Source: http://tn.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150505_0000433.ETN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-08 20:04:04
Document Index: 145154497

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3582', '§ 3582', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3553', '§ 846', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3553', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1']

| United States v. Amber Fine
United States v. Amber Fine
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff,v.AMBER FINE, Defendant.
This criminal case is before the Court on the defendant's motion for a sentence reduction [Docs. 763, 832]. In the defendant's motion, the defendant requests that the Court resentence her pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and in accordance with Amendment 782 and Amendment 788 to the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual. The government has responded [Doc. 835]. The government defers to the Court's discretion whether and to what extent to grant any such reduction, subject to the limitations of 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and section 1B1.10 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual.
In determining whether a defendant has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission, the Court must first determine "the amended guideline range that would have been applicable to the defendant had the relevant amendment been in effect at the time of the initial sentencing." Dillon, 560 U.S. at 827 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); see also U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10(b)(1). Other than substituting Amendment 782 for the corresponding provision applicable when the defendant was originally sentenced, the Court "shall leave all other guideline application decisions unaffected." Id. And the Court "shall not" reduce a defendant's term of imprisonment to a term "less than the minimum of the amended guideline range, " nor to a term "less than the term of imprisonment the defendant has already served." Id. § 1B1.10(b)(2)(A), (C). Section 1B1.10 provides one exception to the rule that a defendant may not receive a sentence below the amended guideline range-namely, if the defendant originally received a below-guideline sentence "pursuant to a government motion to reflect the defendant's substantial assistance to authorities." U.S. Sentencing Guidelines § 1B1.10(b)(2)(B). In such cases, the Court may grant "a reduction comparably less than the amended guideline range." Id. In addition to these limits, section 1B1.10 states that a court must also consider the § 3553 factors and the danger to the public created by any reduction in a defendant's sentence. Id. at cmt. n.1(B). A court may further consider a defendant's post-sentencing conduct. Id. II. Factual Background
The defendant pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute oxycodone, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) [Doc. 686]. At the time of sentencing, the defendant was held responsible for at least 39, 750 milligrams of oxycodone [Presentence Investigation Report ("PSR") ¶ 10]. Given the amount of drugs for which the defendant was held responsible, the defendant's base offense level was 26 [ Id. ¶¶ 11, 16]. After a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, the defendant's total offense level was 23 [ Id. ¶¶ 23-25]. Given the defendant's criminal history category of V, the defendant's applicable guideline range was 84 to 105 months' imprisonment [ Id. ¶¶ 36, 55].
Before sentencing, the United States filed a motion for downward departure in light of the defendant's substantial assistance [Doc. 684]. On November 19, 2013, the Court granted that motion and sentenced the defendant to 57 months' imprisonment, which is thirty-two percent below the guidelines range [Doc. 686; see also Docs. 832, 835]. According to the both parties, the defendant is presently scheduled for release on January 4, 2017 [Docs. 832, 835].
Applying Amendment 782, the defendant's revised base offense level is 24, and affording the defendant the same adjustments the defendant originally received, the defendant's new total offense level is 21. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10(b)(1). A total offense level of 21 and a criminal history category of V results in an amended guideline range of 70 to 87 months' imprisonment. Thus, the defendant was sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission.
Next, the Court must determine whether a sentence reduction is consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission. See U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10. "[T]o satisfy the second requirement, a guidelines amendment must have had the effect of lowering the defendant's applicable guideline range." Riley, 726 F.3d at 758 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). As discussed, that is the case here. And it would be consistent with the applicable policy statements to sentence the defendant below the "minimum of the amended guideline range" because the defendant previously received a below-guidelines range sentence "pursuant to a government motion to reflect the defendant's substantial assistance to authorities." U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10(b)(2)(A), (B).
The Court will now consider the § 3553(a) factors in determining whether and to what extent the defendant's sentence may be reduced. As an initial matter, the Court determines that factors similar to the ones that applied at the defendant's initial sentencing also apply at this time. Even so, in regard to these factors and in the context of the instant motion, the Court has considered the nature and circumstances of the defendant's offense(s)-conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone-and the defendant's history and characteristics. As reflected in the Presentence Investigation Report, the defendant was on probation at the time of the offense underlying this case, and she has convictions for theft, criminal trespassing, shoplifting, and forgery.
The Court has also considered the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, to provide just punishment for the offense, to afford adequate deterrence, to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant, and to provide the defendant with needed education and training, medical care, or other correctional treatment.[1] Further, the Court has considered the kinds of sentences available and the sentencing range, the need to avoid unwarranted disparities, and the need to provide restitution to any victims. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). And the Court has considered the danger to the public as the result of any reduction in the defendant's sentence, the seriousness of the defendant's offenses, and the need to protect the public. See U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10, cmt. n.1(B)(ii).
Regarding post-sentencing conduct, the defendant has not incurred any disciplinary sanctions while incarcerated, and she has completed multiple vocational and mental-health programs. See U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10 cmt. n.1(B).
Accordingly, after considering section 1B1.10 and the relevant § 3553(a) factors. the Court finds a reduction in the defendant's sentence to be appropriate. The Court will reduce the defendant's sentence in accordance with the amended guidelines range and by an amount "comparably less than the amended guideline range." U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10(b)(2)(B). In making this determination, the Court is particularly influenced by the changes in offense levels affected by Amendment 782. The Court has also taken into consideration the risk the defendant poses to public safety, the nature and circumstances of the defendant's offense(s), the defendant's personal characteristics, criminal history, and post-sentencing conduct.
For the reasons stated herein, the defendant's motion [Docs. 763, 832] is GRANTED and the defendant's sentence is REDUCED to 47 months' imprisonment. If this sentence is less than the amount of time the defendant has already served, the sentence shall be reduced to a "time served" sentence. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B 1.10(b)(2)(C).
Except as otherwise provided in this order, all provisions of the judgment dated November 19, 2013 [Doc. 686], shall remain in effect. The effective date of this order is November 2, 2015. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.10(e)(1).