ti m e

-7

-of or ig in al se nt en ci ng was cert ai n to ta ke in to acco un t th e gu id el in e ch an ge , whe reas

wait in g fo r re-s en te nc in g ne xt y ear is on ly sp ecu la ti ve ." He al so arg ue s th at th e co ur t

ab us ed it s di sc ret io n in refu si ng to co nt in ue th e Octo be r 20

, 20 14 se nt en ci ng he ari ng

un ti l Nov em

be r 1, 20 14

, so th at Tho m

ps on 's se nt en ci ng he ari ng co ul d ta ke pl ace aft er

t h e effe ct iv e da te of th e am en dm en t. He no te s th at he m ad e th e req ue st two w e e k s

pr io r to th e sc he du le d se nt en ci ng da te an d as ke d fo r a de la y of on ly two week s un ti l

aft er t he effe ct iv e d at e o f th e n ew gu id el in e.

"[W] he th er [Tho m

ps on ] is en ti tl ed to a red uc ti on in hi s se nt en ce ba se d on § 35 82 (c)( 2) is a se pa rat e qu es ti on fro m whe th er th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in d e nyin g

hi s m ot io ns " to va ry d o wnwar d in an ti ci pa ti on of Am en dm en t 78 2 an d co nt in ue

se nt en ci ng un ti l af

te r Nov em

be r 1, 2 01 4. Se e La wi n , 77 9 F .3d at 7 82 . Non et he le ss , Tho m ps on 's a rg um en t t ha t t he di st ric t co ur t er red in de nyin g t he se m ot io ns fai ls

.

W e ha ve rece nt ly reject ed th e arg um en t th at a "d is tri ct co ur t erre d in de nyin g [a] m ot io n to va ry do wnwar d

. . . fro m th e co rrec tl y cal c u l a t e d g ui de li ne s ran ge in

a n t i c i p a t io n of Am en dm en t 78 2." Id

. at 78 1. "Ou r cas e la w on th is is su e is cl e a r : [T]he di st ric t co ur t was no t req ui red to co ns id er th e pe nd in g gu id el in es am en dm en t.

Co ns id erat io n of th e pe nd in g am en dm en t is m erel y pe rm is si bl e, no t re q u i r ed ." Id

. (al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on s om it te d) ; se e al so Uni te d St at es v.

Rieh l

, 77 9 F.3 d 77 6, 77 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) (p er cu ria m ) (h ol di ng th at th e di st ric t co ur t

was no t req ui red to co ns id er pe nd in g Am en dm en t 78 2 in se nt en ci ng de fen da nt pr io r

to am en dm en t's effe ct iv e da te be cau se th e co ns id erat io n of pe nd in g am en dm en t was

m erel y pe rm is s i b l e , no t req ui red ). "[O]ur ho ld in gs were no t li m it ed to an y sp eci fic

am en dm en t. Mo reo ve r, th ey fo ll ow th e fir m ly-est ab li sh e d p r i nc ip le th at th e co ur t

m us t ap pl y th e Sen te nc in g Gui de li ne s in effe ct at th e ti m e of se nt en ci ng un le ss do in g

so wou ld vi ol at e th e ex po st fact o c la us e o f th e Uni te d Stat es Co ns ti tu ti on ." La wi n , 77 9 F.3 d at 78 1 (ci ta ti on om it te d)

. In th e pr es en t cas e, "[t ]he di st ric t co ur t co ns id ered

an d reject ed pr os pe ct iv el y ap pl y in g Am en dm en t 78 2. It di d no t err in so do in g." Se e

id

.

-8

-Tho m ps on "al so a r g u e s th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in de nyin g hi s req ue st to

co nt in ue th e se nt en ci ng he ari ng un ti l aft e r Nov em be r 1, 20 14 ." Se e id

. "'We wil l

rev ers e a d is tri ct co ur t's de ci si on to de ny a m ot io n fo r co nt in ua nc e o nl y if t he co ur t

ab us ed it s di sc ret io n an d th e m ov in g pa rt y was pr ejud ic ed by th e de ni al .'" Id

. at

78 1– 82 (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. W oo ds

, 64 2 F.3 d 64 0, 64 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 )). Si m il ar

to th e de fen da nt in W

oo ds , Th om

ps on es se nt ia ll y "ar gu es a di st ric t co ur t ab us es it s

di sc ret io n un le ss it su sp en ds al l se nt en ci ng up on th e en act m en t of po te nt i a l l y

fav or ab le le gi sl at io n or Gui de li ne s am en dm en ts un ti l th e ch an ge s are fu ll y effe ct iv e

an d al l th e de ta il s be co m e kn own ." 64 2 F.3 d at 64 4– 45

. W e ha ve reject ed su ch an

a rg um en t as "u nt en ab le ." Id

. at 64 5. Eve n th ou gh Tho m ps on "m ay be li ev e he ha d

go od reas on to de la y , . . . hi s d e s i re to po st po ne hi s se nt en ci ng fu rth er do es no t

co m pe l t he di st ric t co ur t t o g ran t h is req ue st ." Se e id

.

B. Upw ar d Dep ar tu re

Tho m ps on arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n in fai li ng to fu ll y

co ns id er hi s pe rs on al ch arac te ris ti cs an d hi st or y an d oth er fact or s su pp or ti ng le ni en cy

whe n it gr an te d t h e g o v e r n m en t's m ot io n fo r an up ward de pa rtu re at hi s or ig in al

se nt en ci ng

. He arg ue s th at a pe rs on in hi s si tu at io n wit h no pr io r c r i m in al hi st or y

sc or e wou ld face an ad vi so ry Gui de li ne s ran ge be gi nn in g at 10 8 m on th s, bu t be cau se

he is a care er of

fen de r, hi s Gui de li ne s ran ge jum pe d to aro un d 30 y ears . He a s s e rts

th at hi s cri m in al hi st or y sc or e al read y acco un te d fo r a se t of pa st co nv ic ti on s th at th e

Sen te nc in g Co m

m is si on ha s dee m ed of su ffi ci en t seri ou sn es s to warra nt a se nt en ce

ne ar th e to p of th e ap pl ic a b l e s t a t ut or y li m it . He al so arg ue s th at th e co ur t fai le d to

ex pl ai n ho w ad di ti on al pr is on ti m e be y on d ag e 70 (Tho m ps on is in hi s m id -4 0s ) wil l

res ul t in lo wer rec i d iv is m or to co ns id er Tho m ps on 's ot he r pe rs on al ch arac te ris ti cs

an d h is to ry

.

W e rev i e w f

o r a n ab us e of di sc ret io n a di st ric t co ur t's de ci si on to de pa rt

up ward

. Uni te d St at es v. Ki ng , 62 7 F.3 d 32 1, 32 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). Sect io n

4A1 .3(a )(1 ) of th e Gui de li ne s di rect s th at a d i s tri ct co ur t m ay de pa rt up ward "[i ]f

-9

-r e l ia bl e in fo rm at io n in di cat es th at th e de fen da nt 's cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y

su bs ta nt ia ll y un de r-re pr es en ts th e se rio us ne ss of th e de fen da nt 's crim in al hi st or y or

th e li ke li ho od th at th e de fen da nt wil l co m m it o t h e r cri m es ." Acco rd in g to
§ 4 A1.3 (a)( 4) (B):

In a cas e in whi ch th e co ur t de te rm in es th at th e ex te nt an d na tu re of th e de fen da nt 's cri m in al hi st or y , ta ke n to ge th er, are su ffi ci en t to warra nt an

up ward de pa rtu re fro m Cri m in al His to ry Cat eg or y VI, th e co ur t sh ou ld

st ru ct ur e th e de pa rtu re by m ov in g in crem en ta ll y do wn th e se nt e n ci ng

ta b l e to th e ne xt hi gh er of fen se le ve l in Cri m in al His to ry Cat eg or y VI

un ti l i t fi nd s a g ui de li ne ran ge ap pr op ria te to th e cas e.

"When de ci di ng whe th er to de pa rt ba se d on th e in ad eq ua cy of a cat eg or y VI cri m in al

hi st or y , 'th e co ur t sh ou ld co ns id er th at th e na t ur e of th e pr io r of fen se s rat he r th an

si m pl y t he ir nu m

be r is of te n m or e in di cat iv e of th e se rio us ne ss of th e de fen da nt 's

cri m in al reco rd .'" Ki ng , 62 7 F .3d at 3 23 (qu ot in g U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .3, cm t. n .2(B )).

Tho m ps on 's "ca se fi t s sq ua rel y wit hi n U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .3(a )(2 )(A)

. . . . Tha t

se ct io n pro vi de s th at an up ward de pa rtu re m ay be ba se d on in fo rm at io n con cern in g '[p ]rior se nt en ce(s ) no t us ed in co m pu ti ng th e cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y

. . . .'" Se e id

. ( s e c o n d al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (q uo ti ng U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .3(a )(2 )(A)). W e ha ve

pr ev io us ly reject ed a de fen da nt 's arg um en t "t ha t th e di st ric t co ur t's up ward de pa rtu re

was un warra nt ed be cau se hi s care er of fen de r st at us 'al read y pu ni s h e d h i m.'" Id . " A

care er of fen de r i s n ot im m

un e fro m an up ward de pa rtu re un de r U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .3."

Id

. Thi s is be cau se "[a ]n up ward de pa rtu re is ap pr op ria te whe re a cat eg or y VI

cri m in al hi st or y do es no t ad eq ua te ly refl ect th e de fen da nt 's cri m in al pa st ." Id

. (ci ti ng

U.S.S.G. § 4A1 .3 cm t. n.2 (B))

. "Th is pr in ci pl e i s n o l e s s ap pl ic ab le whe re th e

de fen da nt is a care er of

fen de r." Id

. W e ha ve reco gn iz ed th at no t al l care er of fen de rs

are th e sa m e; "'[t ]he le ng th an d sco pe of th e care er tha t lan ds th e cri m in al un de r th e

care er-o ffen de r gu id el in e are ap pr op ria te gr ou nd s fo r de pa rtu re, ei th er up ward or

-1 0-do wnwar d, in an un us ua l cas e.'" Id

. at 32 3– 24 (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Gre ge r , 33 9

F.3 d 6 66 , 67 2 (8 th Cir . 20 03 )).

Here, th e di st ric t co ur t no te d th at Tho m ps on ha d accu m

ul at ed 20 cri m in al

hi st or y po in ts an d th at on ly 13 were ne ed ed f o r h i m to ha ve a cri m in al hi st or y

cat eg or y of VI. Se e Uni te d St at es v. Out la w , 72 0 F.3 d 99 0, 9 9 3 ( 8 t h Ci r. 20 13 )
(aff irming up war d d e p a r t u re un de r § 4A1 .3 whe re "t he di st ric t co ur t fo un d th at a

cat eg or y VI cri m in al hi st or y un de r-re pr es en te d [th e de fen da nt 's] cri m in al hi st or y ,"

co ns id eri ng th at "Ca te go ry VI req ui res a m in im um of 13 cri m in al hi st or y po in ts " an d

th e de fen da nt 's "2 3 po in ts far ex ceed ed t h i s m in im um "). Tho m

ps on al so ha d fiv e

se pa rat e care er of

fen de r pr ed ic at es , whi ch were al l co m m it te d i n a t en -y ear ti m e

pe rio d. And

, he ha d ad di ti on al c o n vi ct io ns th at wou ld ha ve be en care er-o ffen de r

pr ed ic at e co nv ic ti on s if th ey ha d be en se pa rat el y sc or ed

. The di st ric t co ur t al so no te d

Tho m ps on 's c riminal hi st or y

in di cat ed th at he was " at a hi gh ris k t o re ci di va te ." "A

de fen da nt 's reci di vi sm is a reas on ab le ba si s fo r ap pl y in g an up ward de p art ur e."

Uni te d St at es v. Gon za le

z , 57 3 F.3 d 60 0, 60 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (ci ta ti on om it te d)

. The

co ur t al so pr op erl y co ns id ered th at Tho m ps on was "o n pa pe r fo r se ve n di ffer en t

of fen se s at th e ti m e o f th e arr es t fo r th is off en se ."

The refo re, we co nc lu de th at th e di s t r i c t c o u rt di d no t ab us e it s di sc ret io n in

de pa rti ng up ward

.

C. Se nt en ci ng Redu ct io n

Tho m ps o n arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n in red uc in g hi s

se nt en ce to on ly 3 6 5 m on th s' im pr is on m en t. Acco rd in g to Tho m ps on , in st ead of

im po si ng a co m

pa rab le se nt en ce of 34 2 m on th s as th e pr ob at io n of fic e ha d su gg es te d,

th e c o u r t i mp o s e d a te rm at th e to p of th e red uc ed Gui de li ne s ran ge of 29 2 to 36 5

mo n th s' im

pr is on m en t be cau se of Tho m ps on 's hi gh ris k to reci di va te

. Tho m ps o n

arg ue s th at th e co ur t ha d al read y co ns id ered th is f a c to r at th e ti m e of hi s or ig in al

se nt en ce an d th at

, as a res ul t, th e co ur t ha d gr an te d th e go ve rn m en t's m ot io n to de pa rt

-1 1-up ward on e le ve l. Thom ps on co nt en ds th at no th in g i n h is cri m in al ba ck gr ou nd ha d

ch an ge d bet ween hi s ori gi na l s en te nc in g a nd m od ifi cat io n h eari ng . In s um m ary, he

as se rts th at "[h ]avi ng al read y tak en reci di vi sm

an d c riminal hi st or y

in to acco un t b y

de pa rti ng up ward on e le ve l, th e co ur t sh ou ld no t ha ve im po se d a se nt en ce at th e to p

of th e ran ge ."

"We rev ie w a di st ric t co ur t's de ci si on un de r § 35 82 (c)( 2) to red uc e a se nt en ce

an d th e ex te nt of an y red uc ti on fo r an ab us e of di sc ret io n." Uni te d St at es v. Bur re ll

, 62 2 F .3d 96 1, 9 64 (8t h C ir. 2 01 0) (ci ta ti on om it te d)

.

Sect io n 3 58 2( c)(2 ) pr ov id es th at

in th e cas e of a de fen da nt who ha s be en se nt en ced to a t e r m of

im pr is on m en t ba se d on a s e n t e nc in g ran ge th at ha s su bs eq ue nt ly b een lo wered by t he Sen t e n c in g Co m m is si on pu rs ua nt to 28 U.S.C. 99 4( o)

, up on m ot io n of t he de fen da nt or th e Dire ct or of th e Bu reau of Pri so ns ,

or on it s own m ot io n, th e co ur t m ay re d u c e th e te rm of im pr is on m en t,
aft e r c o n s i d eri ng th e fact or s se t fo rth in se ct io n 35 53 (a) to th e ex te nt
th at th ey are ap pl ic ab le

, if su ch a red uc ti on is co ns is te nt wit h ap pl ic ab le

po li cy st at em en ts is su ed by the Sen te nc in g C om m is si on

.

"To ob ta in a red uc ti on in a te rm of im pr is on m en t ba se d on an am en dm en t to

t he Sen te nc in g Gui de li ne s, th e rel ev an t am en dm en t m us t be li st ed in U.S

. S

. G

. § 1B 1.1 0( d) ." Uni te d St at es v. Dia z,

__ F. App 'x_

_, 20 15 WL 6 1 4 3 12 6, at *2 (1 1t h

Ci r. Oct. 20

, 20 15 ) (p er cu ria m ) (ci ti ng U.S.S.G. § 1B 1.1 0( a)(1 )). Am en dm en t "7 82

to th e Sen te nc in g Gui de li ne s [is ] li st ed in § 1B 1.1 0( d) ." Id

. (ci ti ng U.S.S.G.

§ 1B 1.1 0( d) ). Tha t am en dm en t "re du ced by two le ve ls th e ba se of fen se le ve ls th at

ap pl y to off en se s i nv ol vi ng co cai ne ." Id . (ci ta ti on om it te d)

.

In de te rm in in g whe th er, an d t o w h a t ex te nt

, a red uc ti on in th e de fen da nt 's te rm

of i m pr is on m en t u nd er 1 8 U.S.C. 3 58 2( c)(2 ) an d th is

po li cy st at em en t is warra n t e d

, th e co ur t sh al l de te rm in e th e am en de d

-1 2-gu i d e l i n e ran ge th at wou ld ha ve be en ap pl ic ab le to th e de fen da nt if

[Am en dm en t 7 82 ] . . . had be en in effe ct at t he ti m e th e d efen da nt was

se nt en ced

. In m ak in g su ch de te rm in at io n, th e co ur t sh al l su bs ti tu te on ly [Am en dm en t 78 2]

. . . fo r th e co rres po nd in g gu id el in e pr ov is io ns th at

were ap pl ie d whe n th e de fen da nt was se nt en ced an d sh al l le av e al l ot he r

gu id el in e ap pl ic at io n d eci si on s u na ffec te d.

U.S.S.G §1 B1 .10 (b )(1 ).

Und er § 35 82 (c)( 2)

, a di st ric t co ur t em pl oys a "t wo- s t e p a p p r oa ch " in a

se nt en ci ng -m od ifi cat io n pr oc eed in g. Dil lo n v. Uni te d St at es , 56 0 U.S. 81 7, 82 7
(2 01 0)

. Fi rs t, th e co ur t m us t "fo ll ow th e Co m

m is si on 's in st ru ct io ns i n § 1 B 1

. 10 to

de te rm in e th e pr is on er's el ig ib il it y fo r a se nt en ce m od ifi cat io n and th e ex te nt of th e

red uc ti on au th or iz ed ." Id

. Pu rs ua nt to § 1B 1.1 0( b) (1 )

, a co ur t m us t "b eg in by

'de te rm in [in g] t he am en de d gu id el in e ran ge th at wou l d ha ve be en ap pl ic ab le to th e

de fen da nt ' ha d th e rel ev an t am en dm en t be en in effe ct at th e ti m e of th e i n i t ia l

se nt en ci ng ." Id

. (al te rat io n in or ig i na l) (q uo ti ng U.S.S.G. § 1B 1.1 0( b) (1 )). The

ap pl ic ab le Gui de li ne s ran ge in th e 35 82 (c)( 2) co nt ex t is th e ran ge "d et erm in ed be fo re

co ns id erat io n of an y de pa rtu re pr ov is io n in th e Gui de li ne s Man ua l or an y va ria nc e."

U.S.S.G. §1 B1 .10 cm t. n .1(A)

.

Acco rd in g to § 1B 1.1 0( b) (1 ), "'[i ]n m ak in g su ch de te rm in at io n, th e co ur t sh al l

su bs ti tu te on ly th e am en dm en ts li st ed in su bs ect io n ([d ]) fo r th e co rres po nd in g

gu id el in e p ro vi si on s th at were ap pl ie d wh en th e d efen da nt was s en te nc ed an d s ha ll

le av e al l o th er g ui de li ne ap pl ic at io n d eci si on s u na ffec te d.'" Dil lo n , 5 60 U.S. at 8 27
(q uo ti ng U.S.S.G. § 1B 1.1 0( b) (1 )). Bec au se of "t he li m it ed na tu re of § 35 82 (c)( 2)

pr oc eed in gs , § 1B 1.1 0( b) (2 ) al so co nf in es th e ex te nt of th e red uc ti on au th or iz ed ." Id

. Thi s m ean s th at "[c ]our ts ge ne ral ly m ay 'no t red uc e th e d e f e n da nt 's te rm of

im p r i s o n men t u nd er 18 U.S.C. § 35 82 (c)( 2)

. . . to a te rm th at is le ss th an th e

m in im um of th e am en de d gu id el in e ran ge ' pr od uc ed by th e su bs ti tu ti on ." Id

. (al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (q uo ti ng U.S.S.G. § 1 B 1.1 0( b) (2 )(A)). Fu rth erm or e, "[o ]nly

-1 3-if t he sen te nc in g co ur t o rig in al ly im po se d a ter m

of i m pr is on m en t b el ow t he

Gui de li ne s rang e do es § 1B1 .10 au th or iz e a co ur t pro ceed in g un de r § 35 82 (c)( 2) to

im po se a te rm 'co m

pa rab ly' b e l o w th e am en de d ran ge ." Id

. (q uo ti ng § 1 B1 .10 (b )(2 )(B) ).

Seco nd

, th e co ur t m

us t "co n s i d e r an y ap pl ic ab le § 35 53 (a) fact or s an d

de te rm in e whe th er, in it s di sc ret io n, th e red uc ti on au th or iz ed by refe ren ce to th e

po li ci es rel ev an t at st ep on e is warra nt ed in who le or in pa rt un de r th e pa rti cu la r

ci rcu m st an ces of th e cas e." Id

. Sp eci fic al ly, "[t ]he co ur t sh al l co ns id er th e na tu re an d

se rio us ne ss of th e da ng er to an y pe rs on or th e co m m un it y th at m ay be po se d by a

red uc ti on in th e d e f

en da nt 's te rm of im

pr is on m en t." U.S.S.G. § 1B 1.1 0( b) cm t.

n.1 (B)( ii ). A co ur t's "re fere nc e to § 35 53 (a) is ap pr op ria te on ly at th e se co nd st ep of

th is ci rcu m sc rib ed in qu iry." Dil lo n , 56 0 U.S. at 82 7. Pro ceed in gs pu rs ua nt to
§ 3 58 2( c)(2 ) are no t " pl en ary res en te nc in g p ro ceed in gs ." Id

.

Here, th e di st ric t co ur t fo ll owe d th e two -s te p pr oc es s fo r de te rm in in g to wha t

e x te nt to red uc e Tho m

ps on 's se nt en ce. The co ur t fir st cal cu la te d th e a men d e d

Gui de li ne s ran ge , an d Tho m ps on do e s no t di sp ut e th at th e di st ric t co ur t di d th is

pr op erl y

. Seco nd

, t h e c o u r t no te d it s co ns id erat io n of th e § 35 53 (a) fact or s at

se nt en ci ng wit ho ut sp eci f i cal ly di sc us si ng th em in di vi du al ly. Se e Uni te d St at es v.

Ca st il lo

, 71 3 F.3 d 40 7, 41 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 13 ) ("When co ns id eri ng th e § 35 53 (a) fact or s, '[a] d i s t r i ct co ur t is no t req ui red to m ak e sp eci fic fin di ng s; al l th at is ge ne ral ly

req ui red to sa ti sf

y th e ap pe ll at e co ur t is ev id en ce th at th e di st ric t co ur t was aware of

th e rel ev an t fact or s.'" (al te rat io n i n or ig in al ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Perk in s, 52 6

F.3 d 11 07

, 11 10 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ))). The di st ric t co ur t de te rmi ne d th e ex te nt of th e

red uc ti on fro m th e 3 8 0 -m on th se nt en ce to th e ne w, red uc ed se nt en ce ba se d up on

Tho m ps on 's ex te ns iv e cri m in al hi st or y an d th e ris k hi s rel eas e po se d to th e

co m m un it y —fa ct or s si m il ar to th os e co ns id ered in th e o rig in al U.S.S.G. §4 A1.3

up ward de pa rtu re. Co ns id erat io n of "t he na tu re an d se rio us ne ss of th e d a n g e r to

. . . th e c o mm

u n i t y " is a fact or th at th e di st ric t co ur t was re qu ir ed to co ns id er

-1 4-pu rs ua nt to § 1B 1.1 0( b) cm t. n.1 (B)( ii ). The di st ric t co ur t ha s "s ub st an ti al la ti tu de to

de te rm in e ho w m

uc h weig ht to gi ve th e va rio us fact or s un de r § 3 55 3( a)" an d cho se

to gi ve m or e weig ht to th e ag gr av at in g fact or s of reci di vi sm an d Tho m ps on 's cri m in al

hi st or y

. Se e Uni te d St at es v. Ti mbe rl ak e , 67 9 F.3 d 1 00 8, 10 12 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 )
(q u o t a t i o n a nd ci ta ti on om it te d)

. As a res ul t, th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t ab us e it s

dis creti on in red uc in g Tho m ps on 's 38 0- m on th se nt en ce to 36 5 m ont hs' im pr iso nm en t.

III. Co nc lu si on

Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm

th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-1 5-