Source: http://notguiltyflorida.com/category/federal-guidelines/
Timestamp: 2018-01-17 12:59:25
Document Index: 252666494

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6', '§ 6']

Federal Guidelines | Robert Hambrick - Clearwater Criminal Defense Attorney
Category Archives: Federal Guidelines
Clearwater Criminal Defense Attorneys know that the federal sentencing guideline amendments promulgated by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to the congressional directive in the Fair Sentencing Act can be challenged — and the aggravators should be challenged. Yet challenging the aggravators is an art which sometimes requires counterintuitive thinking and use of federal case law to produce the best possible result at a Federal Sentencing.
The Act improves fairness but cannot be said to “restore fairness” when fairness in federal cocaine sentencing never existed. These ameliorative changes came at a significant price. Congress also directed the Commission to ensure that the guidelines provide penalty increases for a variety of aggravating factors for all drug offenses. See Pub. L. No. 111- 220, §§ 5, 6.	It directed an enhancement of at least two levels if the defendant used or threatened violence, id. § 5, bribed a law enforcement officer, id. § 6(1), or maintained an establishment for the manufacture or distribution of drugs, id. § 6(2). It also directed an enhancement of at least two levels for defendants who receive an aggravating role enhancement and who engaged in other specified conduct, id. § 6(3)(A), such as using another person through fear, friendship or affection to engage in illegal conduct, id. § 6(3)(B)(i), or distributing drugs to, or involving, a person under 18, over 64, or pregnant, id. § 6(3)(B)(ii)(I)-(II), or distributing drugs to, or involving, a person unusually vulnerable due to physical or mental condition or particularly susceptible to criminal conduct…
1 See United States v. Williams, __ F. Supp. 2d __, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48599, at **53-100 (N.D. Iowa Apr. 7, 2011) (Bennett, J.) (describing in exhaustive detail the historical and legislative backdrop of the 18:1 ratio and the absence of rationale for it); United States v. Shull, __ F. Supp. 2d __, 2011 2559426 (S.D. Ohio June 29, 2011) (excellent review of same and war on drugs)…The Commission amended the guidelines in response to these directives, and ways to argue that the resulting enhancement either does not apply or should not be followed as a matter of policy. When relevant, important language and commentary serving to limit their scope is highlighted.For completeness, the two new provisions for defendants receiving the minimal role adjustment under Chapter 3 are set forth, with important language highlighted.
And as always it’s unfortunate but sadly true that the Guideline Enhancements directed by Congress are very unlikely to reflect sound policy judgments in the real world. So it’s important to bring to the Court’s attention other factors which may be used by the Court to lower a sentence even when in practical terms an enhancement applies.