Source: http://wv.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190815_0000764.SWV.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-11-21 02:06:15
Document Index: 560510236

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 3582', '§ 3582', '§ 3582', '§ 404', '§ 3553']

FindACase™ | United States v. Billups
HERMAN LEWIS BILLUPS
Pending before the Court are the defendant's Motion to Reduce Sentence under the First Step Act of 2018, (ECF No. 359), Amended Motion to Reduce Sentence, (ECF No. 360), and Motion to Expedite, (ECF No. 361). For the forgoing reasons, the Court GRANTS the two motions to reduce the defendant's sentence and DENIES, as moot, the Motion to Expedite.
Billups was convicted on his guilty pleas of two offenses: distribution of cocaine and fifty grams or more of cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm. ECF Nos. 118, 150. On January 11, 2001, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. ECF No. 206. That sentence was based on the mandatory minimum of ten years to life under the statutory framework then applicable. The Court rejected the presentence report estimate of the amount of cocaine base and concluded that the defendant's base offense level fell within the range of 150-500 grams-a level thirty-four under the sentencing guidelines. Nonetheless, the adjusted offense level rose to forty-four, and with a criminal history category of VI, the mandatory guideline sentence was life imprisonment. The Court later reduced his sentence to a term of 360 months of imprisonment, pursuant to the 2007 revised Guidelines for cocaine base, (ECF No. 297), and then to 324 months based on the 2014 revised Guidelines. In light of the First Step Act, the defendant now seeks a further reduction of his sentence.
To be eligible, a defendant's sentence must not have been imposed or previously reduced under sections two or three of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010.[1] Id. at § 404(c). Nor can a defendant have been previously denied a reduction under § 404 of the First Step Act. Id. Though a defendant, the Government, or the Court can move for a reduced sentence, individuals are not entitled to a reduction as courts are not required to grant relief under § 404. Id.
This discretion given to courts whether to grant relief is broad and indicative of how authority under this statute can be exercised. Courts in this district and throughout the Fourth Circuit agree that the proper mechanism to seek relief under the First Step Act is 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(b).[2] United States v. Banks, No. 1:07-00157, 2019 WL 2221620, at *4 (S.D. W.Va. May 22, 2019) (Faber, J.) (citing United States v. Shelton, No. 3:07-329, 2019 WL 1598921, at *3 (D.S.C. April 15, 2019) (listing cases)). As such, the language of First Step Act controls the Court's ability to grant relief. See Wright v. United States, Nos. 4:95-39, 4:95-44, 2019 WL 3046096, at *4 (E.D. Va. July 11, 2019). Under § 3582(c)(1)(B), a court can choose to conduct a simple mechanical reduction of a sentence based on a decreased exposure to statutory minimums and the correlating lower guideline range.
However, courts are not limited by § 3582(c)(1)(B). The First Step Act allows for a court to “impose a reduced sentence” if an individual is eligible. The First Step Act, § 404(b). Reading the word “impose” consistently within the United States Code reveals that this equates to the announcement of a convicted person's sentence. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 3553(a) and 3582(a). Therefore, the First Step Act grants courts statutory authority to conduct a full resentencing, in addition to the discretion to decide when doing so is appropriate. See Wright, 2019 WL 3046096, at *4. Whether a court decides to resentence a defendant or not, the language of the First Step Act does not require a hearing. See Id. at *5. It is within the sound judgment of the Court to determine if an evidentiary or sentencing hearing is necessary to address the issues of a particular case.
When considering the statutory authority under the First Step Act, federal courts presume Congress acts in the context of relevant case law. Abuelhawa v. United States, 556 U.S. 816, 821 (2009) (citing Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 380-81, n.12 (2000). The Fair Sentencing Act, and its application through the First Step Act, is administered in light of the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Booker, which held mandatory guideline ranges were unconstitutional. 543 U.S. 220, 244-45 (2005). While Booker is not retroactively applied on a collateral attack, a court may now vary outside of the guideline range if it chooses to conduct a full resentencing. United States v. Morris, 429 F.3d 65, 72 (4th Cir. 2005). This includes variances based on policy disagreements with the Sentencing Guidelines. Kimbrough v. U.S., 552 U.S. 85 (2007).
Once a defendant is determined to be eligible, the Court must examine the statutory threshold to which that defendant pleaded and compare it to the alteration of the applicable law. The Court recognizes that the drug quantity listed in an indictment traditionally tracks the statutory minimums to ensure a defendant's plea or conviction complies with the Sixth Amendment. It is not illogical to speculate that had the Fair Sentencing Act been enacted at the time of a defendant's plea, the elevated statutory amounts would be listed in the indictment and may have had little to no impact on the defendant's decision to plea. See U.S. v. Blocker, No. 4:07-36-RH, 2019 WL 2051957, at *4 (N.D. Fla. Apr. 25, 2019) (explaining “indictment-controls” versus “offense-controls” theories, and adopting the latter.). Yet to assume such a fact impermissibly alters the indictment and unconstitutionally abridges a defendant's Sixth Amendment rights. See Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99 (2013). In the context of First Step Act cases, this is true whether a court is conducting a full resentencing or not. See United States v. Smith, 379 F.Supp.3d 543, 546- 47 (W.D. Va. May 13, 2019). Due to the constitutional considerations, this Court-along with a number of others- adopts an “indictment-controls” interpretation of the First Step Act's impact on a defendant's plea. United States v. Springs, No. 3:05-CR-00042-FDW-1, 2019 WL 3310092 (W.D. N.C. July 23, 2019) (applying Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99 (2013) to First Step Act cases) (listing cases).
In reviewing the instant case, the Court considered the pleadings; the original presentence report; the judgment order and statement of reasons; any supplemental material from the defendant, including any correspondence; and the memorandum submitted by the Probation Office, which includes a summary of ...