Source: http://wa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180706_0004651.WWA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 04:13:18+00:00

Document:
VICTOR M. GONZALEZ VAZQUEZ, Defendant.
This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Victor M. Gonzalez Vazquez's (“Defendant”) Motion for Reduction of Sentence Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Dkt. # 127. For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART Defendant's Motion.
On April 13, 2011, Defendant was found guilty by a jury of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and sentenced to 144 months imprisonment. Dkt. ## 83, 84, 90. On July 8, 2011, Defendant was sentenced to 144 months imprisonment. Dkt. # 89. At the sentencing hearing, the Court adjusted Defendant's base offense level was 36 (upwardly adjusted two levels due to a finding of perjury) with a criminal history level of II. Dkt. # 98. The applicable guideline calculation suggested a sentencing range of 210-262 months of imprisonment. Id. The Court imposed a sentence below the applicable sentencing range based on 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. Dkt. ## 89, 98 at 13-16.
Defendant appealed his conviction and sentence, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed Defendant's conviction but vacated the sentence and remanded for resentencing. Dkt. # 106. On November 8, 2013, the Court again imposed a sentence of 144 months. Dkt. ## 118, 123. The Court then found that Defendant again had a base offense level of 34, after a two-level upward adjustment for obstruction of justice, and a two-level reduction for safety valve, resulting in a criminal history category of I and a range of 151-188 months. Dkt. # 123 at 20-25. During these proceedings, Defendant presented his drug addiction as one of several mitigating circumstances. Id. At the time, the Court, considering the entire record before it, determined that reimposing the below-guidelines 144 month sentence was reasonable, sufficient, but no more than necessary to carry out the objectives of the sentence. Id. at 24.
Defendant now moves to reduce his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Dkt. # 127. Defendant contends that he is entitled to a sentence reduction based on Amendment 782 to the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“USSG”), based in large part on his previous drug addiction and positive post-sentencing behavior. The Government agrees that Defendant is eligible for a reduction, but opposes any such reduction. Dkt. # 130. Defendant has not filed a reply to the Government's response.
As an initial matter, the Court must determine whether Defendant is eligible for a sentence reduction. On April 30, 2014, the Sentencing Commission promulgated Amendment 782, revising the Drug Quantity Table and chemical quality tables, which amended the guideline ranges for crimes involving narcotics. On July 18, 2014, the Sentencing Commission voted to make Amendment 782 retroactively applicable to previously sentenced prisoners, and the amendment became effective on November 1, 2014. Thus, under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), previously sentenced prisoners may move to modify their sentences on the basis of the amendment. 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) allows for a defendant to move to reduce a term of imprisonment when that term is based on a sentencing range that has been subsequently lowered by the Sentencing Commission.
For a defendant to qualify for a sentence reduction under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), two conditions are necessary: “(1) the defendant must have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has been lowered by a retroactively applicable Guidelines amendment; and (2) the sentence reduction sought must be consistent with the Sentencing Commission's applicable policy statements.” United States v. Zapata, No. CR07-0343-JLR, 2016 WL 7336159, at *1 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 8, 2016) (citing United States v. Waters, 771 F.3d 679, 680 (9th Cir. 2014) (per curiam)); see also Dillon v. United States, 560 U.S. 817 (2010). The Court lacks jurisdiction to reduce a defendant's sentence if either of these conditions are not met. United States v. Wesson, 583 F.3d 728, 730 (9th Cir. 2009).
Here, both parties agree that Mr. Gonzalez Vazquez is eligible for a retroactive sentencing reduction, and that the Court has discretion to lower Mr. Gonzalez Vazquez's sentence from 144 months to 121 months. Dkt. ## 127 at 2; 130 at 4-7. Defendant's current sentence is based on a drug quantity of 420.7 grams of methamphetamine. Under Amendment 782, the base offense level corresponding to that drug quantity was reduced by 2 levels from 34 to 32. Consequently, Mr. Vazquez's adjusted offense level, which is currently 34, is reduced by two levels to 32. Mr. Vazquez's criminal history category is I. Previously, Defendant's sentencing range was 151-188 months; the new sentencing, based on Defendant's reduced offense level and criminal history category, is 121-151 months. The Court accordingly has discretion to reduce Defendant's sentence to 121 months, but no lower. USSG § 1B1.10(b)(2)(A); United States v. Davis, 739 F.3d 1222, 1224 (9th Cir. 2014).
In reviewing the record before it, the Court commends Defendant's efforts to further his education and to take steps toward rehabilitation. The Court notes that Defendant has successfully completed his GED and has kept a clean disciplinary record for multiple years. Dkt. # 127-1 at 10-17. Defendant has also apparently rebuffed some attempts by other inmates to rejoin the drug trade while in prison, and cooperated with prison officials. Dkt. # 127-1 at 11. Previously, this Court noted that Defendant's lack of gainful employment indicated that he had very little meaningful work experience outside of dealing drugs. Dkt. # 98 at 13; Dkt. # 123 at 22. These recent efforts suggest that Defendant is taking small, but potentially meaningful, steps to extricate himself from the drug trade. The Court believes these efforts may in turn deserve a small reduction in Defendant's sentence.
However, the Court declines to grant Defendant's requested reduction in full. Defendant committed a very serious crime, and Defendant's Motion primarily relies on the same addiction and background-based arguments that the Court has already seen. The Court had already considered Defendant's addiction and family situation in previous sentencings and sees no need to revisit those findings. Dkt. # 98 at 13-15. The Court reaffirms its prior determination that Defendant turned his back on a relatively favorable family situation and had a level of involvement in the drug trade that extended far beyond mere use. The Court still believe that his previous actions endangered himself, his family, and the public.

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