Source: http://tn.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20170620_0000782.ETN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-09-23 07:38:04
Document Index: 188687289

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3582', '§ 3582', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3553', '§ 5']

This criminal case is before the court on the defendant's motion for sentence reduction [2:09-CR-031, doc. 1397; 2:09-cr-085, doc. 5]. Through counsel, the defendant asks the court to reduce his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and in accordance with Amendments 782 and 788 to the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual (“U.S.S.G.”). The government has responded, deferring 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 U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10.
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.” See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(b)(1) (2016). 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).[1] In addition, the commentary to guideline 1B1.10 provides that a court must also consider the § 3553(a) sentencing factors and the danger to the public created by any reduction in a defendant's sentence. See Id. cmt. n.1(B). A court may also consider a defendant's post-sentencing conduct. See id.
By judgment dated September 19, 2011, this court sentenced the defendant to concurrent terms of imprisonment of: 275 months as to Count One in Case Number 2:09-CR-031 (a cocaine base conspiracy); 275 months as to Count One in Case Number 2:09-CR-085 (a methamphetamine conspiracy); and 240 months as to Count 70 in Case Number 2:09-CR-031 (a money laundering conspiracy). The defendant's guideline range was 292 to 365 months, based on a total offense level of 36 and a criminal history category of V. For Count One of Case Number 2:09-CR-031, the statute of conviction required a minimum sentence of 240 months.
Prior to sentencing, the United States filed a motion for downward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. The court granted the motion and departed downward to 275 months, a reduction of six percent from the bottom of the guideline range. According to the Bureau of Prisons, the defendant is presently scheduled for release on January 20, 2029.
Applying Amendment 782, the defendant's new guideline range is 240 to 293 months, based on a total offense level of 34, a criminal history category of V, and the 240-month mandatory minimum. Thus, the defendant was originally sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission.
The court has considered the filings in this case, along with the relevant 3553(a) factors. Additionally, the court has considered the danger to the public as the result of any reduction in the defendant's sentence, the seriousness of the offenses, the defendant's post-sentencing conduct, and the need to protect the public. Having done so, the court finds that the defendant should be granted a sentence reduction.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The defendant&#39;s sentence will be reduced to 240 months as requested in his motion. The court notes that a sentence of 226 months would reflect a corresponding six percent substantial assistance reduction from the bottom of the new guideline range. However, the defendant remains subject to the 240-month mandatory minimum on Count One of Case Number 2:09-CR-031. The United States filed its downward departure motion only pursuant to U.S.S.G. &sect; 5K1.1 (rather than 18 U.S.C. &sect; 3553(e)), so the court never had the authority to sentence below the mandatory minimum in this case. See Melendez v. United States, 518 U.S. ...