Source: http://va.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190620_0000607.WVA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-01-22 18:33:00
Document Index: 419399344

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 404', '§ 2', '§ 841', '§ 841', '§ 841', '§ 841', '§ 3553', '§ 404', '§ 404']

FindACase™ | United States v. Latten
United States v. Latten
MELBOURNE CLARENCE LATTEN, Defendant.
The defendant has filed motions to reduce sentence pursuant to the First Step Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-391, § 404, 132 Stat. 5194, 5220 (2018) (“2018 FSA” or “Act”), which made retroactive certain provisions of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-220, § 2, 124 Stat. 2372, 2372 (2010) (“2010 FSA”). While I find the defendant eligible for relief, I will not reduce his sentence of imprisonment.
The defendant was indicted in this court on February 14, 2002, and charged with, among other things, conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 846 (Count Two), and possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A) (Count Three).
On April 17, 2003, the defendant pleaded guilty to Count Two pursuant to a written plea agreement. According to the Presentence Investigation Report, the defendant was held accountable for approximately 499 grams of cocaine base. He was determined to have a total offense level of 33 and a criminal history category of V, yielding a guideline range of 210 to 262 months imprisonment.
On July 17, 2003, the defendant was sentenced under the then-mandatory guidelines to 262 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Subsequently, the defendant filed motions for a reduced sentence pursuant to retroactive amendments to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Based on these motions, the defendant's sentence was ultimately reduced to 140 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The Probation Office of this court estimates that the defendant has already served approximately 95 months of his sentence. The Bureau of Prisons calculates his current projected release date to be April 19, 2022.
The United States argues that the defendant is ineligible for a reduction in sentence in light of the drug weight attributed to him at sentencing. The United States contends that because the offense involved at least 499 grams of cocaine base, as established by the PSR, it involved a drug quantity over the revised threshold of 280 grams established in the 2010 FSA. The government argues that Latten was thus properly sentenced to 262 months - within the statutory range of 20 years to life under § 841(b)(1)(A). The government contends that the court may rely on the drug weight found in the PSR, despite the principles announced in Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99 (2013), and Appendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), because it has been held that these principles are not applicable retroactively on collateral review. Alternatively, the government contends that even if Latten is eligible for a reduction below the statutory range set out in § 841(b)(1)(A), the court should not exercise its discretion to do so. It bases this argument in part on the ground that the court should at least take into account the drug weight found in the PSR, to reflect the serious nature of Latten's crime. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2)(A) (providing that in determining a sentence, the court should consider the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense).
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to &sect; 404, a defendant is eligible for reduction if he was convicted of a &ldquo;covered offense&rdquo; before the effective date of the 2010 FSA and is not otherwise excluded by the limitations of &sect; 404(c).[1] Latten was convicted of a covered offense since he was convicted pre-2010 FSA of “a violation of a Federal criminal statute, the statutory penalties for which were modified by [the 2010 FSA].” § 404(a). None of the exclusions of § 404(c) apply to him. Under the 2018 FSA, the quantity of drugs involved in the conviction are not a condition of eligibility, whether such quantity was charged in the indictment, found by a jury, ...