Source: https://www.justice.gov/osg/brief/abbott-v-united-states-response-hold
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 09:06:28+00:00

Document:
Petitioner was convicted under 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1)(A), which provides for minimum prison sen tences "[e]xcept to the extent that a greater minimum sentence is otherwise provided by this subsection or by any other provision of law." He contends (Pet. 16-23) that the "except" clause of Section 924(c)(1)(A) exempts him from the five-year mandatory consecutive sentence imposed by that provision because the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984, 18 U.S.C. 924(e), mandated a greater minimum sentence on a different count of con viction for a related firearms offense. The court of ap peals rejected that argument and affirmed petitioner's sentence, which includes the consecutive five-year term prescribed by Section 924(c)(1)(A). Pet. App. 7a-21a.
Petitioner notes (Pet. 8-14) that the court of appeals' decision conflicts with the Second Circuit's decisions in United States v. Whitley, 529 F.3d 150 (2d Cir. 2008), and United States v. Williams, 558 F.3d 166 (2d Cir. 2009), petition for cert. pending, No. 09-466 (filed Oct. 20, 2009). In Williams, the Second Circuit held, follow ing its decision in Whitley, that the "except" clause ex empts a defendant from any sentence under Section 924(c)(1)(A) whenever he is subject to a higher manda tory sentence for a different offense "arising from the same criminal transaction or operative set of facts." 558 F.3d at 171.
The government filed a petition for a writ of certio rari to review the Second Circuit's decision in Williams. United States v. Williams, No. 09-466, petition for cert. pending (filed Oct. 20, 2009). As that petition explains, the Second Circuit's interpretation of the "except" clause is incorrect. In addition to the court below, seven courts of appeals have rejected the Second Circuit's reading of Section 924(c) in Williams. See Pet. App. 14a- 16a; United States v. Segarra, 582 F.3d 1269, 1272-1273 (11th Cir. 2009) (per curiam); United States v. London, 568 F.3d 553, 564 (5th Cir. 2009), petition for cert. pend ing, No. 09-5844 (filed Aug. 11, 2009); United States v. Pulido, 566 F.3d 52, 65 & n.6 (1st Cir. 2009), petition for cert. pending, No. 09-5949 (filed Aug. 14, 2009); United States v. Easter, 553 F.3d 519, 525-527 (7th Cir. 2009) (per curiam), petitions for cert. pending, No. 08-9560 (filed Mar. 26, 2009), and No. 08-10584 (filed May 20, 2009); United States v. Jolivette, 257 F.3d 581, 586-587 (6th Cir. 2001); United States v. Studifin, 240 F.3d 415, 421-424 (4th Cir. 2001); United States v. Alaniz, 235 F.3d 386, 386-390 (8th Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 533 U.S. 911 (2001). Two of those courts, in addition to the court below, have held, in conflict with Whitley, that a higher mandatory minimum sentence for a related firearms offense does not exempt a defendant from a Section 924(c) sentence. Pet. App. 16a-19a; Easter, 553 F.3d at 524-527; Studifin, 240 F.3d at 421-424.
Petitioner contends that his petition raises an issue not present in Williams: whether the "except" clause applies when a defendant who violates Section 924(c) is subject to a higher mandatory minimum sentence for a related firearms offense. Pet. 3. But the Court's disposi tion of Williams will likely affect the proper resolution of this case: An offense arising from the same transac tion or operative facts as a Section 924(c) offense in cludes a related firearms offense (Whitley) or the under lying drug trafficking or violent offense (Williams).
1 The government waives any further response to the petition unless this Court requests otherwise.

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